ABOUT BLUE LAKE FOREST EDUCATION SOCIETY:

The Blue Lake Centre was established in 1977 and has grown extensively over the years. Blue Lake Forest Education Society (BLFES) is a non-profit, charitable organization that focuses on providing education opportunities to children and youth through experiential learning programs.

Blue Lake operates an office in Cranbrook, British Columbia and an outdoor centre located 26 KM west of Canal Flats, BC. The Society is governed by a diverse board of directors who share a love for Blue Lake. Year round staff include the General Manager, Camp Director and Office Administrator as well as a Property Manager that lives onsite at the Centre and looks after camp year round.The General Manager works with the board to make Blue Lake the best that it can be so that present and future generations can get as many memorable moments and wonderful experiences from their time spent with Blue Lake as possible. They have been working to ensure Blue Lake's sustainability, ensuring that people of all ages will enjoy Blue Lake for generations. Blue Lake is continually striving to grow and improve and the Society relies on donations, grants, in-kind support, memberships and community involvement.

MISSION and GOALS:

The Blue Lake Forest Education Society is a non-profit organization existing for charitable purposes based in the Kootenay / Columbia region of British Columbia. We encourage responsible stewardship of forest lands by informed citizens.

The Society’s primary focus is to deliver a variety of experiential education programs to the region’s youth by operating an outdoor school.  These programs inspire a balanced ecological awareness and foster social responsibility to one another.

1. Provide quality experiential forest management education to the youth of Kootenay / Columbia region at the Blue Lake Centre through formal education programs.
2. Provide a safe, neutral environment for youth that nurtures respect and care for themselves and their peers through both formal and informal social education experiences.
3. Provide leadership training and personal development to teens as part of a graduated, experiential education program that focuses on forest management.

BLUE LAKE CENTRE:

The Blue Lake Centre is completely off the grid! The centre is self-powered using a hydro-electric system as well as solar panels that have recently been installed on several buildings.

The outdoor centre is set in a beautiful and semi-remote area and is the location of Blue Lake, a lake which is the perfect size for learning to canoe, enjoying some fishing, swimming off the docks or walking the trails that surround the lake. The centre is also home to 10 sleeping cabins for a total sleeping capacity of 100, the log cabins are rustic and cozy with a wood-burning stove in each of them. There is a large dining hall that has many possibilities! The big kitchen and large open area allow for large groups to be fed comfortably and anyone who has had camp food will tell you that food has never tasted better! There is a large wash house with several toilet and shower stalls, it is wheelchair accessible and has the added comfort of heated floors.

Available to rent on it's own is the Blue Lake Lodge/Training Centre which overlooks the lake and is perfect for groups wanting to do corporate training and family gatherings. The three-storey lodge has a loft, a main floor and basement which offers plenty of sleeping space, a kitchen, fireplace and living room.  Have a barbeque overlooking the lake in the spring or cross country ski the many trails that branch out from the camp in winter, or just visit in front of the fireplace with close friends.  Please call us for more details!

PROGRAMS:

Summer Camp

Summer Camp runs for July and August each year and is what Blue Lake is most commonly known for. The programs are educational, the games and activities are lots of fun, there are campfires, cabin group activities, ECOFun, swimming, theme days and canoeing, just to name a few!

There is an Outdoor Youth Leadership Program for youth ages 14-17 that involves overnight hiking, a canoe trip, leadership skills and more.

See the Programs link for more information on specific programs.

Year-Round Programming:

During the fall, winter and spring the camp facility is available to book. The booking can be designed to meet the individual needs of the group. The package can be with or without a cook and we also offer programming with Resource people to lead activities, leadership/team building, environmental education, games and much more. The possibilites are many as the groups can design activities and/or lessons they would like for their group.

Some examples of groups that enjoy Blue Lake are:

• school groups
• weddings
• leadership classes
• outdoor education classes
• private groups
• corporate groups 
• family reunions

The Centre is perfect for weddings, family reunions, school groups,  or a group of friends.

 Centre Facilities include:

• 10 sleeping cabins
• large dining hall
• wash house
• campfire pit with benches
• swimming docks and boat house
• volleyball court
• trail systems/cross country trails
• First Aid building
• Summer Camp registration and store
• The Blue Lake Lodge/Training Centre  

For more information, please check through our Website or contact us at 250-426-3676.