The Kids Summer program is back in full swing this summer thanks to an influx of funding, coordinator Sarah Loewen told Queen Charlotte councillors.
The Legacies Now 2010 program is providing $15,000 to pay for educators and recreation specialists for the summer day camps to be held in Masset, Queen Charlotte and either Port Clements or Tlell. Ms Loewen said Legacies Now will also encourage literacy by paying for 10 books for each child through an additional grant to the recreation program.
Ms Loewen spoke at the June 19 Queen Charlotte council meeting and gave a brief run down on the organization.
The QCI Recreation program has one full-time staff person, a six- hour a week secretary and two full-time summer staff. The organization provides 30 to 50 registered programs a year, where an instructor is hired and participants pay in advance. There are also 30 to 40 volunteer-run programs, such as adult floor hockey a year. These are usually drop-in.
Ms Loewen also applies for grants to run programs such as the Chronic Disease Prevention program and Exercise for Youth. She also supports things like fun runs and other recreation activities run by community groups.
Councillor Kris Olsen said he was happy to see the summer program running. He was a former camp counsellor and said it was the best thing for kids all summer, especially when youth from other towns were brought together.
QCI Recreation is run by a volunteer commission. The Old Massett and Port Clements director positions are vacant. Ms Loewen told councillors not to hesitate to call with recreation ideas.