I will be going into the fourth and final year of my Kinesiology & Health Studies degree at the University of Regina this fall. As a result, I feel myself beginning to transition from my post-secondary career into the work force. Moving forward in this field and in finding the right career path, I think it is very important to gain as much experience and knowledge as I can in all different areas of the recreation sector. Right now, I’m going to tell you a little bit about one of these experiences.
A few days ago, I traveled to Camp Monahan to complete the HIGH FIVE® Principles of Healthy Child Development (PHCD) course with 19 Camp Monahan summer staff. My experience with the HIGH FIVE course, I can honestly say, was one of the most engaging and interactive training courses I have participated in. The whole day had a very positive vibe and welcoming atmosphere, this made learning and sharing with each other feel effortless.
Before going to the training, I had a fairly good idea about what HIGH FIVE was and what I could expect. However, one thing I did not expect was how much more this course could provide me with as a young adult moving forward in this field.
After a full day of learning about the HIGH FIVE Principles, playing games, and sharing ideas, I believe we all felt more confident and excited in our ability to work with children and to plan valuable programs for our communities. Although the course focused on children, it allowed us to think critically and learn how to apply our knowledge to real situations, a valuable skill that can be used when interacting with any age group! The skills and knowledge we gained from this course will hold value in contexts that go far beyond working with children alone. This course challenged us to utilize our creativity, our ability to collaborate, and our problem solving skills, all of which will support us when moving forward in our chosen fields. Not only that, but I think the course also taught us how to bring back play into our own work and reminded us of just how exciting working in this field can be!
So I guess what I’m trying to say, is that in all of the opportunities and experiences we are given, there is so much more to be learned than what is on the surface. But YOU have to be the one who decides how much you will take away from a situation. I went into this course thinking I would simply learn about creating better programs and how to effectively work with children (which I definitely did!). However, clearly, I came out of with much more than just that.
If you want to learn more about HIGH FIVE or Camp Monahan and how you can get involved, check out the links below for more information!
(http://www.spra.sk.ca/programs-services/children-youth/high-five/
http://campmonahan.ca/
