Many children in the Energy City are keeping busy and entertained with many of the summer activities going on at local parks. From Nature Smarts, to Summer English Fun, there is a little bit of everything for kids participating in the programs.
Children participating in Nature Smarts were acquainted with a great deal of fun under the sun, at Hillcrest and Rusty Duce Park, with reading, physical activities, games and crafts.
“It’s a great way to keep kids reading throughout the summer. This is my first year in charge, and so far, we’re getting a lot of good feedback,” said Kim Marshall, literacy co-ordinator with the Estevan Area Literacy Group. “Since we are a literary group, we’re trying to make these activities fun, but educational.”
On Tuesday, children busied themselves painting clouds, partaking in an assortment of games, such as red light/green light, freeze tag and “What Time Is It, Mr. Wolf?” in Hillcrest Park. The activities for the Nature Smarts align with a daily theme. Tuesday’s theme was one nature and Earth science, so many of the activities corresponded with that. Activities included children making thermometers, and a demonstration on how to create a cloud in a bottle.
“We’re full this year, for Nature Smarts,” said Marshall, adding that Nature Smarts turned out to be so popular this year, that the group had to cut registration once it hit 40 registered children.
“Today was good. Busy, but good. I have to say thanks to the summer students and our volunteer,” said Marshall, in a call with the Lifestyles, describing Tuesday’s session. “It was a bit overwhelming at first, but once everyone got into it, it went really well.”
Marshall said that while the Nature Smarts activities are more outdoors-oriented, Summer English Fun focuses more on the cultivation of English skills, specifically as a second language for both children and parents.
“We do a lot of things that are good for school readiness. Colours, shapes, numbers, opposites and those kinds of things,” said Marhsall. “Our first day (was) about Canada, because Canada Day just occurred.”
Marshall noted that each day, the program consists of songs, rhymes, games, puzzles and outdoor physical activities, all with an overarching goal of strengthening English comprehension in participants.
In addition to helping the children, Marshall said parents can also join in on the conversation, if they wish to hone their skills in English as well.
“We have a Coffee Corner for the parents. The program activities are geared towards kids who are aged four to 14, but Coffee Corner is for people 14 and older,” said Marshall. “If the kids are learning English, then the parents can, too. It’s 20 minutes to half an hour, and we help parents build English skills for their day-to-day life.”
Marshall noted that the Coffee Corner is based on the same theme as for the children. She noted that Coffee Corner is tailored to the needs of its participants, since different groups of parents have different levels of proficiency in English.
“We gear it toward what that particular group needs, because every group of newcomers is different,” said Marshall.
Another appealing feature of the program includes something which the young participants walk away with, at the end of the day: A new book.
“It can be anything: superhero comics, Star Wars books, fairytale books, puppy or kitty books, or graphic novels,” said Marshall. “We’ve got something to appeal to just about everyone. It’s all in the interest of helping them get reading over the summer.”
Marshall added that although Nature Smarts is booked solid for the season, there is still room available in Summer English Fun for more people to join. Summer English Fun is running from July 7 to Aug. 25, while Nature Smarts is set to run from July 5 to Aug. 24.
