MRU Kids Wraps Up for Another Summer
From July 7 through August 29, MRU Kids welcomed 2,180 children and youth aged 5 to 17 to one and two-week day camps at Mount Royal University.
From Administrative Supervisor Joanna Franconeri, here are some highlights of this year’s MRU Kids programs.
2014 was a year of change and creativity
- MRU Kids introduced a physical literacy program. In cooperation with Nadine Van Wyk, BPhEd, we developed an active and intuitive recreation program. The program, named PLAY for short, was designed to help campers experience physical activity outside of organized sports. Through MRU Recreation, our campers had an opportunity to try Zumba and yoga, and understand the value in maintaining an active lifestyle. The PLAY program was supported by the Move & Play Through Physical Literacy activity book, created by Alberta’s Be Fit for Life initiative.
- Face-painting was a huge success for our younger campers. Allowing their inner butterflies and dragons to come through, campers had an opportunity to add some excitement to their day.
- A new approach to training our staff members (group leaders and camp instructors) was formally applied this year. All staff attended a three-day orientation that focused on team building, safety and problem solving. Dean Charles F. Webber and Program Director Christina White Prosser began our orientation with words of advice and encouragement. Nadine Van Wyk led the staff in PLAY activities — this hands-on learning was fundamental to the program’s success.
What’s next for MRU Kids?
- 2015 will mark our 25th anniversary. To mark this milestone MRU Kids is revitalizing the components that made this camp a success 25 years ago. We will be introducing new curriculum and reviving past successes. Under development is an old favourite: a Broadway-style camp where campers learn and perform plays while developing their technical skills. Brand new to the MRU Kids roster is a counselor-in-training camp designed to help teens refine their leadership skills and gain valuable experience working with children.
- Camp schedules and registration for the 2015 MRU Kids session will be available in early March at mtroyal.ca/mrukids.
Check out more MRU Kids camp photos on our Facebook photo album.
— by Karen McCarthy
I love this!! Sometimes the simplest activities are the most thought-provoking and engaging for kids. Thanks for sharing.
Rohan