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SWIS continues making summertime fun for newcomer kids

It can be a challenge for kids to stay active during the summer, especially when some kids are newcomers to Canada.
SWIS
The LeRoy area scavenger hunt was just one of many activities put on by the Humboldt Regional Newcomer Centre SWIS Program this past summer and one of the most popular with 48 people from the community participating including newcomer and Canadian adults. The program was dedicated to keeping newcomer kids active and exposing them to local and provincial attractions, however newcomer and Canadian adults also had the chance to take part in the fun. photo courtesy of Humboldt Regional Newcomer Centre - SWIS Program Facebook

It can be a challenge for kids to stay active during the summer, especially when some kids are newcomers to Canada.

Through the Humboldt Regional Newcomers Centre, Settlement Workers in School (SWIS) personnel Tracy Abel and Odessa Sherbaniuk were again able to bring new adventures to newcomer kids with their SWIS Summer Program, which saw kids invited on both local and provincial trips.

It can be intimidating for any new student coming into a community, says Sherbaniuk, with some students being quite shy and hesitant to join in an activity without friends or family. The program is designed to give newcomers the opportunity to see what is available in their own backyard.

“Maybe we introduce them to something this summer and next summer they feel comfortable to go to camp themselves or to go to the spray park by themselves.”

Everything is new and that can be intimidating, says Sherbaniuk.

Education was also a big part of the program this year, says Abel with trips to places like the Kawacatoose Pow Wow, Batoche Historical Park, and the Saskatchewan Legislature.

Sherbaniuk says that activities were varied with numerous drop in events for everyone while some of the longer day trips were designed for kids who were comfortable being out on their own.

Getting out of Humboldt for a day is always exciting for the kids, says Sherbaniuk, which makes an adventure out of it.

“They get to go somewhere and explore. The most positive feedback comes from the field trips.”

Even the local attractions have been great fun for all the kids and sharing their adventures on Facebook, even to local attractions like the Spray Park, has helped to raise awareness among other newcomers about where things are and what they can do, says Sherbaniuk.

The LeRoy Scavenger Hunt was great for the whole community since kids and adults, both newcomer and Canadian, participated with 47 people making up eight teams to join in the fun.

The SWIS program will continue to work with parents and students on introducing them to the Canadian school system as well as returning next summer with more Saskatchewan adventures for the kids.

Abel and Sherbaniuk welcome any suggestions of activities that people want to do or see next summer.