The Indigenous Sport & Physical Activity Recreation Council (I•SPARC) is pleased to announce a provincial outdoor leadership learning opportunity through Aboriginal Youth Futures in Recreation & Sport Training (FIRST).
The Summer Lifeguarding Camp encourages Indigenous youth to create a personal vision or goal in their lives by providing short-and long-term opportunities in the areas of Lifeguarding, Lifesaving and First Aid, Scuba Diving and Recreational Leadership.
There is no registration fee for the camp which takes place Aug. 28-Sept. 4, 2022. The camp is suited for participants that are 13-17 years old and the only cost to program participants is transportation to and from the camp (all meals and accommodations will be taken care of). The camp is located at Green Bay Bible Camp, 1449 Green Bay Road, West Kelowna, B.C.
Register for the Aboriginal Youth FIRST programs by clicking this link and filling out the form. Registrations will be accepted until July 29, 2022. Only 20 applicants will be selected to participate this year.
About each stream:
Lifesaving & First Aid
The Lifesaving and First Aid stream offers the possibility of earning a Standard First Aid certification, a Bronze Medallion certification and a Bronze Cross certification which opens doors in policing and firefighting as well as the prerequisite courses for the National Lifeguard Award.
Lifeguarding
The Lifeguarding stream allows participants to earn their National Lifeguard Certification for pools and waterparks, which supports employment opportunities in lifeguarding across Canada, Australia, and the UK. Once these certifications are earned, this stream also supports youth through the job interview process and throughout their lifeguarding career with re-certifications and higher-level training.
Scuba Diving
This stream allows candidates to experience an underwater world and work towards their Open Water and Rescue Diver certification in a supportive and safe atmosphere. These certifications allow youth to scuba dive in locations around the world. A few of the program graduates have gone on to careers in commercial diving and scuba instruction.
Fitness & Nutrition
Education on nutrition and fitness are core to the program. Each day there are half-hour nutrition seminars focusing on daily nutrient intake, beneficial lifestyle choices and substance abuse awareness. The daily morning routine starts with exercise to prepare everyone for the physical environment campers face as they work towards their certification goal.
