There's a lot of splashing and happy shrieking in the West pool at the University of Alberta this summer as kids from all over Edmonton take the plunge into camps and activities galore at the University. And once more the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation is lending a hand to families who don't have the money to do that.
Last year the Faculty began offering camps to inner city kids from single parent and/or economically-disadvantaged homes, and this year the kids have been enjoying a multitude of summer sport and activity camps run by the faculty thanks to a generous infusion of cash from the Servus Kids Foundation.
"We have teamed with Servus Kids Foundation, Edmonton Public Schools and Edmonton Catholic Schools this year to provide a summer camp experience to close to about 60 youngsters," says Cindi Berg, manager, Development for the faculty. "We are very grateful for their help and really pleased that the Servus Kids Foundation has stepped forward to provide the all-important financial backing to make this possible."
Servus Kids Foundation has donated $10,000 to help cover facility usage, sporting equipment, hiring of instructors/coaches, transportation of campers to and from the University, some of their meals while at camp and items like camp tee-shirts, and take-home souvenirs such as a basketball or volleyball to keep after the camp.
"As chair of the Servus Kids Foundation I see how important programs like this U of A sports camp are and how critical it is that they seek out underprivileged children to participate," says Karen Anderson, chair, Servus Kids Foundation. " We are incredibly proud to be partnering to provide opportunities to these children they wouldn't otherwise have." The foundation is a strong supporter of children in need. "Over the past 12 years, the Foundation has donated more than $500,000 to programs and charities for disadvantaged kids throughout Alberta," adds Anderson.
The camps, for seven to 18 year olds, have exposed children and youths who might not otherwise have had an opportunity to attend camps like these, with the chance to enjoy a wide range of recreational activities and to try their hands at different sports. Kids have been able to enjoy soccer, basketball, volleyball, indoor wall climbing, kayaking, skateboarding, aquatics, fun and fitness camps and a host of combo camps that offer an appealing mix of activities and sports.
The goals of the initiative are to enable disadvantaged children and youths in Edmonton's inner city neighbourhoods with an opportunity to attend summer camp and enjoy recreational and sporting activities in a welcoming, inclusive environment, as well as to provide positive wellness/activity/education experiences for participants by engaging them in these camps.
"As a faculty we believe strongly that it's also important to introduce youngsters to the University of Alberta through our summer camps, instructors, and our facilities," says Berg. "We hope that through communicating and interacting with our student instructors, we'll expose these children and youths to positive role models. We want to help open these young minds to the possibility of future opportunities in higher education at the U of A."
Last year the Faculty was able to raise funds for over 150 children to attend the camps, and hopes to do so next year again. "We hope that we'll be able to attract more funding to this very worthwhile project," says Berg. "Financing something of this magnitude requires a significant infusion of resources. The faculty readily provides the facilities but we rely heavily on our donors to help us with funds for instructors, transportation, meals and other items to make this camp experience a memorable one for these deserving youngsters."
More information about the Servus Kids Foundation at http://www.servuscu.ca/nav_in_the_community/kids+foundation/default.htm