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.
Tofino
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 Friday, November 14th and staying until November 17th.
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 can be found at this link: Link for room prices
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 choose this route, you are responsible for booking your own accommodations.
Surf Rentals with Live to Surf:
This year we will be surfing with Live to Surf and getting an excellent deal!
All rental prices can be found at this link: Surf rental prices
How to Sign Up?
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:
Sign up for accommodation and pay
Sign up for surf rentals and pay
Plan transportation with your group
The following are the dates and times for signing up:
The dates will be posted shortly; in the meantime, keep an eye out on our Instagram for the information.
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.
You can access the carpool Sheet at this link: Carpool Sheet
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!
VOCO Run Club
Hey VOCO! This weeks run club will be a chill ~6km road run on Abbott street. Meet at Strathcona beach park on Tuesday at 6pm. Don’t forget your headlamp & good vibes! :)
Gneiss 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 Climbing - OG BANKS, 430 Banks Rd #101, Kelowna, BC V1X 6A3
VOCO Girls Group Ride!
This is an event for the Gals!! If you have a bike and are interested in meeting some really cool people this is the event for you. We will be meeting on the 23rd of October at Knox mountain by the tennis court.
This is an event for all levels (beginner to shredder)! Everyone is welcome, so show up and have a blast!
Voco Run Club
This week (Tuesday) we will be meeting on campus at 6pm in G Lot for a 7km loop! We will be running in the quail trails (and will be doing the route we had originally planned 2 weeks ago).
Make sure to bring your head lamps as it will be getting dark as we run! If you don’t have one, we will supply some.
As always feel free to walk, run, or do both. See you there!
https://www.strava.com/routes/3410457717071222972!
Intro to Rock
Feel the STOKE for our biggest event of the year, happening September 27th–28th, 2025. Intro to Rock is a rock climbing event that is open to everyone! Whether this is your first time climbing or you have been flashing 5.12s all summer, THIS EVENT IS FOR YOU!
This is one of our best events to kick off the school year, meet new friends and find some new belay partners for future epic days. We will have volunteers there that will help guide you through the climbing procedures and teach you how to safely climb and belay on top rope.
Where is this happening? 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)
After a hard day of sending projects at the crag, the good times continue with a big camp out at the Idleback Lake campground where we celebrate a great day of climbing and being outside!
How to get to Idleback Lake recreation site.
Link to the address
From Skaha to Idleback - 45 min
From Idleback to UBCO - 1h 20
WHAT TO BRING:
1. Climbing gear (bring shoes/harness/helmet if you have it. If not, we have lots for everyone to use!)
2. Food (lunch, snacks, dinner, and breakfast)
3. Lots of water
4. Camping gear (tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad)
5. WARM CLOTHING (BRING EXTRA SOCKS!) The weather is unpredictable and you'd better be ready for anything! It can get pretty chilly camping up at Idleback Lake during the night!
Don’t have everything you need? Get in contact with our Gear Masters and come check out our gear locker to rent equipment!
We will run a morning and an afternoon session of climbing. Keep your eyes peeled for more information coming out about sign ups as we have limited spots available for this event.
Morning sesh: 9:00 am-12:00 pm (meet at parking lot at 8:30)
Afternoon sesh: 12:00-3:00 pm (meet at parking lot at 11:30)
Get ready for a wicked day with rad people, learning new skills and making friends! We look forward to seeing everyone at Skaha!
Sign-up Forms
Morning climbing sesh sign up
Afternoon climbing sesh sign up
Carpool Sheet
If you want to participate in Intro to Rock but you don’t have a way to get to Skaha, or you have a car with some extra unused seats, this is where you wanna look. Click the link to access the carpool sheet.
Volunteer Sign-ups
If you are looking to help and teach people how to climb, this could be for you. To be a volunteer, you should be capable of climbing 5.9, teaching top-rope belaying, and setting up and cleaning anchors safely. If you have any doubts about your experience, feel free to shoot us a message to inquire first!
The form below signs you up to be a volunteer; however, we will also be hosting a mandatory volunteer information session on the evening of Wednesday, September 24th (might be some pizza!), to discuss the event expectations in further detail. (more information to come this week)
Mount Begbie Backpacking Trip
Welcome to the first VOCO backpacking trip of the year! Our Mount Begbie Backpacking Trip will be happening on September 20th– 21st. This one-night trip is a fantastic hike that explores the Monashee Mountain range out of Revelstoke, BC. This trip is geared towards folks who have experience with hiking with a heavy pack and are stoked to do a steep journey to a beautiful destination.
What is happening?
We will be driving out to Revelstoke (which is about 2-2.5 hours) on the morning of September 20th. We will hike up Mount Begbie Summit Trail to an epic campsite about 6km up the trail with 1300 m of elevation. You might think this seems pretty short, but it’s SUPER steep. No one will be left behind, but make sure you know what you are getting yourself into and are prepared for a 4-8 hour day, depending on how fast you go! This is not a guided hike, so you can move at your own pace with your buddies! You and your crew will be responsible for your own food and trip planning. Once we are at the top, we will set up camp and have an awesome evening. We will all camp in the same zone and enjoy a beautiful evening and morning at the base of Mount Begbie. We will return back to Kelowna on Sunday.
WHAT DO YOU NEED?
Hiking boots/shoes
Warm clothes (expect temperatures to drop below freezing, so bring LOTS of layers)
Toque and gloves
Thermal layers
Fleece/warm sweater
Rain jacket
Insulating jacket
Headlamp
Tent (can be shared between friends)
Sleeping bag
Sleeping pad
Food (bring enough grub for snacks, lunch, and dinner on the first day, and for the second day, breakfast and snacks for the hike out)
2-3 L of water (there is glacial water near the campsite that can be used for cooking, drinking, etc., but you will need a filter or purification tablets!)
SNACKS SNACKS SNACKS
Sunscreen and bug spray are recommended
First aid kit and personal hygiene items
Backpack to fit everything!!
Remember to check out our stocked gear locker to rent equipment if you don’t have certain items from the list above! We will also be running an intro to backpacking seminar before the trip to help out the newbies!
GETTING THERE:
Directions from UBCO: Once in Revelstoke, drive south on Highway 23 about 2.5 km past the Mount Macpherson Cross Country Day Lodge and you will see the trailhead sign on the right.
Parking lot: BC-23, Revelstoke, BC V0E 2S1
Sign-Up Details:
This event has no maximum capacity.
Click the link below to access the sign-up form.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd8JFCosR7WlXQQNqHttx9Zyl7X-12YvDfW0wHFQPW_PWDoYw/viewform
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.
Weekly Kelowna Rock Band Outdoor Climb
ACC Okanagan’s weekly group outdoor climbing session, based on various crags in and around Kelowna. Open to all members and abilities, beginners welcome. Location of the meeting will be shared soon (On the Website and the Instagram). The evening traditionally ends with a tailgate BBQ and beverage.
Weekly Kelowna Rock Band Outdoor Climb
ACC Okanagan’s weekly group outdoor climbing session, based on various crags in and around Kelowna. Open to all members and abilities, beginners welcome. Location of the meeting will be shared soon (On the Website and the Instagram). The evening traditionally ends with a tailgate BBQ and beverage.
John's family climbing day & BBQ
ACC Okanagan’s traditional climbing season kick off. Come and climb for the day, followed by a parking lot BBQ and Social. This event is held at John’s Family Nature Conservancy Regional Park.
Voco Run Club
Come join us for our summer run club. We will be running at Knox mountain and everyone is welcome. We will be meeting by the tennis courts.
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!
Have an idea for an event? shoot us an email!