Camp fYrefly

Camp fYrefly utilizes an arts-based educational philosophy, which focuses on building and nurturing the leadership potential and personal resiliency of youth in an effort to help them become agents for positive social change in their schools, families, and communities. To our knowledge, Camp fYrefly is the largest youth leadership camp of its kind... in Canada and the only one in the world affiliated with a Faculty of Education in a major university, which ensures for research-informed programming, sound pedagogical principles, youth safety, accountability, and strong fiscal management. All of Camp fYrefly's award-winning programming is guided by input from youth and facilitated by trained educators and youth workers in collaboration with a team of artists, dramatists, community, and youth leaders. Camp fYrefly's philosophy and award-winning programming emphasizes a by-youth-for-youth approach in which older youth and adult facilitators mentor and help to support younger youth. The Camp, guided by an arts-based educational philosophy, is jam-packed with dance, drama, music, writing, visual art, empowerment and reflection exercises, anti-oppression work, personal growth opportunities, health education, healthy socialization, and in-depth learning activities about specific youth topics and social issues. In sum, Camp fYrefly's pedagogy focuses on four key areas: leadership, individual development, socialization, and resiliency. Camp fYrefly exists because caring adults believe that all youth are entitled to a world that embraces diversity rather than fearing it. For four days each year, we try to create that world, a world that lives out the fYrefly acronym, which as the youth tell us, stands for: fostering, Youth, resiliency, energy, fun, leadership, yeah! Camp fYrefly is bound to be a powerful and unique experience, as we focus on developing leadership qualities through activities that challenge youth to explore identity, build resilience, and enhance self- and social-esteem. Camp fYrefly would like each youth ...Read More