Dragon Zone
Paddling Club

Creekside Community Centre and Dragon Zone Paddling Club Community Programs

Come join us and get out on the water! These programs are exclusively offered in association with Creekside Community Centre. To register for programs on this page, please contact Creekside Community Centre at [email protected] or 604 257 3050.

2024 events now open for registration on the City’s ActiveNet portal. Please contact the community centre for questions with any of these programs.

Birds Nest Properties Community Paddling Days

Join us for 45 minute dragon boat sessions at our Community Paddling Days! Registration open, with $2 registration fee going to charity and community groups.

Dates: May 26, July 7, August 4, and September 8, 2024
Time: 1 hour slots from 1:00 PM-4:00 PM, starting on the hour
Registration: Registration now open! Please pre-register online (walk-ins welcome subject to space)
Fee: Minimum $2 donation, with proceeds going to charities and community groups.
Location: Creekside Community Centre, 1 Athletes Way, Vancouver BC

Come on out with your friends and family and learn to dragon boat with us and explore Vancouver from the water! All equipment and a guide to help you learn to paddle is supplied. Sessions start at 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM, and 3:00 PM. Participation by minimum donation of $2 per person.

New for 2024, each community day has a theme!

MAY 26: Join Raincoast Conservation Foundation, False Creek Friends, and Talaysay Tours who will guide participants through the cultural Coast Salish history of the area, enjoy community science activities with water scientists, and see exhibits celebrating False Creek’s beauty. Benefitting False Creek Friends.
JULY 7: Support youth high performance teams as they teach you to paddle for the first time, and raise funds for their trip to the 2024 Club Crew World Championships in Ravenna, Italy! Benefitting JUICE Dragon Boat, UBC Current, Dragon Zone Premier Open, and Dragon Zone 24U Women.
AUGUST 4: Paddle with Pride- we’re excited to be part of Canada Pride/Vancouver Pride Festival and offer an all-ages activity on the south shore of False Creek. Join us for fun events and activities throughout the day. Benefitting Vancouver Pride Society.
September 8: Celebrate the end of summer, and support Chinatown with community activations, cultural programming, and activities for all ages. Benefitting the construction of the new Dragon Boat BC Chinatown Hub.

Thank you to Birds Nest Properties for helping us present this community building event again this year.

Youth aged 18 or under must have completed a Youth Informed Consent and Vancouver Board of Parks Youth Waiver ahead of their arrival including parent/guardian signature. These forms are linked below. Youth aged 18 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian in the boat.

Youth Programs: Weekly Full-Day Summer Paddling Camps (Ages 8 to 12)

Our summer camps are back and better than ever! Learn to paddle, plus learn all the stories that bring paddling to life in our community. Register now- over 50% full!

Start Dates:Weekly from the first week of July to last week of August
Duration: 5 days (Monday to Friday) except weeks of Canada Day and BC Day (4 days)
Camp Time: 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM
Drop Off/Pick Up: 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM, and 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Fees: $400 per person. 4 day (Canada Day/BC Day) week fees are $325 per person.
Registration: Registration now open!

Learn to paddle a range of boats —including kayak, SUP, dragon boat, and flatwater— and explore the culture behind the sport, our community’s stories, and our local marine habitat. Learn skills, make new friends, and be inspired by our community and environment!

Located in the heart of Vancouver in the Olympic Village, Dragon Zone is just minutes away from Canada and Expo Line Skytrain stations, and is conveniently located along the seawall. Participants are expected to bring their own lunches, snacks, and water bottles. Hats, sunscreen and swimming-appropriate clothing are highly recommended. We will provide all boats, paddles, and life jackets. In case of inclement weather, paddling activities will be replaced by land activities. No paddling experience is required. All abilities are welcome.

Highlights

Emphasis on fun, safety and inclusion means all campers have opportunities to succeed, build confidence and make friends.
Mix of team-building activities, games and 1:1 feedback supports goal-directed skill development in a supportive, non-competitive environment.
Every camp is a new adventure with weekly themes! Examples include Sports Week, Under the Sea, Around the World, and Community Arts.
NEW: Field trips give campers opportunities to learn about different aspects of paddling: trips to Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Gardens teach campers about dragon boat’s 5,000+ year history and current context; or learn about local wildlife and the environment during guided explorations of False Creek’s intertidal zones.
Camp leaders/instructors hold certifications including: First Aid/CPR, NCCP, and from other recognized bodies. A low leader/instructor to camper ratio ensures a high level of safety and support.

Note: Waivers must be signed by parent or guardian for youth under 18

Theme 1 - Sports (Weeks TBA)

Trip to BC Sports Hall of Fame: With private access to the Hall, campers will have the opportunity to explore the history of sport in Canada, and learn all about their favourite sports heroes. After the tour, they’ll test their skills in the Hall’s Participation Zone!

Throughout the week, campers will participate in fun sporty games and challenges, ultimately facing off in the Amazing (Camp) Race.

Theme 2 - Culture (Weeks TBA)

Trip to the Chinatown Storytelling Centre: With private access to the brand-new Centre, campers will explore the story of Canada through the lens of Vancouver’s Chinatown. Through storytelling, they will learn about the rich history of early Chinese immigration to Canada and the many contributions of Chinese Canadians to the building of the nation.

Throughout the week, campers will participate in games, sports, crafts and activities unique to countries and cultures all around the world.

Theme 3 - Marine Exploration (Weeks TBA)

Habitat Island Workshop: Through a guided exploration of the intertidal zone, campers will learn all about the animals and tiny organisms who live in and around Habitat Island. Plus, they’ll learn about all of the birds who call False Creek home in an interactive birding workshop led by a local marine ecologist from Fraser Riverkeepers.

Trip to the Swim Drink Fish Lab on Granville Island: Campers will paddle around the Creek and work as a team to extract a perfect water sample. They will then paddle their sample to the testing lab at Granville Island. Campers will get a private tour of the lab, learn all about ocean conservation, and help the scientists sort marine plastics using professional tools and protective equipment.

Throughout the week, campers will explore, test, build and learn, through team challenges and opportunities for guided discovery. They’ll come out with a deeper awareness and appreciation for the ocean and its conservation.

Theme 4 - Community Arts (Weeks TBA)

All week long, campers will tap into their creative side, through dance, drama and art activities.
Field trip with Vancouver Mural Festival to see murals around the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood, and explore City Centre Motel for tours of one of Vancouver’s hidden cultural gems!