You’re never too young to go camping, and for five days in August kids in Inuvik got a taste of cabin living.
From Aug. 2 to 6, Children First Society’s First Steps on the Land Program took children between ages two to 12 years old out to camps so they could get a taste of the outdoors — with an emphasis on getting kids who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to do so.
“Research tells us how important it is for children to connect to nature,” said Children’s First Society executive director Patricia Davison. “It benefits their health and mental well-being. It gives children the sense of being part of something greater, learning about the land and how we fit as humans. That respect for the land is so important.
“Time with Elders instill that sense of belonging and hope for the future, not to mention all the traditional knowledge and respect for everyone and everything that the Elders share.”
On average, 10 to 20 children went out on each day, and a different group of kids were taken out to Ernest and Alice Vittrekwa’s camp by boat. Freda Alunik also helped out at the camps this month. This is the second on-the-land camp this year — in the spring Freddie and Sarah Jerome opened their camps up to the program.
Now in its fifth year of operation, the program is run in partnership with the NWT on the Land Program Collaborative, Inuvialuit Regional Corporation’s Project Jewel and numerous Elders and other community partners who donate space and time.
“It is a drop-in program,” said Davison. “Children who don’t have access to this type of experience can register. Children enrolled in programs at Children First Centre have access to the program. Any family that would like to have their child involved can contact Children First Society.”
Davison said parents could email execdir@childrenfirstsociety.org to learn more.