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Nunavut parks group aims to expand day camp program

The "Get Happy Summer Day Camp", a pilot project set up by the Recreation and Parks Association of Nunavut in partnership with local communities, has been well received and could expand to 15 communities next summer.

More than 500 children age five to 12 from Igloolik, Hall Beach, Pond Inlet, Arctic Bay and Clyde River have been attending the five-week camps.

"The goal was to get them out and get them active physically and creatively," said Dawn Curry, the executive director at Recreation and Parks Nunavut. "Give them an opportunity to have fun."

The Recreation and Parks Association of Nunavut is a non-profit group that launched in 2012, with the goal of promoting healthy and active communities. The group received funding through the Qikiqtani Inuit Association and Kakivak to train young leaders before the first camps were launched.

"We wanted to build resources for day camp staff training, because right now in Nunavut, there are none available," said Curry.

A week-long training took place in Iqaluit this past June, where 25 young leaders were flown in from across the territory to learn first-aid, leadership, special event and team building skills.

Curry says young leaders in Arctic Bay, where 130 kids attend camp daily, came out on top.

"One in particular was Gideon Allurut from Arctic Bay, who right from the get go was happy and excited to be there. I think he told me this was his dream job, and I thought that was awesome, because we needed this kind of attitude towards the community and the kids," she said.

Next June, the Recreation and Parks Association will train a new group of day camp leaders with the help of this year's staff.

Curry said their goal is to expand the pilot project to 15 communities next year, but says that will depend on funding and community participation and commitment to the program. Exact locations have yet to be determined.

The pilot project runs until August 10.