Little Local - May 28

If you’ve thought about camping with the family this summer, but are worried you may never fully recover from the experience, I’m sharing a few tips in this week’s issue.

Around town, markets of all kinds are back in action, bikes are out, and the waterfront is filling with Ocean Week events.

And if you’ve been meaning to sign up for Little Local Crew, this is your nudge: our summer snail mail is heading to the post office next week. Each envelope is packed with local, seasonal fun for Island kids, and there’s still time to sign up before it goes out!

Camping with Kids

Camping with kids might sound dreamy: campfires, starry skies, slow mornings, kids running around in the trees. And it is. Sort of.

It’s also wet shoes, sandy sleeping bags, and someone asking for marshmallows every 10 minutes.

But somehow, it’s an experience we keep seeking out, because once everyone settles in, there’s something pretty magical about it. Kids collect sticks, invent games, get dirty, eat outside, and fall asleep in fresh air.

💡 Camping Tips

We are by no means a “camping family,” but here are a few things that have helped us:

Keep meals simple. Thawed chili, hot dogs, oatmeal, cup noodles, fruit, muffins, and lots of easy snacks. If dinner can be warmed up in one pot or cooked on a stick, perfect. If breakfast does not require cooking, do it.

Bring headlamps or flashlights for everyone. Kids love having their own, and it makes bedtime bathroom trips much easier.

Consider a blackout tent and a sound machine. If you’re worried about kids not sleeping well, a blackout tent like this one can really help, especially on bright summer evenings. A portable sound machine is also handy for muffling campground noise.

Don’t overpack toys. A bucket, a deck of cards, a ball, or bikes are plenty. Sticks, rocks, dirt, and flashlights do most of the entertaining.

Lower the bedtime bar. The first night can be a bit wild. Everyone is excited, the tent is new, and every zipper in the campground sounds extremely loud.

Start close to home. A one-night trip to Goldstream still counts. You don’t need to go far to make it feel like an adventure.

⛺ Where to camp

Goldstream Provincial Park: Our favourite for first-timers. It’s close to home, beautifully forested, and feels like a real camping trip without the long drive. If you’re new to camping with kids, this is a great place to start — close enough to home that forgetting something doesn’t ruin the weekend.

Gordon Bay Provincial Park: A lovely Lake Cowichan option if your kids are happiest near water. It feels like a proper little getaway, with swimming, biking, and beach time on the lake.

China Beach Campground: Recently redone, this campground makes a great basecamp for exploring that stretch of coast. China Beach and Mystic Beach are both beautiful with kids, and if you can manage a longer drive, Botanical Beach is well worth it.

Summer Mail is Almost Here!

A little envelope of summer fun is heading to mailboxes soon.

The Little Local Crew summer edition starts mailing out in early June, and it’s filled with simple, seasonal goodness for Island kids: a letter from Alfie the Owl, a mini summer guide, stickers, activities, and a couple of small surprises tucked inside.

It’s designed for slow mornings, sunny afternoons, quiet moments at the kitchen table, and those “what should we do today?” summer days.

This is a one-time purchase, not a subscription, and it’s best suited for kids ages 3+.

👉🏼 Summer Crew Mail will be mailed out early June!

Summer edition only →
Get the summer mailout for $20.

✨ Thistle & Wren: Looking for a few summer pieces for your kids without buying everything new? Thistle & Wren’s Preloved section is a thoughtfully curated collection of gently loved children’s clothing, helping families find quality pieces while keeping good clothes in rotation.

🧼 Root & Rise Cleaning: A clean home, without adding one more thing to your list. Root & Rise Cleaning offers thoughtful, detail-oriented home cleaning services for busy families in Greater Victoria, so you can spend less time scrubbing and more time enjoying your space. Tell Wade we sent you!

📅 Camp Planner: If your summer calendar still has a few gaps, Little Local’s Camp Planner can help. Browse local kids’ camps by week, filter by age and location, and save ideas as you build out your summer.

This Weekend

💎 Victoria Gem Show
Friday, May 29 – Sunday, May 31
Curious kids and rock collectors should head down to Pearkes Recreation Centre for gemstones, crystals, fossils, minerals, beads, jewelry, and more to browse. [Info]

🎉 Selkirk Waterfront Festival
Saturday, May 30 | 11am–4pm
A free, all-ages community celebration at Selkirk Green Park with live performances, food trucks, a market, and a Kids Fun Zone with bouncy castles, games, and crafts. [Info]

🌊 The Gorge Splashtacular Ocean Festival
Saturday, May 30 | 12–4pm
Kick off Ocean Week Victoria at Esquimalt Gorge Park with ocean crafts, marine touch tanks, a scavenger hunt, community activities and more. [Info]

🐦 Bird Walk at Cattle Point & Uplands Park
Saturday, May 30 | 10–11am
A gentle morning nature outing with Friends of Uplands Park. Best for curious kids who like birds, binoculars, and slow walks. Meet at the Cattle Point main parking lot. [Info]

🌊 World Ocean Day at Fisherman’s Wharf
Sunday, May 31 | 11am–4pm
Kick off Ocean Week Victoria with a free, family-friendly celebration by the water. Visit local booths, learn about coastal species, and stop by the Royal BC Museum table to see and touch preserved marine specimens. [Info]

🦫 Busy Beavers Guided Walk
Sunday, May 31 | 1:30–3pm
Join a CRD Regional Parks naturalist at Elk/Beaver Lake for an all-ages guided walk to learn about beaver habitat and their amazing adaptations. [Info]

🏮 Awakening Chinatown
Sunday, May 31 | 11am–4pm
Canada’s oldest Chinatown comes alive with performances, music, cultural activities, arts and crafts, a scavenger hunt and lots to explore. Free and family-friendly. [Info]

Upcoming

🌊 Ocean Week Victoria
May 30–June 8
Celebrate the Salish Sea with ocean-themed events around the region, including outdoor festivals, coastal walks, beach clean-ups, science talks and family-friendly activities. [Info]

🛍️ Summer Social Vintage Fair & Makers Market
Saturday, June 6 | 9am–4pm
Browse vintage finds, collectibles, toys, comics, trading cards, handmade goods, food and more at the Da Vinci Centre. Kids 12 and under are free with a paid adult. [Info]

🎡 Oak Bay Tea Party
Friday, June 5–Sunday, June 7
A classic Oak Bay weekend at Willows Beach with amusement rides, pancake breakfast, floating teacup race, kids’ crafts, sandcastle building, and seaside fun. No parade this year! [Info]

🏃 RBC Race for the Kids Victoria
Sunday, June 7
A family-friendly 2K or 5K run/walk supporting BC Children’s Hospital. A good one for families who like a cause-connected community event. [Info]

🎶 Solstice & Song with Wild Child
Saturday, June 20 | 5-6:30pm
Gather at Memorial Park in Esquimalt for a magical summer evening of music, community and outdoor play. Bring a family picnic and support Wild Child’s free, accessible nature playgroup. [Info]

Hope you enjoyed this issue of Little Local! Please reply with any feedback and suggestions :)

P.S. Would you like to get your business in front of thousands of local Victoria families? Email us at [email protected].

Final Note: I do my best to keep everything accurate, but I am only human so the odd mistake might sneak in! If you catch one, feel free to let me know.