Welcome to the events page! Let’s start this year off with a BANG!
Details for each event, as well as information on sign ups and logistics can be found here!
No car? No problem! We will organize carpooling spread sheets for these events.
LEAVE NO TRACE! With all our events, VOCO practices a Leave No Trace policy. Please be mindful to leave the environments that we explore in better condition than we found them. All garage and food scapes MUST be brought out with you. As members of VOCO, you too are ambassadors of the great outdoors and we strive to promote environmentally friendly practices and take care of Mother Earth.
VOCO AGM
VOCO AGM will happen on Thursday March 27th, at 6-8pm in EME 2111
AGM:
The AGM is where we come together to recap this year’s club activities, and vote on next year’s Executives. The AGM is also where we vote for the photo contest!
Exec Elections:
If you are interested in becoming an executive next year, please fill out the following form before the AGM!
https://forms.gle/K6CZCk5vAnYhCZAr7
Photo Contest:
- Please submit photos by email to;
events@voc-okanagan.com
- You can upload max 1 photo per category.
- Submissions due by end of day March 26th
- Voting and prizes will happen at the AGM
- In your submission please include your name and the category
Categories:
- VOCO Events
- How the frick did that happen?
- Naked and afraid
- Type 3 fun
- Landscapes
- Wildlife
Reel Rock 19
Join the Varsity Outdoor Club Okanagan (VOCO) for an epic night of world-class climbing films, presented by MEC, Arc'teryx, TW Outdoors, with support from POW and the ACC!
About the Event:
When: - Thursday, March 20th, 6:30-9:30 (Doors open at 6pm)
Where: - Kelowna Community Theatre
Buy tickets: - Ticket Link
About Reel Rock 19:
Reel Rock 19 showcases three world-premiere climbing films spanning disciplines, characters, and continents: a heartfelt story of second chances in love and climbing on Squamish’s legendary Cobra Crack; an outrageous 18-day big wall epic on Patagonia’s towering Torre Central; and the pursuit of a lifelong dream—a 5.15 first ascent—made possible by an unlikely partnership. Reel Rock 19 is on tour worldwide starting March 2025.
DEATH OF VILLAINS: A former child climbing-prodigy confronts his struggle with disordered eating to attempt his life-long dream of climbing a groundbreaking 5.15 first ascent, with the help of an unlikely, and controversial partner.
Featuring: Kai Lightner & Joe Kinder
RIDERS ON THE STORM: Three Belgian big-wallers endure eighteen days of howling snowstorms, frozen feet, and gnarly runouts in their attempt to make a long-coveted alpine first ascent.
Featuring: Siebe Vanhee, Sean Villanueva O’Driscoll & Nico Favresse
THE COBRA & THE HEART: A turbulent 20-year saga of love, loss, and redemption: a whirlwind romance, a crushing defeat on a legendary climb, a religious epiphany, and family betrayal, all building to a desperate bid for a rare second chance—at love, fatherhood, and climbing.
Featuring: Didier Berthod, Thomasina Pidgeon & Cedar Pidgeon
St. Pattys Bar-Bike-Hop
VOCO’s first pub crawl?
Come celebrate St.Patty’s day on sunday March 16th by cruising on bikes to local breweries!
Our plan is to meet at Redbird around 2pm, bike around, make friends, and drink lots of beers from our favorite local breweries!
Show up with a bike of sorts, a lot of green and a desire to darty!
Club Social Night - Curling!
Curling Social Night:
Friday March 14th 8:30-10:30pm @ Kelowna Curling Club
$11 per person for 2 hours of curling fun
Meet at the Kelowna Curling Club just before 8:30 and be ready for an awesome night of curling!
Gals Mountain Bike Ride
Hey lady shredders!
Meet at the base of knox thursday March 13th @ 4pm for a group mountain bike ride!
Stoked to see everyone out there! maybe we’ll swing by Redbird after the ride!
Riders must be able to ride blue and black trails.
Climbing Clinic
Rock climbing anchor building clinic
Two sessions, March 5th and March 12th both at 6:30pm at the VOCO gear locker
Spots are limited to max 8 people for each session.
Don't forget to bring a harness and personal tether!
If you do not have a harness or personal tether we will provide.
Climbing Clinic
Rock climbing anchor building clinic
Two sessions, March 5th and March 12th both at 6:30pm at the VOCO gear locker
Spots are limited to max 8 people for each session.
Don't forget to bring a harness and personal tether!
If you do not have a harness or personal tether we will provide.
Nordic Skiing @ Telemark
Event by UBCO REC
Join us at Telemark Nordic Club for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing fun with $14 ski rentals and $8 snowshow rentals!
Day skiing: 1pm-5pm - Jan. 19, Feb. 9, Mar. 9 - $10 entrance fee
Nigh skiing 4pm-8pm - Jan. 22, Feb. 5, Feb. 26 - $5 entrance fee
Tickets online here
See you on the snow!
Wheeler Hut Ski Trip
Backcountry Adventure Awaits!
Join us for a 3-night backcountry ski trip to the iconic wheeler hut from Feb. 17-20th!
Immerse yourself in stunning alpine beauty, cozy vibes, and unforgettable turns with friends!
Hut cost: $165 / person
Signups: First-come, first-serve! Link goes live here on monday Jan. 20th at 10:00am (PST)
Requirements: AST 1 Certification, Previous backcountry experience
Note: Spaces are limited to 14 individuals!
- - - - - Signup Link - - - - -
Note: Filling out this form does not mean you are signed up for the trip! The first 14 people to meet all the requirements will get a confirmation email on Tuesday!
Glacier Rope Skills Clinic
This clinic is intended to be an introduction to glacier travel and crevasse rescue.
We will meet at the VOCO gear locker from 6:30-8:30pm on Wednesday February 12th, we will demonstrate proper glacier travel techniques and have a chance to practice some crevasse rescue systems.
Below are some videos to watch ahead of time and then we can provide a space to come and practice the skills you learned.
Please watch these videos before coming to the clinic! It will speed up the explanation and give us more time to practice!
Below is a cheat sheet to help you visualize the crevasse rescue systems we will practice:
Signup for the clinic so we can estimate participation:
Please bring any of your own gear such as harness, prussics, tibloc, microtraxions, belay device, slings, carabiners etc. We have enough gear for about 3 systems, however getting to know your own gear is an important part of glacier travel preparation!
Important Note: We are not guides, just keen outdoor enthusiasts willing to share our knowledge with fellow members!
Nordic Skiing @ Sovereign
Event by UBCO REC
Join us at Soverign Lake Nordic Club for cross-country skiing fun with 40% off tickets and $5 rentals!
Day skiing: 8am-4pm - Jan. 18, Feb. 8, Mar. 2
Nigh skiing 4pm-8pm - Jan. 23, Feb. 6, Mar. 6
Tickets online here
See you on the snow!
Movie Night
Its ski season baby!
On February 6th, come out to The Well on the UBCO campus to watch some awesome films, hang out with your friends and get fired up for the rest of the winter!
Doors open at 7pm
Films, presentations, and a raffel from 7:30-9:30pm
Film line-up: “Grown”, “Of a Lifetime”, “Camp Blank”
Quick presentations from POW and ACC-Okanagan
Note: 19+ Event
Nordic Skiing @ Telemark
Event by UBCO REC
Join us at Telemark Nordic Club for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing fun with $14 ski rentals and $8 snowshow rentals!
Day skiing: 1pm-5pm - Jan. 19, Feb. 9, Mar. 9 - $10 entrance fee
Nigh skiing 4pm-8pm - Jan. 22, Feb. 5, Feb. 26 - $5 entrance fee
Tickets online here
See you on the snow!
Big White Girls Shred
Hey girly pops, wanna come shred??
We’re hosting a Kelowna Mountainriders x VOCO girls shred day.
Pull up statuday January 25th for a dope rad AF mob day. All self-identifying females of any level are welcome!
Rough plan: Meet at ridge 10am, get super rad, have so much fun, apres at Snow Shoe Sams. Cant wait to see you there!
Wilderness First Aid 2024
Do you enjoy playing in the mountains? Are you and your adventure buddies prepared to deal with any injuries or other emergencies that may occur? If your answer to the second question is no, then a wilderness first aid course is for you!
We are stoked to facilitate a first aid course again this winter. See below for all you need to know.
WHAT
Two courses are being offered:
Remote First Aid (RFA)
$325
20 hours of instruction offered over the course of one weekend
MINIMUM 8 participants for the course to run. Get your friends to sign up!
Click below for more information on course content:
https://ridgefirstaid.com/remote-fa/
Wilderness First Aid (WFA)
$725
40 hours of instruction offered over the course of two weekends
MINIMUM 8 participants for the course to run. Get your friends to sign up!
This course includes the content of the RFA PLUS additional skills required to take a leadership role in an emergency
Click below for more information on course content:
https://ridgefirstaid.com/awfa/
WHEN
The RFA and the first weekend of the WFA will take place from November 29th to December 1st
Friday 6-8 pm orientation
Saturday and Sunday 8:30 am-6:30 pm
The second weekend of the WFA will take place from March 7th to 9th
Friday 6-8 pm orientation
Saturday and Sunday 8:30 am-6:30 pm
This weekend only applies to folks taking the 40 hr WFA
WHERE
On campus at UBCO. The majority of the course will happen outdoors. Portions may take place in a classroom.
HOW TO SIGN UP
Signups will happen at the gear locker during the following times:
Thursday October 24th → 2:00 - 4:00
Monday October 28th → 11:00 - 1:00
Wednesday October 30th → 3:30 - 5:30
Thursday October 31st → 9:30 - 11:30
You will be able to pay with cash or card
You will need to fill out a waiver
Tofino Surfing
What:
Enjoying the west coast of Vancouver Island and surfing it up!
VOCO is here to help you arrange accommodations and surf rentals at a discounted rate, however we do not teach surfing lessons or provide transportation, it is a self-directed trip with fellow keen outdoor enthusiasts!
It is also the best trip of the year and a crazy fun time!!
When:
We will be arriving in Tofino on Saturday, November 9th and staying until Tuesday, November 12th.
Accommodations:
The Dolphin Motel:
We are stoked to be staying at the Dolphin Motel again this year!! They give us an incredible group rate, and we're very stoked to be returning!
We have enough rooms for 37 people!
Prices are as follows:
#1 kitchenette with 3 beds, sleeps up to 5, $661.20/room
#3, #4 kitchenette with 2 beds, sleep up to 4, $591.60/room
#5 #6 #8 #9, room with 2 beds, sleeps up to 4 per room, $591.60/room
#10, #11, #12, #14, room with 1 bed, sleeps 2 per room, $382.80/room
Note: All motel fees need to be paid in CASH during signups
Camping:
There is also the alternative to book your own accommodations at the local campsites. Prices vary by site, but we would recommend Bella Pacifica Campground, or Surf Grove Campground. Note that VOCO does not have any discount for camping, so if you chose this route you are responsible for booking your own accommodations.
Surf Rentals with Relic:
This year we will be surfing with Relic, and getting an excellent deal!
Rentals will include a board, and wetsuit for 3 days of surf rentals for $80 plus tax.
Note: Surf Rentals will need to be paid on Card during signups
How to Signup?
We will be hosting 4 signup sessions to come and sign up with your group. Please have your group determined ahead of time, and money ready to pay!
At the signup sessions:
Signup for accommodation and pay
Signup for surf rentals and pay
Plan transportation with your group
The following are the dates and times for signing up:
Thursday October 24th → 2:00 - 4:00
Monday October 28th → 11:00 - 1:00
Wednesday October 30th → 3:30 - 5:30
Thursday October 31st → 9:30 - 11:30
Ferry Information:
Book your ferries ASAP as the good sailing times will book up quickly!
When booking a ferry ensure you have enough time to drive to the ferry in Vancouver from Kelowna with lots of time to spare!
If you have questions about which ferry to book don’t hesitate to ask us at signups!
Carpool Sheet:
Typically people drive with the group they are staying with, but if you are struggling to find a ride, here is a carpool spreadsheet to help you find a ride.
Note: if you have a spare seat in your vehicle it is wise to fill it and have an extra person to split gas and ferry fees with!
Climbing Halloween Party
BOO!
Get stoked about the annual VOCO Gneiss Halloween Party! This night is a crowd favorite and has built up quite the reputation around Kelowna. Get ready for a spooooky night of climbing, costumes and kegs!
This event is free for VOCO members, and drop in are $15.00 which include climbing shoe rentals.
What to expect: Bouldering with homies in costumes, cheap beer, costume contest & prizes!
WHEN: October 31, 2024. 6:00pm–till shut down
WHERE: Gneiss Gym (location TBD)
Boulder Fields
Join us for an epic bouldering day at the Kelowna Boulder Fields on Saturday October 12th from 10 AM to 3 PM, proudly supported by Gneiss Climbing!
Let’s crush some routes and enjoy the great outdoors together. See you there!
Note: This will be a self-directed event and will not have any formal instruction or signups.
Caving in the Kootenays
Welcome to VOCO’s first ever caving trip! Our Caving in the Kootenays trip will take place October 4th to 6th and includes a full day guided cave tour of Cody Caves, two nights of camping in the Kootenays, and a visit to the Ainsworth Hot springs after the tour. Underground we’ll be crawling, squeezing, rappelling, and learning about the cave history and formations.
The tour is guided so no caving experience required!
What is happening?
On Friday afternoon we’ll drive to Ainsworth, BC (~ 5-hour drive) where we’ll camp for the night. On Saturday we spend the day with Cody Cave Tours on their adventure tour which is about 7 hours long and spends about 4.5 of those hours underground. In the cave you can expect a mix of crawling, squeezing, and rappelling. We’ll also learn from our guide about the cave environment, its history, and the various formations found throughout the cave. After a long day unground we’ll head to the Ainsworth Hot Springs resort which features hot pools as well as a hot spring in a cave. A great way to relax after a long day crawling around. On Sunday morning we drive home.
What to bring?
For camping:
Camp Stuff (tent and sleeping bag or stuff to sleep in your car)
Cook stuff (camp kitchen with food and water for yourself from Friday night to Sunday morning)
Warm clothes!
For the cave:
Closed toe shoes that can get dirty
Warm clothes – the cave is about 5 degrees Celsius so basically sweater weather, and overalls are provided so your clothes won’t get totally dirty
A water bottle
A snack for the cave (something that won’t make a mess and will fit in a pocket)
For the hot springs:
Swimsuit
Towel
Water
Trip Price: $190 per person - includes guided caving trip, hotspring admission, and camping
How to signup?
Text Will Tilden, our trip planner at (403)-404-1406 with your name to be added to the list!
Please note that we need a minimum of 8 people for the cave guiding, so tell your friends!
Intro to Rock Climbing - Day 2
Intro to rock day 2 is for beginner and intermediate climbers looking to be more independent at crag days with friends and learn skills to help them be safe at the crag on their own. Intro to rock day 2 will take place on Sunday September 29th, the morning after intro to rock day 1 and camping at Idleback Lake.
What you will learn:
Anchor building
Anchor cleaning
Lead climbing skills
Rappelling
Prerequisites:
Proficient at top rope belaying
Moderate climbing ability
Own climbing shoes & harness
Where?
We will spend the day at multiple different crags at Skaha Provincial Park in Penticton, BC – one of Canada’s greatest climbing areas.
Location: Skaha Bluffs Provincial Park, Smythe Dr, Penticton, BC V2A 8W6
When?
Due to the prior evening's shenanigans, we will meet at the skaha parking lot at 10:00am.
WHAT TO BRING:
Climbing gear (bring shoes/harness/helmet if you have it. If not, we have lots for everyone to use!)
Food (lunch, snacks, dinner, and breakfast)
Lots of water
Warm clothing
Sign-Up Details:
Due to the more advanced curriculums we want to keep the instructor to participant ratio higher than day 1, and thus will limit the amount of event signups.
**IMPORTANT NOTE** - you must signup online for the event, as well as come to an inperson session this week to pickup your wristband which is required to attend the event!
Note: You can pickup wristbands at gear hours, or Monday 3:30-4:30, or Wednesday 11-12 at the gear locker
Liability Disclaimer:
The instructors on this trip are NOT professionals, they are just club members and executives with climbing experience who want to spread the stoke.