Broadening Horizons by Erin Renwick
Many kids in the Victoria, Sooke and Saanich school districts benefit from unique programs such as Artsreach, Story Studio, and the First People’s Box of Treasure. The folks that run these programs are independent of the school boards, and they work tirelessly in their efforts to help children explore their artistic side, to try their hand at creating their own stories, to come up with and run their own businesses, and to learn about First Nations culture and history. Marilyn Sing created Artsreach in 2005 with the goal of “providing the highest quality visual and performing arts training to young children, regardless of their financial Artsreach students means.” The program offers drawing and share their stories! painting, printmaking, dance and theatre classes and workshops. The classes are always delivered in the school gym so that the kids are not physically restricted to small art and little room to move— the kids are given lots of space to create big art, and to engage with their whole bodies. (artsreach.ca) Paisley Aiken created the Story Studio Writing Society in 2011 in order to “advance children’s relationship with literacy through self expression and the publication of their own books, and to build their confidence in doing so.” During the workshops, children are coached through writing their own works of fiction. The workshops culminate with each child creating their own story, often with illustrations, which the Story Studio then publishes into lovely bound books for each child to take home. Since Story Studio’s inception, kids have been thrilled with the process of creating their very own book— something that many kids would never otherwise get the chance to do. (storystudio.ca) Early Entrepreneurs is a new start-up created Grade 6 student by Kim Cope that encourages children to Lucas tells us become ‘kidpreneurs,’ and agents of social about the thrill of change. Each class is given a loan of $100 being published and what he to plan, operate, and manage their own loved about Story business, with the goal of earning $500, Studio. which they are then encouraged to donate to help build schools in underprivileged countries. What Ms. Cope loves most about the program is ‘the idea of empowering students with real world experience and letting them learn by actually doing it. It's showing students that they can make a difference in someone's life and it doesn't matter how old they are.’ (earlyentrepreneurs.ca) For ten years now, Leslie McGarry has worked to bring First Nations culture and history to kids in Greater Victoria with the First People’s Box of Treasure program. The program is tailored to suit both the age of the children and the curriculum that the classroom teacher is working on. In each case, the program includes three sessions: the first is an introduction to First Nations people and culture, the second is a tour at the Royal BC Museum, and the third is a cultural activity in the classroom. Ms. McGarry says that the best part of her job is ‘triggering interest in young kids,’ and encouraging further investigation in First Nations Culture. (vnfc.ca) Leslie McGarry explains the First People’s Box of Treasure program and its far-reaching impact on the community.
Each of these programs is unique in what it offers to children, but all of the programs have one thing in common, and that is their mission to enhance and enrich the lives of the children in this community, and beyond.
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