School’s out, the fun’s set to start

Young musicians practice at the 2011 Igloolik Arts and Music Spring Break Camp. A new schedule of music camps has been launched for the summer in five Nunavut communities. (PHOTO BY MAREN VESTULA)

Michel Rheault, the recreation programs coordinator for the city of Iqaluit, says there are plenty of programs to keep kids active this summer. (PHOTO BY SARAH ROGERS)

While another school year winds down, summer activities for youth in Iqaluit and across Nunavut are set to launch.

In Iqaluit, kids have a few different choices to keep both their brains and bodies active over the summer.

The city’s summer day camps begin June 27 for kids aged 6 to 12.

The weekly camps run over a period of eight weeks; each with a different theme, such as Christmas in July or the Olympics.

“Their main mission is to promote creativity and make sure (youth) have a chance to be active,” said Michel Rheault, a recreation programs coordinator with the city. “They’re a chance for kids to get their hands dirty.”

There are only 100 spots available for each week of the camp and those spots are already filling up quickly, Rheault said. Day campers can register for $25 a week.

The weekly camp operates in English, but many staffers speak Inuktitut, he added.

Apex hosts its own municipal camp through the summertime, which operates as a drop-in program weekdays from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Both camps run from June 27 until Aug. 19.

Youth looking for more sports-related activities can also register for the city’s multi-sport program, which offers a variety of games for young athletes from softball, basketball and Frisbee.

Iqaluit’s public pool is gearing up for summer, Rheault said, with plans for more family-oriented programs like the free, discounted and family swims.

The city’s recreation department is also hard at work planning for its annual Canada Day festivities, which will include a pancake breakfast, a parade, children’s activities and a barbeque to follow.

Visit www.city.iqaluit.nu.ca for more information.

Nunavut Arctic College is coordinating another round of science day camps and this year’s theme is “science of the every day.”

The week-long camp will run from July 25 to July 29 at Nunavut Arctic College’s main campus in Iqaluit. Youth between the ages of eight and 13 may register for 30 spots, at a cost of $25.

The science camps have been offered to the community through the Nunavut Research Institute for more than 10 years, said coordinator Rick Armstrong.

This year’s program, delivered by a non-profit group called ACTUA, will include a look at solar stills (for heating water), skeletons, dentistry and hydraulics, Armstrong said.

Participants should register by calling (867) 979-7280.

On a musical note, the Iqaluit music society has just launched its season of music camps across the territory.

The week-long camps are open to youth age 8 and up, free of charge and music instruments are provided.

The camp schedule varies slightly from community to community, but camps can offer instruction in guitar, fiddle, hip hop dance and throat-singing, said camp coordinator Andrew Morrison.

Here are some dates for upcoming camps:

• Igloolik’s camp started June 20 and runs until June 24;

• The dates for the Clyde River camp are tentatively scheduled for July 11-15. Registration has yet to begin;

• Rankin Inlet’s camp will run from July 25 to 30. Participants can register with Kathleen at (867) 645-2695;

• Pangnirtung’s camp runs from Aug. 8 to 12; call the youth centre to register at (867) 473-8020;

• Iqaluit’s camp runs last, from Aug. 22 to 26; participants can call call Darlene at (867) 975-7915.

The end of each music camp is celebrated though a public performance, Morrison said, when the community is invited to see the students’ progress.

All camps run from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and then 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., excluding Iqaluit’s camp, which goes from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 pm.