Marpole Discovery Youth

Thank you !

2011-08-20T14:19:00.000-07:00

Dear 2011 Discovery Campers (you know who you are !),

Chris and Julia want to thank each one of you for being such brave adventurers. We enjoyed your friendship and learning about the fabulous qualities each of you bring to camp. You have made us smile every day this summer. We hope you all have a successful and fun school year! See you next summer when you are taller, wiser and one year braver!

Lots of Love,

Chris and Julia

Lovely Last Week at Discovery

2011-08-20T13:47:00.000-07:00

Rock On !

Monday the youth spent most of the day outside at the park. They also learned how to make (gourmet!) pizzas. With a little bit of practice, the campers could be professional chefs! On Tuesday we enjoyed our lunches at the UBC Campus. We also treated the campers to the famous cookies at Blue Chip Cookies. For the main event of the day, we went swimming at the busy UBC pool. Wednesday we spent the sunny day at Kits Beach and Park. The kids always love frolicking on the beach and throwing stones into the ocean. They also never get bored of puppy and dog watching along the promenade. On Thursday we went to the famous Science World. Along with playing with the toys in the exhibit, We watched an Omnimax film called "Dinosaurs Alive!". For some youth this was the biggest screen they have ever seen a film on. Friday, we spent our last day in the community centre and park. We celebrated this summer's end with a BBQ party. We enjoyed hot dogs, potato chips, veggies and dip and cheesecake for dessert. We ended the day decorating picture frames with a wonderful photo of all the campers at Discovery.

mmmm pizza

UBC

Science World!

Week SIX with the sensational sunshine :)

2011-08-20T13:14:00.000-07:00

We started off the week with a lovely tour at one of the oldest hotels in Vancouver: The St. Regis Hotel. The campers learned about the decor, artwork and how a hotel is managed. They even got a tour of a room where the famous Lady Gaga stayed in while performing in Vancouver. When the tour ended the youth were treated to delicious hotel chocolates. Following the tour, we trekked to Stanley Park and watched a wonderful Native hoop dance. They also enjoyed riding the mini-train. On Tuesday the youth voted on watching "The Smurfs". We shared popcorn and laughed at the shenanigans of the little blue people on screen. When we arrived back at the community centre, we celebrated one of our campers birthday with delicious birthday treats and a yummy cake. Wednesday, we learned about the wonders of space at the Planetarium. For some, this was their first time and for others this was their billionth time- though they never seem to get bored about the mysteries of space and rockets. Thursday was a major hit with the campers. On this sunny day, we went to Granville Island to Bead Works and made necklaces or bracelets. The youth picked out their own coloured beads and charm and with the help of Bead Works experts, they made beautiful pieces of jewelry. Friday the kids joined Marpole-Oakridge Community Centre's "Fun Seekers" camp at Hillcrest Pool. They certainly love the whirl pool and the massive blow-up slides!

St Regis and Stanley Park

Birthday Boy and Cake!

Planetarium

Bead Works!

Fifth Week Fiestas!

2011-08-08T00:43:00.001-07:00

The weather has been sunny, sunny, sunny and the youth have been happier than ever this week. On Tuesday we treated the kids to a cultural experience and ate Dim Sum at a local Chinese restaurant. For a couple kids, this was their first time eating Dim Sum. They all loved the food so much that there was hardly any left overs on the table. We were also able to fit in a trip to the Roundhouse Community Centre to look at a CPR train from the 1800s. On Wednesday the campers were really excited about Play Land. We lathered up in sun screen and spent the whole day on roller coasters, carousels, ferris wheels and many other rides. On Thursday we went to Watermania to play in the wave pool and slides. We were also able to watch an entertaining water polo game that was going on in another pool. Friday the campers got a personal tour of Rogers Arena and even got a sneak peek of the Canucks dressing room. We've had a great week and can't wait to see more youth next week :)

Play Land!

Round House and Park

Dim Sum

Fabulous Fourth Week!

2011-07-29T16:32:00.000-07:00

We had a very busy and (thankfully) sunny week! On Monday we baked delicious cup cakes. Each camper individually decorated their cakes to their own personal taste. We also painted "pet rocks"- they make great paper holders. Because our camp is smaller we are able to accommodate the youth more easily with what they wish to do; on Tuesday half of the campers watched "Captain America" and the other half watched the new "Harry Potter" film. Wednesday we treated the kids to a meal at Red Robin on Broadway. We also spent the day at the beautiful downtown library. Thursday we joined Trout Lake Community Centre and their youth at Splashdown. It was a beautiful, sunny day and the campers were very brave going down all the scary slides. Friday we went to Marble Slab to eat some cold ice cream. We also spent the day playing in English Bay. We have had a lovely week with wonderful weather. Hopefully the sun will stay out for the rest if summer!

Bake a Cake and rock painting

Splashdown!

English Bay

Playing in the park

Wonderful Week Three

2011-07-25T07:39:00.001-07:00

What a week! On Monday we expressed our artistic energy and created some home made play dough. We also painted pillow cases with fabric paint. On Tuesday we learned more about the underwater world by going to the Vancouver Aquarium. The kids especially enjoyed the beluga whale show. On Wednesday we had a great time cheering on the Canadians against the USA at a baseball game at Nat Bailey Stadium. On Thursday we spent some time playing and swimming in the water and spent the day at Killarney Pool. On Friday we spend the sunny day at Kits Beach and Park. The kids enjoyed the newly renovated modern park. We also went down to the beach and collected rocks for a craft project for the following week.

Play Dough Making and Crafts

Vancouver Aquarium

Canadians Baseball Game

Kits Beach and Park

Sweet Second Week of Summer

2011-07-15T09:37:00.001-07:00

This week we had a couple new campers join us. We are always happy to include more youth in our summer fun. This week we started off by splashing around at Watermania. The famous wave pool is one of the camper's favorite places to float around in. On Tuesday the kids voted to see the third installment of Transformers. We all had some tastey cinema treats including popcorn and soda. On Wednesday we all showed our competitive side by playing two athletic games of Lazer Tag at "Planet Lazer" in Richmond. Thursday we had a change of plans due to the rain and went to Cosmic bowling at Riverport. Friday we went to Stanley Park and enjoyed a scenic ride on the mini train. We also watched a native ritual dance and learned more about Canadian Aboriginals. What a week!

Playing in the Park

Cinema Fun !

Planet Lazer

Arts and Crafts!

Stanley Park

Summer 2011- week 1 !

2011-07-10T19:23:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!

We've had a fantastic first week with Discovery. We have returning campers this year so everyone was happy to reunite and catch up with one another. Everyday we have a fun out trip planned around beautiful Vancouver. Through these day trips, we can teach the kids how to get around the city on their own and how to use the different types of public transportation our city offers. We started the week off with cosmic bowling in Riverport. We have some ace bowlers with us this year! The following day we went to China Town and explored the Chinese gardens. On Wednesday, we went to Grouse Mountain for a special day arranged by The Variety Club. We breathed in some fresh mountain air, rode on the gondola, saw a logging show and visited the bears Koola and Grinder. On Thursday we went along with Marpole's Fun Seekers Camp to Hillcrest Swimming Pool. On Friday, we went to the Vancouver Public Library to read some books. We've had a great first week and can't wait for the next.

China Town!

Fun on Public Transportation!

Lunch Break at Pacific Centre

Grouse Mountain

Hillcrest Swimming Pool

Summer Schedule 2011

2011-06-30T13:20:00.001-07:00

Hey Campers,

Hope you are ready for an awesome summer! Take a look at the schedule we have planned for this summer.

Summer Fun is Back Again with Discovery!

2011-06-30T13:15:00.000-07:00

Hey Campers! Welcome to ANOTHER exciting summer with Marpole Oakridge Community Centre's "Discovery Youth Camp" for children with mild disabilities. On this blog you can keep up to date with pictures and activities we have been up to this sunny summer.

This year the camp leaders are the same from last year-Chris Leong and Julia Leo are excited for another fun activity-filled summer!

Hey guys,
My name is Christopher and this is my third year with the Discovery Youth Day Camp. The last two years have been great and I am very excited to be back for a third year. I am currently attending the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in Toronto Ontario. I have just completed my first year there and I am thoroughly enjoying the program. I have an undergraduate degree from the University of British Columbia in Kinesiology and Health Science. I have worked and volunteered with the BC Special Olympics Track and Field Team and the Developmental Disabilities Association.
I love the outdoors which is why I love Vancouver. I play recreational ice hockey at least once a week and I can not get enough of it. I recently returned from a little vacation in Hawai’i, it was amazing to say the least. The weather was a bombing 29degrees with white sandy beaches and clear blue water. It was an amazing time and full of activities.
I am eager to get this summer started and I am very fortunate to be a part of Discovery once again.

Hey Campers!
My name is Julia Leo and this is my second year with Marpole Discovery Camp. Another year has gone by and i'm excited about the new adventures we will have with Discovery this summer! I am a university graduate from the University of Western Ontario (2010). This past year I have been venturing out of my Canadian comfort zone and learning more about the world by traveling all throughout Asia- I traveled to Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Malaysia Borneo. I've made new friends from all around the globe and have learned so much about other cultures! In my spare time I love to play volleyball, make films and play guitar. This next year I plan on applying to Masters of Occupational Therapy programs in canada. Hope to see your bright and smiling faces at camp :).

Week Seven

2010-08-26T20:10:00.000-07:00

This week was the last week of camp and all the kids were just getting to know each other so well! We went to the planetarium, Killarney Pool, the Stanley Park petting zoo and miniature train and ended the week with a nice, scrumptious bbq. We ate hot dogs, burgers, chips, pasta salad and ate ice cream and baked fresh cookies for dessert. Chris and I are sad to say goodbye to all the campers but hope to see them again next summer! Thanks guys for the best summer ever :)

Week Six

2010-08-16T09:11:00.000-07:00

What a big week! We started off the week by celebrating camper Michelle's birthday. Her parents were kind enough to bring a "Hello Kitty" shaped cake to share with all the other kids. This week "Mike's Critters visited us and taught us all about all different kids of animals (even snakes and turatulas!). We went swimming at Killarney Pool and showed off our ailen shooting skills at Planet Lazer. We had a bouncy castle set up at the community centre where the kids released all their energy. On Thursday we went to Playland where the kids were brave enough to go on rollercoasters. On Friday we had a cultural experience and treated the campers to a delicious Dim Sum lunch.

Week Five

2010-08-09T08:49:00.000-07:00

This summer is flying by so fast. Chris and I can't believe we only have two weeks left after this! We already have so many memories from camp. This week we went back to Kits beach. The kids enjoyed throwing rocks into the water...and some kids even went swimming in the ocean despite being fully dressed! We went to Marble Slab Creamery on Denman Street and learned how ice cream and waffle cones are made! We went swimming at Maple Grove park and on the last day we had a science-filled day at Telus World of Science!

Week Four

2010-08-02T21:07:00.001-07:00

The kids had lots of fun this week. They especially love taking the Skytrain! We went to Silver City, played with puzzles in the Youth Room, drove cars at the Arcade, ran around at the beach and returned to the Vancouver Public Library for another round of reading and adventure. After having a fantastic time at Maple Grove Park last week, the kids demanded we go again... so we did! We like to accommodate the kids and what they want to do as much as possible. On Friday we went to The Zone Bowling in Richmond. Boy are they good... Chris and I had difficulties keeping up with their ten pin bowling skills.

Week Three

2010-07-26T08:51:00.000-07:00

What a fun week! On Monday the kids released their creative energy at Crankpots studio. Variety threw an amazing event for us up at Grouse Mountain where we saw a lumber jack show, clowns and even Mounties! We spent the day swimming at Marpole Grove Park and the most exciting, we got a tour of GM place where we even visited the Canucks locker room!

Week 2

2010-07-19T09:53:00.001-07:00

The second week was even more exciting than the last! The kids are getting along very well and are getting to know each other even better. This week the kids learned how to make cupcakes and also showed off their creativity with some arts and crafts activities. We watched "Depicable Me" at Silvercity, splashed around at Watermania, played at Kits Beach and browsed around at the Kids Market in Granville Island.

Arts and Crafts Day

Watermania!

Kits Beach!

Week One

2010-07-09T10:56:00.000-07:00

Week 1 has been full of smiles and fun activities. We have gone to the bowling alley, aquarium, 2nd Beach pool, the Vancouver Public Library and the Vancouver Canadians baseball Game! Below are some pictures we have taken throughout the week.

Hanging out in the Youth Room

Aquarium!

Walking to Second Beach we find a turtle friend!

Take me out to the Ball Game...

Welcome!

2010-07-09T10:37:00.000-07:00

Hey Campers! Welcome to ANOTHER exciting summer of Marpole Oakridge Community Centre's "Discovery Youth Camp" for children with mild disabilities. On this blog you can keep up to date with pictures and activities we have been up to this sunny summer.

This year the camp leaders are the same from last year-Chris Leong and Julia Leo are excited for another fun activity-filled summer!

Hey guys,
My name is Christopher and this is my third year with the Discovery Youth Day Camp. The last two years have been great and I am very excited to be back for a third year. I am currently attending the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in Toronto Ontario. I have just completed my first year there and I am thoroughly enjoying the program. I have an undergraduate degree from the University of British Columbia in Kinesiology and Health Science. I have worked and volunteered with the BC Special Olympics Track and Field Team and the Developmental Disabilities Association.
I love the outdoors which is why I love Vancouver. I play recreational ice hockey at least once a week and I can not get enough of it. I recently returned from a little vacation in Hawai’i, it was amazing to say the least. The weather was a bombing 29degrees with white sandy beaches and clear blue water. It was an amazing time and full of activities.
I am eager to get this summer started and I am very fortunate to be a part of Discovery once again.

Hey Campers!
My name is Julia Leo and this is my second year with Marpole Discovery Camp. Another year has gone by and i'm excited about the new adventures we will have with Discovery this summer! I am a university graduate from the University of Western Ontario (2010). This past year I have been venturing out of my Canadian comfort zone and learning more about the world by traveling all throughout Asia- I traveled to Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Malaysia Borneo. I've made new friends from all around the globe and have learned so much about other cultures! In my spare time I love to play volleyball, make films and play guitar. This next year I plan on applying to Masters of Occupational Therapy programs in canada. Hope to see your bright and smiling faces at camp :).