Mini U Programs, which also oversees Junior Bisons programming is hiring for summer employment. Information and applications for all positions are now available. Supervisor applications are due on January 19, 2022 and leader applications are due on February 13, 2022.

As an ‘experience supervisor’ last summer, Parth Saul worked closely with other staff members to coordinate day-to-day operations and safety protocols for all, support other staff in their positions, and to create a setting in which leadership was a group effort based on respect.

Jaclyn Keddie was the assistant hockey coach and directly worked with kids on and off the ice on skills, skating, and showing kids what it means to be a leader by example.

Their jobs entailed daily activities but more importantly, their experiences set them up to develop a unique skill set and values that they will carry for the rest of their personal and professional lives. Every person is different, and Mini U promotes an inclusive culture where each individual can flourish in their own way.

Mini U is more than a program, it’s an environment where you can thrive and find your strengths without fear of judgement. “We’re at such a vulnerable age with lots of pressure to find our career paths in life,” says Keddie. “As a student, it gave me the confidence I needed to be able to know the right path for me, but it also showed me that my career path is not my only goal in life. Having other passions and activities outside of school is essential for living a well-balanced, healthy life.”

Academics can be extremely stressful but Mini U Programs provides a place for stress relief and a social outlet. In fact, that’s what drew Saul back. The day-to-day activities for Mini U staff members were nothing short of exciting and rewarding, but the “energy, kindness, and supportive nature of the leaders was contagious and when the summer ended, it left me wanting to come back and take on a bigger role,” says Saul.

She adds: “Whoever comes through the doors are pushed to want the best versions of themselves. Without a place like this, I don’t think I would be the person I am today. The idea of shaping the leaders of tomorrow is what makes this one of the best summer jobs in the province.”

As a Mini U team member, you’ll be surrounded by driven and thoughtful individuals who are more like you than you thought. They’re students who also want to find a strong sense of community and make the best of every experience through teamwork. Keddie perfectly encapsulates what being a staff member meant to her, “I was honoured to get to live through these small moments every day this past summer.”

If Saul and Keddie’s stories resonated with you and are looking to join a healthy workplace, apply for a position with Mini U Programs today. More information and full application details can be found at miniu.ca.

Mini U will handle sport, special interest and leadership programs split by age groups in the five to seven and eight to 11 year ranges, while Junior Bisons will offer sport-specific, high performance camps for youth-aged participants aged twelve years and older.

While a few camp favourites like Kids in the Kitchen and Coding for Kids will take a pause this summer, the menu is still filled with exciting, unique programs and sport-specific training options that will keep kids active and engaged through the summer.

“The [pandemic] situation we are faced with forced us to think about how we can maximize the opportunity to keep kids active this summer while still giving them the Mini U experience they and their families are so familiar with,” commented Ashley Gagnon, associate director, Children’s Programs.

Fewer camps and smaller camp sizes are two elements of the safety plan with about 1500 spots remaining after a 2-day pre-sale in April. All camps will be in compliance with Manitoba public health orders and Manitoba Camping Association guidelines.

“Participant and staff safety are at the top of every decision we make which is why you will see fewer camps this year. The silver lining of all of this though, is that we are evolving and finding efficiencies that will ultimately benefit our participants going forward,” said Gagnon.

Mini U Programs and Junior Bisons are working closely together on creating natural progressions through their sport programming from Mini I and Mini II programs (5-11) through to Junior Bisons higher level sport-specific offerings (12+).

UM Bisons coaching staff will be providing their expertise in the creation of camps while delivery will be at the hands of Mini U leaders and Bisons student-athletes, giving campers a chance to interact with the varsity players.

Learn more about how to register for Mini U Programs and Junior Bisons today.

On April 20, Mini U Programs and Junior Bisons will start their two-day online pre-sale allowing campers to request a spot in their camp of choice. Full details are available on the Mini U Programs website. General online registration will follow beginning on Wednesday, May 5.

To ensure safety for all participants and staff, a decrease in the number of camps offered is to be expected. And while a few camp favourites like Kids in the Kitchen and Coding for Kids will take a pause this summer, the menu, as always, is filled with exciting, unique programs and sport-specific training camps available to children and youth ages four to 18. 

“We are beyond excited to be able to provide the Mini U Programs and Junior Bisons experience to the community this summer,” says Ashley Gagnon, associate director, Children’s Programs. “We’ve been working hard to make sure what we can offer is balanced with safety, inclusivity and support for the community.”

Community support comes in the way of a subsidy program that focuses on minimizing the barrier program fees can create. The program allows families of Indigenous cultural background, low-income families and families with children who have special needs access to financial support for or their young campers and athletes to attend summer camp.

Supported through the Ted Barkwell Memorial Fund and the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management, a number of camp spots will be set aside each week throughout the summer giving the opportunity for underprivileged children to meet new friends and learn new skills in the university setting. Applications for the subsidy program will be available beginning on Tuesday, April 13.

Making a splash with spring swimming lessons

Months after being cancelled due to lockdown, private and semi-private swimming lessons will resume for a 7- to 8-week session. Customers who were registered in the Fall will be contacted and general swimming lesson online registration will open on Monday, May 3. Details are available on the swimming lessons page.

To explore the summer camp menu for Mini U Programs and Junior Bisons high-performance training, information about registration and the subsidy program, visit miniu [dot] ca.

After COVID-19 forced the cancellation of summer camps at UM in 2020, this announcement brings added encouragement and optimism to the community. For over 40 years, UM summer camps have employed hundreds of students and welcomed thousands of children and youth to campus to participate in unique experiences and sport environment.

Learn about registration details at miniu [dot] ca.

Safety precautions priority

The plan, approved by UM’s COVID Recovery Steering Committee highlights safety of participants and staff as priority through an experience on a smaller scale, and with limited attendance and strict operational procedures.

While specific camp offerings and registration information has not yet been announced, the faculty is pleased to contribute to the university and community’s recovery.

“It has always been our intention to support the efforts of UM’s recovery and impact the community in positive ways. Mini U and Junior Bisons provide additional opportunities to reengage with the broader community and encourage learning and development in our youth,” expressed Doug Brown, dean, Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management. 

Summer programming details, including registration dates, will be announced in the coming weeks. For now, the focus is on hiring and putting in place the staff required to run the programs effectively, efficiently and safely.

It’s almost become routine to see mention of Junior Bisons in the bios of many current Bison student-athletes. Offered for individuals aged 8-18, Junior Bisons’ mission is to “be the instructional and high performance organization of choice for players and coaches who seek and promote personal and team development skills.”

Leading the charge is coordinator Lisa Peters. At the time of her appointment nearly a decade ago, a well-established girls volleyball program existed under Bisons head coach Ken Bentley. Peters, however, was tasked with expanding Junior Bisons’ reach.

“The hope was basically to grow [Junior Bisons] into all of the sports that we offer here at the varsity level,” Peters says.

Peters’ ambitions have paid off. On top of girls’ volleyball, the U of M offers club teams for basketball, hockey and swimming.

And the evolution continues. Last year, the model was changed to a skills academy setup in the spring and summer.

There are also fall and winter breakfast clubs that occur in the hours before school for kids ages 6-16 who want extra work on their individual hockey skills.

“The biggest thing is to know our community and know our network,” Peters adds.

“[Women’s hockey head coach] Jon Rempel has kids in the program as far as hockey goes, so we’re in the rinks and we’re recruiting kids already at bantam ages. I’m at the rinks meeting parents, we have parent meetings every year where I chit chat with parents and chum with them. It’s about adapting and kind of knowing our surroundings.”

Another example of adaptation can be found in the Junior Bison High Performance Summer Camps. Occurring annually for the past seven years, they provide further skill development in an intense and challenging environment.

Running from mid-July to late August, the camps—which this year features track and field (girls and boys ages 8-18), boys’ basketball (ages 8-13), girls’ basketball (ages 8-15) and girls’ volleyball (ages 11-14 and 14-18)—are led by U of M head coaches, assistant coaches and current and former Bisons. They offer athletes a solid base once their school seasons are done and also further enhance the relationship between player and coach.

“It helps you recruit good people,” Peters says.

Find more info on Junior Bisons programs and Junior Bisons High Performance Summer Camps.