Youth recreation leaders get creative in training camp
Sessions gave young people skills and knowledge to work in summer day camps across Nunavut
Around 85 youth leaders gathered at the Aqsarniit hotel in Iqaluit last week for four days of training prior to the opening of summer day camps across the territory. (Photo by Arty Sarkisian)
Many things can be made out of pipe cleaners, crayons, wiggly eyes and big red cups.
A mad turkey, for example. An out-of-control squiggly spider. Or maybe your own little elephant in the room.
The Recreation and Parks Association of Nunavut wrapped up its 10th annual summer day camp staff training session last week in Iqaluit, where trainees were asked to get into teams, turn on their imagination and make animals out of those supplies.
Dawn Currie is the outgoing executive director of the Recreation and Parks Association of Nunavut. Last week’s training session was her final event before her retirement June 26. (Photo by Arty Sarkisian)
“It was about getting them to be creative,” said Dawn Currie, the association’s outgoing executive director.
“But it’s also about challenging them, to build their confidence.”
The session started June 17 to June 20. About 85 young leaders aged 15 to 24 travelled to Iqaluit from 13 communities across Nunavut to take part in the session.
They learned techniques and mastered skills they will need to run local summer day camps when they return to their home communities.
“I am kind of sad. The days have passed really fast, but we will go home [Friday] to run our programs,” said Qumangaapik Arnatsiaq, a recreation director in Igloolik who took part in the training.
Since the start of the training program, more than 2,500 young people have become recreation leaders at the annual summer day camps organized for kids aged 5 to 12.
“I think there’s been a lot of great information that will allow the youth leaders and the recreation co-ordinators to go back and hopefully make a difference for those kids,” said Aaron Robinson, executive director of the parks and recreation association.
Recreation and Parks Association of Nunavut executive director Aaron Robinson. (Photo by Arty Sarkisian)
Over the four days of training, young leaders received their First Aid and CPR certification, learned leadership skills and how to make activities inclusive for people with physical and development disabilities.
And just as important, they played games.
“With the summer day camps, you get paid to play games and paint pictures; I always tell them, you guys got the best job in the world,” said Currie.
On Tuesday, Premier P.J. Akeeagok along with Health Minister John Main and Community and Government Services Minister David Joanasie joined the group for lunch.
“We have a younger premier and I think the kids maybe can relate to him a little bit more,” Currie said.
“They see this young person leading the territory, I think that it gives them a little bit of, ‘I can do something too, maybe I’m going to be there next.’”
For Currie, this was the final event she participated in as the main organizer before officially retiring from the Recreation and Parks Association of Nunavut on June 26.
She has been the association’s executive director since its creation in 2012 and has been organizing these training sessions for 10 years.
“She’s done a tremendous job over the 12 years in making a difference in the communities,” said Robinson.
“It’s great to learn from her, and I look forward to carrying on the legacy that she’s established.”
And how much did it cost to fly, feed and accommodate these 85 “camp counselors ” ? Sometimes I feel like some people have never heard of Teams or Skype.
and how will they learn first aid/CPR training through Teams?
867… every time you post a comment, it’s completely negative. This training was to provide youth leaders with skills and certification to return to their communities to work for the summer and provide programs for children. Sometimes, you can’t achieve everything via zoom…the price tag shouldn’t matter, as none of the money came out of your pocket…If you can’t support anything good and wish these youth leaders the best this summer…don’t say anything at all!
Teams and Skype pale in comparison to working with people face to face. And yea, how do you learn hands on skills like First Aid by Skype? Get real.
Some people just come here to [complain] about everything. I think this is a great opportunity and experience for these young people who are have a lot of hard work cut out for them this summer. Good for them.
Biggest waste of taxpayers money