Gavin Lake Forest Education Centre

Gavin Lake Forest Education Centre PLEASE NOTE: We do not check Facebook regularly. For all Gavin Lake business & bookings, please email

The Gavin Lake Forest Education Centre is a not-for-profit camp that offers free fall & winter outdoor education programs to local schools and school groups. Additionally, the facilities - including a cookhouse, sauna and beds for 100 people in several cabins - are available to private groups, weddings and reunions, and at a below-cost rate to non-profit groups such as youth groups, church groups, quilting groups, music groups - making Gavin Lake Camp one of the Cariboo's best-kept secrets.

Here we see Travis and Charles giving their best tree impressions. They are leading modules on Fire Smart Awareness and ...
10/01/2026

Here we see Travis and Charles giving their best tree impressions. They are leading modules on Fire Smart Awareness and Forest Fire Mitigation as part of their work as Fire Smart Coordinators with the Cariboo Regional District.

Thanks to wildland firefighters from the Cariboo Fire Centre for helping keep up with fire mitigation efforts at Gavin L...
09/25/2026

Thanks to wildland firefighters from the Cariboo Fire Centre for helping keep up with fire mitigation efforts at Gavin Lake Camp.

First week of school program, we are waterwiser, firesmarter, and understand more bugs indicates more better. And nobody...
09/18/2026

First week of school program, we are waterwiser, firesmarter, and understand more bugs indicates more better. And nobody tipped their boat.

More important than back to school, it's BACK TO CAMP! For all those lucky Gr. 6's that are packing for Gavin Lake - wha...
09/08/2026

More important than back to school, it's BACK TO CAMP! For all those lucky Gr. 6's that are packing for Gavin Lake - what's one thing you wouldn't want to forget?
Roy - gloves for canoeing
Sandra - rubber boots for catching aquatic insects
Jenny - toque and puffy vest
Mike - an extra pair of pants
Richard - my fastest running shoes for mantracker
Jo - a map, obviously

If snakes aren't your thing, we were also visited by a giant silk moth last week. This is a Polyphemus moth (photos take...
08/31/2026

If snakes aren't your thing, we were also visited by a giant silk moth last week. This is a Polyphemus moth (photos taken at Gavin Lake). These moths have brown wings with bright blue/yellow eyespots and a wingspan of 10-15cm. They do not have active mouthparts/digestive systems, so they do not eat. The moths live for 4-7 days and focus on mating and laying eggs. Females lay 2-4 eggs at a time. The eggs will hatch in the fall and caterpillars (photo taken from iNaturalist, not camp) will emerge to eat before spinning silk cocoons over winter. See the photo captions and comments for more info.

This August we have noticed a congregation of common garter snakes at the cookhouse. It is likely they are preparing for...
08/25/2026

This August we have noticed a congregation of common garter snakes at the cookhouse. It is likely they are preparing for winter “hibernation” or more technically, reptilian brumation. North American snakes brumate during the winter months. They will congregate together at sites below the frost line with access to water. These sites are called hibernacula and are often protected under provincial wildlife acts. The current cookhouse snake community consists of one very large female (~1.2m, ladies are always bigger) and at least a dozen individual smaller snakes, maybe this year’s babies or males. Click the comments for some garter snake facts (sources: B.C. Reptiles and Amphibians, Royal Alberta Museum).

Also Seamus Zirnhelt has been working here this summer. We finally got permission from his agent to share some photos. S...
08/25/2026

Also Seamus Zirnhelt has been working here this summer. We finally got permission from his agent to share some photos. Seamus brings the following skills to the Gavin team: ability to swim to the bottom of the lake, carry heavy things, excellent balance, and an extreme level of focus. Thanks for all your help Seamus!

Please see our newsletter here with some updates from spring! If you would like a electronic copy, please email gavinlak...
08/06/2026

Please see our newsletter here with some updates from spring! If you would like a electronic copy, please email [email protected]

This week we hosted Quesnel Old Time Fiddlers for their Fiddle 'Treat 2026. Here are photos of all the amazing student g...
08/02/2026

This week we hosted Quesnel Old Time Fiddlers for their Fiddle 'Treat 2026. Here are photos of all the amazing student groups. I don't even play fiddle and I learned so much! So inspiring to see people of all ages advancing in their music!

When reaching your goals, they said hardwork beats talent and intelligence, so now we work harder, not smarter.
07/27/2026

When reaching your goals, they said hardwork beats talent and intelligence, so now we work harder, not smarter.

Address

72 Seventh Avenue S
Williams Lake, BC
V2G4N5

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