Nanaimo Innovation Academy

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.

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

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

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 | Official Trailer | Netflix 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...

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

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NIAcamps2026

SPRING AND SUMMER CAMPS – The request form is now open to register children currently attending Kindergarten – Grade 2 that are interested in joining us for Spring/Summer Camps 2026!

Join three of our passionate and certified ECE/ECEAs to explore a variety of ecosystems in Nanaimo. These outdoor exploration camps will be held from 8:30am-5:15pm each day. We follow a 6-1 ratio (child to adult) with our programs to ensure the best care and safety.

The cost of each weekly camp is $350 for five days from 8:30am-5:15pm.
Our cooking classes are $100 for four days from 3:00pm-5:00pm, which includes all food costs.

The group will meet each day at the designated location for the week between 8:30-9:00am, ready in their outdoor gear. They will learn and play at one of Nanaimo’s local parks, forests, and/or beaches until 2:00pm each day. Then they will take our bus to Deverill Park for some more activities. The group will return to the daycare by 4:45pm for pick ups before 5:15pm.

DATES & LOCATIONS

March 16-20 at Colliery Dam from 8:30-5:15

March 23-27 at Westwood Lake from 8:30-5:15

June 29- July 3 – Cooking Class at Nanaimo Innovation Academy – 4 days 3:00pm -5:00pm

July 6-10 at Piper's Lagoon from 8:30-5:15

July 13-17 at Westwood Lake from 8:30-5:15

July 20-24 at Departure Bay Beach from 8:30-5:15

July 27 - 31 at Colliery Dam from 8:30-5:15

August 4-7 – Cooking Class at Nanaimo Innovation Academy – 4 days 4 days 3:00pm -5:00pm

August 10-14 at Westwood Lake from 8:30-5:15

August 17-21 at Piper's Lagoon from 8:30-5:15

August 24-28 at Departure Bay Beach from 8:30-5:15

Once spaces fill up, we will start our waitlist.

2025 Book Flood Registration is OPEN!
Here's the link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/bookflood2025
Please fill it out before November 30, 2025. Thanks.

Dear Familied:
We would like to invite you all to attend NIA’s 2024 AGM this coming Friday, Nov 14.
The meeting will be held this afternoon at the daycare (in the Forest Pre-K Classroom) at 5pm. It will take roughly 30-45 minutes.
The online link to attend Virtually via Microsoft Teams is below:
You're invited to NIA 2025 AGM (@5 pm)
Friday, November 14, 2025
17:00 - 18:00 (PST)
https://teams.live.com/meet/9373860133729...
Tap on the link or paste it in a browser to join.

Join meeting on Teams

We support the 94 Calls to Action and the principles of reconciliation, as outlined by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).
We wear an orange shirt to show support, create awareness and commit to doing better.

Nanaimo Innovation Academy - IT Spot Available for child age 16 months - 28 months.

There was a last minute change to a family's plans and they are no longer able to join our IT program this September.

The spot is full-time, Monday to Friday, from 8am-3pm in our Cedar IT Program starting September 1st or 15th.

Here is some more information to help make your decision:
· Our good overview of our philosophy is https://www.nanaimoinnovation.org/philosophy
· A number of our family documents can be found at https://www.nanaimoinnovation.org/forms-policies
· Our fees are listed here https://www.nanaimoinnovation.org/child-care-fees

If you have any questions or are interested in the spot, please email [email protected].

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