Summer camps are a rite of passage for many kids. They not only create lasting summer memories for children, but also provide a necessary reprieve for busy, working parents. In Port Alberni, access to free public transit has meant a collection of energetic kids have been able to take summer camps to the next level.
The Westcoast Community Learning Hub in Port Alberni provides so many resources to people of all ages and backgrounds throughout the year. Whether it’s school tutoring, babysitting and home alone education for youth, or computer literacy for seniors, the centre has an outsized impact on the community and the people they support. Most of their programs wind down in the summer, but kids’ camps get rolling the week after school finishes and they don’t stop until the first bell rings in September.
“We have a dedicated space here at the centre where kids do a lot of fun activities, but we also get out to a lot of different places in the community,” said Lisa George, Executive Director of the Westcoast Community Learning Hub. “We’ll spend a full day out at the lake, go to the water park or the nearby recreational park, which is close enough to walk to, and on Tuesdays and Thursday we go to the swimming pool.”
Public transit in Port Alberni plays an important role in many of their summer adventures, including those twice weekly pool trips!
The age range for campers is five to ten, so when they pile onto the bus, there’s no charge as kids 12 and under throughout the province ride for free. For smaller community organizations with limited resources, maximizing every dollar is important, and the bus is the best way to get them out and about.
The Westcoast Community Learning Hub also got creative to support their summer camps. There are three teenage camp leaders through their youth program, and their salaries are funded through the Nuu-chah-nulth Employment and Training Program. The organization also managed to get support through the Port Alberni Community Investment Program, which provided funding for bus fares for the camp leaders.
These summer camps do a tremendous job of connecting kids to all aspects of their community, and Lisa recognizes how important the bus has been in getting them where they need to go. “Our camps run Monday through Thursday, and we’re using that bus at least three days a week,” said Lisa. “And the drivers are really great. They probably see the kids and camp leaders lined up at the bus stop in their matching bright lime green shirts and think oh here we go again!”
The Westcoast Community Learning Hub showed their appreciation for BC Transit with this Facebook post, calling our service “the highlight of summer camp” during a recent adventure, and we’re grateful for the shout out. We share this recognition with the Keolis Canada team in Port Alberni, who continue to provide safe and reliable service for all our customers, including all those young smiling faces!
