Camp options for girls

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This article was published 21/5/2019 (485 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A number of summer camps tailored to girls will be held in Winnipeg this summer.

Andrea Katz, co-founder of Fit Communications, told The Lance it’s important that a growing number of fitness programs and sports camps are available for girls in the city, as their needs can be different to boys.

On Fit Communications’ website, Katz and co-founder Allison Gervais have created a "go to" list for parents "to see options in Winnipeg that are great for girls" in the form of the Winnipeg FITGirls directory and the FITGirls summer camps listing.

Many elements come into play when choosing summer activities for kids — including cost, pick-up and drop-off times, location, and convenience. The level of fun, and age-appropriateness of the activity should also be priorities, Katz said.   

"What we’ve done is put together a collection of activities and camps for girls in Winnipeg, as it’s super important for kids to stay active in the summer," said Katz, who lives in Norwood Grove.

Included in the directory are programs and activities offered by the Canadian Fighting Center, GymKyds Gymnastics Centre, Little Kickers Winnipeg South, and Panthers Gymnastics Club — to name a few local examples — that will help give parents some variety to choose from, as well as think outside the box.

Pointing to Canadian Tire Jumpstart’s online coaching resource titled Keeping Girls in Sport, Katz said the top three factors that make sport fun for girls are positive team dynamics, trying hard, and positive coaching.

"I think the importance of having such a directory and listing is twofold. Firstly, it’s about understanding that boys and girls don’t necessarily look for the same things in sport. Boys are generally looking for that competitiveness and winning mentality, while girls are looking more for that sense of acceptance and belonging," she said.

"Secondly, it’s about understanding the impact of sport on the overall health of kids — both their physical and mental health. And having a list of options for parents during the summer means their kids can try a different sport or activity here and there, especially if it’s only for a week, so they can get a taste of it, and potentially register for it on a more regular basis down the line."   

Go online at fitcommunications.ca for more information.