CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Seven-year-old Willa Cameron said Holland College’s day camp has been the highlight of her March break.
Cameron said she wakes up every morning and can’t wait to get there.
“My favourite thing about camp is spending time with all of my friends,’’ the soft-spoken youngster said.
Willa is one of 80 children, ranging in age from 5 to 12, taking part in the college’s Canes Camp this week.
“Playing games like card games and the tag game,’’ Alexis McKinnon, 10, says to Willa when they start talking about what activities are the most fun.
“Oh, I almost forgot about how much I love going to Shining Waters during water week,’’ Willa responds, thinking ahead to the college’s summer camp.
“I’ve been coming to (March break) camp for six years, and it keeps getting better every year,’’ Alexis says.
“We tend to try and keep the same staff throughout the school year and the summer, so the children become familiar with them.’’
- Lori-Beth Dwyer
This is the sixth year Holland College has operated a licensed day camp. Being licensed means the college is under the same guidelines as any licensed daycare or early learning centre.
As it is with any day camp, the purpose is to help children gain self-esteem, self-confidence, learn from new experiences, make new friends and create memories.
The college runs its camps from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. during provincewide PD days, March break and for nine weeks in the summer.
Lori-Beth Dwyer, the academy and camp co-ordinator, said most of the children in the camps come from Charlottetown, Stratford and Cornwall, but they do get some children from points east and west.
“It’s convenient for (parents) that work in Charlottetown,’’ Dwyer said. “Also, in the summer, we get some from off-Island, (from) parents who are vacationing and (send) their kids to camp.’’
The big activity on Wednesday was a giant inflatable bouncy castle. The kids will be going bowling on Friday. Activities also include working on computers, gym sports, arts and crafts, board games, card games and dance classes.
In addition, March break camp includes outdoor time at the nearby Joe Ghiz Park.
“They can choose whatever suits them,’’ Dwyer said.
Ten Holland College students are hired on to act as camp counsellors each year and will work at each of the different camps.
“We tend to try and keep the same staff throughout the school year and the summer, so the children become familiar with them.’’
