Kateslem Kids / ‘Youth at Risk’ Spring Program: Our ‘Youth at Risk’ spring program started in 2013 and taught children from three middle schools the advantages of having goals and working as a team with an after school dragon boating program on Thursdays. Moulding young, excited and unique students into a team is no easy task.
That same year (2013) we entered them in a Youth Dragon Boating Regatta on Burnaby Lake on June 1st. They had 6 races, four times placing 3rd, one 5th place, and one 1st place finish. They WON FIRST PLACE in the last race with a time of 1:17 minutes. This day will be forever etched in their memory and may even have changed their focus in life.
In 2014 we had a new crew of 35 children in the program, and after 10 practises they attended the same event on Burnaby Lake and had 6 races, three times placing in 3rd place, twice in 2nd place, once in 1st place.
In 2015 the students had some great races and earned a first place finish overall in the middle school division! From the first practice in early April to early June, the transformation was nothing short of amazing. The team name Kateslem means ‘coming together’ and the name fits with what happened each year. Thanks to the sponsors that enable our team members to help these kid. We will continue fostering young athletes.
Those race days on Burnaby Lake will be forever etched in their memory, and the experience will hopefully help the students develop positive attitudes, team spirit and a new focus in their lives.
– 2013 to Present
