The Lieutenant Governor of Ontario

20 20 Acknowledgements

In 2020, Frontier College was privileged to deliver the Lieutenant Governor’s Indigenous Summer Reading Camps in partnership with 19 communities in Northern Ontario.

Thank you to the children, parents, Elders, and community members who helped to make this extraordinary summer a success!

This program was made possible by the generous support of our funders and partners:

· David and Patricia Morton Family Foundation · Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario · First Book Canada · Gore Mutual Insurance Company Foundation · Government of Canada · Government of Ontario · Hydro One Networks Inc. · Let’s Talk Science · North Star Air · Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association · Ontario Power Generation · Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation · Ontario Teachers’ Federation · Ontario Teachers’ Insurance Plan · Power Workers’ Union · Scholastic Reading Club · Slate Falls Air · Tachane Foundation · TD Bank Group · Wasaya Airways

Frontier College acknowledges TD Bank Group as lead national sponsor of this program.

Frontier College acknowledges the Ontario Ministry of Education as lead provincial sponsor of this program. 3 Message from the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario

4 Message from the Grand Chief of N.A.N.

5 2020: A summer of recovery and transformation

Literacy skills help children dream big, explore the world around them, and prepare for future opportunities—and challenges. In the wake of disruptions caused by COVID-19, Frontier College remains committed to helping learners reach their goals through literacy, no matter the obstacles. Our founding principles continue to guide our work: we believe that literacy is a right, and that every place can be a learning place.

This summer, we were honoured to partner with 19 Indigenous communities across Ontario to provide safe, fun, and foundational literacy programming and materials for more than 1,200 local children. Frontier College summer literacy programming helps to keep kids learning, engaged, and connected. Activities in Ontario fit one of two models, depending on community needs and public health directives:

Full camps with local counsellors* (4 communities in Ontario) Supporting families at home with literacy kits, learning resources, and books (15 communities in Ontario) Attawapiskat First Nation Fort Severn First Nation Onigaming First Nation Peawanuck First Nation* Bearskin Lake First Nation Kasabonika First Nation Sachigo Lake First Nation Cat Lake First Nation KI/Big Trout First Nation Sandy Lake First Nation* Eabametoong First Nation* Marten Falls First Nation* Slate Falls First Nation Eagle Lake First Nation Muskrat Dam First Nation Wabaseemoong First Nation Fort Albany First Nation Neskantaga First Nation Webequie First Nation

Open-air reading in Enjoying an at-home 6 Sandy Lake First Nation learning kit together Camp in the era of COVID-19

This spring and summer, schools, community centres, and daycares all closed their doors for extended periods of time, making it harder than ever for children and families to access books. According to the Canadian Children’s Literacy Foundation, around 25% of Canadian households don’t own a single book!

Across Ontario, Frontier College distributed nearly 3,000 at-home learning kits and 3,800 free, high-quality books, including books by Indigenous authors. Research shows that reading at home is linked to school success, positive attitudes towards reading, and high levels of self-confidence. Even one book can make a big difference in the life of a child who is learning to be a reader. Frontier College’s learning resources were especially welcome in communities where limited access to technology and unreliable internet connections make online learning a challenge.

Frontier College staff preparing A quiet reading moment learning kits in Thunder Bay

"As simple as it "Giving kids 12 books to read sounds, reading over the summer was as books can reverse effective as summer school in the summer slide raising the students’ reading in literacy skills." scores. […] Regardless of family income, the effect of reading four to five books over the summer was large enough to prevent a decline in —Annie Paul Murphy, reading-achievement scores author of from the spring to the fall." Brilliant: The New Science of Smart

7 Impact

Over the course of the summer, we gather feedback from campers, caregivers, and community members on the outcomes of camp. Data collection was a little more challenging this year, but the feedback we did receive was overwhelmingly positive. Here is what we heard in Ontario:

What campers said:

100% of campers said that they think reading is important after attending camp

said that participating in Frontier College 77% programming made them more interested in reading and learning

Outdoor literacy fun! “Learning was fun and involved lots of laughter. They didn't think they were working on school work, so no complaining!” —Ontario parent

What parents and caregivers said:

said their child is reading more often since 100% going to camp

said they agreed that camp helped their child 100% return to school more prepared

Learning that’s out of this world!

8 Local hiring

Following the lead of our partner communities and Canadian health agencies, Frontier College did not deploy out-of-region counsellors to camps. Instead, we worked with communities to leverage local talent. In particular, we reached out to our alumni network of camp counsellors, many of whom have demonstrated programming leadership skills in previous roles in the community. This effort was in keeping with Frontier College’s capacity building goals, and local communities’ enduring investment in camp programming. We did not convene any large, in-person camp trainings, instead opting for virtual, phone, or one-to-one training as needed. In Ontario, five local counsellors demonstrated passion and determination, finding new and interesting ways to deliver camp programming at the four in-person camps.

100% of counsellors surveyed agreed that working at camp was a postive experience

of counsellors surveyed agreed that camp provides 100% an enriching learning experience for campers

Counsellors cited leadership, communication, and creativity as skills they developed during the summer.

Pam, a camp counsellor in Trisha, a camp counsellor in 9 Sandy Lake First Nation Marten Falls First Nation Letters of support

I would like to extend my appreciation for the continued operation of the Frontier College pandemic activities for the youth of Marten Falls. I have connected with some of the students that participated: they replied, ‘It was so much fun.’ They were very enthusiastic about what was offered, crafts, stories, etc.

Previous to the pandemic, the worker would circulate to different classrooms and conduct a literacy circle. They also offered an after-school program. Both of these activities were a great benefit to the school and community.

I sincerely hope that we are able to continue to offer this program with our youth in the future.

Miigwetch,

Cindi Saunders Primary Teacher Henry Coaster Memorial School Marten Falls First Nation

EFNEA would like to thank Frontier College for the ongoing support with literacy programming. This year we had many challenges, which was quite difficult for programming. We had 4 active cases of Covid and, being an isolated community, most times we went to strict isolation and social distancing when the cases were active in our community.

Then we had a community evacuation in which 50 percent of our community was gone for three weeks, so it was indeed very challenging here in our community. We appreciate your support and hope we can move forward with your services.

Regards,

Nancy Waswa Education Director Eabametoong First Nation

10 An extraordinary summer!

Summer Reading Camps grew out of Indigenous communities’ desire to support their children’s literacy and learning. Since 2005, the National Camp Program has reached nearly 60,000 children and youth across Canada. The growth and evolution of the camps reflects communities’ belief in the long-term impact of literacy on well-being: higher literacy levels are linked to reduced poverty, a stronger economy, healthier and more engaged citizens, and a higher quality of life.

2020 was of course, a summer like no other, with camp communities facing extraordinary challenges. We know that COVID-19 is reinforcing inequities caused by poverty and systemic racism, including those related to educational access, attainment, and high school completion. In addition, the Public Health Agency of Canada says that populations vulnerable to COVID-19 include anyone who: has difficulty reading; is facing economic barriers; or is experiencing insecure or inadequate housing. Children participating in Frontier College Indigenous Summer Reading Camps frequently face at least one—and often many—of these interconnected and compounding barriers. And that’s why, in 2020, the Lieutenant Governor’s Indigenous Summer Reading Camps may have looked a little different, but our goal remained the same: to provide kids with free, fun, and formative summer literacy and learning opportunities.

Thank you to learners and their families for their continued support and enthusiasm! Frontier College looks forward to offering the Indigenous Summer Reading Camps in Ontario again in 2021, in partnership with communities, and with the help of our funders. Together, we can support children’s success and well-being through literacy.

See you next summer!

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