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Outdoor Discovery on Vancouver Island With Your Grandchild
After you enroll, we’ll ask you to provide or update your personal information and preferences, which includes your health information, lodging and meal preferences for your program.
A Parental Consent letter is required to be signed by the parent. We recommend that this document is notarized. The entity that will provide the outdoor activities, Strathcona Park Lodge, is required by its insurance company to obtain a signed liability waiver and SPL medical form for all clients taking part in activities at Strathcona Park Lodge. The waiver and medical form will be included in the preparatory materials sent to participants after enrolment. The form must be completed and mailed to Strathcona Park Lodge, 41040 Gold River Highway P.O. Box 2160 Campbell River, BC Canada, V9W 5C5; or scanned and emailed to Info@StrathconaParkLodge.com
A passport is required for this program. It must be valid for at least 6 months after your return date.
This information about travel documents pertains to participants holding U.S. passports. Non-U.S. citizens should refer to their country's requirements to ensure they have the necessary documentation for travel.
United States citizens don’t need a visa for any of the countries you’ll be visiting. Non-U.S. citizens should refer to their country's requirements to ensure they have the necessary documentation for travel.
A signed Parental Consent form is required for this program. The form must be signed by both parent(s)/legal guardian(s) of the child participating in the program and returned to the program provider prior to the start of the program. You will receive the form as part of your program information packet. You will also be able to access the form through your online account.
Arrival day is on Friday, July 24, 2026.
Meet the group at Strathcona Park Lodge in Campbell River, BC
Start of Trip: 4:00 p.m. lodge check-in followed by Program Registration, Welcome Dinner, and Orientation.
Getting to the site: Most Road Scholar guests fly to a nearby airport and take a taxi to Strathcona Park Lodge (SPL). Other options include arriving on Vancouver Island by ferry and taking a bus to Campbell River or driving. This section provides directions for guests arriving by plane or bus. The next section, Directions from Strathcona Park Lodge to the airport, is for guests travelling by car. By Air: Flights to Campbell River Airport (YBL) are available from Vancouver with Pacific Coastal Airlines: 1-800-663-2872; www.pacific-coastal.com. Flights to nearby Comox Valley Airport (YQQ) are available with WestJet (www.westjet.com) and Air Canada (www.aircanada.com). The Comox Airport is 40 minutes farther away. For taxi services from/to Campbell River Airport, see below. For service from/to Comox, contact Ambassador Shuttle Service at 877-339-5252. For international flights, you'll go through customs in the first Canadian city you arrive in and the last Canadian city you depart from. For current airport and customs info, visit the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) site at www.catsa-acsta.gc.ca. Taxi Service: For taxi service between the Campbell River Airport or downtown and SPL, contact: •Bee Line Taxi 250-287-8383 •Campbell River Airporter Shuttle 250- 914-1010 •Wavin' Flags Taxi 250-287-8294 Bus Service: Bus service is available to Campbell River from downtown Victoria and Departure Bay, Nanaimo. Read the section below to learn about passenger ferry connections to Vancouver Island. Island Link Bus (www.islandlinkbus.com) runs daily between downtown Victoria, Nanaimo (Departure Bay ferry terminal), and Campbell River. Select "Bus stop at CRCC, 401, 11th Ave" as your pickup/drop-off in Campbell River. Passengers must book online at least one day in advance. See above for taxi service between the bus and SPL. There is no public transit or scheduled shuttle between Campbell River and SPL.
Your trip ends on: Thursday, July 30, 2026 in Campbell River, BC at Strathcona Park Lodge
End of Trip: 9:00 a.m. after breakfast; 10:00 a.m. lodge check-out.
Getting to the airport: Travelling by car allows you to take the scenic route and explore sites along the way. Vancouver Island is served by car and passenger ferries from Washington State and Vancouver, BC. Guests driving from Washington State can take a ferry from Port Angeles, WA to Victoria or enter Canada at the Peace Arch Boarder Crossing in Blaine, WA. Ferry Directions: From Washington State: •The FRS Clipper (www.clippervacations.com) provides foot passenger service between Seattle and Victoria. •The Black Ball Ferry Line (www.cohoferry.com) provides passenger and vehicle service between Port Angeles and Victoria. From Vancouver, BC: •BC Ferries (www.bcferries.com) provides foot passenger and vehicle service from two terminals near Vancouver. The Tsawwassen to Duke Point (Nanaimo) route is most convenient for guests driving from Washington State or renting a car at the Vancouver airport. This route is NOT recommended for those taking the Island Bus Link. •The Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay (Nanaimo) route is better for those spending time in Vancouver or foot passengers taking the Island Link Bus. •The Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay (Victoria) route is not recommended. Driving Directions: •From Victoria, take Hwy 1 (Trans Canada Hwy) northbound to Nanaimo (approx. 1hr 40min). Just south of Nanaimo, exit right following signs for Hwy 19, Parksville & Campbell River. •From Duke Point ferry terminal, drivers merge onto Hwy 1 just before the exit for Hwy 19. •From Departure Bay ferry terminal, follow signs for Hwy 19 North and Campbell River (approx. 1hr 40min) Stay on Hwy 19 until you reach the junction with Hwy 19A and Hwy 28. Turn left (west) onto Hwy 28 towards Gold River and Strathcona Park. Follow Hwy 28 for 41km (25.5mi). It's about a 35 min drive from this junction. IMPORTANT: You will lose cell reception 5 min outside of Campbell River. Stick to the paved highway and ignore any directions leading to gravel roads. SPL is the first business you'll encounter.
Information if you are purchasing your own airfare: Participants who have not purchased airfare through Road Scholar are responsible for making their own transfer arrangements to the first site at the beginning of the program, as well as from the last site at the end of the program. The Information Packet Road Scholar sends in advance of the program includes details needed to make your transfer arrangements. If you wish to purchase airfare through Road Scholar, please call (800) 241-1404. Please note: In the unlikely event Road Scholar must make changes to the program's arrival or departure details, we will notify all participants as soon as possible. Participants who have purchased Road Scholar airfare are protected against airline change fees; however, anyone who has not purchased Road Scholar airfare will be required to make their own adjustments and may incur fees imposed by the airline.