Rankin Inlet (July 23/03) - There is still time to enrol in the Rankin Inlet summer day camp program, but not much.

The Rankin Drop-in centre will be taking registrations for the program up until the end of this week for children aged five to 16.

Johnny Aupilarjuk is coordinating the program this year after being assistant coordinator last year.

"It's fun working with the kids. I'm learning something every day," said Aupilarjuk.

The program has around 170 kids enroled and 80 or so that show up regularly.

Aupilarjuk said that is on par with last year's numbers.

They have seven staff working with the youth and Aupilarjuk said the children are supervised at all times.

"It's good for working parents. If we didn't have summer day camp the kids would be at home without a babysitter," he said.

He added it's also a great way for the kids to meet new friends and interact with people their own age over the summer months.

His only concern is a perception that the hours of operation of the camp are not well structured.

Hamlet council a few weeks back raised concerns that their wasn't a set schedule at the centre.

Aupilarjuk said that is just not the case.

He said not only does he have schedules posted at the drop-in centre he sent them home with parents and children.

Every day kids are divided into three groups, five to seven, eight to ten and 11 to 16.

Each day the groups alternate between activities.

Aupilardjuk said kids play games at the drop-in centre and community hall, go to the ball diamonds and go swimming.

"We team up the five to sevens and the 11 to 16's at the pool to let the 11 to 16-year-olds help the younger kids learn how to swim," said Aupilarjuk.

Summer day camp keeps kids occupied from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the cost is $5 for the entire year.

"It's just so we can get some of the things the drop-in centre needs," said Aupilarjuk.

The summer schedule ends when the students go back to school and the winter schedule will start.