by Sylene Argent
The Canadian Transportation Museum & Heritage Village (CTMHV) is not just a place for car enthusiasts to gather to talk about the good old days and reminisce about some of the more popular vehicles of the past during one of its renowned car shows, it is also a place for individuals of all ages to learn about and respect local history.
Last week, area youth participated in a summer day camp program that offered an array of fun activities, including crafts and lessons, based on the daily theme, which ranged from mighty mechanics to an animal safari.
The camp was a huge success, Emily Atkinson said, who is the Media & Event Coordinator at the CTMHV. She noted an average of ten youth took advantage of everything the camp had to offer each day the camp was offered last week.
Atkinson said a few of the campers, who were between the ages of seven and 11, asked to try out the camp last Monday before committing to the rest of the week, and they were pleased to return day-after-day.
The youth spent the majority of the camp outdoors, making crafts, including a kaleidoscope, from within the boarding-house. They also learned how to make gigantic bubbles using a piece of string and straws out in a small field that leads down to the heritage homes onsite.
A neat learning tool everyone learned at the camp, Atkinson said, was making a sweet treat from within a homemade solar oven.
Camp counsellor Madison Alles is a summer student at the CTMHV. She planned the itinerary for each day of the camp for this year and 2019. She was able to captivate the attention of the participants, thanks to her thought-out daily plans and help from young volunteer assistant, Jordyn.
Alles said that all the day campers had fun participating in the activities planned over the course of last week, and made some new friends.
The day camp is only one-way youth can get engaged with the CTMHV. Throughout the year, hundreds of students enjoy a hands-on history lesson at the local Museum through the Youth Education Program, which is typically the beneficiary of the majority of the fundraising done by the organization.
One fundraiser that supports the Children’s Education Program is the annual car raffle. This year’s prize is a 1965 Mercury convertible. The winning ticket will be drawn at the CTMHV’s New Year’s Eve Party.
To learn more about the CTMHV’s upcoming events, or to learn about volunteer opportunities, log onto CTMHV.com.