If idle hands are the devil’s playground, Duncan United Church has just the solution for youth in Lake Cowichan this summer.
In partnership with Saint Christopher and Saint Aidan Anglican Church, Duncan United will host two summer camps at the Lake this month, a junior camp for children ages six to 11 and a senior camp for 12- to 15-year-olds.
Alison Stephen, summer journey day camp coordinator, explained many of the junior camp’s activities will be centred around the book Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst and illustrated by Ray Cruz.
“In the junior camp we’re… exploring the themes of that book through the week and making connections within our community as we explore the connections,” said Stephen. “Like, how to do we get through horrible, no good, very bad days and how can we help others.”
The group will reach out and connecting with seniors in the community, carrying out random acts of kindness throughout town and enjoying other activities like bowling and outdoor games.
“And connecting that a little bit with some of the stories in the bible and how they connect with us in the modern age,” she said.
The older group will also be doing some volunteer work in the community. Although the camp will be based in Lake Cowichan, there will be transportation provided for some out of town activities like going to the pool hall in Duncan and the University of Victoria climbing wall.
Stephen said it’s important the activities are ultimately rooted in their community at the Lake.
“The idea is for the youth to come together and connect and the opportunity will be to build on that in the fall with more events and gatherings, hopefully on a regular basis, building it towards some sort of community youth group,” she said.
The teen program runs from July 18 to 22, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The junior camp runs from July 25 to 29, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Both programs are $50.