Released August 15, 2018
Two Weyburn organizations have combined efforts to provide equal summer camp opportunities for children with intellectual disabilities
WEYBURN – The Weyburn Leisure Centre and Inclusion Weyburn have teamed up to offer a unique summer camp experience for kids in Weyburn and surrounding area.
The Fun in the Sun Day Camp, run by the Weyburn Leisure Centre since 2010, offers a variety of activities for kids to enjoy during the summer months. This is the first year that children with intellectual disabilities have the support required to fully participate in the Fun in the Sun programming, thanks to the efforts of Inclusion Weyburn.
“It’s very important for all people who have intellectual disabilities to have the same opportunities as everyone else in our community,” said the president of Inclusion Weyburn, Jackie Wilson. “Programs such as this are important to communities like Weyburn because we all benefit from inclusiveness.”
Through a combination of donations, grants and sponsorship, Inclusion Weyburn provides one-on-one staff support, special equipment, a sensory room and inclusive activities for children with extra needs attending the camp, at no extra cost to families.
Wilson worked closed with local educators, social workers and the Weyburn Leisure Centre manager, Tina Clay, to make sure the day camp could be inclusive.
“I believe Weyburn’s size puts us in a unique situation where these professionals know each other and they know the children attending the camp, so the individual needs of children are being met,” Wilson said.
The Fun in the Sun program runs Monday through Friday for six weeks during the summer and can accommodate about 30 children each day. This year, Inclusion Weyburn has helped 11 children with intellectual disabilities participate in the summer camp.
Some of the program activities provided this year include swimming, kayaking, crafts, museum tours, science experiments, bicycle rides and musical performances.
Inclusion Weyburn’s goal is to continue working with the Weyburn Leisure Centre to provide this opportunity to children every summer.
“As we learn about, understand and develop relationships with others, we come to appreciate our differences, making our community tolerant and safe for all of us,” Wilson said.
Local sponsors for the this year’s program include the Weyburn and District United Way, Weyburn Rotary Club, Zion Lutheran Women (Weyburn), Weyburn Health Care Physicians, Barber Motors, Elite Kitchens and Decor, SaskTel (Weyburn), Weyburn Young Fellows Wives, Prairie Sky Co-op and Stella and Dot (Weyburn). Private donations were presented by Rita Torkelson, Robert and Karen Satre and the Doud Family Reunion. Provincial grants were provided by Saskatchewan Community Living, Saskatchewan Inclusion, Access Communications, Saskatchewan Lotteries and the G. Murray and Edna Forbes Foundation Fund.
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For more information, contact:
Paige Tenbult
Public Relations Coordinator
City of Weyburn
Phone: (306) 848-3236
Email: ptenbult@weyburn.ca
Tina Clay
Manager
Weyburn Leisure Centre, City of Weyburn
Phone: (306) 848-3281
Email: tclay@weyburn.ca