ALERT BAY—Young soccer players and those who work with and coach aboriginal youth have an opportunity to receive free instruction in the coming week, thanks to a partnership between the 'Namgis First Nation and a Vancouver Island Aboriginal sport/recreation council.
A pair of young athlete camps, featuring instruction by Cowichan Valley coach Dano Thorne, will take place Monday through Friday at the Lawrence Ambers Memorial Rec Centre, adjacent to T'Lisa'lagi-lakw School.
The youth camps will be followed Saturday by a workshop for coaches and mentors of Aboriginal, Metís or Inuit youth.
The youth camps and coaching modules are both sponsored by the Aboriginal Sport Recreation and Physical Activity Partners Council, which seeks to apply aboriginal cultural perspectives while motivating, inspiring and leading youth toward a successful and meaningful lifestyle.
Youth camp sessions for players 6-12 years old will take place Monday through Thursday from 3-5 p.m., following school, while a one-day camp for players 13-over will be held Friday from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
The camps have been scheduled indoors, in the rec centre, but some activities could be taken outside to the field if the North Island's unseasonably mild weather continues. They are open to all youngsters, including those from neighbouring communitites, and travel bursaries are available to those requiring assistance with travel costs.
Pre-registration forms have been sent out to schools in the Mount Waddington region, said Jamie Hunt, the 'Namgis Band coordinator for the camps and workshop. To register or for more information, contact Hunt at 250-974-5356 or jamieh@namgis.bc.ca, or contact program coordinator Kim Leming in Courtenay at 250-338-7792 ext. 223 or kleming@bcaafc.com.
An additional one-day soccer camp, headed by Thorne, has been scheduled for Port Hardy Sunday, Oct. 21. The camp will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is open to all ages. The site is yet to be determined. For more info or to register, call Marc at 250-949-8928.