Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Mar 13/02) - Keeping French alive and strong outside of the classroom is large component of Camp de Neige, says Yellowknife District No.1's superintendent of French immersion.

J.H. Sissons students Monika Eichenberg (left) and Jamika Mulders were learning to snowshoe at Camp de Neige last Thursday. The camp for French immersion students began last Wednesday, and wraps up today. - Mike W. Bryant/NNSL photo

"They become more willing to practice what they've been learning," says Lilly Oldham. "They're talking to their friends about skiing, snowshoeing..."

The camp has been going strong since a group of parents of French immersion students pushed for the idea more than 20 years ago.

Since last Wednesday, 130 students Grades 4-6 from J.H. Sissons and William McDonald schools have been heading out to the Yellowknife Ski Club to cross-country ski, snowshoe, and impress their parents with their still developing French skills.

The parents, meanwhile help out wherever they can.

"Last year, it was like 'How do you this mom?', and this year it's like, 'You don't say it like that mom.' That's the difference between Grade 4 and 5," says May Thiessen, who was one of several parents volunteering at this year's camp.

The camp was originally held at Prelude Lake, but it was a lot of work for parents, says Oldham.

"In the past, it was something different because parents would have to haul water in from town, start fires, clean outhouses," says Oldham.

"Whereas, the last two years we've been able to have it at the ski club because the number of students has grown too large for the girl guide camp (at Prelude Lake)."

Another problem was that, because it was an overnight camp chaperoned only by parents (many of whom speak no French), students were not practising their French skills.

In 1989, the camp switched to a day camp format, with the teachers planning the itinerary, with the parents still taking care of dinner.

To ensure students practice French at the camp, a game was designed where students carry "jatons" -- little buttons which are taken away whenever one speaks English.

The students with the most jatons at the end of the camp win. For most of them, however, the chance to get out of the classroom for a few days still carried the greatest appeal.

"I like it because you get to go skiing, and there's lots of big hills," says Grade 4 student from J.H. Sissons, James Winsor. Winsor. Winsor.