A summer camp Montreal’s Côte-des-Neiges-NDG borough in is turning traditional summer camp activities by adding academics to its curriculum to empower underrepresented youth.
Camp Valiquette offers a healthy dose of academics to their arts and sports programming.
“It varies from age groups, five and six and seven and eight, they mostly play, just relax, just chill,” explains Geneva Ricamonte, instructor, animator & head of camp, Valiquette Academy.
“Nine plus, they start off strong, they start off with the typing course and even chess to work their minds in quickly early in the morning.”
Camp’s founder Jay Valiquette says the youth learn general knowledge for half an hour every day.
“Our kids know the NATO alphabet and continents and oceans and planets, and then our finance section, where we’re top three rules for finances. What is ROI? What is an asset? What is liability? And it continues,” Valiquette said.
In addition to the summer camp, Valiquette Academy offers winter and March break camps, after-school French & English courses and coding courses.
Valiquette has also started a foundation which undertakes several community outreach initiatives.
Lionel Jaye Mendez Fox who volunteers at the academy says the camp also offers reduced prices.
“We are a summer camp, yes, we are doing tutoring for kids,” Fox said. “But all of that is like a charity at the end of the day because he even gives discounts for like single mothers.”
Valiquette said the foundation also works with CLSCs, youth centres and churches in the area to offer their programs more children at discounted rates or for free.
“Part of our community outreach is that we hold a Halloween party. We’ve got a great Christmas party where we have over 100 people come. There are toys for the kids. All the rooms are different. It’s just fun,” explained Valiquette.
The foundation also offers other services such as resume preparation, volunteer and employment opportunities and certifications with universities for youth in the community.
“We’re also here to make sure they succeed in life and they get a nice job of really packed CV and they get enough experience to make sure they go and push it through in life in general,” says Rodrigo Rivera Soto, who also works at the academy.
Ricamonte says youth should take advantage of the programs to help them succeed and grow.
“Ever since I’ve been part of this foundation, I’ve grown a lot and I believe that all the other teens and children should take this opportunity,” Ricamonte added.
However, offering these services come at a cost and the academy relies on funding to keep them going.
“We absolutely need support from people so we can continue these programs, expand these programs, and not let any child fall through the cracks for simple lack of funding,” Valiquette said.
“I’m a big believer that you’ve got to make the world a better place. I don’t think there’s any better way to do it than helping children through education.”
