Community Learning

The Innovative Learning Centre

The Innovative Learning Centre is focused on closing the graduation gap. The programs that are offered are grounded in the philosophy of connecting elementary and secondary students to their school community so that students remain engaged in their school and learning community, with the hope that each student will graduate from high school and enroll in post secondary school.

Programs

Eco-Kids on Campus

The Eco-Kids on Campus program began in the 2007-2008 school year. Students from Strathcona Elementary and Wellington Elementary Schools attend the University of Winnipeg one afternoon per week for a 10 week period.  The Innovative Learning Centre runs this program three sessions per year for a total of over 30 weeks per year that students from local elementary schools are attending classes at the University of Winnipeg.  While they are on campus, professors and teachers from the UW’s Faculty of Science, The Collegiate, and guest speakers deliver the grade six science curriculum. Students have the opportunity to participate in a wide range of hands-on scientific and environmental experiments and activities including dissecting squid, experimenting with gravity and magnetic fields, and measuring their own ecological footprint.

The Eco-Kids on Campus program is part of the Shine-On Initiative (a partnership between the Manitoba government, University of Winnipeg and Winnipeg School Division) and is also supported through a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Promo-Science grant, the Winnipeg Foundation and by a generous grant from Enbridge INC.

The Enbridge Eco-Kids on Campus Strathcona School Video, 2011. It was produced by the classroom teacher, Mario Cueto.

The Strathcona Elementary School Grade 6 class prepared this 4 minute video in, A Tap on the Shoulder (2008), about their experience.

Eco-U Summer Kids Camp

The Eco-U Summer Kids Camp has operated every summer since 2007, with over 2000 youth between the ages of 7 and 12 participating so far. The Eco-U Summer Kids Camp is a week-long day camp that is offered for 5 weeks over the summer months.  Students are selected to participate by their home schools.

The University of Winnipeg Eco-U Summer Camp has partnered with local schools to provide this wonderful summer opportunity for students.  The summer camp was initially started to address the learning loss that can occur over the summer months and also to provide a very unique opportunity for students to connect with their local schools during the summer months in a very meaningful and practical way.  All enrollment and camp sign up is done through the local schools.  There are over 40 local schools participating in the summer camp including Shaughnessy Park, Pinkham. Norquay, Cecile Rhodes, Clifton, William Whyte and Weston Schools.   The camp is staffed in part by Junior and Senior leaders who work with the Innovative Learning Centre throughout the school year to receive training in Level 1 coaching, First Aid and CPR and Leadership development seminars.  The junior leaders employed at camp are from local high schools and the senior leaders are typically university students.  By embracing this model, inner city and north end students are getting training throughout their school year to be employed at summer camp.

Children attend a one week session at no cost, and receive free transportation, lunch, snacks, t-shirts, and equipment. Camp activities include hand-on environmental science and sustainability experiments.

The Eco-Kids Summer Kids Camp program is generously supported by the Winnipeg Foundation and is part of the Shine-On Initiative (a partnership between the Manitoba government, University of Winnipeg and Winnipeg School Division).

For further information on the activities of the Innovative Learning Centre please contact:

Geri Zacharias

Acting Director of the Model School
g.zacharias@uwinnipeg.ca

To donate to the Innovative Learning Centre, click here.

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