St. Bernadette’s Family Resource Centre logo

St. Bernadette’s Family Resource Centre is a non-profit community-based organization founded in 1991 by Angie Carboni. Their program caters to low-income families with children aged 2-13 with or without special needs and provides them with a supervised environment where they can play, interact and learn.

Older campers get ready to tell jokes in the cafeteria

Candid photo of campers

Staff, Nicholas, spending time with the kids

Kevin interacting with campers

Days at camp vary and can range from a variety activities that keep the children engaged and active throughout the day. This can include activities such as arts and crafts, dramatic arts, playing in the playground, playing sports, swimming, and several other games and activities prepared by the amazing group of staff and counselors. The campers also get the opportunity to go on a variety of trips throughout the week such as the waterpark, zoo, and other great adventures, making each child’s camp experience fun-filled and memorable!

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St. Bernadette’s Family Resource Centre has teamed up with the TCDSB’s Focus on Youth program in recent years in order to employ several youth staff to gain experience as a camp counsellor during the summer. The Focus on Youth staff in partnership with the hired staff of St. Bernadette’s work together to make sure that each camper gets an amazing camp experience and an unforgettable summer filled with lifelong friendships and role models.

Focus on Youth staff (left to right) Joyce and Ryan

Focus on Youth staff (left to right) Kristen and Gabriel

SUMMARY

Organization: St. Bernadette’s Resource Centre

D’arcy McGee Catholic Elementary School

20 Bansley Avenue

Toronto, ON

M6E 2A2

Date/Times

July 2nd – August 13th

8:30AM – 4:30PM

 Contact Information

Angie Carboni – Founder

416-397-6300 / 416-654-9810

angiecarboni@hotmail.com

http://www.stbernadettesfrc.org

Focus on Youth Logo

The Focus on Youth program hires over 300 TCDSB students every summer to not only work as camp counselors at several placement camps all across the city, but provides positions in other areas as well, including custodial positions at various schools within the TCDSB.

FOY Custodian, Anthony Romano-Pappas, working at St. Jane Francis school placement

These students work for 7-weeks as an assistant custodian in their assigned school placements, completing custodial duties in order to lessen the workload of caretakers during the summer preparing for the coming school year. Anthony Romano-Pappas, a recent graduate of Chaminade Secondary School, is one of these students and has been given the opportunity to work alongside the care-taking staff at St. Jane Francis Elementary School.

Anthony cleaning the chairs of desks in a classroom

Cleaning desks and chairs is one of his many duties throughout the day

He also sweeps and mops the floors of the classroom

Each day he ensures that the classrooms are in tip-top shape for the coming school year

Anthony’s daily routine consists of various tasks within the school classrooms and hallways such as, cleaning the windows, mopping and sweeping the floors, wiping down the desks and chairs, along with other duties to ensure that everything is ready when school starts.

Anthony, along with all the other custodians hired for the summer, work very hard. All the effort they put into their placements during this 7-week program are greatly commended and appreciated.

With Focus on Youth’s partnership with the Royal Ontario Museum for the third year, a few leaders were lucky enough to be placed with this amazing organization.

ROM sign at the entrance

Media Team member, Sebastian, poses for a picture in the Biodiversity area in ROM

The FOY staff are able to obtain life skills and good habits that includes: organization, punctuality, social etiquette, responsibility and being respectful. Their main job is to assist customers, sell tickets, and answer any questions the visitors might have. They also hand out brochures, do administration work, and make sure everything goes smoothly in the museum.

A big dinosaur at the entrance of the museum

The Focus on Youth members feel so lucky to be part of the ROM staff because they learn so many interesting things about having a career in a historical museum its facts. Learning new things everyday help them stay motivated and passionate about their jobs.

FOY/ROM Staff (left to right): Nichole, Samantha, Carol, Jillian, Tajay, and Alexandra Cooper (Supervisor)

Summary:

Organization:

Royal Ontario Museum

Location:

100 Queens Park

Toronto, Ontario M5S 2C6

Dates/Times:

9:30PM – 5:30PM

Contact Info:

Alexandra Cooper

acooper@rom.on.ca

(416) 586-5510

Website:

http://www.rom.on.ca/en

The Centro Educativo Summer Camp is affiliated with all the campers both academically and physically, in the sense that, it pays specific attention to sports and most importantly, to education. This camp believes that campers should still be focused and alert pertaining to their academics, especially during the summer holidays.

The campers finishing up class

The Centro Educativo Summer Camp teaches the kids mathematics, english and writing skills on a daily basis. Its aim is to make sure that each camper leaves the summer camp as successful as possible, learning something valuable so as to educate others kids like themselves.

Campers engaging in arts and crafts

This camp attempts  to work hand in hand with the parents, as they are also one of the institution’s main priority. This is evident since the camp begins at such an early time, so as to co-operate with parents who must arrive at work very early in the mornings.

From left to right: Vanessa, Natalie, Zomaria, Joy, Shanique, Zipporah, (In front) Ashley

The FOY staff enjoy working as camp counsellors at the Centro Educativo Summer Camp because it permitted them to develop great relationships with the campers. They have become less strangers and more like family members.

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Summary:

20 Wallasey Ave – St. Simon C.S

Date: July 6, – August 14

Time: 8:30 – 4:30

Contact Information: 416-744-9409

Triple Balance Summer Camp 

      The Triple Balance Summer Camp is a well established institution which focuses on the embodiment of the campers’ social and physical needs. This is evident since the camp strives to keep its members as active as possible, whether it is physically on the field or giving back to their community.

The campers stretching for dance class

  On a daily basis, the campers engage in different activities such as: field trips, dance classes, and swimming lessons. This component of the camp is very essential because it permits the campers to get accustomed to several types of environments; therefore, enhancing their knowledge about the community they reside in.

A local zoo came to visit the camp site

The Triple Balance Summer Camp has been apart of the Focus on Youth community for approximately four years. The partnership has been extremely great thus far and so, this camp site hopes to continue working with Focus on Youth in the near future.

A silly picture of all the campers and staff

The FOY staff have been working exceptionally hard to keep this summer camp as vibrant and creative as possible. Their assistance has contributed significantly to the growth of this institution. They are caring, compassionate and most importantly, they have formed a great bond with the campers and other staff at the Triple Balance Summer Camp.

From top to bottom: Christine and Luke

 Summary

Location: 20 Starview Ln, Toronto, ON

-St . Basils The Great C.S.S

Time: 8:30-4:30

Age:  6-14

Date: July 6 – August 14 2015

Contact Information: 416-319-5154

The Davenport-Perth Neighbourhood and Community Health Centre is a multi-service agency that is committed to supporting people in its neighbourhood in order to enrich their lives and the life of our community. This includes providing ways for the children and youth to get involved in projects that allow them to build skills, develop new friendships and connections, and contribute back to their community.

YEP youth of the Davenport Perth Centre enjoying the festivities at the Harbourfront Pan Am Celebration Zone

Youth Experience Placement (YEP) is a summer leadership and pre-employment program from July 2nd to August 14th for youth aged 13-16. The camp allows youth involved to increase their leadership/planning skills, knowledge on employment, their confidence, ability to access community resources, as well as provide opportunities to meet other young people through training workshops, youth developed and implemented presentations, and volunteer placements in centre-based projects. YEP also provides them with weekly fun recreational outings and events throughout the summer.

A shot of the Ontario Celebration Zone set up to celebrate the Pan Am games, one of the DPC youth camp’s field trips

Camper testing out the ropes at the rock climbing wall!

FOY Staff, Melissa Neves, soaring through the sky on the Pan Am zip-line

DPC youth signing up for activities at the Celebration Zone

Campers and staff waiting in line to for the zip line/climbing wall

The youth involved in the YEP program undergo training for the first two weeks followed by working at their volunteer placements three times a week. The remaining two days are spent attending further training workshops as well as field trips around the city that are planned by the hardworking staff. They go through the program Monday through Friday from 11am to 3pm.

Focus on Youth Staff (left to right) Shandy Mcqueen and Melissa Neves

SUMMARY:

Organization: Davenport Perth Neighbourhood and Community Health Centre

Location: Pope Paul VI Catholic School 270 Laughton Avenue Toronto, ON

Ages: 13-16

Dates/Times: July 2nd 2015 – August 14th 2015  11 am – 3 pm

Contact Info: 

Courtney McFarlane

416-656-8025 ext.242

cmcfarlane@dpnchc.ca

www.dpnchc.ca

The Toronto Kiwanis Boys and Girls Club is a foundation which aids to provide a safe and supportive area for the children to feel at home and comfortable. This institute creates new opportunities and great relationships for these kids to grow, learn and become optimistic individuals in the future.

The campers engaging in a fun activity

The Toronto Kiwanis Summer Camp is one of the many summer programs for kids that this foundation offers to the community. At this site, the children engage in many activities which assist with the development of their literacy and learning, creative arts and most importantly, their personal growth.

Staff: Ashley Zenguele

Summary

Location: 101 Spruce Street

Date: July 6, 2015 – August 14, 2015

Time: 8:30 – 4:30

Age: 5-13

Contact Information:tbell@believeinkids.ca

Phone number: 416-925-2243