Get Happy Summer Day Camp - Community Application 2026

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COMPLETE YOUR COMMUNITY APPLICATION NOW

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The Recreation & Parks Association of Nunavut (RPAN) is pleased to once again be hosting the Get Happy Summer Day staff training program in Iqaluit, June 15 – 19, 2026.  

Our most successful program to date, we have grown from five communities in our pilot year in 2015 to 16 communities last year in 2025.

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Youth leaders plus one supervisor/recreation coordinator will attend four-days of training that will assist recreation and youth leaders develop the skills, confidence and knowledge to plan, organize and deliver a 6-8 week summer day camp program for children aged 5-12, creating positive change in communities through physical activity, creative arts, sport, and recreation.

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Hosted in conjunction with the Jays Care Foundation, recreation and youth leaders will participate in a variety of interactive workshops, activities and First Aid training that will prepare them to implement their Get Happy Summer Day Camp programs, a project aimed at improving the lives of children and youth in their communities.  

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At the conclusion of the training week, participants will be fully prepared, confident, excited and skilled to return to their home communities to deliver quality summer day camps.  This includes daily activity plans, equipment, arts/crafts, check lists, registration forms and promotional material.

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Junior Leader Program

For the 2026 Get Happy Summer Day Camp program, communities are encouraged to identify "Junior Leaders," any individual aged 13-15 who may have aged out of the Summer Day Camp or want to contribute to their community by participating in the Summer Day Camp but also assisting youth leaders and recreation staff in organizing games and activities.  Junior leaders are unpaid (unless the community wishes to compensate them) and will not travel to RPAN's training.  RPAN will provide them with a shirt to identify them as a "Junior Leader," while Recreation leaders and youth leaders who participate in the training will be able to assist Junior Leaders in their roles when they return to their communities.

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GET HAPPY SUMMER DAY CAMP (SDC) OVERVIEW

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WHAT IS GET HAPPY SUMMER DAY CAMP (SDC)?

• The Get Happy Summer Day Camp is a 6-8 week summer day camp held in July and August, led and delivered by recreation staff in communities across Nunavut with support from RPAN

• RPAN provides training for recreation staff and up to 5 youth leaders, 16-29 years of age, from various communities along with resources, equipment, craft supplies, snack money and more to organize and deliver a successful summer day camp.

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HOW DO COMMUNITIES BECOME INVOLVED IN THE GET HAPPY SUMMER DAY CAMP?​

• Application and support letter for the Get Happy Summer Day Camp program must be received by March 12th, 2026.

• Confirmation space for day camp use for a period of 6-8 weeks must be included in the letter

• Supervisors must dedicate time for monthly conference calls.

• All summer day camp staff will need to have a CRC/VSC by prior to training

• All youth leaders and the recreation coordinator will be required to attend online meeting(s) and the June training session.​

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WHAT RESOURCES WILL BE SUPPLIED WITH GET HAPPY SUMMER DAY CAMP?

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RPAN WILL:

• Cover 100% of all training costs including: travel, accommodations, food, certification (for up to 5 youth leaders and the recreation coordinator) 

• Coordinate all flights/travel.

• Purchase art and craft supplies for each community

• Provide support to each community for snacks and drinks

• Provide participant t-shirts for each community

• Provide staff clothing 

• Provide first aid kits

• Provide all resources to participating communities

• Purchase day camp equipment

HAMLETS WILL:

• Apply for summer student wage assistance

• Recruit and hire summer day camp staff, including one “leader/supervisor”

• Allocate a suitable space to host the day camp program (community hall, arena, etc)

• Host a minimum 6-8 week camp program

• Complete weekly reports

• Participate in evaluation at end of summer program

• Pay staff wages during training week

• Budget for any additional “hosting” costs 

• Apply on grants for additional funding to support the program in your community

It is important to note, communities participating in the Get Happy Summer Day Camp program are required to complete training evaluations and end of the camp program evaluations.  Supervisors are also required to participate in all conference call meetings.

100% participation in training is required!

Hamlet MUST be in good standing with RPAN. Any Hamlets owing money or reports will not be considered for participation until paid in full.  Hamlets MUST be RPAN members for the April 2026 – March 2027 year.

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HOW CAN COMMUNITIES PARTICIPATE IN THE GET HAPPY SUMMER DAY CAMP?

1. COMPLETE THE APPLICATION BELOW.

2. HAVE ALL LETTERS OF SUPPORT AND DOCUMENTS ATTACHED WITH THE APPLICATION.

3. DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION IS: March 12th, 2026.