Summer Base Camp for Newcomer Youth
During the summer months, while school is out, newcomer children risk becoming sedentary and are in need of mental and physical exercise to prevent learning regression. Our annual Summer Base Camp program provides an immersive and engaging environment that provides newcomer youth with the skills and confidence needed to succeed in their new home, by developing and/or maintaining English skills through a variety of fun activities, arts and crafts, and sports. These numbers are nearly triple what the program originally served, and we attribute this to extremely favorable reviews and offering the opportunity for parents to attend excursions with their children.
Additionally, in 2023, a magical thing happened on the Tuesday and Thursday coached soccer days. Children from around the neighborhood also joined the fun, and many pick-up games ensued. These provided great opportunities for cross-cultural interaction and contributed to newcomer families feeling extra welcomed in our community. The camp needs additional funding each year to support community volunteers, interpretation services, field trips, soccer equipment, running shoes and knee pads, snacks and lunches, and hydration.
Depending on fundraising, we plan summer field trips to:
Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump World Heritage Site
Alberta Birds of Prey Centre
Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park
Public supervised swimming days
Family picnics
Supporting newcomer children and youth has far-reaching benefits for the wider community. The multifaceted nature of factors contributing to newcomer integration requires patience and a great deal of collaboration within the community. Our goal is to help newcomer families acquire the skills and comfort levels required to access community resources independently. We want to strengthen each young person’s capacity to connect with his or her family and community successfully and lay the foundation for a healthy transition to adulthood.
For families, the benefits include:
Support Network: Knowing that their children have a supportive network of peers can ease parents' concerns about their well-being and integration into the community.
Cultural Understanding: Families benefit from their having their children participate in cultural exchange activities, as it fosters intercultural dialogue within the household and promotes a deeper understanding of each other's experiences and perspectives.
Community Connections: Families become more connected to the broader community, increasing social support and access to resources for the entire family.
It is our hope that the community impact will be a safer, more inclusive, and more empathetic outlook on a culturally diverse population.
Outcomes
100 children aged 3–12 will be involved with Base Camp and an additional 120 youth aged 10–25 for soccer afternoons (Tuesdays and Thursdays) in July and August.
Partnerships with Allied Sports Council, YMCA, Youth One, Blood Tribe, Winston Churchill School, Wilson Middle School, BGC (Boys and Girls Club), and the University of Lethbridge.
Children and youth develop and sustain healthy lifestyles.
Promote intercultural exchange.
Provide an opportunity for bi-directional community development.
Contribute to youth empowerment and social, emotional, and mental well-being.
English skills development to ensure there is no interruption in their progress.
Getting connected with nature, the community, and outdoor play.
Increased connection to life in Lethbridge.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) finances staff wages and interpreters for the Newcomer Base Camp, while we rely on the generosity of our community and donors to assist with other costs.
Contact: Michelle Gallucci, Director of Advancement and Communications
Email: mgallucci@lfsfamily.ca
Phone: 403-327-5724
Office Hours:
8:30 am—4:30 pm, Monday—Friday
Closed Statutory holidays
