There is still some time left for children and their grandparents to bond this summer.
Grandparents and their grandchildren are invited to attend Grandkids University, an informative and fun adventure in learning at Vancouver Island University’s Nanaimo campus July 6-7.
Three new majors are offered this year: nursing, classical mythology and fine arts, as well as three returning favourites: anthropology, field biology and fisheries and aquaculture.
Last year, 77 participants earned diplomas and enjoyed two days of learning at the Nanaimo campus. Many also stayed overnight in campus residences.
The program has more than doubled in size since it began in 2008.
“The program provides a very special time and place for these generations to interact without the parents of the child,” said program coordinator Nahanni Ackroyd. “We have had some grandparents and their grandchildren take part in all three years. It’s a great opportunity for participants to have fun while learning from university instructors.”
Organizers strive to make learning fun by including demonstrations and activities such as aquatic insect cataloguing during classroom sessions, sports activities with a VIU Mariner student athlete, splatter paint art projects and more.
Ackroyd said some of the grandparents are already taking other courses at VIU as a result of their previous time with Grandkids University and the school hopes to welcome the young learners back as full-time university students in the future.
Grandkids University is currently geared for children aged seven to 12 years old and their grandparent or favourite adult.
For more information, please go to www.viu.ca/ccs/courses/summeratviugku.asp or call 1-866-734-6252 to reserve seats.