Kim Barraclough
Northern News Services

NNSL (July 30/99) - A youth camp near the Yellowknife River is making this summer memorable and constructive for many Yellowknife children.

"It's pretty good so far. We're having lots of fun," said 11-year-old Skyler Erasmus.

Erasmus' parents, Guy and Eileen, are running the camp until late August and Skyler and the two other Erasmus children will be out at the camp for the duration.

The couple has been taking groups of 10 different kids each week for the past four weeks.

"We've wanted to do something like this for years," said Guy Erasmus.

The couple thought the camp would give kids something to do during the summer that is fun and safe.

The camp is set up near the Yellowknife River and many of the supplies belong to the Yellowknifes Dene First Nation.

Funding for the camp was secured from Western Arctic MP Ethel Blondin-Andrew and various other organizations.

It is a pilot project and the Erasmus' say if it works they'll do it again next year.

The kids are certainly pleased with the activities available at the camp. Seven-year-old Eric T'Setta was impressed with his camp experience.

"I think I might come back next year."

There were many highlights of the camp for T'setta.

"I liked going canoeing, fishing and making food and eating it."

Ten-year-old Tammy Sunbberg is a big fan of activities available at the camp.

She said some of her favourite activities included canoeing, swimming, hiking and finding sticks to make fishing rods.

"We had lots of fun," said Sunbberg.

The camp is free for the kids. The opportunity to go was given to the kids of Ndilo when the Erasmus' went door to door offering it up.

Kids in Dettah were also given first kick at the cat when it came to registration.

The camp is now open to everyone, including Yellowknife kids, but most of the spaces have been filled already.

The camp accepts children who are between seven and 10 years of age for a week and then accepts 11- to 14-year-olds the next week.

The camp focuses on outdoor activities and traditional activities.