The LIFE Program (Leisure in Fun Environments) provides opportunities for children and youth with special needs to engage in meaningful recreational activity. It is funded by donations to the Children’s Rehabilitation Foundation. There is more information about the three programs within the LIFE Program below. If you would like more information please contact: Janice (lifeprogram@rccinc.ca or (204) 258-6749), Hailey (lifeprogram@rccinc.ca or (204) 258-6538), or Maya (lifeprogram@rccinc.ca or (204) 258-6539).
Summer Day Camps
- Who is eligible to attend?
- Campers ages 12 – 20 (birthday between 2004 and 2012) with physical and/or developmental disabilities
- Children ages 7 – 11 (birthday between 2013 and 2017) with complex physical care needs or behavioural support needs are welcome to apply to our one week of Snapshot camp intended for their age range
- We are excited to offer nine unique summer camp themes this year at four locations! All of our camps:
- Are open to campers with and without mobility aids
- Offer a 1:1 buddy system as well as support from therapists (physio, OT, and recreation therapy)
- Are four-day weeks (Tuesday to Friday)
- Campers can register for one or two weeks of camp
- Funding:
- Registration fee paid by parents ($120 per week)
- Cost for 1:1 support is paid by supporting agency of CdS, CLdS, or CFS (must be pre-approved by Family Services worker)
- All other costs funded through the generous support of the Children’s Rehabilitation Foundation
- Registration deadline: March 22, 2024
- Download the registration package for complete details!
Therapeutic Recreation and Wellness Program
- Recreational programming for children and youth from preschool up to age 21
- Programs are offered after school and on weekends, between September and June
- Supervised by a professional, with the exception of parent-attended programs
- Recreation support workers on a ratio of 1:3; volunteers assist as well
- Participants needing 1:1 support can attend with their own worker
- We can provide a 1:1 worker on request; payment is arranged directly between family and the staff person
- Registration for SNFT and Explore can take place any time; other programs as details are confirmed and information sent out / posted
After-school Cooking clubs
- Registrations are available from the hosting school
- Students from grades 7 – 12 stay after school to cook and enjoy dinner
- Programs vary in length from 5 – 8 weeks, and run from 3:30 to 6:00
- Peer volunteers are recruited from the school, providing an opportunity for friendship and bridging the gap between mainstream and special education
- A full dinner is prepared each week (salad, main course, dessert) with recipes adapted as needed
- Adapted cooking tools are used as needed
- Students choose the menu from week to week
- Grocery shopping and laundry can be done by the students as part of their Life Skills programming during the regular school day
- Staff is provided by the LIFE program; School staff are welcome to join as well
After-school Yoga clubs
- Registrations available from the hosting school
- Similar to the cooking clubs; one group does an hour of yoga while another group prepares dinner
- Yoga instruction is provided by a qualified teacher with training in yoga for people with special needs
Boccia
- A joint program with Society for Manitobans with Disabilities and Cerebral Palsy Association of Manitoba
- Learn the skills needed to play boccia, and practice with other boccia players in Manitoba
Bowling
- For the whole family, on selected Sunday afternoons in various rural communities
- Yearly event for each community
- Adapted equipment (free-standing bowling ramps, switch-activated ball holding device) available
Explore
- Community outings for ages 12 – 21 (no parents)
- Includes hockey games, Santa Claus parade, community festivals, skating and tobogganing, museums, and going out to eat
- Families are responsible for the cost of admission, food, and snacks
Fall festival
- For the whole family
- 2-hour festival on a Sunday afternoon
- Activities include building scarecrows, carving pumpkins, decorating cookies, crafts, “Spooky Corner”, a photo booth, and games
Friday Supper Club
- A chance for families to prepare meals and eat together with other families
- For participants aged 12-21 and parent(s)/caregivers
- We use the Guided Participation model to facilitate flexible thinking and decision-making while strengthening the parent-child relationship in a supportive environment
- Cooks of all ability levels are welcome – we provide adapted cooking equipment as needed, including switch-operated devices
- To register, contact lifeprogram@rccinc.ca or call SSCY front reception at 204-452-4311
Gardening
- For the whole family, on selected Sunday afternoons
- Planting, digging, smelling, tasting, crafts using garden materials
- Work in the SSCY garden beds, as well as Winnipeg Harvest gardens
Inservice Days
- We will be offering five inservice days throughout the school year
- Join us for different activities, like the zoo, games, cooking, bowling, art, and movies
- Staff are provided in a 3:1 ratio
Music Therapy
- Saturdays in 8-week blocks
- For children and youth ages 2 to 21, separated into different age groups
- Each participant comes with one or both parents
- Led by a certified music therapist
Saturday Cooking Club
- Saturdays in 4 – 8 week blocks, for one to two hours
- For children and youth ages 8 to 12, and 12 to 21
- Each “junior cook” attends with a parent or caregiver
- Each week has a different theme, eg beans, pizza, sandwiches
- Includes food preparation and a Tasting Adventure
- Tasting Adventure is structured as a safe opportunity to step outside of the comfort zone. Steps to tasting include touching, smelling, licking, holding food with your teeth, and eating. Participants are given the choice of how many steps they go through!
- A rating sheet is filled out by each participant to keep track of what they have tried
- For parents who have attended the 7-week Flexible Thinking learning series, cooking offers an opportunity to put guiding skills into practice
Saturday Night for Teens
- Held at SSCY Centre
- 15 Saturdays during the school year, from 4:00 to 9:00 (5 hours, to give parents an opportunity to have an evening on their own)
- For youth/young adults between 12 and 21 years old
- Registrants are invited on a rotating basis to ensure that each event has full attendance, and all youth have equal opportunity to attend
- Includes dinner prep, games and crafts, karaoke, dance, yoga, art, music therapy
- A guest instructor (music therapist, zumba instructor, yoga instructor, or artist) attends each event, and works with small groups after dinner
Skating
- A family event to practice skating with specialized and adapted equipment on Sunday afternoons
Spa day
- Held at SSCY Centre
- For youth/young adults between 12 and 21 years old; parent attendance optional
- Includes home-made face masks, manicures and pedicures, crafts, and snacks
Sport Development
- Providing opportunities for participants and families to try new sports
- Sports include archery, boccia, and bowling
- Adapted equipment will be available
- Details will be sent out as events are scheduled
Swim days
- For the whole family
- Held on selected Sunday afternoons at an accessible community pool
- Hosted in partnership with the Cerebral Palsy Association of Manitoba; open to their adult members as well
- LIFE program staff provide assistance with changing and transfers as needed
- An extra-wide massage table is used for changes in the adapted change rooms
- Adapted and specialized flotation devices are available to borrow, and staff are available for consultation to families as needed
“Test-drive a Bike” days
- Held in the spring
- Families needing help finding the right adapted / specialized bike or trike can come for a brief assessment and test drive
- Bikes from our equipment pool, as well as bike trailers and beach wheelchairs, are made available for trial
- Families are given a summary sheet to pass along to their therapist for assistance with funding
Yoga
- Saturdays in 8-week blocks
- For children and youth ages 8 to 12, and 12 to 21
- Low sensory group is smaller and moves at a slower pace
- Each yogi attends with a parent or caregiver
- Led by an instructor with training in adapted yoga
Active Living Centre (Recreation Equipment)
The Active Living Centre is an equipment loan program. We have specialized and adapted bikes, beach wheelchairs, flotation aids, and adapted sports equipment. Families can borrow equipment for several weeks at a time. Visit our Loan Programs page to see all the equipment you can borrow!
