Recreational programming for youth and adults may have more to offer than what was originally anticipated in Rankin Inlet this summer if the region stays Covid-19 free and lady luck is on the hamlet's side.
NNSL file photo
Rankin rec co-ordinator David Clark said his department is working hard to have as much available to the community as it possibly can this summer.
He said the second annual under-16 Kivalliq junior softball tournament gets underway a week from this Friday in Rankin.
“We're also hoping to have the artificial turf installed in the new arena shortly, which will allow us to get some other programming underway as soon as possible,” said Clark.
“Once the turf is ready, we'll have kids soccer going in the new arena, as well as adult soccer, dryland training, a parents and tots program in the mornings and, in the early afternoons, the day camp will use it as part of its programming.
“So, it will be a fairly busy schedule once we get everything up and running.”
Clark said Covid-19 is preventing the folks at Actua Canada from delivering their science camp across the region this summer.
He said a number of youthful science lovers are still staying connected, however, thanks to the 30 free STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) activity books and materials distributed to the kids this past Wednesday, July 15.
The books, for kids aged seven to 12, include activities on space, robotics, coding, health, science and biology.
“Actua Canada is a pretty good organization and they were genuinely disappointed they couldn't come this summer,” said Clark.
“The activities books we gave out allows the kids to do the projects at home that Actua would have delivered through its science camp if not for Covid-19.
“Travel across the region is no problem right now, so, for the 16-and-younger Kivalliq softball tournament at the end of the month, we have a couple of teams from Rankin, as well as teams from Arviat, Baker Lake, Coral Harbour and Whale Cove.
“Hopefully, things will continue to improve or, at least, not get any worse and we'll be having the Calm Air Cup mixed senior tournament around the end of August.”