Malcolm Gorrill
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Aug10/01) - Last week's world of magic and intrigue summer day camp opened with a mystery.

Arielle Lavoie works on a poster prior to the talent show held Aug. 3 as part of the town's summer day camp program. - Malcolm Gorrill/NNSL photo

The children spotted a "murdered" body, and then were given clues to help them figure out which of their counsellors had done the dastardly deed.

The motives each counsellor had were listed, according to camp counsellor Robin Greenway.

"Every morning we had a clue, cancelling people out," Greenway said Friday afternoon. "It was really neat because they came in with the paramedics and they actually took Paula (Anderson) out on a stretcher, and the ambulance went."

During the week the children also got to do different magic tricks and had a campout. The camp wrapped up Friday afternoon with a talent show, featuring talents and magic tricks. Groups of children did acts together, plus kids put on individual performances.

Explore happenings

In conjunction with the day camps, the town is also putting on an Explore Team program.

Last week four young people went boating from Wednesday to Friday, and the week before that five young people took part in a canoe trip.

Youth leadership co-ordinator Dion Clingwall explained that originally there were plans to run two one-month programs this summer, but that instead there is a five-and-a-half week program.

Clingwall said the boat trip was fun, but that poor weather prevented the group from going up to Tuktoyaktuk as planned. They went up to Swimming Point the first day and visited the Petro-Canada site there.

They stayed that night at Lillian Elias's camp. Some managed to spot some beavers in a creek.

The next day (Aug. 2) the group went over towards Aklavik before turning back and camping at Wrangling River.

Elder Leonard Harry was also along, and told stories and taught skills to the kids.

Clingwall said the first phase of the Explore Team went well. This week and next week the kids were to work on projects and help out at the summer day camp.

The next phase commences Friday, Aug. 17, with a trip down the Dempster Highway to Dawson.

"The kids are going to co-ordinate the trip, plan all the events, plan where we camp and plan all our meals," Clingwall said.