Big Brothers Big Sisters Weyburn will be offering two, week-long day camps this summer for girls ages eight to 14: Camp I.G.N.I.T.E. will inspire, grow, nourish, imagine, thrive, and empower youth through hands-on learning, positive mentorship, and a lot of fun.
In-School Mentoring Program coordinator Amanda Payne said this is the first year they'll be offering the program, which will run from July 7th to 11th as well as from August 11th to 15th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Registration is open for up to 10 girls per camp.
"We have different events going on every single day," she shared. "It's free to attend. Lunches and snacks are included."
"We're going to collaborate with the [Weyburn Public] Library, so we're going to do an activity there. We have an entrepreneur coming out that's going to talk about what it's like to run a business as a female in today's economy. And then we're also going to tour the museum and we are going to partner with the Weyburn Police [Service], we'll do an activity there."
Some of the activities, such as at the library and with the entrepreneur, will include making crafts.
"We are doing like menstruation demonstrations and self-esteem workshops and mental health workshops and a whole bunch of different things."
Payne said the age range of eight to 14 is dynamic with part of the intention being for the older girls to mentor the younger ones. The programming will be facilitated by two senior high school students from Weyburn Comprehensive School who are also in-school mentors, with Payne on hand to monitor the program.
She noted they hope to help establishing a sense of community between the young people and the mentors.
"The mentors are generally high school students, so they're also going to talk about their transition from elementary school into the Comp. So that will help the 14-year-olds learn what it's like to transition from from that elementary, Grade 6, into the Grade 7 at the Comp."
Registration is as easy as finding one of the many posters (see below) around Weyburn, which features a QR code, emailing to amanda.payne@bigbrothersbigsisters.ca , or calling 306-842-4050.
"We're definitely open-minded and willing to help as we can," she added. "It's all about building that friendship and that trust in that community as well."
