In an age of iPads, cellphones, wifi and instant gratification, Jasper Out of School Care breaks the norm, exchanging screens for hands-on learning and physical activity.
In any given week, that could mean planting and maintaining a garden plot in the Community Garden, biking to Old Fort Point, hosting an art show to raise money for a local family in need or learning to stand up paddleboard, snowshoe, sew, cook or play chess. It all depends on what the kids want to learn that week.
“They pick,” said Lisa Daniel, manager of Wildflowers Childcare, which runs the program. “We sit down with them as a group and they pick. One thing that was really big in August and September was fort building, and that was brought on by one of the kids.
“The kids plan mostly anything and we take their ideas and run with them.”
For its innovative approach to childcare, Alberta Human Services recently recognized the Jasper Out of School Care program with an award of excellence in program innovation and leadership.
The award was the result of a nomination from Pamela Clark-Bell, a parent on the Friends of Jasper Childcare Board whose children attend the Out of School Care (OOSC) program.
“My children enjoy immensely their experiences at OOSC and burst with excitement over some of the activities. Today, my six-year-old daughter could not stop talking about the upcoming art auction and her finished piece that I have to buy to help our neighbours.
“It is very reassuring to know that, although I cannot be there right after school, my children are receiving the care and feeding of their body, mind and spirits,” wrote Clark-Bell in her nomination.
Daniel accepted the award in Edmonton during a luncheon at the Government House with the Minister of Human Services in early November. She said, although it was exciting to be recognized by the province, it means even more to have the program nominated by a parent.
That’s one of the greatest compliments her team could hope to receive, she said, noting that the other is when the kids don’t want to go home because they’re having too much fun.
“We’re very humbled and excited and proud,” said Daniel.
Out of School Care has been offered to children enrolled in Kindergarten through Grade 6 since 1997. The municipally run program is available after school, during holidays and over the summer months and on average sees 35 kids each day. In the summer, that number increases to between 45 and 60 kids.
Daniel credited her staff—Cathy Stonehouse, Trina Cloutier and Jody Anderson—for the program’s success.
“If we didn’t have the staff we have—if I didn’t have those ladies—I don’t think the program would be the same,” she said, noting that all three women are full of energy and enthusiasm and open to all of the children’s ideas.
“Making it fun is so important and the staff have so much fun. That’s a big compliment we often get from the parents—that our staff always looks like they’re having fun, and they are.”
Nicole Veerman
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