The Spring Schools Mini-Camp Program at the Trent Athletics Centre is officially underway, as Trent University Athletics welcomes more than 650 elementary school students from Peterborough, Lindsay, Cobourg, Port Hope, Bancroft, Lakefield and Bridgenorth for the 2013 season.

Offered in May and June each year, the Spring School Mini-Camps Program is available to all elementary school classes and features a customizable full-day of indoor and outdoor activities to encourage skill development and healthy lifestyles. Teachers and classes can choose modules which complement their current school activities and the interests of the students.

“This is a great end of the year class trip. Teachers select activities based on the interests of their students and our expert and well-trained Trent Summer Sports Camp staff takes over from there,” says Melanie Sedge, coordinator of Camps & Campus Recreation at Trent University. “The teachers can relax while the students are having a blast engaged in physical activities that they normally wouldn’t have an opportunity to try. It’s an exciting, fun-filled day and students always leave with big smiles and red cheeks.”

The Spring Schools Mini-Camp Program creates a unique opportunity for teachers and students to participate in sport and nature programs that they would not normally experience in their regular school curriculum. The program also introduces participants to the state-of-the-art new Athletics Centre at Trent, which features unparalleled indoor and outdoor recreation facilities.

“For the past three years I have had the great opportunity to take my grade six class to Trent to attend the spring sports camp,” Diane Sweeting, a teacher at Chemong Public School. “Not only are the instructors enthusiastic, but they involve all of the students, regardless of their skill level, and make them feel like they are an important part of the group.  The students are given the chance to work together, to play together and to be exposed to some activities that are new to them.  At the end of the day, the students have repeatedly stated that this was the best trip ever and asked when they could return.”

Popular activities included in the Spring Schools Mini-Camp Program at the Trent Athletics Centre include: forest games, animal survival, animal habitats, fire building and campfire programs, lacrosse, golf, badminton, basketball, rock climbing, swimming and low ropes.

For more information, visit the Spring Schools Mini-Camp Program website at: www.trentu.ca/admin/athletics/camp/schools.htm