IKAAHUK/SACHS HARBOUR
Candice Esau loves working with children. That's why the 18-year-old is spending her summer working at the day camp in Sachs Harbour.

Candice Esau, 18, is working at the Sachs Harbour day camp three days a week this summer. She says the experience will help her toward her goal of becoming an elementary school teacher. - photo courtesy of Candice Esau

"I help the supervisor with the kids," Esau said. "Sometimes we take them to the beach and play there and have a camp fire. Today we just made pizza."

Organizing activities for kids is one of the best parts of her day, Esau said. The camp is held every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and includes children between about three and 11 years old.

Esau said her job is just one step toward achieving her goal of becoming an elementary school teacher.

Last year, she earned Career and Technology Studies credits working as an education assistant for a Grade 2 class at East Three Elementary School in Inuvik. She said that experience helped her decide to become a teacher.

"I thought it was fun," she said.

Esau said she heard about a job at the summer day camp when she returned home to Sachs Harbour after her school year at Inuvik's East Three Secondary School. She said she decided to apply as soon as she could.

"I wrote a resume and a cover letter for here," she said. "I planned it out. I think this will help me a bit more to become an elementary school teacher."

Now that she has the job, Esau said she is particularly enjoying working with the camp's youngest participants.

Sharing toys is sometimes an issue, so Esau said she's learned creative ways to make sure the kids take turns.

"It's hard to make them try to share toys because they really don't like to," she said. "We give them around 15 or 20 minutes to play with the toy then they have to share."

She said she's also learned the importance of maintaining a watchful eye on younger children.

"You always have to watch kids," she said. "I thought they wouldn't get into trouble that much, but they do."

While a large part of her job is keeping everyone safe, Esau said it's also about making sure kids have fun at the camp.

"They like to run around lots," she said. "They like being chased."

Esau said when she finishes high school, she plans on doing academic upgrading before applying to teacher's college. She hasn't yet decided which school to attend.

In the meantime, she said she's having a great time getting experience while keeping kids in Sachs Harbour busy.

"My favourite part of the day is when I play with them," she said.

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