Connected North offering free virtual summer camps

Jesse Bonello - Staff Writer

Since March, Connected North has been providing students and families with the opportunity to experience virtual adventures through their Connected North@Home Program, allowing them to learn from providers, from the comforts of their own homes, such as the Winnipeg Art Gallery, the Toledo Zoo, and the Royal Botanical Gardens.
Due to high engagement levels from participants in Sioux Lookout and across the region, Connected North will be offering free virtual summer camps from July 6 to August 21. Students are asked to register online so they can receive emails, supply lists, and information related to the camps.
Students will experience a different theme each week, with some of the themes being Arctic Adventures, Under the Sea, and Art Attack.
“We’re offering free virtual summer camps pretty much all summer. It’s Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Each week has a theme, and it’s free for any student who wants to join. The student will register, and every week we’ll send a list of things the kids will need to gather for camp. It will all be easily accessible items like pencil crayons, crayons, stuff you can find locally, or things that can be easily found in your home as well,” said Katie Burch, Education Coordinator for Connected North.
“It’s (Connected North@Home) gone very well. We’ve had lots of Sioux Lookout participants. We generally get anywhere between 20 and 40 students participating every day in the sessions we run. We usually run three a day, so it depends on the topic. Dinosaurs will get around 60 kids, and science experiments are always popular. We’ve had a really good turnout with the Connected North@Home Program, and that’s why we’ve decided, in light of kids not having that connection with school and friends, we thought we would maintain that connection with Connected North. As time has gone on we’ve got to know the kids quite well, and we want to make sure they maintain that connection in that climate we currently live in,” she said.
According to Connected North, “Each week, we will meet with some of our favourite providers, such as Lee from Museum of Natural History, Commander Pete, Jill Heinerth, Professor Raab, Toledo Zoo, Polar Bears International, Ovi Mailhot, Josh Steckley-Pawis, Colleen and Jamie from the Winnipeg Art Gallery, Karin from Royal Botanical, Miss Anna from Michigan Science, Miss Allyson from Penn Museum and Darin from Alaska SeaLife Center… All of the sessions are live and interactive. We are proud of Connected North's program which enables communication between the students and the amazing providers who connect with the students. The students are able to interact with the provider and each other in a chat!”
Students can view and join sessions by visiting www.connectednorth.org/athome.