Nanaimo Innovation Academy

08/13/2026

We’re so thankful for the generosity of local small businesses in Nanaimo. The following donated to a fundraising event we held last month.

Running a small business has become harder and harder these days but, despite that, these awesome people donated items to us.
Small businesses do so much in our community. Please support local and spend your money with these fine folks:

- Mike at Bro's Detailing Nanaimo https://brosdetailing.wixsite.com/brosdetailingcom-1
- Hilary at Knotted Wicks https://www.facebook.com/knottedwicks/posts/the-waitlist-is-opening-up-in-the-new-year-for-more-custom-macrame-piecesmake-su/508009308027795/
- Mike at 4 Crows Barber https://www.fourcrowsbarber.ca/
- Nicole at Northgate Liquor http://northgatelrs.ca
- Yolanda at Landing Liquor Store https://www.landingliquorstore.com
- David at Top Notch Burgers/The View Restaurant https://topnotchnanaimo.ca/
- Mich at Storied Wines & Spirits https://www.storiedwinesandspirits.com/
- Austin at Best On Top Roofing https://bestontop.ca or text 250-607-4630
- Sharon at Fit Hub https://thefithub.ca/
- Brad at A Buyer’s Choice Home Inspections https://abuyerschoice.com/inspector/brad-clark/
- Andy at Cogito Painting Professional Painting Services https://cogitopainting.com/
- Rob at Stonehaus Realty https://robfreemanrealtor.com/

*Contact Rob to link you directly to them if you’re having trouble contacting them.

We are grateful for the continued support of people like you. This support helps make a direct impact in the lives of children within our community.
We appreciate your kindness and generosity.

06/06/2026

We still have some availability for a couple of our summer camps for Kindergarten to Grade 2 students. Registration will be closing on June 15.

2 SPOTS AVAILABLE- July 27 - 31 - Colliery Dam from 8:30-5:15- $350·

6 SPOTS AVAILABLE Aug 4-7 - Cooking Class at Nanaimo Innovation Academy – 4 days 3:00pm -5:00pm- $100·

3 SPOTS AVAILABLE - August 17-21 - Piper's Lagoon from 8:30-5:15- $350·

3 SPOTS AVAILABLE - August 24-28 – Departure Bay Beach from 8:30-5:15- $350·

Email [email protected] the camps you are interested in.

05/01/2026

Nanaimo Innovation Academy's waitlist in now open at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NIA2026_Waitlist

Please use this link for all of our programs (please note, we only have full time spaces):
• NOW CLOSED - Infant Toddler (12-36 months)
• NOW CLOSED - Pre-K (3-5 years)
• NOW CLOSED - Forest Pre-K (4-5 years)
• STILL OPEN - Forest Explorers (Kindergarten to Grade 2 at Pauline Haarer)

Once the program’s waitlist is full at 20 families, it will say CLOSED beside the program name. We will not process any names that click on a program that is marked as “CLOSED”.

If you are looking for care for any time after August 31, 2027, please join the waitlist next May 1. We open our waitlist annually and cap each program's waitlist at 20.

SUMMER CAMPS STILL AVAILABLE (LINKS BELOW)
These outdoor summer programs are for children currently finishing Kindergarten to Grade 3.

Before you check out and pay, Zeffy asks for a ‘tip’ for it’s processing service. It automatically uploads to 15% but you can change it to other and put a lesser amount or nothing. Please make a note of this.

June 29- July 3 – Cooking Class at Nanaimo Innovation Academy – 4 days 3:00pm -5:00pm - $100
• https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/summer-camp-kids-cooking-class-at-nanaimo-innovation-academy-4-days
July 6-10 - Piper's Lagoon from 8:30-5:15- $350
• https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/nanaimo-innovation-academy-summer-camp-pipers-lagoon
July 13-17 – Westwood Lake from 8:30-5:15- $350
• https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/nanaimo-innovation-academy-summer-camp-westwood-lake
July 20-24 - Departure Bay Beach from 8:30-5:15- $350
• https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/nanaimo-innovation-academy-summer-camp-departure-bay-beach
July 27 - 31 - Colliery Dam from 8:30-5:15- $350
• https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/nanaimo-innovation-academy-summer-camp-colliery-dam
August 4-7 – Cooking Class at Nanaimo Innovation Academy – 4 days 4 days 3:00pm -5:00pm- $100
• https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/summer-camp-kids-cooking-class-at-nanaimo-innovation-academy-4-days-2
August 10-14 - Westwood Lake from 8:30-5:15- $350
• https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/nanaimo-innovation-academy-summer-camp-westwood-lake-2
August 17-21 - Piper's Lagoon from 8:30-5:15- $350
• https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/nanaimo-innovation-academy-summer-camp-pipers-lagoon-2
August 24-28 – Departure Bay Beach from 8:30-5:15- $350
• https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/nanaimo-innovation-academy-summer-camp-departure-bay-beach-2

Click here for information about our daycare: www.nanaimoinnovation.org

04/29/2026

OUR WAITLIST OPENS ON MAY 1
In preparation for our waitlist opening on Friday, May 1 at 8:30am, please check out the following information.

We do not charge a waitlist fee. At 8:30, there will be a post on our page with a link to fill out your information and select the program you wish to apply for. You will need to fill out a separate form for each child you have.

Please note that we only take about 15-20 names on each waitlist. Once a program's waitlist fills, the program will say CLOSED. Our IT program usually fills within about 3-4 minutes.

Once on the waitlist, you will get a confirmation email later that day. If you don't get into the selected daycare program within a year, you get priority for any of our programs for the following September.

Once the current September enrollment is filled (typically by June 15), any new available spots are offered to our waitlisted families on a first come-first serve basis. After June 15, there is no order that we follow on the list. All families will be emailed about any upcoming spots for the program they are waitlisted for.

Here is a link to some basic information about the programs:
https://www.nanaimoinnovation.org/copy-of-our-philosophy-2

Here is a link to the fees:
https://www.nanaimoinnovation.org/child-care-fees

Nanaimo Innovation Academy daycare is inspired by Waldorf, Montessori, Reggio, and play-based learning, providing an inspirational and supportive environment.

04/19/2026

Nanaimo Innovation Academy forest kids are featured in a new documentary coming out on Netflix. They take the host, Zach Galifianakis, out with them to forage in the woods to make tea.
So excited to watch this....more details below.

This Is A Gardening Show will premiere on Netflix on April 22, 2026. The trailer can be found at the link below. Please feel free to share and spread the word with your students, friends, family, and plants!

This Is A Gardening Show is a refreshing and whimsical take on gardening, hosted by Zach Galifianakis. Rather than positioning himself as an expert, Galifian...

04/07/2026

We are excited to offer a summer series of outdoor adventure camps and cooking classes for children currently attending Kindergarten to Grade 3. The camps will be held on location at a variety of parks in Nanaimo and pick up will be at Nanaimo Innovation Academy, as we shuttle the children back to the daycare in the afternoon.

The programs are from 8:30am-5:15pm (except cooking classes are from 3pm-5pm). Our educators are certified and skilled Early Childhood Educators (ECE) or Early Childhood Educators Assistants.

The costs is $350 each week.

We are using a registration platform called Zeffy. It will let you know how many spots are still available and will manage the waitlist when spots fill up. This platform will update the availability as people register. Registration for the camps is open until May 29th at 5pm.

Before you check out and pay, Zeffy asks for a ‘tip’ for it’s processing service. It automatically uploads to 15% but you can change it to other and put a lesser amount or nothing. Please make a note of this.

June 29- July 3 – Cooking Class at Nanaimo Innovation Academy – 4 days 3:00pm -5:00pm - $100
• https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/summer-camp-kids-cooking-class-at-nanaimo-innovation-academy-4-days
July 6-10 - Piper's Lagoon from 8:30-5:15- $350
• https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/nanaimo-innovation-academy-summer-camp-pipers-lagoon
July 13-17 – Westwood Lake from 8:30-5:15- $350
• https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/nanaimo-innovation-academy-summer-camp-westwood-lake
July 20-24 - Departure Bay Beach from 8:30-5:15- $350
• https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/nanaimo-innovation-academy-summer-camp-departure-bay-beach
July 27 - 31 - Colliery Dam from 8:30-5:15- $350
• https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/nanaimo-innovation-academy-summer-camp-colliery-dam
August 4-7 – Cooking Class at Nanaimo Innovation Academy – 4 days 4 days 3:00pm -5:00pm- $100
• https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/summer-camp-kids-cooking-class-at-nanaimo-innovation-academy-4-days-2
August 10-14 - Westwood Lake from 8:30-5:15- $350
• https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/nanaimo-innovation-academy-summer-camp-westwood-lake-2
August 17-21 - Piper's Lagoon from 8:30-5:15- $350
• https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/nanaimo-innovation-academy-summer-camp-pipers-lagoon-2
August 24-28 – Departure Bay Beach from 8:30-5:15- $350
• https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/nanaimo-innovation-academy-summer-camp-departure-bay-beach-2