News Release
Quick Facts
Eco-Kids and Enviro-Tech students
UWinnipeg’s
Innovative Learning Centre reaches out to elementary, secondary and
postsecondary Aboriginal and inner-city students and encourages and supports
them so that they stay in school. The centre offers after-school, weekend and
summer camp activities. Funding is generously provided by the Winnipeg
Foundation Moffat Family Fund. All programs remove barriers that hinder
participation and are free of charge for participants including transportation,
nutrition, and all equipment.
At a
glance:
Eco-Kids on Campus:
- The University of Winnipeg’s Innovative Learning Centre offered Eco-Kids on Campus for the first time in 2007-2008 with 40 children graduating from the program.
- The Grade 6 students from Strathcona Elementary School came to The University of Winnipeg every Wednesday afternoon from December, 2007 to March, 2008.
- Educators from The University of Winnipeg’s Faculty of Science, The Collegiate and Strathcona Elementary School delivered the Grade 6 science curriculum within the University campus environment. The students eagerly participated in a wide range of hands-on scientific and environmental experiments and activities.
Eco-Kids after School:
- This program has existed for two years with approximately 100 children participating.
- Recreation workers coordinated through the Innovative Learning Centre deliver after school programs to students from 7 to 12 years old.
- This after-school initiative offers cultural, recreational and academic activities to many inner-city children and youth.
- Participation is free for students and includes transportation, meals, t-shirts and all equipment.
Eco-U Summer Kids Camp:
- Up to 1,000 inner-city children and youth are participating in The University of Winnipeg’s 2nd Annual Eco-U Summer Camp, one of the largest day camp programs in the city aimed at Aboriginal and inner-city youth. Another 35 high school and university students are being employed as leaders in the camp program.
- The day camp runs from July 14 to August 22, 2008 at Sargent Park Arena.
- Children attend for one week each at no cost, including free transportation as well as lunch, snacks, t-shirts and equipment.
- The day camp is divided into four program areas: Fire, Earth, Water and Wind. Activities include hands-on environmental science and sustainability experiments.
- Campers are responsible for tending to a community "pizza" garden and a circle garden at The University of Winnipeg.
- Children learn the seven Ojibway teachings of truth, honesty, respect, wisdom, courage, love and humility; participate in smudging ceremonies; and experience storytellers. Field trips include a daily swim at Sargent Park Pool and visits to the Living Prairie Museum and Assiniboine Forest.
- Last summer 700 children participated in the first-ever Eco-U Summer Camp.
Enviro-Tech Program
- The Innovative Learning Centre at The University of Winnipeg has developed and written The Enviro Tech Course, offered through the UWinnipeg Collegiate. The Enviro Tech Course is taught on campus at UWinnipeg by a certified teacher acting as the co-coordinator for the program.
- This program is generously supported by Manitoba Education Citizenship and Youth.
- Students obtain a Grade 10 high school credit in environmental science.
- The emphasis of this course is developing an understanding of the critical issues facing us as a global community. Students also have the opportunity to work with many partners and community organizations that will further promote environmental awareness, indigenous science and a shared responsibility for caring for people and our planet.
- So far, thirty high school students have completed this course.
- Many Enviro Tech participants become leaders to younger children and are employed in the Eco-U Summer Camp program as counselors.