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Frontier College believes that literacy is a right. As a non-profit

organization and national leader in literacy, Frontier College has been

working with children, youth, and adults across Canada to improve

their literacy and numeracy skills since 1899, with the support of

dedicated, trained volunteer tutors.

Since 2005, Frontier College has partnered with over 155 Indigenous

communities across the country to offer Summer Literacy Camps for

45,363 children and youth. The camps respond to a pressing need for

quality educational supports and complement the formal school

system while reflecting the distinct cultures, traditions, languages,

priorities, and aspirations of each community. The Summer Literacy

Camps program has grown from an original five camps in Northern

Ontario to 141 camps in 127 communities across Canada in 2016.

The Summer Literacy Camps offer children a safe and supportive

learning environment that complements the school system. Campers

take part in numerous fun and engaging activities—indoor and outdoor,

individually and in groups—that incorporate reading, writing, numeracy, and science. Summer Literacy

Camps focus on making reading, writing, and storytelling enjoyable because studies have shown that a love

of reading, not just the ability to read, is one of the most important predictors of school success. Daily

reading time, as well as embedded literacy and numeracy in all camp activities, helps prevent summer

learning loss.

In addition to providing literacy support for children and youth,

Summer Literacy Camps help increase the skills and knowledge of

the community by training and employing local staff. An important

aspect and major factor in the success of the Summer Literacy

Camps is community engagement. Research has shown that parent

or caregiver involvement is one of the most significant factors in

determining a child’s academic success. Adult participation at camp

sends a strong positive message to campers about the value

of learning and education, while raising awareness and

ownership of the camp throughout the entire community.

About Frontier College’s Summer Literacy Camps

Campers in Nain, Labrador, trying out the hand-drum during a demonstration and

lesson by performers from the community.

Campers reading on the local radio in Aupaluk, Quebec.

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In total, 7,523 children and youth attended camps nation-wide

28 new communities hosted Summer Literacy Camps for the first time

34,100 free, high-quality books were distributed to the communities

Campers spent an average of 61 minutes reading each day–over four times the amount needed to combat summer learning loss. Campers also spent an average of 93 minutes each day on outdoor and physical activities in order to stay fit and healthy

321 camp staff benefited from training and meaningful employment; 66% were Indigenous and local counsellors hired from the host communities

Elders, parents, and caregivers made 4,755 visits to camp. This includes 479 visits by community guest presenters who led activities for campers.

The camps also contributed an estimated $1.578 million to the local economies in and around camp communities in 2016

97% of parents said they would send their child to camp again next year

94% of teachers and educators said they would encourage students who did not attend camp this year to do so next year

98% of campers said they like going to camp; after attending camp, 24% of campers had improved attitudes towards reading

98% of counsellors agreed that camp was a positive work experience for them, and 94% would consider returning to work as a camp counsellor next year, if circumstances permitted

98% of counsellors surveyed said their camp experience strengthened their employment skills

Campers reading in Kuujjuaq, Quebec (top), and Taloyoak, Nunavut (bottom).

Highlights From The 2016 Camps In July and August 2016, Frontier College delivered Summer Literacy Camps for children and youth in

127 Indigenous communities across Canada. Campers engaged in fun activities and games that devel-

oped and strengthened their reading, writing, and numeracy skills. Evaluation results show that camp-

ers returned to school more ready to learn, with greater confidence in their abilities.

Learning to make bannock from an Elder at Sweetgrass First

Nation in Saskatchewan.

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“Camp is fun so I decided to come every day so I can learn more and have

fun reading.” - Camper from the Cree Nation of Eastmain, QC

“I love literacy camp! I am going to sign up every summer!”

- Camper from Nain, NL

“It’s so exciting to see my little girl like reading.”

- Parent from Tsuut’ina Nation, AB

“At the end of the school year, my son was not very strong in his reading

nor did he believe he could do it. In the first week of camp, he came home

and was so proud of how many books he had read.”

- Parent from Fort Qu’Appelle, SK

“The camp will help the youth in our community prevent summer learning

loss. It gives the youth a safe space to learn and play. As a camp counsellor,

I gained experience for future endeavours. This experience also opened up

other doors for me in this particular field.”

- Camp Counsellor from Onigaming First Nation, ON

“I have been a teacher for many years in our community and have seen the

benefits of the literacy camp in our students as they return to school. I hope

that the literacy camp will continue in our community in the years to

come.” - Teacher from Arviat, NU

“We are very excited about the additional reading support that our students

received and the improved results it will obtain for them. The camp allows

opportunities for our students to engage with reading in a new and exciting

manner [and] over the summer, our students gain an appreciation for

reading outside the classroom setting (…)The integration of [local

traditional] culture into the camp is another essential element that

contributes to the success of the program.”

- Principal from Ditidaht First Nation, BC

Testimonials from campers, parents, volunteers, and teachers

“I enjoy passing my artistic experience on to others. Any

activity that empowers students with new knowledge and

skills is positive. It also helps students develop self-esteem

and artistic confidence. Camp keeps kids in a learning mode.

I think it should be held again next year.”

- Guest Presenter from Hollow Water First Nation, MB

“The success of Frontier College’s camp in our community

has become the talk of the community(…) Some parents that

had kids at the camp for the first time asked how long the

program has been around and expressed their support. Our

community wants to continue with the relationship we have

built with Frontier College and continue to have a positive

impact on the kids and the parents of the community.”

- Director of Education from Elsipogtog First Nation, NB

Storytime at the camp in Tobique First Nation, in New Brunswick.

Top: A camp counsellor reading one-to-one with a camper in

Kinngait, Nunavut.

Bottom: Campers at Sto:lo Nation in B.C. listening to an Elder during a cultural tour of

the traditional lands.

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Air Creebec

Air Inuit

Alberta Ministry of Education

BC Ferries

Boeing Vancouver

Brock University

Bruce Power

Canadian Federation of University

Women—Muskoka

Cenovus Energy

City of Edmonton

City of Saskatoon

CODE

Compugen

Corus Entertainment

Cree School Board

Crown Investments Corporation

of Saskatchewan

Ditidaht Community School

Ebb & Flow First Nation Health

Authority Inc.

Edmonton Public Schools—First

Nations, Métis and Inuit

Education

Edmonton School District No. 7

Eel River Bar First Nation

Elementary Teachers’ Federation

of Ontario

Elsipogtog First Nation

Employment and Social

Development Canada

Empty Bowls Perth

ESUMA

First Air

First Book Canada

Forest Hill C.I.

Fortis BC

Geoffrey H. Wood Foundation

Hydro One

Indigenous and Northern Affairs

Canada

Indspire

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK)

Kativik School Board

Kativik Regional Government

Kids Can Press

Lac Seul First Nation

Let’s Talk Science

Lions Club of Perth

Makivik Corporation—Ungaluk

Fund

Manitoba Education and Training

Manitoba Indigenous and

Municipal Relations

Mastercard Foundation at the

Toronto Foundation

McCain Foundation

Misipawistik Cree Nation

Muscowpetung First Nation

North Star Air

Northern Lights School Division

Nunastar Properties

Nunatsiavut Department of

Education

Nunavut Department of Education

One Laptop per Child

Ontario English Catholic Teachers’

Association

Ontario Ministry of Citizenship,

Immigration and International

Trade

Ontario Ministry of Education

Ontario Power Generation

Ontario Secondary School

Teachers’ Federation

Ontario Teachers’ Federation

Ontario Teachers’ Insurance Plan

Orca Book Publishers

Power Workers' Union

RLS Charitable Giving Fund

Rotary Club of Winnipeg

Ryerson University

SaskGaming

Saskatchewan Government

Insurance (SGI)

Saskatchewan Ministry of the

Economy

Saskatchewan Ministry of

Education

Saskatchewan Ministry of Justice

Saskatchewan Ministry of Social

Services

SaskPower

SaskWater

Sayisi Dene Relocation Trust

Scholastic Reading Club

Scw’exmx Community Health

Services Society

Sheridan College

Slate Falls Air

St. Paul's University College

Stollery Charitable Foundation

Tachane Foundation

TD Bank Group

TELUS Thompson Okanagan

Community Board

TELUS Vancouver Island

Community Board

TELUS Victoria Community Board

The Printing House

TimberWest Forest Corporation

Tobique First Nation

Treaty Six Education Council

United Way of the Lower Mainland

United Way of Saskatoon

Wasaya Airways LP

Waywayseecappo Brighter Futures

Waywayseecappo First Nation

Education/Park West S.D.

Winnipeg Foundation

Frontier College is grateful to the following organizations who have championed the 2016 Indigenous

Summer Literacy Camps program and contributed to its success.

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Recognizing our Supporters

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www.frontiercollege.ca

Facebook.com/FrontierCollege Twitter.com/FrontierCollege

Youtube.com/FrontierCollege 35 Jackes Avenue, Toronto, ON, M4T 1E2 Toll-Free Tel: 1-800-555-6523 information@frontiercollege.ca