SC Spirit of Excellence has offered a great variety of exciting programs for local youth in its first business year.
A group of kids enjoyed a ski camp at Cypress Mountain while others had a blast with freestyle instructor Jesse Gemmell at a snowboarding class. Some of the highlight events of the year were the Mini Mudder and the Y-Games, big team outdoor competitions with a touch of the Hunger Games including archery for the teens hosted by YMCA Elphinstone.
Continuous indoor volleyball clinics with local ex-national player Jan Richey or UBC Thunderbird men's team members were followed by beach volleyball sessions with national champion Rex Fenton and trips to competitions at Spanish Banks or provincials in Parksville.
Junior world champion Holly Feniak shared her tricks during mountain biking clinics and a group of teens joined an outrigger canoe course with paddle pro Ron Dickinson in partnership with the Gibsons Paddle Club.
A premier DJ camp drew a lot of attention at Steve Weave's studio The Sound with successful DJ Marlin, while B.C. premier league soccer player Tannaysia Coady shared her soccer skills as junior instructor with eager students.
Tofino Paddle Surf and the renowned Bruhwiler Surf School in Tofino treated a local group of kids to a fantastic three-day camp combo of surfing and stand-up paddle boarding in Tofino. The group camped at the oceanfront Mackenzie Beach Resort and enjoyed exquisite meals prepared and delivered by pro surfer/chef Zak Cross to recover from national champion Catherine Bruhwiler's sessions. Even parents enjoyed unplanned sessions on surf and paddle boards.
Life skills programs were offered in unique formats: Power Girls was delivered with expert Rochelle Fairfield for three age groups to senior elementary and high school girls to build self-esteem and a healthy body image, discuss career choices, boost leadership skills and learn about women in different cultures around the world by using examples from the media and entertainment industry.
Ben Smith taught a group of boys some life skills through boxing to reduce bullying issues at school.
Birgit Breuer plans more exciting programs for local youth in 2014.
To stay updated on SC Spirit of Excellence programs or fields trips, visitwww.scsoe.caor like the Facebook pagewww.facebook.com/SCSpiritofExcellenceto receive updates about future events.
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