School’s Out in Port Alice and Coal Harbour!

After-school programs focus on remote communities

New after-school programs that promote health and wellness will be coming to remote North Vancouver Island communities this year, thanks to United Way School’s Out program funding.

The Mount Waddington Family Literacy Society (MWFLS) was one of three community agencies on Vancouver Island to receive a generous United Way School’s Out grant based on their proposal to target remote communities. The School’s Out Initiative has been running in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley for over ten years and currently supports thirty-four programs. With United Way’s recent amalgamation to United Way British Columbia, they hope to grow School’s Out around the province.

“United Way School’s Out initiative serves children aged 6-12 with after-school programming,” said Maya Graves-Bacchus, United Way Project Coordinator, Strategic Initiatives, Community Impact & Investment. “The after-school period of 3-6 p.m. presents a gap when children are often left without supportive adults. This is where School’s Out steps in to provide free programming that targets children most in need. These programs help children become all that they can be by addressing five major themes: health and wellness, connectedness, interests and competencies, social and emotional development, and service to community.”

Local programs active outdoors

Plans are underway to pilot test programs in Port Alice and Coal Harbour this May, and then to expand to three more small communities in September 2022 through June 2023.

“Our local United Way School’s Out programs focus on communities of under 1000 people that often don’t have the same access to sports, clubs or other organized after-school activities,” said MWFLS’ literacy outreach coordinator, Leslie Dyck. “We want to provide fun and meaningful activities that connect children to each other, to the community and to the land they live on – the traditional unceded territory of the Kwakwaka’wakw peoples.”

The free, registered, twice-a-week programs will be active outdoors, with an underlying theme of local food resources. They will include a nutrient-dense snack and weave health and mental health resources into program activities.

“Learning can be achieved in so many ways,” said Dyck. “These programs will approach learning holistically, through exploration of their community and natural surroundings, while building teamwork, problem-solving and social and communication skills. The children will be involved in decision making and will work together to accomplish goals and a health-related community service project. I can’t wait to see what ideas they come up with!”

Children will be invited to register for School’s Out programs through their school with a direct communication to parents.

Hiring program coordinators

The funding will also provide local jobs. MWFLS is currently hiring two School’s Out program coordinators to develop and deliver the Port Alice and Coal Harbour programs. The part-time contract positions are eight hours per week, (2-3 hours in program and 5 hours planning time) during the school year.

“This is a great part-time position for a self-directed, energetic person who loves working with kids,” said Dyck. “They will develop, deliver and evaluate the programs, and will also receive free training on how to incorporate Stigma-Free Society Mental Health Society learning resources in the programs.”

For details about the position, visit mwliteracynow.wordpress.com

“United Way is very excited to be partnering with Mount Waddington Family Literacy Society on their School’s Out program,” said Graves-Bacchus. “MWFLS is committed to serving children in rural and remote areas, Indigenous and BIPOC children, and those made vulnerable by systems. Their program will contribute to the emotional well-being, resiliency and skills development of the children who need it most.”