The Kenora Catholic District School Board's Wonder Emporium is a summer learning program designed to boost children's literacy and numeracy skills in a fun camp-like setting. The program focuses on satisfying each student's natural curiosity about the world all while strengthening language skills, raising confidence and building lasting relationships with other students in the camp.
The camp lets children decide what they'd like to learn about by asking them to write down questions. From those questions, the teachers pick the topics they'll discover by both reading and experimentation. What is bacteria, why is the sun a star, why do some animals fly, how does it rain and why are some plants itchy, are just a few examples of topics explored in the past. All of the lessons begin with reading and finish with a hands-on activity. Outdoor play and snack times are also built into the day.
The camp runs in the mornings for three weeks during the summer. Parents are contacted during the school year and invited to sign up their child for the program to continue their learning during the summer months.