A small group of Northern Credit Union members in Capreol are banking on their love of volunteering to help youth become responsible adults.
Nancy Bowey, a spokesperson for the Northern Credit Union Delegates group, said its their mission to help improve the lives of children in their community. The six-member group hosts a number of events throughout the year to do that.
Currently, they are teaching students from CR Judd Public School the ins and outs of the sport of curling. The program is geared to students in grades 3 to 8 and is done over four weeks at the Capreol Curling Club.
“There is a lot of etiquette involved with curling, and we need to teach them how to be respectful and kind now, at a young age,” Bowey said. “The kids really seem to get a kick out the program, because it gets them outside of the classroom, and it teaches them sportsmanship.”
Each class gets four sessions, with each session building up to a mini tournament.
First and foremost, the students get a basic introduction to the concept of the game, the rules and regulations and the etiquette.
Then they learn the skills and go through a number of drills to get their head around the mechanics of the game. In the third session, the students start to put together everything they've learned and put it into practise. In the final session, the students compete in a mini tournament.
“It's a lot of fun,” she said.
The curling program has been going on for more than 10 years, she said. Every year, between 80 and 100 students participate.
The group focuses its attention on youth in the community, she said. Other Northern Credit Union Delegate groups can pick and choose what they focus on. For example, in North Bay, one group put a lot of effort into helping seniors.
The number of clients who bank at an individual credit union dictates how large the group will be. The groups are provided a stipend from the bank to host their various activities throughout the year.
The Capreol clan will be providing free popcorn at the arena for people taking in the Santa Claus Parade, and they will host a photos with Santa Claus event on Dec. 7.
In the spring, the group hosts its Kidz Biz event, which is designed to turn students into young entrepreneurs and teach them the value of money and how to handle it, Bowey said.
“They set up on the gymnasium and sell the product they develop,” she said.
“We're all volunteers,” she said. “Each of us puts in about eight hours a week for the curling program alone. We do it for the personal satisfaction. I've always been involved in teaching children. I enjoy being around kids, and they are our future.”
