BrainChild

The Cause

Plugged In Community Centre Organization (Plugged In) is proud to host BrainChild, which is a free, themed, one-day camp exclusively for Edmonton and area kids-in-need.

Our mission is to provide children-in-need, whether disempowered or disengaged, the opportunity to discover a love of learning and engagement. This year’s event theme is science and will be held at the Telus World of Science Edmonton on October 15, 2017, however, our goal is to have themes of art, music, sport and more in future years. Our goal is to create a fun, interactive program of events such that the children leave inspired and optimistic for the future.

BrainChild’s vision is a community where no child is left behind; where all are nurtured; and where all graduate high school and go on to be productive members of society in adulthood.

The Need:
- 128,810 people live in poverty in metro Edmonton, or 10.5% (2013)1
- 41,640 children and youth live in poverty in metro Edmonton, or 15.2% (2013)1
- 17.5% of Edmontonians never graduated high school (2011)1
- Poverty costs Albertans in the range of $7.1 billion to $9.5 billion per year including health care costs, crime, intergenerational, and opportunity costs (2012)1

1: Kolkman, J., Escoto, M., & Shams, R. (2015). Tracking the Trends 2015: 13th Edition. Edmonton, Canada: Edmonton Social Planning Council.

Who Will it Benefit?

BrainChild will take one-hundred (100) kids-in-need and seventy-five (75) volunteer adult chaperones (3 adults per 4 children) to camp for free.

Our target children will be 8-14 year old children from The Boys & Girls Clubs Big Brothers Big Sisters of Edmonton & Area (BGCBigs), whom attended our inaugural event last year, as well as 10-14 year old children from Plugged-In Community Centre Organization (Plugged In). (Note: BGCBigs provides no involvement nor funding to BrainChild, and simply provides us the opportunity to invite their program kids to our event.)

Children and youth in the BGCBigs program seek safe places and positive mentoring relationships that address their physical, emotional, academic and overall wellness.

Children and youth currently involved with Plugged In experience inclusive and supportive programming regardless of age, ability or any other potentially segregating factors. Plugged In is particularly proud that their recreational programs are specifically inclusion-based, with special attention given to the motor, sensory, cognitive and social needs of its patrons.

It is with the needs of these types of children in mind that the idea for BrainChild was born, and it is our goal to have these children attend our event such that their lives can be enriched and a more appealing future open up for them.

Our chaperones and event organizers will also benefit from this incredible day. Parents and guardians, Plugged In volunteers, as well as 'Bigs' (the big brothers and big sisters paired with children in the BGCBigs program) will get to experience a free, fun-filled day with these special children and youth, specifically designed to let them 'let their hair down' as well. In this way, we believe the child-adult relationships of our attendees will be strengthened.

If you wish to see further examples of how Plugged In serves our community please visit our website at www.pluggedincentre.com.