Lighthouses brighten kids’ day

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 03/02/2015 (3945 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Keeping kids busy with positive after-school activities is a great way to build safe and healthy communities.

For me, growing up in Valley Gardens, I always looked forward to spending time after school going out with my neighbourhood friends to the local playgrounds, parks and the community club. Without knowing it at the time, it helped each of us develop a better sense of community and gave us a positive outlet for our energy.

Sometimes, however, it can be tough for kids to find a place that is both safe and where they can just let loose and have some fun. And that’s where great after-school programs like Lighthouses come in.

Lighthouses operate in many communities across Manitoba, with funding provided in part by our government. Here in Concordia, activities are offered at Valley Gardens Junior High, Bertrun E. Glavin School, and Hampstead School.

Lighthouses offer a mix of planned activities and free time to kids and youth at local schools and community centres. Activities are usually offered once a week, and the students even get to be involved with the planning process. Each month the organizers pick out a different theme to plan some of their activities around. This makes each program a bit different, so none of the three schools offer exactly the same types of activities.   

This month, the kids at Hampstead Lighthouse are talking about the importance of teamwork. The youth chose to have a “Survivor Week,” where they worked in groups to accomplish a series of challenges including building a miniature bridge. Over at Valley Gardens Junior High, students are getting a visit from the Canadian Mental Health Association to learn more about what it means to be happy. 

A free learn-to-skate class is another great Lighthouse program starting up soon at the Valley Gardens Community Centre. Kids who haven’t yet had the chance to learn or are still getting comfortable on the ice can come out once a week from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Each day of the week will be for a different age group between Grades 3 and 9 with one day set aside for girls only. 

Thanks to programs like Lighthouses, young people in our community have another great place to spend their free time. If you want to learn more about the program, call me at 204-654-1857 or email me at Matt.Wiebe@YourManitoba.ca