The Scout

Local notes for Greater Vancouver parents

Camp guides, neighbourhood finds, provider stories, and the occasional hot take — written for parents who actually live here.

What $10 a Day Daycare Is Really Like, From a North Vancouver Parent Who Got InHot Takes

What $10 a Day Daycare Is Really Like, From a North Vancouver Parent Who Got In

All three of my kids have been in a $10 a day daycare in North Vancouver since 2021. Here is what the program actually saved us, how hard it was to get a spot, and the honest advice I wish someone had given me.

Jul 206 min read0
5 Things I've Learned as a Baseball ParentParents POV

5 Things I've Learned as a Baseball Parent

A few seasons in, here's what I wish someone had told me before my kid's first season: the time, the volunteering, the sideline tension, the coaching, and the gear you don't need.

Jul 84 min read0
How Soccer Powerhouses Are Really Built (and What It Means for Your Kid)Parents POV

How Soccer Powerhouses Are Really Built (and What It Means for Your Kid)

The World Cup lit a fire under a lot of Canadian kids this summer. Here's how nations like Argentina and Portugal actually produce world-class players, and why the best thing you can do right now is keep it local and keep it fun.

Jul 63 min read0
Ticks and Outdoor Camp: What BC Parents Should Know This SummerSeasonal

Ticks and Outdoor Camp: What BC Parents Should Know This Summer

My kids start outdoor camp soon and I realized I knew almost nothing about ticks. Here's the parent version, pulled from BC health sources: how to prevent bites, how to check, and how to remove a tick the right way.

Jul 24 min read0
How Parents Pick a Summer Camp (and the Part That's Nearly Impossible)Parents POV

How Parents Pick a Summer Camp (and the Part That's Nearly Impossible)

Cost, location, activity, friends. Every parent runs the same mental checklist when camp season hits. Here's what's really on it, and the one factor that's almost impossible to judge before you pay.

Jun 64 min read0
The Bridges Will Betray You: Keep Your Kid's Activities on the North ShoreHot Takes

The Bridges Will Betray You: Keep Your Kid's Activities on the North Shore

A few times a year both bridges jam at once and the whole North Shore grinds to a halt. If your kid's program is across the water when it happens, you have a problem. Here's the case for staying local.

Jun 43 min read0
The last-minute summer camp guide for North Vancouver parentsSeasonal

The last-minute summer camp guide for North Vancouver parents

It happens to the best of us. You meant to sort out summer back in March, then life happened, and now it's June and you're staring at eight unscheduled weeks like they're a cliff edge. Take a breath. There are still good spots out there if you move quickly.

Jun 32 min read1