A Focus on Youth (FOY) closing celebration on August 14 may have marked the end of six weeks of summer camps, but the memories made and lessons learned throughout the sessions are sure to last a lifetime.
In partnership with Rising Stars, the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board’s FOY summer program is rooted in the Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations and is offered free of charge to eligible students in Grades 1 through 8.
Running from July 4 to August 13, FOY offered 13 camps spanning a variety of interests, from arts and sports to Indigenous culture. Camps were hosted at select HWCDSB school sites throughout the summer.
In addition to providing elementary students with a memorable summer experience, the FOY program created valuable summer employment opportunities for high school students.
At the closing celebration, Director of Education David Hansen reminded camp leaders of the impact their work had on the students they served:
“The greatest compliment I can give you is that you made a difference this summer, and you should be very proud of it.”
Echoing his words, Kayla White, Assistant Coordinator of Focus on Youth, sent leaders off with a final message:
“This may be our official last day of camp, but this experience for you is all far from over. True leaders take their experiences and then continue to use them. We hope that you continue to spread your wings and resume your journey of personal growth.”
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