It's a new beginning for New Beginnings summer day camp.
The program, officially titled New Beginnings: The Connection for Aboriginal Children, which in Thompson is run in conjunction with the Ma-Mow-We-Tak Friendship Centre and uses their facilities on Beaver Crescent, has expanded its summer offerings to include a week-long day camp capable of holding up to 20 students.
In past years, they didn't have the resources to staff a full day camp, explained Verna Beardy of New Beginnings, and were limited to offering programs on a limited basis during the summer. This year, thanks to a couple of new permanent staff members and the assistance of some students hired for the summer, New Beginnings is offering weekly camps for students aged three to five (a similar camp in the same building is being run for students aged six to 12). "It gives them an opportunity to learn and have fun in a safe environment," Beardy said.
While the older kids are at camp for the whole day, the younger group is split into two sections - one during the morning, and one during the afternoon. According to camp leader Michelle Laquette, activities include arts and crafts, outdoor play at nearby parks, and visits to the zoo, library, airport, and virtually every other destination in Thompson. Regular contact is also maintained with elders at the Northern Spirit Manor, with the kids bussed over to visit them and the elders likewise being bussed to Beaver Crescent to watch the kids.
Beardy notes that the camp is "part of the government's restitution for residential schools," and that they can only get their funding from the federal government if their programs are reserved for aboriginal youth exclusively.
New Beginnings programs are offered year-round as a pre-school program designed to prepare children for school and to "provide a safe, comfortable and friendly environment to establish lifelong learning through culture, language, education, health promotion, nutrition and social support programs with parental community involvement." The fall 2010 program is currently full, but Beardy suggests that anybody interested in signing their children up should call New Beginnings and take a spot on their waiting list.
New Beginnings also runs programs in Wabowden and Thicket Portage, although neither of them are offering week-long day camps at this point due to lack of staff.
