Dear youth participant and parent/guardian:

Thank you for your interest in attending Camp fYrefly-Saskatchewan 2017. This year our 9th anniversary camp will be held August 10 – 13, 2017 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Please read this letter carefully, as it contains important information about Camp fYrefly-Saskatchewan and how you can apply to attend.

Camp fYrefly is an adult-facilitated and peer-led residential style summer leadership camp for youth ages 14 to 24. Camp fYrefly focuses on the needs of sexual minority and gender variant youth and utilizes an arts-based educational philosophy to help build the leadership potential and personal resiliency of youth in an effort to support them to become agents for positive social change in their schools, families, and communities. To our knowledge, Camp fYrefly is the largest youth leadership camp of its kind in Canada and the only one in the world affiliated with a Faculty of Education in a major university like the University of Regina, which ensures for research-informed programming, sound pedagogical principles, youth safety, accountability, and strong fiscal management.

All of Camp fYrefly's award-winning programming is guided by input from youth and facilitated by trained educators and youth workers in collaboration with a team of artists, dramatists, community volunteers, and youth leaders. Camp fYrefly's philosophy and programming emphasize a by-youth for-youth approach in which older youth and adult facilitators mentor and help to support the campers. The camp is guided by an arts-based educational philosophy, which includes but is not limited to: dance, drama, music, writing, visual art, empowerment and reflection exercises, anti-oppression work, and personal growth opportunities. Camp fYrefly also focuses on healthy socialization, and in-depth learning activities about specific youth topics and social issues. In review, Camp fYrefly's pedagogy focuses on four key areas: leadership, individual development, socialization, and resiliency.

Camp fYrefly exists because caring adults believe that all youth are entitled to live fully in a world that embraces diversity rather than fearing or opposing it. For four days each year, we try to create that world, a world that lives out the fYrefly acronym, which as the youth tell us, stands for: fostering, Youth, resiliency, energy, fun, leadership, yeah!

This summer Camp fYrefly will host its 9 th Artist-in-Residence Program. The Artist-in-Residence multi-day workshop stream will be fun, provocative, and a celebration of you as an individual.

In addition to our internationally acclaimed Artist-in-Residence and powerful workshops, adult mentors with professional backgrounds that include teaching, counseling, spirituality & faith, policing, and medicine will be available to work with youth on a one-to-one basis as the need arises. Camp fYrefly is bound to be a powerful and unique experience, as we focus on developing leadership qualities through activities that challenge youth to explore their identity, build resilience, and enhance self- and social-esteem. Camp fYrefly would like each youth participant to be able to return home with a "resilient mindset" and a support network of positive friendships, trusted adult mentors, and an empowered sense of self. The camp is developed, in consultation with our youth advisory committee, to help motivate participants to become leaders in their own communities, thereby passing on their leadership skills to the youth that come after them.

Camp fYrefly requests a minimum $25.00 registration fee, which reflects a greatly subsidized rate designed to enable all interested youth to attend. Actual camp costs (for meals and

accommodations) are in excess of $300.00 per youth. As a result, we encourage those youth and families who can afford the $300.00 registration fee to consider paying some portion of it, as they are able. However, no youth will be turned away because of financial need.

All interested youth participants are invited to apply to attend Camp fYrefly-Saskatchewan 2017. Each year we receive more applications than spaces available for youth to attend Camp fYrefly. As a result, each application is read by at least three separate reviewers who independently assess each application. Applications are evaluated for completeness, considered responses to the application questions, and previous leadership and personal experience. Please ensure that you take the time necessary to fully and thoughtfully complete your application package!

A selection committee will make final participant selection decisions in keeping with the Institute's philosophy, policy, and principles guiding the operation of Camp fYrefly. Please ensure that your application package is completed and submitted by Friday, June 16, 2017.

We will confirm receipt of your completed application shortly after it is submitted, and we will contact all applicants regarding confirmation of your acceptance by Friday, June 30, 2017. Youth selected to attend Camp fYrefly-Saskatchewan will receive a detailed registration package containing a Participant Agreement Form and a pre-camp check list and information on travel, meals, and accommodation as well the required health, dietary, legal, research, and media consent forms, all of which must be completed and returned to us by Friday, July 21, 2017. Once accepted to Camp fYrefly, all youth who are financially able will be asked to pay the minimum $25.00 registration fee. Youth can also apply to receive a travel bursary to support their attendance at Camp fYrefly-Saskatchewan.

Please feel free to contact us at any time should you have questions about Camp fYrefly-Saskatchewan and/or the application procedure.

Thank you for your interest in Camp fYrefly-Saskatchewan 2017!

Sincerely,

Anthony Bidulka Herb McFaull Co-Chair Co-Chair

E-mail: campfYreflysask@hotmail.com Website: www.usask.ca/education/fYrefly

Youth Camper Information Form

Legal Name of Participant:

Preferred Name (if different):

Address:

City: Province: Postal Code:

Phone (home):

Phone (cell):

Email Address:Birth Date (day/mo/yr):

Age:

Gender/Gender Identification: Preferred Pronoun:

Have you been to Camp fYrefly before?

YES or NO

YES or NO

If Yes, what year

T-Shirt Size: _______________

If you’re under 18-years-old, please provide the following information:

Name of Parent/Guardian:

Relationship:

Address:

City: Province: Postal Code:

Phone (home):

Phone (work):

Phone (cell):

Please complete if different from “Parent or Guardian”

Emergency Contact Name:

Relationship:

Phone(home):

________

Phone (work):

________

Phone (cell):

Application Questionnaire

1. How did you learn about Camp fYrefly (i.e., friend, Facebook, website, postcard, etc.) and what do you know about the Camp’s purpose and goals?

2. How do you think Camp fYrefly can help you as a person/student/future leader?

3. How do you think you can help others better themselves at Camp fYrefly?

4. Tell us about an experience you have had in which you had to overcome challenges or adversity.

5. Please describe any previous leadership experiences that you have had.

6. What excites you about Camp fYrefly? What (if anything) does not excite you or concerns you?

7. What are your personal strengths /weaknesses?

8. What do you hope to accomplish at, or take away from, Camp fYrefly?

Please submit your application by Friday, June 16, 2017.Applications may be submitted online or by mail at:

Camp fYrefly Saskatchewan c/o Jackie Morley – Volunteer Coordinator

2430 Broadway AveSaskatoon, Sask S7J 0Y9

or by email to jackiemcamp2017@yahoo.com

or by fax to 306-477-4207