a peek inside the fishbowl

Many parents are snapping out of their summertime haze (er, I know I am) and scrambing to figure out afterschool care in the fall. I know it can be a logistical nightmare, and that’s why I wanted to share some information that was given to me by Fishbowl patron, the Soloway JCC. They run a fabulously varied program for children of all ages (from senior kindergarten to young teen!); a great opportunity for kids to be active, creative and social.

• Kids who like to build will love LEGO Club or LEGO NXT Robotics both taught by Ian Dudley (!!) a.k.a. “The LEGO Guy.”
• Creative kids will love Musical Theatre with New Star Children’s Theatre, where the children will work towards a performance of Snow White. They can create cool art projects with with Kids Create or try Cartooning, or Dance, Dance Dance.
• The Soloway JCC offers a karate program taught by the Sensai’s of Stronger You (I have always wanted to check this out with the girls!)
• Sporty activities take place in a full-size gymnasium, and they’re a great way to burn energy after a long day of sitting at a desk. Boys and girls will learn new skills and have a great time playing indoor soccer, floor hockey, badminton, and squash, as well as archery (!), mini-basketball and multi-sports. (I would choose archery!)
• Pre-teens and teens will stay fit and healthy with Teen SpinFit, Youth Bootcamp and Teen Yoga. Swimming lessons in the saltwater pool are an option too!
• Glow Girls (Girls Leading Others Wisely) designed for girls only, gives 10-14 year olds an opportunity to communicate and connect in a non-judgmental environment. Each session focuses on a different theme, including discovering your authentic self, decision making and peer relationships. GLOW also teaches girls about healthy lifestyle habits including cooking, skin care and etiquette and introduces them to different forms of fitness.

I was looking at the youth programs on the JCC website and I couldn’t help but wish that some of these activities had been around when I was a kid. Like this, for example:

Picture Perfect
Grade 4 – 8
Photography is about the fun of seeing things in varied and powerful ways, and sharing one’s vision. This class addresses the fundamentals of taking pictures with digital cameras and incorporates games to practice concepts such as subject/background, framing, composition, perspective and the decisive moment.

Pretty awesome eh? There are also School Break and PD Day Camps and Children’s Safety Classes with KidProof Canada. There is a ton of stuff going on here, and all the programs are led by professionals in their field.

The folks at the Soloway JCC  want to let you know that everyone is welcome. You don’t have to be a member to enjoy all the programs and classes but if you join during the month of September you will save on membership. Pick up a program guide or visit www.jccottawa.com for more information, but act fast, because these programs fill up very quickly.