Peggy Revell
Following a long line of entrepreneurial students, local resident Laura Chabot has launched her own summer day camp this year with help from the province’s “Summer Company” program.
“I know it’s hard to find reliable child care anywhere really, and I wanted my own kids to have the best summer experiences ever,” said Chabot, explaining where the idea for her “Summer Adventure Day Care” came from.
“And I thought it would just be nice for parents who have to work all day to be able to send their children to somewhere like this.”
Chabot, 23, who currently is working towards her social work diploma through Contact North, first decided to apply to the “Summer Company” program after reading about it online.
“I just thought it would be great to get involved with them, and then I would have some guidance, and I would get some business knowledge as well as help with the business plan,” she said.
With the help of Michael McCaffery of the Northwest Business Centre, which oversees the “Summer Company” program for this area, Chabot put together a business plan, which led to her receiving a $1,500 start-up grant from the provincial government.
Along with business help, the program also will help connect her to a mentor in the field so she has someone to turn to to answer any questions she has.
“It’s really exciting,” Chabot said about starting up her own business.
“It’s a lot of work [and] I’ve done a lot of research,” she noted, adding much of this research happened with the help of the local toy library and Best Start Hub.
“They have a lot of great stuff, and I learned a lot from them,” she noted. “It’s actually been really great.
St. Michael’s School, and Mr. [Ron] Fryer, have also been a great help,” Chabot added, extending a big thank you to them for lending her chairs and tables for the summer that otherwise would have been very expensive to buy.
With all the planning and preparation under her belt, Chabot has lined up activities slated for children aged three and up.
“We offer arts and crafts, individualized education plans, delicious and healthy snacks and meals—I go by Canada’s food guide,” she remarked. “We’re going to do some drama activities, sports, nature hikes, gardening, swimming, beach play.”
She also hopes to be able to bring in yoga activities for the children, pony rides since her mother owns miniature horses, and a summer’s end treasure hunt.
With the camp taking place at her lakefront family property, there also will be beach and swimming areas.
“Hopefully, we get to do a lot of cool stuff,” Chabot enthused. “It’s going to be pretty exciting—I’m excited!”
She added the youngsters also will receive scrapbooks to take home with them at the end of summer.
“I just want [people] to know that I really want to do this; to provide the children with amazing summer memories and ensure that they have a great summer,” she stressed, noting she hopes to make this an annual business.
For more information, Chabot can be reached at 274-9483 or by e-mailing summeradventures@live.com
Besides Chabot, two others within the northwest region have taken advantage of the “Summer Company” program, which is designed to help students pursue running their own business and being an entrepreneur for the summer.
Other participants this year include James Chapman of Kenora, who will operate his own popcorn trike along the city’s harbourfront, as well as taking it to sporting and cultural events.
Marissa Mack, 17, also from Kenora, will aided by “Summer Company” to create and sell custom-painted glasswork through various places in Kenora and
beyond.
