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PEDALHEADS
Kids go from training wheels to trails Did you bike or walk the Galloping Goose Trail today? Visited Thetis Lake recently? Taken transit this week?
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e love that Victorians are environmentally conscious and enjoy the outdoors. It’s no wonder Victoria is such a bike friendly city! We know it’s a must that your child learns to ride a bike, and we also know you have other factors getting in the way of teaching your child to ride — that’s where we come in. Some people love teaching their kids to ride a bicycle — it can be a fun, exciting and a rewarding bonding experience, especially if the parent is calm and attentive. It’s also helpful if the parent’s teaching style matches the child’s learning style. However, this experience
Since 1995, Pedalheads has been combining exciting lesson plans with amazing instructors and small class ratios.
can also be stressful for both parent and child. Many parents subscribe to the release-and-letthem-try method. These kids frequently maintain lasting memories of broken trust, lack of support, skinned knees and many meltdowns. When we adults ride our bikes, it’s second nature, but there’s actually an overwhelming amount to think about when teaching a child to ride: • balancing • pedalling • steering • starting and stopping • gliding We understand these challenges, not to mention the physical pain
(i.e. tweaked muscles, back pain and exhaustion), and the emotional pain (i.e. anxiety and fear of failure) that accompany this experience. These situations are why we exist. We get it! We hear you! Let us take the burden off. In Saanich, Hillside and Langford, you can enjoy: • a progression of six instructional levels to choose from, • three-hour half-day camps, • seven-hour full-day camps, • private lessons, and • before and after care options. Register online at: Pedalheads.com
0011697907 PEDALHEADS BIKE CAMPS INC 2019 Summer Fun 10 x 35 CMYK, , BRENTWOOD COLLEGE SCHOOL SUMMER CAMPS
Summertime and the living is fun! NINE AWESOME SUMMER CAMPS ON BRENTWOOD BAY’S 77-ACRE CAMPUS.
Campers can choose from Academics Camp Canada, Debate Camp Canada, Kingswood Study Camp Canada, Musical Theatre, Rowing, Rock Band and Soccer.
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estled on the pristine oceanfront of Mill Bay, Brentwood College School summer camps offer a wide range of day and overnight options this year. This July and August, Brentwood is hosting nine diverse camps offering a summer experience rich in fun, friendship,
learning and adventure for kids from 7 to 17. The camps range from half- and full-day to overnight, and are designed to cover everything from academics to arts and athletics. For details, visit: camps.brentwood.ca Phone: 250-743-5521.
SUMMER CIRCUS CAMPS
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oin Island Circus Space this summer for a one-of-a-kind experience. Learn a variety of circus disciplines, including aerials, group acrobatics, juggling and more. Kids’ classes run throughout the year, and weekly full-day Summer Camps run through July and August. Island Circus also offers adult classes, private lessons, workshops and hosts birthday parties. islandcircusspace.com/summercamp
Join us for an unforgettable summer! SPORTSb- MUSIC - THEATRE - ACADEMICS 0011697850 July-August Ages 7-17 BRENTWOOD COLLEGE
SCHOOL 2019 Summer Fun 5 x 56 CMYK, , camps.brentwood.ca
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ST. MICHAELS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL
Explore music with passion and performance
returns, with options such as Switch Band (try a new instrument), Big Band Jazz Level 1 (for intermediate band students) and Big Band Jazz Level 2 (including combos and solos). SummerStrings features String Orchestra (July 2 to 12) , and gives young musicians the opportunity to play in a full string ensemble, and Chamber Ensembles (July 8 to 12) for learning to play in smaller groups. Musical Theatre Academy (Aug. 15 to 31)
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his summer, the St. Michaels University School campus will be filled with music, as expert teachers come together with keen music students to hone their skills. The Summer Music Academies bring together students and teachers from all parts of the community for wonderful music and performances. Immerse yourself in an environment with aspiring young musicians and actors. To kick things off, the popular SummerBand program (July 2 to 12)
is a workshop-style program that enhances performance skills and teaches participants about the development of a musical. This year, a cast of young actors will present the musical, ‘Pippin’ at the Victoria Fringe Festival. This Tony Award winning Broadway show is the school’s 20th Anniversary show, and was also the very first show last century, in 1999, when this program began. Students, grades 9 to 12, will spend two weeks preparing for their fringe debut
performance. Classes focus on vocals, character development, stage presence and movement. No auditions are required and every student gets a role in the production. Students who participate in this course can also earn credits toward graduation. Victoria Fringe Festival performances will be held Aug. 29 to 31. Scholarships are available. For details, visit: smus.ca/academies or call: 250-370-6120.
BALLET VICTORIA CONSERVATORY
This summer, train with the professionals ballet schools worldwide, alongside additional guest teachers from across Canada. In the Tiny Tots camp, students get a week to dance the day away by sampling different styles of dance in addition to arts and crafts, story time and games. The Junior Summer Dance Camp is a fun week of ballet, jazz and dance conditioning. The Summer Intensive is for the aspiring professional ballerinas, offering two or four weeks for the Junior level, and four weeks for the Intermediate and Senior levels. Victoria City Rowing Club Daily classes include ballet technique, is a community that fosters a love of rowing and provides high quality rowing opportunities for all participants to pointe work and pas de deux (dependent strive for their personal and collective goals. upon level), contemporary, jazz/hip hop, Youth Programs 11-17 tap and conditioning. Half day CPF (WNN &C[ ECORU HQT beginner intermediate Summer students of all ages experience QT GZRGTKGPEGF TQYGTU Adult Programs 18+ a program completely focused on Beginner - Intermediate - 'ZRGTKGPEGF improving their technique, artistry and Call, email, or visit the website today for program details confidence as a dancer while, of course, and registration information. having a ton of fun. website: www.vcrc.bc.ca email: vcrcprograms@gmail.com Classes are kept small, ensuring each student receives the care, guidance and skills needed to achieve their personal best in a positive and nurturing environment. Register now to reserve your spot. We look forward to dancing with you this summer. balletvictoria.ca/shop/ballet-victoriaconservatory
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he Ballet Victoria Conservatory offers a wide range of summer programs for kids of all ages and all levels. The school is committed to excellence in dance education and offers classical Vaganova ballet training as well as quality education in jazz and contemporary. The BVC summer faculty consists of Ballet Victoria’s top professional dancers, all of whom are graduates of professional
0011695369 SUMMER FUN FOR EVERYONE!
0011692949 ST MICHAELS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL Summer Fun 2019 3 x 63 CMYK, , Camps in Victoria for kids ages 5-15
Circus Circus
Passion Sports Basketball SISA Soccer STEAM
Be Quantum Smart And much more to choose from!
A limited number of bursaries are available. Visit our website for information on these and other programs at www.smus.ca/summer. Phone: 250-370-6120 | Email: edext@smus.ca
0011697906 BALLET VICTORIA SOCIETY 2019 Summer Fun 5 x 74 CMYK, ,
CANADA DAY
PENNY CARNIVAL July 1 to July 3, 1 to 3 p.m. Don’t have any pennies? Don’t worry —we saved some for you. Try your hand at egg-and-spoon races, the beanbag toss and other old-fashioned fun for the whole family. This event takes place on the museum grounds beside the historic Helmcken House and St. Ann’s Schoolhouse, Royal BC Museum, 675 Belleville St. downtownvictoria.ca/event/can ada-day-penny-carnival
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COASTAL BLISS ADVENTURES
Nature is calling! Are you listening?
By Georgia Newsome BSc (Hons), March 2019 Coastal Bliss Adventures
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s the daylight hours get longer and the warmth of the sun can be felt on my back, I’m stuck at my desk as if glued to the screen. I feel an increased yearning to get outside in nature — to walk, kayak, garden, birdwatch — anything but sit in front of my computer working. Why is it so important to follow this yearning? To simply to get up and get out, or make outdoor activity plans? Western ‘civilization’ increasingly shelters us from the natural environment. Our living and working environments separate us from fresh air, wind, trees, earth, natural water sources, and the sun and rain. It turns out that, together, with increasing electronic communication and recreation, humans are at an all time high for an increased risk of stress and illness, which is directly related to this disconnect from
nature, the self and others. Maller et al, in their study: Healthy nature healthy people: ‘contact with nature’ as an upstream health promotion intervention for populations, writes: ‘Whilst modern ‘westernization’ has doubled our life expectancy, it has also created disparities between ancient and present ways of living that may have paved the way for the emergence of new serious diseases.’ Science is backing up what many of us could detect through our own sense of well-being and disease. The findings of a 2014 research on Therapeutic landscapes and well-being in later life: Impacts of blue and green spaces for older adults, ‘demonstrate how both green and blue spaces can have a significant impact on physical, mental and social health in later life. Participants felt motivated to get out of the house to exercise and enjoy the fresh air and
surroundings. These spaces promoted mental well-being, in which experiences of nature provoked feelings of renewal, restoration, and spiritual connectedness. They also provided a space for multigenerational social interaction and engagement, including planned activities with friends and families, and impromptu social engagements with neighbors.� Blue space encompasses oceans, lakes and rivers, as well as smaller water features such as fountains and streams. Engelmann et al in her 2019 study: Residential green space in childhood is associated with lower risk of psychiatric disorders from adolescence into adulthood, writes: ‘Kids who had grown up around the lowest levels of vegetation had a 30% higher risk of neurotic, stress-related, or psychosomatic disorders — even after researchers adjusted for the effects of socioeconomic status.
The children were also at a higher risk for mood disorders and substance abuse.’ Dewar ‘s 2019, paper Outdoor learning: How kids benefit from learning and playing in nature, states: ‘Studies indicate that playing and relaxing in natural settings can defuse stress. Brief nature walks can reduce anxiety, distraction, and symptoms of ADHD. And when schools take kids outside to learn, kids have become more motivated and self-directed.’ For those of us nodding our heads at these excepts of scientific findings, muttering to ourselves, “I could have told you this�, and “It’s amazing how long it’s taken the scientists to catch on� — isn’t it great to be right? Great to know that your body can detect what it needs? We, too, despite our greater knowing, are not always good at acting on our senses, often
leaving innate needs unfulfilled until our body, mind and spirit reach breaking point. The challenge I put to you this spring, summer and fall, is to take time out from your busy schedule every day to be in nature — even if only in the smallest way. A short walk, observation, deep breathing and listening to nature. SOURCES: Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., 2018-19, Outdoor learning: How kids benefit from learning and playing in nature. parentingscience.com/outdoor-learning.html Katherine Engelmann; Feb. 2019, pnas.org/content/116/11/5188, Residential green space in childhood is associated with lower risk of psychiatric disorders from adolescence into adulthood. Jessica Finlay et al, Health & Place, 34 2015, 97-106; https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzSb6OxNx t_6SGJZZ0JuVnZLMjA/view, Therapeutic landscapes and wellbeing in later life: Impacts of blue and green spaces for older adults. Maller et al, Health Promotion International, Volume 21, Issue 1, March 1, 2006, Pg. 4554. https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/dai032: ‘Healthy nature healthy people: ‘contact with nature’ as an upstream health promotion intervention for populations’.
VICTORIA CITY ROWING CLUB
Learn to Row on the lake this summer
Summersault Gymnastics Camp 2019
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Call for more information:
FALCON GYMNASTICS 250-479-6424 July 8 to August 30, 2019 Summer Fun School2019 Age recreational (Ages 5 14) Half Days morning and afternoon 4 x 37 Full Days CMYK, , For more information visit our website at www.falcongymnastics.com or email us at info@falcongymnastics.com
208 721 Vanalman Ave, Victoria, BC V8Z 3B6
Summer Kids Camps 2019
0011699828 In Cowichan Bay COASTAL BLISS 4 x 38 Day Programs & Overnight Camps AAA0 Register online now at cowichanbaykayaking.com 250-597-3031
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ou’ve seen the rowers glide by you on Elk and Beaver Lake — now it’s your chance to try the sport! With the warm weather and summer approaching, this is a great time to start rowing. The Victoria City Rowing Club (VCRC) is a rower-centred community that fosters athlete, coach and citizen development. VCRC excels in providing high quality rowing opportunities for all members — ages 11 to 80+. They offer half- and full-day summer camps with Learn to Row opportunities for beginner, intermediate and returning youth athletes.
In the evening, Introduction to Rowing classes are a great opportunity for adults new to rowing, or for athletes returning to the sport. The VCRC boathouse is on the south-east shore of Elk Lake, with over 437 boat seats, and is home to 1,470 resident rowers. Many of them are included in the 5,000 participants that take part in regattas and use the facility annually. Tour the site where many Olympic rowers have trained. Try out an ‘erg’ (rowing) machine. Learn proper technique and get in a sculling shell. Enjoy the
beauty of Elk Lake with its stunning sunrises and sunsets while learning a new sport, getting active and pushing your physical and mental limits. Start this new adventure on your own or with a friend and sign up for one of the programs. Drop by and check out the fundraiser regatta — the KidSport Rowing Challenge on June 1, and at the B.C. Championships on July 11 to 14. Come and try rowing at the Participaction Open House on June 9. Phone: 250-658 5331. vcrc.bc.ca
info@cowichanbaykayaking.com
SUMMER CAMPS 2019 0011697242 Ages 5 - 17 THEATRE SKAM ASSOCIATION OFFERING CAMPS IN: • Acting • Musical theatre2019 Summer Fun • Film • Mask making 4 x 40 ...and more! Full day and half day CMYK, , 250-386-7526 | kathleen@skam.ca | skam.ca options available.