Third Party Sleepovers In and Around Calgary Area
NOTICE: Many third party service providers (TPSPs) have stopped offering sleepovers during COVID. This list is still provided to help Guiders dream and plan for the future.
There are many third-party organizations in and around Calgary Area that offer wonderful pre-planned sleepovers. Girls have a great time and Guiders get to enjoy “just showing up” while trained facilitators plan and lead high quality activities.
Sleepovers typically start in the evening after dinner and end right after breakfast the next morning. Guiders should confirm current pricing and any other conditions before booking. Calgary Area Guiders must send contracts or agreements to any-contractssouth@girlguides.ca.
Safe Guide Tips for Third Party Service Provider (TPSP) Sleepovers
- Guiders still have to complete Safe Guide paperwork and get it approved.
- Guiders also need to follow the additional Safe Guide rules for using Third Party Service Providers (TPSPs). Read the “TPSP Activity Guide” section of Safe Guide.
- Some TPSPs may have one or more of their own staff stay overnight at the facility with you. The staff can be male or female and both are fine with Safe Guide. Guiders just have to notify caregivers and assessors using the SG.1 and SG.3 forms respectively.
- Save yourself some work and read the questions and criteria in the TPSP Activity Guide in Safe Guide to decide if the SG.7 TPSP Interview Checklist needs to be completed. Guiders will discover that it is NOT required for many of the TPSPs listed here.
Sleepovers In Calgary
Calgary Zoo: Best for Sparks, Embers and Guides. Choice of 3 locations: Canadian Wilds, Penguin or Savannah.
Flip Factory: Best for Sparks, Embers and Guides. Get active on the gym equipment, trampolines, huge airbag pit and reverse bungee.
Glenbow Museum: Best for Embers and Guides. They will relax their supervision ratio for Girl Guide units. They host multiple groups per sleepover including families and the general public. **Sleepovers are suspended while the museum is under renovation. The museum is scheduled to reopen in 2024.**
Heritage Park: Best for Embers and Guides. Enjoy several hands-on engaging historical activities. Sleep in bunks in a converted barn and visit Gasoline Alley in the morning.
Laser City: Best for Pathfinders and Rangers. The overnighter package includes private use of the entire facility all night and light morning refreshments.
Telus Spark Science Centre: The science centre offers set dates with up 150 people per night. They host multiple groups per sleepover. Units will attend with other public groups. Some dates are specified “Girl Guide only” and all participants are female.
Sleepovers Around Calgary
The following sleepover options are within reasonable driving distance from Calgary. You can do them on their own or make the sleepover part of a whole road trip. Units may want to consider booking a bus to make transportation more convenient (and fun!).
Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park: Located approximately 1 hour east of Calgary. Can sleep in the Tipi Village from May through September. Choose a self-directed evening or select from an assortment of hands-on programming.
Bomber Command Museum: Best for Embers and Guides. Located in Nanton. This is a less formal sleepover. Basically you can rent the facility for overnight to sleep amongst the planes. For activities, you can request a guided tour and the website provides a number of self-led activity booklets that you can print. Units have to look after their own meals. There is a basic kitchen on site or you can order food in or go to nearby restaurants.
Frank Slide Interpretive Centre: Offers programming options for all ages (grades K – 12). Located in the Crowsnest Pass, approximately 2 hours SW of Calgary.
Great to combine with a visit to the Bellevue Underground Mine, Crowsnest Museum, Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump and/or Fort Macleod NWMP.
Great Canadian Barn Dance: Best for Pathfinders and Rangers. Located near Waterton Lakes National Park, approximately 2 hours south of Calgary.
This is actually a full-service resort but they offer catered group programs as well. Sample activities include dance lessons, wagon rides, canoeing, making bannock and more.
Reynolds Alberta Museum: Children must be ages 5 – 14. Located in Wetaskiwin, approximately 2 ¼ hours north of Calgary. Choose from four themes: Classic Cars, Kites and Crashes, Blast Off!, Homesteaders Boot Camp.
Royal Tyrell Museum: Children must be ages 5 – 13. Located in Drumheller. The museum offers set dates for sleepovers with maximum 100 people per night. They host multiple groups per sleepover. Units will attend with other groups.