Smithers

Tune in

Smithers offers educational summer camps to old and young

by Tanya Laing

There are several reasons one takes a holiday: for rest, for change and for a desire to see something different. For some, it’s a chance to learn something new. Smithers offers vacationers an opportunity to enjoy all of the above and more.

Photo of a young boy playing electric guitar outside.

The Right Chord: Guitar camps offer children a chance to learn the basics.-photo by Jennifer Marr

Northern B.C. is known for its rugged wilderness and a lot of that is reflected in the local culture. Smithers, for example, isn’t caught up in the aspirations of big-city living. Instead, it is focused on outdoor recreation, community and artistic pursuits, and it is now giving tourists a chance to increase their own knowledge or improve skills through its educational tourism program.

Visitors can take a range of summer courses through Northwest Community College, including rafting, kayaking, canoeing and mountaineering, to name a few. And for those with a more musical nature, guitar camps for every age and level of experience are available through the Bulkley Valley Community Arts Council and run in conjunction with the Bulkley Valley Folk Festival.

“The (guitar) camps are a two- or three-day camp and it’s all workshops,” said Tom Young, a spokesperson for the arts council. “They bring in two or three high-end professionals that anyone who is interested in guitar would recognize. David Cox, for instance, has been here many times.”

Young added that Smithers has a number of talented local musicians who also participate in the various musical workshops and camps, and that anyone who enjoys strumming a six-string will find a course that appeals to them.

“There are songwriting workshops, recording workshops (and) picking workshops,” said Young, “and then different genres—bluegrass, for instance, or rock ’n’ roll.”

Many of the camps are now structured for children, giving them a chance to learn and improve upon guitar basics as well as jam with a group—which, as anyone who plays guitar will tell you, is one of the most important learning tools for a beginning musician.

For more information on the various educational holidays offered year round in Smithers, visit the website.

RESOURCES: www.tourismsmithers.com

Northern B.C. key contacts

  • Northern Bc Tourism Association Logo

    Prince George, BC

    Explore northern B.C.

    Northern British Columbia is a land of unlimited adventure extending 1,000 kilometres from east to west following the legendary Yellowhead Highway. This vast wilderness area is a geographic masterpiece of nature. Much of northern B.C. is preserved and protected by a world-class system of provincial parks and nature reserves.

    The northwest region of B.C. stretches from the Skeena River in the south to the Cassiar Mountains in the north and offers some of the most awe-inspiring scenery and wildlife on the continent. A relaxed pace, warm-hearted people, magnificent scenery and many recreational opportunities characterize this spectacular area.

    From the Yukon border to Prince George, the northeast section offers many opportunities to savour fresh mountain air, wilderness vistas, abundant wildlife and unforgettable hospitality. The region is host to a variety of events and festivals, such as the Fall Fair Pro Rodeo during the Exhibition and Stampede in Dawson Creek.

    The Haida Gwaii region, better known as the Queen Charlotte Islands, is an archipelago of over 150 islands that are renowned for incredible natural beauty and a rich first nations culture. Island waters teem with sea life and visitors enjoy viewing grey, orca, and humpback whales along with seals, sea lions, porpoises and marine birds. For the ultimate island experience, take a kayaking daytrip in Skidegate Inlet or a multi-day paddle to Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site.

    Contact Northern BC Tourism for all your travel planning needs.

    Northern Bc Tourism Association
    Po Box 2373
    Prince George, BC V2N 2S6, Canada
    PHONE: (250) 561-0432


  • Kermodei Tourism logo

    Terrace, BC

    Explore our world

    Situated in the heart of the spectacular Skeena Valley and Northwest B.C.’s Coast Mountains, the community of Terrace is an exhilarating blend of outdoor adventure, spectacular wilderness, First Nations culture and warm hospitality. Enjoy four fun-filled seasons of recreation and excitement—with activities such as hiking, biking, rafting, kayaking and wildlife viewing. For those with a passion for art, theatre and music, Terrace is home to B.C.’s longest continuously running community theatre group, a rich pool of talented musicians and artists of every stripe. As the shopping hub of northwestern B.C., Terrace does hospitality right. From quaint shops to big box retailers, you can find just about anything here. And no visit to Terrace would be complete without taking a swing at our breathtaking 18-hole golf course nestled at the base of Copper Mountain.

    Contact the Kermodei Tourism to see how you can explore our world.

    Kermodei Tourism
    2 3100 Kalum St
    Terrace, BC, Canada
    PHONE: (250) 635-4944