The Recreation and Parks Association of Nunavut (RPAN) said it brought together over 2,000 children across 17 communities in the territory to participate in its signature youth initiative this summer.
The Get Happy Summer Day Camp is taking place in six more communities than it did last year: Cambridge Bay, Gjoa Haven, Kinngait, Qikiqtarjuaq, Pangnirtung, and Sanirajak, according to Kerby Corcoran, RPANSA国际影视传媒檚 programs manager.
Youth from five to 12 years old began attending the camps that started between June 20 and 30, depending on the community, and are expected to run six to eight weeks.
Arts and crafts, cultural activities unique to each community, and weekly challenges are all a part of the campersSA国际影视传媒� daily fun, Corcoran explained.
To help guide those Nunavumiut children during the camp, 114 youth leaders were trained in mid-June.
Two youth leaders in Iqaluit, Keira Qamaniq and Ayva-Lin Noah, said the camp has been tons of fun even with the additional participants.
SA国际影视传媒淭his year I feel like thereSA国际影视传媒檚 more kids than weSA国际影视传媒檝e had in my past years,SA国际影视传媒� Qamaniq, whoSA国际影视传媒檚 in her third year as a youth leader, said in a phone interview.
Qamaniq and NoahSA国际影视传媒檚 group is roughly 30 campers, and is only one of a handful in Iqaluit alone.
Every week, campers have a different theme of Inuit culture to take part in.
Iqaluit campers played Inuit games in the first week of July, and the second week will cover nature exploration, including picking flowers, berries, and everyone wearing green, Qamaniq and Noah explained.
Both leaders are well prepared to manage the children, Noah said, praising RPANSA国际影视传媒檚 ability to prepare them for the summer job.
SA国际影视传媒淭here was first aid and CPR training, they were teaching us games to play with the kids like ice breakers or just games we could play when we had nothing else to do,SA国际影视传媒� Noah said.
More youth leaders were trained this year due to the increased number of communities taking part, which has more than tripled since the camp began operating 10 years ago.
Training those youth leaders has a major payoff down the road, Corcoran said.
SA国际影视传媒淲hen the kids see the youth leaders in the communities, they are going to be excited. The youth leaders essentially are becoming role models to the younger generation,SA国际影视传媒� Corcoran said.
Qamaniq and Noah said the best part of the camp for them was making friends with the campers and the coworkers, something Corcoran echoed.
Making children smile and being a part of a team is probably the best part of running the Get HAPPY Summer Day Camp, according to Corcoran.
SA国际影视传媒淲e tell the recreation staff and youth leaders that it is a marathon, not a sprint. It is a long summer, but also provides the youth leaders with a rewarding experience,SA国际影视传媒� Corcoran said.
