As the days get sunnier and school lets out, the University of Calgary is preparing to welcome over 10,000 summer campers to campus in the coming months.
The 2023 UCalgary Summer Camps slate is about 90 per cent full already, with one of the most popular camps offering children with disabilities the opportunity to explore the world of sports and try new things.
The Adapted Sport and Recreation Camp is entering its sixth year, and it brings in a variety of adapted sports organizations from throughout Calgary to provide the opportunity for each camper to experience a trial of the adapted physical activity programming these organizations offer throughout the year.
“It’s like a sampler of all the different sports,” says Evan Smibert, the Mini University program co-ordinator.
UCalgary Active Living teams up with The Calgary Adapted Hub powered by Jumpstart to ensure the camp can be offered at a reduced, affordable rate. The camp will run for two weeks in August, the first week for students entering Grades 4 to 7 and the second week for those entering Grades 8 to 11.
This year, the campers will get to try out sit volleyball, wheelchair basketball, sledge hockey, boccia, and fencing.
Some camp spots still available
There are still some spots available in other exciting camp offerings. Among these is the Teen Songsmiths camp, where campers will work with a high school music teacher to explore song writing and composing.
“They’ll actually get to record a song by the end of the week as well, so that’s something they can take away,” says Smibert.
Logan Jones, the youth program manager for UCalgary Active Living, says while many of the camps are full this year, parents should keep an eye out for the wide variety of camps on offer at the university next summer.
“We offer 70 to 80 camps throughout the summer, so there is something for everyone,” says Jones.
The summer camps offer an introduction to the university environment for kids, including particular academic areas like design, geography, and math.
The wide array of offerings also means there are plenty of job opportunities for current UCalgary students to lead and help out with the camps. This year, approximately 300 students have been hired to further their education and experience by working with the summer camps.
“Almost every department on campus has a camp now, so it’s a great way for kids to get familiar with what the university offers,” says Jones.
