Mini Voyageurs having fun on Laurentian’s campus this summer
Laurentian University’s Voyageurs Summer Youth Camps, operated by the Campus Recreation Team, offer unique childcare services that encourage youth development through a variety of activities.
Voyageurs camps began in early July and will run through September 3rd. So far this summer, the camps have welcomed hundreds of youth to campus who have acquired leadership and team building skills.
For the 6 to 13 year olds, the outdoor adventure camp and multisport camp alternate weekly. The outdoor adventure camp offers various outdoor activities including canoeing, kayaking, fishing, hiking and wilderness survival training (building shelter, lighting campfires, tying knots, etc.). The multi-sport camp offers a variety of indoor and outdoor sporting activities including hockey, basketball, soccer, ultimate frisbee, badminton, volleyball and squash.
The Mini Voyageurs camp for children aged four to five is offered throughout the summer and includes a combination of outdoor adventure camp and multisport camp activities, as well as initiatives that together encourage teamwork and creativity.
Voyageurs summer camps also offer sports-specific camps for basketball, soccer, and baseball. These camps are led by coaches and athletes from the Laurentian Sports Team. The participating youngsters learn sporting rules and techniques as well as how to be a good team player and accept defeat.
All camps use facilities that are available on campus, including four full-size gymnasiums, two squash courts, a beach volleyball court, a challenge course (called a tango tower), three soccer fields, and four tennis courts.
Camps are not only made possible by Campus Recreation staff, but also by Laurentian students, who are “camp counselors” who encourage teamwork and resilience among campers while ensuring the safest environment for all camp activities. Camps also accepts volunteers from high school students to help plan and conduct camp activities, a great way for students to complete community service hours.
Commenting on the commitment of the camp counselors, Jean Benoit, Campus Recreation Coordinator, said: “The counselors are students who really care and are there for the children. You’ve put in so many more hours than you see during the day. They are patient and work hard.”
Shaelynne Wallace, Voyageurs camp supervisor and third-year Concurrent Education student, described her passion for working with the participating campers: “Each year I get excited to watch the kids try new things, step out of their comfort zones and make new friends and memories. Working at the camp has helped me think quickly, improve my leadership skills and learn to collaborate on ideas with different people. Summer camp work really is the best way to spend the summer!”
To learn more about Voyageurs summer youth camps, contact [email protected] or visit the Voyageurs website or Laurentian University Facebook page.