News

A month ago, we launched our Recreation North Training Program. We learned lots from our Pilot that took place last year. A few changes to the Training Program will enhance the experience for learners. You can now:

• Begin learning at any time in the year. There are no pre-requisites or a certain order learning events need to be taken. Start when it works for you!
• Work towards a Certificate in Northern Recreation Leadership at your own pace. If the timing of one learning event isn’t good, wait until it is offered next time.
• Take 12 learning events for a Certificate in Northern Recreation Leadership.
• Take learning events for professional development or personal interest.

During our Pilot, we learned how to support ‘distance’ learning that is social, fun, and meaningful. All our learning events include:

• Conference calls connecting learners from all three territories. Conference calls are structured with a couple of core questions that learners can reflect upon before joining the call. Using the phone means we don’t have to worry about Internet that might or might not work.
• Required activities that enhance learning from each other and encourage an application to each learners’ work and community roles. Sonja Lonsdale from Iqaluit, NU says a benefit in RF 101 was to “use sharing as ideas for our own communities”.
• Support from our trainers, through a phone call or message, to help learners understand the content and use the technology.
• Access to a Learning Management System – an online space where our learners and trainers interact.

Our first learning event, Recreation Foundations 101  began on November 4 and quickly filled. Due to the demand, we opened a second session. This learning event introduced the basics of recreation. Community and national priorities, and the individual, community, and environmental benefits of recreation were explored. The feedback has been inspiring.

“I really appreciated the National Priorities goals. I think it will make me more aware of what events and activities are developing which goals… where my community is lacking in some or very strong in others.” – Michelle Daigneault from Hay River, NT

“It was eye opening to see how other Northern communities recreate. I never would have known if not for this course. It also lets me gauge how my community is doing in comparison. We all live in different places, but we all have the North in common.” – Sarah Nicol from Fort Smith, NT

“The Framework for Recreation in Canada will be a reference point going forward as I develop programs and apply for funding.” – Kelli Anderson from Faro, YU

Our current learning event, RL 101 – Identify Your Leadership Strengths, is full. Check out upcoming training events and register for these at www.recnorth.ca. If you are not sure whether online learning is for you, sign up for our FREE 30-minute Pre-Learning Event Orientation to Moodle taking place on January 3, 2019.

Recreation North is excited to announce that learning events will begin in November 2018 for the Training Program. Last year, a group of Northern recreation leaders from the three territories piloted the program. This year, the Training Program will be available to any individuals residing in the Yukon, Northwest Territories, or Nunavut.

Learning events will be offered online in 2-week time frames. During these two weeks, individuals will have the opportunity to discuss the content over conference calls and online discussion forums with others that are taking part in the learning event. The first learning event, Intro to Recreation Foundations, begins November 4.

Past participant, Nayasha Kamera (NU) noted in his experience that he “learnt the most from the conference calls and written exercises where we shared insights with fellow students of what was going on in our different communities. A lot of brilliant ideas and creativity was shared; most of our experiences were very similar even though we came from three different territories”.

With the online structure, individuals will be able to select learning events they are interested in for professional development purposes or to work towards a Certificate in Northern Recreation Leadership. Requirements and all learning events being offered are listed on the Recreation North website at www.recnorth.ca.

Pravina Bartlett (NWT) noted the ease in taking online learning events while working full-time. “The online structure was very beneficial to my work schedule and easy to maneuver through.”

Individuals are now able to register for any of the 2018-2019 learning events online at www.recnorth.ca.

A Pilot of the Community Recreation Leadership Program ran from October 2017 to May 2018. Stephanie Cardinal-Clark, from Tsiigehtchic, NT, was one of the participants who completed the pilot and received her certificate in May. Stephanie has held various staff and volunteer roles in recreation in her home community. After earning her Certificate in Northern Recreation Leadership, Stephanie shared a bit about herself.

I am Gwichya Gwich’in, born and raised in Tsiigehtchic, NT. I have also lived in other communities, but have always found my way back to Tsiigehtchic – home is where the heart is! This is my home and I enjoy contributing to my community. I am very active with volunteer projects and work that builds a happy and healthy community. I am always willing to lend a hand when I know it is something that benefits our wonderful community!  Continue reading “Training helps me contribute to my community”

Pravina Bartlett was one of the participants, in a Pilot of the Community Recreation Leadership Program that concluded in May 2018. Pravina, the Executive Director for Hay River Committee for Persons with Disabilities, earned a Certificate in Northern Recreation Leadership. Recently, Pravina shared a bit about herself.

My name is Pravina Bartlett and, as the Executive Director at the Hay River Committee for Persons with Disabilities, my role is mainly as a volunteer. I develop recreation programs for persons with disabilities (youth, adults and seniors) as part of our organization’s programs. I also coach 5-pin bowling to youth and adults in our local league and at national-level tournaments throughout Canada. I try to be an advocate and assist those that can’t access recreational activities due to various accessibility issues.

I wanted to take the Recreation Leadership Training Program to learn more about how I could improve access to recreation within my community and to provide effective programs that would help improve an individual’s well-being.

I enjoyed all of the learning events and was able to use the information immediately in my job. All of the content was relevant to what I wanted to learn and the instructors were amazing teachers. They were all thoroughly knowledgeable and very supportive. The online structure was very beneficial to my work schedule and easy to manoeuvre through.

I started applying what I learned immediately to ensure we could improve our client services and grow our programming in the future. I was very impressed by the volume of information we had access to that was directly relevant to this field and to my work.

Thank you Recreation North for this opportunity.

In May 2018, a Pilot of the Community Recreation Leadership Program concluded. Deian Cassie, a participant in the Pilot, lives in Norman Wells, NT. After completing the learning events required for her Certificate in Northern Recreation Leadership, Deian shared a bit about herself. Continue reading “Training helps to become an effective and efficient recreation leader”

This week, Recreation North announced that the Community Recreation Leadership Pilot is moving from a pilot into a program. Launching across the territories in the fall of 2018 and winter of 2019, the Program will offer training delivered remotely and in-person to recreation leaders, including paid staff, volunteers, or individuals interested in entering the field of recreation. Participants can choose training that satisfies their professional development interests and strengthens their competencies for working and volunteering in the field of recreation.

Continue reading “New recreation training program completes pilot and moves into a program this fall”

A Pilot of the Community Recreation Leadership Program began in October 2017. Since that time, individuals from communities across the NWT, Yukon, and Nunavut participated in a variety of learning events delivered by Northern trainers. Laurel Irving from Behchoko, NT is one of those northerners to earn her Certificate in Northern Recreation Leadership through the Community Recreation Leadership Program. Recently, Laurel shared a bit about her experience.

Continue reading “Useful learning included program planning, marketing, and risk management”

A Pilot of the Community Recreation Leadership Program began in October 2017. Since that time, individuals from communities across the NWT, Yukon, and Nunavut participated in a variety of learning events delivered by Northern trainers. Adonika Clark, one of ten individuals to earn her Certificate in Northern Recreation Leadership, shared a bit about herself and her experience during the Pilot.

My name is Adonika Clark. I work in kids and youth programming, and volunteer in recreation. I consider myself an artist, a traveler, and an adventure seeker; I love living in Dawson City, Yukon. Continue reading “Recreation training helps make connections for work…”