Games begin for Nunavut youth

TINA ROSE

Across the territory, most recreation coordinators are preparing for a summer of fun activities for youth in their communities.

Cambridge Bay will be running an eight-week day camp for kids aged five to 13. Camp activities include swimming, crafts, land activities and theme weeks. Participants will have the option of taking part in a computer school at Arctic College to learn about websites and digital pictures as well.

The week of July 11 Mad Science will be delighting the day camp participants with a display of wacky experiments that invites the audience to get excited about science and learning.

Canada Day will be another great day for youth in Cambridge Bay to get involved in community activities. There will be ball hockey, basketball and soccer tournaments, an all-day barbecue, and events such as a three-legged race, piñata, and limbo.

In Gjoa Haven, two playground leaders are organizing games to keep kids busy over the summer, and the recreation coordinator, Paul Puqiqmik, is busy planning events for Canada Day and Nunavut Day. Playground leaders organize games daily, such as relay races.

“We try to have some programs for the youth, like relay races, something to look forward to every day,” said Puqiqmik.

During the day, activities are organized at the basketball court and the baseball diamond. Weekly movie nights are being organized at the community hall.

In Resolute Bay this summer, everyone will be playing baseball. Recreation has set up time slots for ages 6-12, 13-19, and 20 and up, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Other summer programs are in the works. In the evenings, the school gym is open for youth to play basketball.

The Rankin Inlet recreation department has a staff of five summer students to help coordinate summer activities for young people. Youth in Rankin Inlet can go swimming, ride their bicycles on the bike track, or go out and play baseball this summer.

At the youth baseball diamond, games are organized every afternoon. Recreation is trying to target youth aged 5-18 with their summer programs. Playgrounds are under construction and plans are in the works for outdoor three-on-three basketball tournaments.

Although Qikiqtarjuaq has run summer programs in the past, this summer nothing has been organized and youth will be left to make their own fun. Past summer’s activities have included summer camps and activities at the community hall.