Right To Play trainings support Community Mentors (CMs) in designing, delivering and measuring programs that work to build positive leadership and life-skills for children and youth. Trainings provide a safe, playful space for CMs to build a community of support, learn and share with one another, and practice strategies for using play-based learning in their programs.

Winter Training is a time for both new and returning CMs to come together to build connections and knowledge that will support them in their role as youth workers. This year, the goals of Winter Training were for CMs to:

• Participate in unique professional development opportunities, such as role modelling fun initiatives and leading sessions for their peers.
• Build their knowledge to run high quality programs that contribute to life-skills development for youth.
• Engage with external facilitators to feel confident to deliver diverse and inclusive activities, including art therapy, robotics and hip hop.

To meet these objectives, it was crucial to build in opportunities for CMs to share their perspectives and connect their learning back to their own experiences. Therefore, much of the content of the week adhered to adult learning practices such as self-direction, active experimentation, and activation of participants’ foundational knowledge.

We would like to thank the support workers, external facilitators and other partners involved in making this year’s Winter Training a safe and inspiring space:

• Aalla (Stranger), Inuk Knowledge Keeper, Labrador/Ottawa
• Callum Pinkney, Photographer
• Camp Tawingo, Implementing Partner
• Chelsea Surette, Support Worker
• DJ Akiin, Facilitator
• Gene One, Facilitator
• Joyce Tabobondung, Elder, Wasauksing First Nation
• Office of the Ontario Child Advocate, Implementing Partner
• reBOOT Canada, Implementing Partner
• Valerey Lavergne, Art and Grief Therapist

This winter, CMs in British Columbia and Alberta had the opportunity to tune in remotely to a series of training modules facilitated by the PLAY West team. Topics covered included:

Supporting Positive Behaviour

Presented by the Canucks Autism Network, with post-webinar discussion led by Right To Play, this online training explored ways for Community Mentors to better assist and include a range of children with invisible disabilities and behaviour challenges in their programs.

Play For Prevention (PFP)

Developed for Urban Indigenous Organization partners that run the diabetes-prevention PFP program, this module built CMs’ confidence to integrate Right To Play’s diabetes knowledge statements into their regular programming.

Adaptability in After School Program (ASP)

This module explored ways that CMs can adapt physical activities at their After School Program to best suit the learning stages of different age groups.

Youth Leadership Program (YLP)

The new YLP framework was unveiled, aiming to support CMs to integrate more youth leadership and youth voice into their programs.