[Rotund Grappler]

Issues, negotiating on agenda at
youth unionist summer camp
By ANNE KYLE
Leader-Post
Imagine going to camp and learning how to negotiate your own bedtime.


On Sunday, 55 teenagers — children of trade unionists who range in age from 13 to 16 — will be heading out to the Qu’Appelle Valley where they will attend the annual Saskatchewan Federation of Labour Summer Camp.


The camp was the brainchild of former SFL president Barb Byers, who continues to attend the week-long camp as one of the camp counselors and facilitators.


“Barb and I have been at every camp since its founding, including this one. This will be the 19th consecutive annual summer camp for teens,’’ said SFL president Larry Hubich.


“A group of trade unionists were sitting around reminiscing about their summer camp experiences as children growing up.


“Barb said, ‘Why don’t we have one for the children of union members to talk about social justice and equality issues, workers’ rights and why it is important for people to have unions.’ That was the catalyst of what has become a very successful and popular camp for the children of trade unionists.’’


The six-day camp focuses on issues relevant to young people, including social justice and equality issues, according to Ashley Longmoore, who organized this year’s camp.


“This year’s theme focuses on the environment and the ‘-isms’ — racism, sexism, and trade unionism,’’ said Longmoore, the daughter of Saskatchewan Union of Nurses’ president Rosalee Longmoore.


“We’ll have a session that focuses on unions and labour standards and a worker’s rights in the workplace. We try to make it very practical and useful so the information the campers receive they can relate to their life as young teenagers or as people ready to enter the workforce,’’ Longmoore said.


But it is not all work and no play. Afternoons are spent socializing on the beach and doing other fun activities, she said, noting there are also group activities in the evenings.


As part of the process of learning about the art of negotiations, Longmoore said, campers negotiate a contract with their counselors that dictates the terms and conditions of their stay, including bedtime curfews.


On the last day of camp the teens are expected to put into practise what they have learned as social activists. They may get involved in a letter writing campaign, write a public service announcement or develop activist strategies around protecting the environment.


“It gets them used to the idea of activism and the way that they can collectively effect change,’’ Longmoore said, explaining that many of these teens put these skills into use when they return to the classroom in the fall or they get involved in social-justice issues in the community.

the original article is only accessable by password, unfortunately.