Surrey Schools summer camps present important learning opportunities for students in need

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Camps are a childhood staple of summertime of fun, but what might look like dozens of students simply playing games and sports is actually a chance for kids to connect with others, refine their learning skills and become ready for the school year ahead.

Earlier this summer, the district’s Community-Schools Partnership (CSP) department hosted 14 summer camps – nearly double the number of camps last year – that engaged students in activities to boost physical literacy and promote positive mental and emotional well-being in inclusive, shared experiences with their peers. More than 350 students were a part of this year’s camps, referred through their schools to attend camps centred on basketball, soccer, floor hockey, drumming, arts, STEM and more.

“Some of these kids are already involved in their school’s afterschool programs or out-of-school programs,” said CSP assistant manager James Speidel. “We want to focus on kids who would benefit from summer activity to give them intentionality and purpose – something to do but also to continue their education for a few weeks of the summer, give them opportunities to make friends, try something new, play sports and receive nutrition throughout the day.”

Speidel said the camps serve a deeper purpose in enhancing the students’ social development and encouraging teamwork, instilling values that will support them throughout their time in the school system. The district has 20 outreach workers running the camps as frontline staff and seven facilitators who help coordinate efforts, assist with supplies, and provide support for camps and field trips.

“The camps are really focused on mentorship, leadership, social and emotional learning, resilience, relationships and friendships, healthy decisions,” he said. “It’s multifaceted and our outreach staff are intentional in having different themes throughout the week to create a safe and positive environment and make it developmentally appropriate for all kids.”

This year, CSP offered a camp at Kwantlen Park Secondary for incoming Grade 8 students to experience leadership and recreational activities at the school, simultaneously receive a preview of secondary school and prepare them to transition to the school in the fall.

The department also ran basketball camps at Newton Elementary and Holly Elementary, in collaboration with Game Ready, as well as Georges Vanier Elementary and Ellendale Elementary, in collaboration with Klinik Basketball, two community partners that support the district’s summer offerings and help run the camps on a day-to-day basis.

“Our community partners are amazing and we’re grateful to have their support to host these camps year after year,” said Speidel. “It takes a village and we couldn’t do this without them.”

Speidel noted coordinating the camps each year is a multidepartment effort, with CSP working with Facility Rentals to book school space, and with Education Services and Facilities to arrange access around summer improvement projects and upgrades. But each year, the hard work pays off, knowing that each of the camps makes a difference in the lives of so many students.

“We know the impact that we can make for each of these kids and their families can last a long time – even though it’s just two weeks, we know it can have lasting impacts for their transition to high school or making friends or being with positive adult role models,” he said. “We’re very happy to work with different partners to support our school communities.”