ST. PAUL – Throughout the month of July, the Mental Health Capacity Building (MHCB) in Schools Initiative in St. Paul has been working to promote mental health for kids by offering outdoor, summer fun.
From July 17 to 20, and from July 24 and 25, Floatingstone Lake Campground and Lac Bellevue campground respectively played host to the “Together We’re Better Drop-in Daycamp,” offering a variety of activities from pre-kindergarten to Grade 12 students.
While the camps were aimed for kids ages six to 12, “all ages” were welcome. Parents and their kids did not need to register and just had to show up to the camp, said Lily Belland, program manager of Together We're Better with St. Paul Education.
The day camps, which are a part of MHCB, is a partnership between Alberta Health Services (AHS) and St. Paul Education.
Belland said the MHCB runs throughout the year in the school system, and runs day camps in the summer. “We talk about things that can be good for your mental health,” she said.
Each day has varying themes. For example, July 25 was about “hope and optimism,” she said. Children were busy playing at the beach, trying things out and taking part in treasure hunts. “They got to follow some clues to find the treasure and use real metal detectors to find it. So, that’s fun.”
The day camps were weather dependent, and while there were some cancellations, the camps were still seen as a success.
“[We] just really enjoyed getting to know the kids a little better. Some of them we’ve seen from school, but it’s fun to see them having fun in the summer,” said Belland.
While the children’s day camps are now over, Belland said MHCB is running Teen Day Camps for three weeks for youths ages 12 to 17 – free of charge. Those interested are encouraged to contact Belland at 780-872-4596.
In St. Paul, MHCB’s Teen Day Camp ran from July 31 to Aug. 3.
Then, the teen day camp will move to Myrnam for Aug. 8 to 11, and from Aug. 14 and 17 the program will be in Two Hills.
The MHCB in Schools Initiative is aimed at promoting positive mental health in “children, youth and families in the communities where they live,” reads information from the AHS.
“The initiative is based on research and best practice that demonstrates that mental and emotional well-being can be developed, nurtured and supported through promotion and prevention efforts.”
Research and proven practices are ingrained in the MHCB’s programming, aiming to build “capacity of knowledge and skills, and bolsters protective factors in children and youth.”
MHCB programs, mostly serving rural and remote communities, are facilitated by school divisions and funded through the AHS.
