Recreation

Recreation Department

Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Center Society
Introduction:The recreation program is designed to provide recreation and leisure programs for Urban Aboriginal Youth ages 10-29yrs.  Through learning and maintaining positive, healthy recreation skills Urban Aboriginal Youth will increase self esteem, self awareness, creativity, physical wellness and cultural awareness through the exploration of various recreation activities.  The Recreation Program also provides a fun, safe and meaningful environment in which youth will have a variety of opportunities for individual, small and large group environments.  Currently the Recreation Program at the VAFCS is servicing between 300-450 youth per week, depending on the season.

day camp 2006 002 (WinCE).jpgThe recreation program is designed to provide recreation and leisure programs for Urban Aboriginal Youth ages 10-29yrs.  Through learning and maintaining positive, healthy recreation skills Urban Aboriginal Youth will increase self esteem, self awareness, creativity, physical wellness and cultural awareness through the exploration of various recreation activities.  The Recreation Program also provides a fun, safe and meaningful environment in which youth will have a variety of opportunities for individual, small and large group environments.  Currently the Recreation Program at the VAFCS is servicing between 300-450 youth per week, depending on the season.

Recreation Department Mission:

The Recreation Department at the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Center Society (VAFCS) is dedicated to being the main service provider of recreation and leisure programs to Urban Aboriginal Youth in the Vancouver area.  The Recreation Program provides safe and meaningful cultural, recreation and leisure pursuits enabling the participants to reach their fullest potential and become healthy members of the community.

Deliverables:

Individual

  • Increase self esteem through learning/maintaining recreation pursuits
  • Increase self esteem through the completion of various recreation projects
  • Increase self awareness
  • Increase cultural awareness through participation in aboriginal activities
  • Increase cultural awareness through participation in cultural activities
  • Creative expression through arts and crafts activities
  • Health awareness through sports and nutritional activities
  • Increased physical wellness through physical activities and nutrition

Facility

  • Youth friendly room (open environment with video games, lounge, arts and crafts, TV)
  • Gym space
  • Variety of room for diverse activities (#004, Chief Simon Baker, Gym, Kitchen facitities-YPSS/Restaruant)

Programming:

Programs provided by the Recreation Department will focus on youth ages 10-29yrs.  To better focus on the ages specific needs programs for the most part will be broken down to age groups:

A) Preteen ages 10-12yrs
B)  Youth ages 13-18yrs
C)  Adult ages 19-29ys

Programs provided by the Recreation Department will focus on seven areas of service:

1. Cultural
2. Social Recreation
3. Educational
4. Arts and Crafts
5. Leadership
6. Physical
7. Nutrition

Programs provided to date (October 2003):

  • Daily drop in Monday to Friday
  • Drop in Volleyball
  • Drop in Basketball
  • Pow wow dance classes
  • Traditional Arts and Crafts
  • Soft Ball
  • Native Youth Basketball League
  • Douglas College Basketball League
  • Cooking Classes
  • Weekly pool tournaments
  • Arts and Crafts
  • Spring Break Day Camp 2003
  • Summer Day Camp 2003
  • Summer Day Camp 2004
  • Open gym
  • Yoga
  • Movie Nights
  • Youth Explorations
  • Youth Advisory Committee
  • Leadership Training
  • 2 Adult Basketball Tournament
  • George Straight Concert
  • Mini skills competition

Activity Participation and Accomplishments:

  • 2 youth participants to Leaders and Healers Conference in Victoria (March 2003)
  • Native Youth Basketball League.  Both Junior and Senior Team took 1st Place (March 2003)
  • 3 on 3 Tournament, 4 youth participants finishing 1st Place at Kivan Boys and Girls Club (June 2003)
  • Volleyball Tournament in Port Hardy, 5 youth participants came in 1st Place in the B Division (February 2003)
  • Booth and youth participation in Youth Week at Britannia Secondary School (April 2003)
  • Participation in Rally protesting the First Nation’s Governance Act (June 2003)
  • 3 Participants placed in Mothers Day Pow Wow in a variety of categories (May 2003)
  • 10 participants in Fall Adult Tournament at the VAFCS, Placed 3rd (October 2003)
  • Most Outstanding Tsimshian Child awarded to Natasha Smith, Most Outstanding Youth awarded to Jenna Forbes (August 2003)
  • Native Youth Basketball League.  Both Junior and Senior Team took 2nd place (March 2004)
  • HSBC post secondary grant awarded to Sarah Hotomanie, age 17 (February 2004)
  • Mini skills competition and tournament held to win donated Molson Indy Tickets (July 2004)
  • Hosted second annual End of Summer Carnival for children and families.  Over 125 in attendance and 20 staff and volunteers (August 2004)