Youth Exchange Canada: Toronto – Day Two

YMCA Academy Beyond the Classroom, Community, Experiential Learning, YMCA of Greater Toronto No Comments

On Monday, our group travelled to Casa Loma, taking in great views of the city as we climbed the hill and stairs to the castle. Our first adventure was walking through the 800 ft tunnel, through the “Toronto The Dark Side” exhibit to the stables and antique car exhibits. We then watched a film that took us through the history of Casa Loma and learned a lot about the time period in which it was built. After the film, we had free time to explore all of the rooms and grounds of the castle. The highlight for many of us was climbing up the winding staircases into the towers and enjoying more great views of Toronto.

After our visit to Casa Loma we had lunch in some green space nearby. All of the Academy students laid out the extra lunches they had made so that our guests could choose a meal they liked. We then ate in the beautiful sunshine and many students found ways to climb up trees and walls and monkey around.

When lunch was finished, we took the subway to High Park to show our guests the nature found right in our city. We had a nice walk through the park, stopping to rest by the cherry blossoms and view the animals in the zoo. We were happy to see the capybaras, Bonnie and Clyde, and their babies running around in their enclosure.

From High Park, we made our way back downtown and after we rested up and did a bit of shopping near the YMCA Academy, then we headed towards Fran’s Restaurant as our hunger grew anticipating the meal that awaited us. When we arrived at the diner, our excitement grew. As we chatted amongst ourselves our orders arrived. We had burgers and fries, fish and chips or chicken parmesan with spaghetti. The decor in Fran’s restaurant had the look and feel of the 1970s. The diner had seafoam coloured walls and seats along with booths and tables that were located in the front of the diner. The floors were tiled diagonally; the desserts were on display while the staff were wearing black uniforms. Jonathan says “I rate this restaurant environment and my meal 10/10”.

After we had dinner with our twins at the Fran’s diner we walk to Yonge and Dundas to show our guests the Eaton Centre. They went around going to find things that they didn’t have on the island such as make-up stores, EB games and more. We spend a lot of time there (and money). Afterwards we all went our separate ways home.

Check out more photos from this event on our Facebook page!

Youth Exchange Canada: Toronto – Day One

YMCA Academy Beyond the Classroom, Community, Experiential Learning, YMCA of Greater Toronto No Comments

It was a bright and early Sunday morning, me (Heather), Benny and Spencer carpooled down to Clarence Park. As I hopped out of the car the first thing I had to do was meet each of the exchange students for I was so enthralled that they were finally here! We went on a TTC scavenger hunt. The plan was to conclude the TTC scavenger hunt at Chester Station, then from there we walked to Withrow Park. At the park we ate lunch and played some getting-to-know-you games. Ebin and his younger brother Aubrey were climbing trees. It was wicked to watch them climb, so second nature. We walked to an even bigger park called Riverdale and I and some of the exchange kids and YMCA kids rolled down the hill it was happy times. We waited at Riverdale for a recent graduate of the YMCA named Dakota and his brother Phoenix that is currently attending the school. We walked to Dakota and Phoenix’s house for a native ceremony to learn a little bit about the native rituals that originated from Toronto. All the Haida Gwaii kids gave a cedar rose to the drummers. It was a beautiful and tiring day but altogether one hundred percent worth, yawns.

We weren’t sure, beforehand, how many of our visitors were members of the Haida Nation, but we wanted to do our best to present them with a traditional native welcome. A good friend to the Academy, and parent of both a former and current student, Valentina, did not disappoint as she hosted a beautiful, spirited potluck at her home. She arranged a group of drummers and singers to perform several touching songs, each with a particular focus and meaning. The event took place in the courtyard of their housing complex and was so powerful it attracted surrounding neighbours and even stopped cars driving by. In a surprise twist, Pauline Shirt, an Elder of the Plains Cree who was leading the welcoming happened to know and have worked with an aunt of one of the youth visiting us. What a small world!

Our guests were very appreciative of the welcoming we gave them, but were also happy to return to their accommodations and rest up for what would be a long and exciting whirlwind week of activities. This day was the perfect start to such a week.

Check out more photos from this event on our Facebook page!

Youth Exchange Silent Auction

Katie Clay Beyond the Classroom, Community, Events, Experiential Learning No Comments

Items on Sale during Silent Auction for the Youth Exchange Canada

Last week, with the help of parents, YMCA Health and Fitness staff, and student volunteers, the YMCA Academy held a silent auction to fundraise for the Canada Youth Exchange program. This year the tables were overflowing with generously donated items from family, friends and local businesses. From handmade scarves, pottery and artwork to concert and theatre tickets to a signed Raptors jersey and Toronto Maple Leafs tickets, there was something for everyone! With this one day auction we exceeded our fundraising goal and brought in over $2300 for this year’s exchange!

The Canada Youth Exchange program is a Government of Canada initiative that helps Canadian youth connect with one another, experience the diversity of Canada’s communities, languages and cultures, and get involved in the future of the country. We are fortunate to have been twinned with a group from Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, who we will be hosting at the end of April. Thanks to all of our fundraising efforts and support from the community we are now able to go ahead with our wish list of activities and ensure that our guests have a truly amazing Toronto experience!

Thanks again to all those involved in the silent auction and stay tuned to find out exactly how the money is spent when we recap the exchange experience.

Special Ballet Creole performance at the YMCA Academy!

YMCA Academy Arts, Beyond the Classroom, Experiential Learning No Comments

The Toronto  based dance company Ballet Creole brought their performance of Saraka to the YMCA Academy. The performance of drum and dance was a celebration of African and Carribean music, song, and dance in a colourful and vivid show that we will not soon forget.  Some students even got in on the act and took their hand at drumming.  The show was brought to us through a generous donation from an Academy family. Thank you to Ballet Creole for this incredible performance and for sharing your artistry with us.

Dungeons and Dragons Club

Brandon Stewart Beyond the Classroom, Community, Experiential Learning No Comments

Video games may have become the norm for most high school students looking for the thrill of solving puzzles, navigating political intrigue, and combating evil monsters. At my school, however, we sit around a table with pencils, paper and dice. The classic fantasy strategy game, Dungeons and Dragons, has made a major come back at the YMCA Academy. Instead of being powered by a computer or gaming console, Dungeons and Dragons games unfold in the minds of a group of people through shared story telling. Rather than quietly staring a screen and clicking buttons on a controller, the YMCA Academy Dungeons and Dragons Club members cooperatively scour maps, lay out plans, brainstorm solutions, and tackle enemies all through the power of imagination.

This week the companions trekked across dangerous, forested wilderness on their way to gather some key information at an abandoned town a few days’ march to the north. The party is tracking their missing Dwarven employer who was captured by a band of goblins. Their investigation has taken them from a sleepy mining town, through damp caverns, through wild forests and to an abandoned ruin of a village where a dragon has made his lair.

The world of Dungeons and Dragons is only possible through the power of shared story telling. As the Dungeon Master, I set the scene by narrating the opening sequence of a story: I describe the scenery, the time of day, what local people or creatures are nearby, and I explain any activity that is taking place. Players then make decisions based on their character and what is taking place. The outcomes of those decisions are determined by the roll of dice. Then I describe the outcome based on the dice roll, and the cycle starts over again.

I can’t express enough the value of this game. Besides the literacy, numeracy, problem solving, divergent thinking, communication, conflict resolution, and geography skills that are practiced, the social benefits of the game cannot be ignored. Every Monday, a group of students, who range from boisterous to downright shy, join together as a close-knit team to overcome a series of new challenges. Players come out of their shells and take on newfound confidence in leadership roles, they learn to encourage and uplift one another, they learn to listen to one another, they learn to recognize the power of choice, they learn to laugh at mistakes (and bad dice rolls), and they learn celebrate one another’s victories.