Jam Camp on the Island

July 12- July 17, 2026

Camp Gilwell Scouts Camp near Courtenay, BC, on Vancouver Island

Come join us for the second year of Jam Camp on the Island to explore music, nature, and community together in this beautiful region of Vancouver Island.

Nestled in a lush forest next to a gentle river with a swimming area, this Jam Camp will be geared more towards acoustic music making, as the site does not supply power. Camp Gilwell property is not directly on the coast, but access is just a 20 minute drive away, along with many other beautiful attractions in the area.

Dates

Jam Camp on the Island 2026 will begin on Sunday, July 12. Jam Campers are invited to arrive at the site anytime after 1pm and have the afternoon to set up camp, with the Welcome Potluck taking place that evening at 6pm as our first official camp activity. Please arrive before 4pm to ensure you are set up on time.

Our final performance takes place on the evening of Thursday, July 16, and Jam Camp ends on Friday, July 17. Friday will be a free day for packing up camp, saying goodbyes, and taking your last stroll in the forest before you go.

The full schedule of the week’s events will be sent out closer to the date, but will be similarly structured to those of past camps. Morning activities will start around 9am; with a lunch & leisure break, a dinner & leisure break, and evening activities wrapping up around 9pm. Camp activities include full group workshops & events, small group lessons, and songwriting/musical project groups. 

Fees

Jam Camp Registration Fee

All folks participating in Jam Camp who are aged 4 and up will pay a sliding scale registration fee of $200 to $500 CAD per person. In addition, each family is required to pay a $50.00 camping fee.

The fees cover 4.5 days of workshops, activities, instruction, and camping. The fees do not cover food; each family does their own cooking. If you are able to pay more than the base fee per person, that will greatly help us meet our expenses! 

Additional Fees

If you choose to pay via PayPal rather than e-transfer, a PayPal fee of approximately 3% of your registration & camping fees will be added on top of your total.

You may also choose to make a contribution to help subsidize registration for a low-income attendee, or to help Jam Camp cover its expenses.

Camp Gilwell Scouts Camp

About the Site

Jam Camp on the Island will take place at Camp Gilwell, located on 35 acres of mature second growth forest in the Comox Valley, with the meandering banks of the Brown’s River running along the edge of the camp. Located 20 minutes from the ocean, and an hour to Strathcona Provincial Park, this unceded territory of the K’ómoks First Nation is surrounded by beautiful places to explore before or after camp.

There is plenty of room for tenting sites in the forest, and some spots where car camping, camper vans, or small RV’s will fit. There is no access to electricity or septic for campers, and if you bring a generator there will be quiet time restrictions. There is a good sized sports field and campfire pits available. This area usually has a fire ban in July, but you are welcome to bring your own propane burning campfire. There is access to delicious VIHA tested drinking water on site, and the toilet facilities are outhouses/pithouses.

There is no shared kitchen access for participants, and Jam Campers are asked to prepare their own food, so you need to bring your own camping kitchen set up. Besides your usual camping kitchen list, please bring a folding table, since there are a limited number of picnic tables available on site.  There will be wheelbarrows on site to help you carry water from the water taps to your camping site so please also bring a portable water container.  Bicycles are a great way to get around at this site as there are wide clear roads connecting the different areas together. 

Besides our program and afternoon jamming, there is plenty of hiking, swimming and forest play to be found at this camp! Please note that cell service is extremely limited at this camp, so get ready to unplug!

River Safety

Swimming in the river is very fun: however, there are no lifeguards. Parents need to be fully responsible for their children’s safety. Children should never be at the beach unattended. The river is gentle, and there is a sandy beach for safe entry, but caution is always needed. Bringing water shoes, floaties, and/or life jackets can be helpful.