Family Connections - Interlake provides programming for families in the RM of Rockwood and surrounding areas for more Information please contact:
Janaya Tomchuk
Coordinator
Family Connections - Interlake
Interlake Early Childhood Development Coalition
Phone: 204-485-2275
Email: interlakefamilyconnections@outlook.com
Or the contact name of program you are interested in attending.
Below are some programs for 2024-25 hosted within the borders of the RM of Rockwood.
Attached is the entire program guide for the Interlake region.
2024-2025 FUNDED PROGRAMS - Interlake Family Connections
Program Name: Aspiring Artists (Launching Little Learners)
April to June & September to March
Teulon
Contact Name: Lana Knor, Maegan Trach
Email: maegan.trach@greenacresartcentre.ca
The goal of this program will be to introduce children (age 3-6) and parents/caregivers to a variety of ways to express oneself artistically. It will include stories, painting, drawing, crafts, creative movement, theatre, and music. Children and parents/caregivers will be told a story and will then explore re-telling the story using different forms of artistic expression. There will be emphasis on describing themselves as artists and it is hoped that this program will be an introduction to a lifelong relationship with the arts.
Program Name: Baby & Me Yoga
Spring and Fall
Stonewall & Teulon
Contact Name: Heather McDermid
Email: heathermcdermidyoga@gmail.com
Baby and Me Yoga provides an opportunity for parents to enhance bonding with their baby and allows them to connect with other parents in a carefree, welcoming environment. During the class, parents learn fun yoga moves to help baby relax, sleep and digest better. Yoga assists babies in very practical developmental skills, such as learning to roll over, tummy time, sitting and crawling. We also sing songs and nursery rhymes that involve active movement. The class draws on inspiration from the leading program "Itsy Bitsy Yoga". While baby is content, parents have a chance to breathe, relax and restore with gentle yoga stretches appropriate for post-natal or any level. No yoga experience necessary.
Program Name: Bambini Beatz (Launching Little Learners)
April – May & September - December
Teulon
Contact Name: Lana Knor, Maegan Trach
Email: maegan.trach@greenacresartcentre.ca
The Bambini Beatz program is focused on the child’s voyage into the world of music, movement, and dance, and the natural enjoyment music brings to both children and their caregivers. Each Bambini Beatz class celebrates the influence of music and dance and the power that it has to enhance our lives and inspire learning and movement. It creates a bonding experience for the child and caregiver while exposing young children to a variety of music and percussion instruments in a fun and safe environment. Music from a variety of genres will be explored. The program provides an hour of physical activity, music, and storytime/rhyming in an exciting, playful environment.
Program Name: Circle of Security Parenting
Spring
Online format
Contact Name: Alexie Mauthe
Email: alexiemauthe@live.com
Circle of Security Parenting is a relationship-based parenting program. Through this program, participants will learn ways to enhance secure relationships with their children. It is based on attachment research and teaches caregivers how to recognize and understand their child’s needs.
Program Name: Come Dance With Me (Launching Little Learners)
6 weeks May-June, 6 weeks July-August, 12 weeks September-December, and 12 weeks January-March
Teulon
Contact Name: Lana Knor, Maegan Trach
Email: maegan.trach@greenacresartcentre.ca
This class is designed to encourage parents to introduce and experience dance movement along with their children (age 3-6). It is a wonderful introduction to gross motor skills enhanced by music and rhythm. Skills learned in this class will provide families with many tools and techniques for movement at home.
Program Name: Family Nature Club
April – March
Throughout the Interlake
Contact Name: Ashley Adams
Email: ashley.mcmurray1@gmail.com
The FNC is for families to get outdoors, gain confidence in their outdoor abilities, give their children opportunities to get outdoors, to learn about nature, wildlife, to create a space for children, parents and families to connect with each other and the land. FNC is a drop in program that offers experiential educational opportunities throughout each session including foraging, survival skills, snowshoeing, wildlife learning that comes up during each session.
Program Name: Grow With Us - Garden Club
May – September
Stonewall
Contact Name: Ashley Adams
Email: ashley.mcmurray1@gmail.com
The Grow With Us Garden Club will aim to grow gardening, plant, food literacy within the community, will have children and families learning how to garden - getting soil ready, planning the garden, picking the seeds, planting the seeds, watering, weeding and caring for the garden and plants, harvesting and a harvest feast at the end where they help to prepare the meal to share with each other! They will also work together to decide what to do with the produce they grow - deciding how much each will get and if any will be donated at the end of the season
Program Name: Growing Up Green
April - March
Stonewall & Teulon
Contact Name: Heather McDermid
Email: heathermcdermidyoga@gmail.com
Growing up Green is a parent and child together program, using nature as a learning tool, and encourages families to go outside and explore. Through movement, rhymes, books and nature-based learning activities, families will gain an appreciation for the world around them. Families will experience the joys of learning together while gaining the tools to foster their connection to nature and the environment.
Program Name: Junior Kindergarten (Launching Little Learners)
April – March
Teulon
Contact Name: Lana Knor, Maegan Trach
Email: maegan.trach@greenacresartcentre.ca
This program is designed to prepare children (age 3-6) and their parents to eventually enter Kindergarten with the skills needed for the transition. There will be exploration in literacy, numeracy, and more through songs, games, and other activities. Arts and crafts projects will also be included. Children can gain the experience with cooperative play, fine motor skills, and pre-reading and writing skills within a safe, welcoming environment supported by their parent/caregiver and will leave the program being more prepared for the challenges of entering Kindergarten on their own.
Program Name: Stonewall Library Story Walk 2024
May – September
Balmoral, Grosse Isle, Stonewall and Stony Mountain
Contact Name: Clint Curle
Email: ccurle@sirlibrary.com
The concept of a community Story Walk is to combine walking outdoors and reading at the same time for young children and their adults. Laminated pages from an age-appropriate children’s book are installed along an outdoor path about 40 paces apart. As you walk down the trail you are directed to the next page in the story. This program encourages both early childhood literacy and outdoor exercise promoting healthy living. It is a fun activity for children to do with their adults.
Program Name: Magic of Music (Launching Little Learners)
April – June & September – December
Teulon
Contact Name: Lana Knor, Maegan Trach
Email: maegan.trach@greenacresartcentre.ca
The goal of this program will be to encourage parents/caregivers and children (age 3-6) to develop a love of music by experiencing it together in a fun, welcoming environment. The instructor will introduce children to various musical instruments in an age-appropriate way. Parents and children will bond over learning new songs and ways that they can incorporate music into their everyday lives.
Program Name: Oh Baby! (Launching Little Learners)
September – December
Teulon
Contact Name: Lana Knor, Maegan Trach
Email: maegan.trach@greenacresartcentre.ca
This program will provide parents/caregivers and babies ages 0-2 an opportunity to bond and socialize with other families while learning important information and skills about nutritional health, social/emotional development, and early literacy. The instructor will consult with a registered dietician to provide families with healthy meal and snack ideas that are age appropriate and in accordance with Canada’s Food Guide. An expert from the local Families First organization will be consulted in developing ideas for homemade toys/educational tools and activities that parents can easily replicate at home. The instructor will also lead families in rhymes and movement as well as gentle storytelling that is specifically targeted to this age group of children.
Program Name: Super Scientists (Launching Little Learners)
September – December
Teulon
Contact Name: Maegan Trach
Email: maegan.trach@greenacresartcentre.ca
This program is designed to be a fun, interactive introduction to topics in science for parents/caregivers and children (age 3-6). Each class will introduce topics through a children’s book and will include hands-on activities and experiences. Some movement and music will be incorporated. Some examples of scientific topics are: Colours, solar system, living and nonliving things, plants and animals, etc.
Program Name: The Learning Circle (Launching Little Learners)
September – December
Teulon
Contact Name: Lana Knor, Maegan Trach
Email: maegan.trach@greenacresartcentre.ca
This program is designed to introduce and celebrate Indigenous Culture to children (age 3-6) and their parents/caregivers. Under the guidance of local members of the Indigenous community, families will experience Indigenous storytelling, art, music, and dance. This program is intended to be a positive step towards the efforts of Truth and Reconciliation in our community and will provide a safe, inclusive environment for families of all different backgrounds to come together, bond with each other, and form new relationships.