Harewood Family of Community Schools Hosts Explorations Camps

With $10,000 in Explorations funding, the Harewood Family of Community Schools in Nanaimo offered five arts camps, along with four sport and recreation camps and 13 combined camps. More than 330 elementary school students from School District 68 Fairview and Georgia Avenue community schools participated in the camps which served Nanaimo's inner city and low-income families.

Explorations activities included swimming, water polo, beach volleyball, lacrosse and Tae Kwon Do as well as hip-hop dancing and racquetball. Activities for All comprised Sport for All and Sports 'N Arts programs. Students engaged in badminton, basketball, and soccer as well as pottery, dance, drama, and drawing. They also created wind chimes and learned cooking skills in a "Kids in the Kitchen" program.

Explorations provided students in kindergarten to Grade 7 with opportunities to explore arts, sport and recreation in summer camp settings. The program, which ran from 2005-2008, served students who were otherwise unable to attend summer camps due to location, local resources or financial limitations. Explorations was supported by the Province of British Columbia.