The Settlement for Newcomers Through Activities and Programs, also known as SNAP, provides a welcoming and safe environment for the young newcomers to share their adjustment challenges and receive support. We understand that settlement in a new country offers unique challenges to youth who have one foot in the culture of their parents and the other foot in the culture of their peers. This program strives to help youth experience a healthy adjustment and integration into Canadian society. There is a strong emphasis on creating age-appropriate and fun ways to improve English language skills, increase social interaction, and develop new friendships.
Get Started with SNAP. Make Friends. Enjoy Canada!
SNAPYouthProgram
The Settlement for Newcomers Through Activities and Programs, also known as SNAP
SNAP offers weekly activities and special events which give the youth opportunity to explore their new community and learn more about Canadian culture. We also have special activities and creative projects which allow the youth to share their unique cultural heritage.
SNAP provides a bridge for kids to engage with each other and their new community, showing them new sports, recreation, and creative activities, and how to make new friends, both in and out of school.
A bright and inclusive Central Albertan society includes the happiness and well-being of newcomer youth in our area. Care for Newcomers wants to help you feel welcome, integrate in schools, make friends and find a sense of belonging, and set you up for a successful life in Canada.
“SNAP has helped my daughter to find new friends!”
“My Settlement Support Worker really helped me get into the right courses at school. Without her, I would have been lost.”
In and out-of-school SNAP programs are avaialble during the week on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
SNAP offers at-home projects or homework, as well as art programs, during the week on Mondays and Wednesdays.
SNAP’s Friday Youth Night is held at various locations throughout the City of Red Deer and the surrounding area. Organized around weather and the season, SNAP Youth Night aims to provide recreational sports, games, social events, and an opportunity to learn more about each other as newcomer youth.
Seasonal outdoor sports include:
· Baseball
· Soccer (also known as European Football)
· Ice skating
· Sledding
· Nature Hikes
Indoor activities include:
· Bowling
· Basketball
· Swimming
· Soccer
· Badminton
· Games
In some cases, both Canadians and newcomers are welcome to Friday Youth Night; however, these events fill up quickly and our priority will always be to accommodate Newcomer Youth first. In other cases, Friday Youth Night is for Newcomer Youth only.
On some occasions, depending on the location and the events, there may be a cost involved. Please check with your Youth Coordinator and/or the SNAP Youth Calendar for more information.
There are many extra drop-in activities and special events hosted by SNAP throughout the year. Red Deer and Central Alberta participate in several Canadian holidays, pastimes, and traditions that are wonderful opportunities for newcomers to learn about and enjoy.
Activities include locations such as swimming pools, the Red Deer Collicutt Centre, soccer pitches, parks and more.
Watch the SNAP Youth Calendar for ongoing events and drop-in activities to register your child.
SNAP programs are not limited to the school year. Our SNAP Summer Program offers 5 weeks of structured programming, broken up between the two age groups, and provides drop-in activities for the remainder of summer. Newcomer youth in Middle and High school can continue to learn about Canadian culture, sharpen English skills, and have fun in a classroom setting.
The SNAP Summer Program is located throughout Red Deer and Central Alberta and locations change each year. In some cases, there may be costs involved for bus or recreation passes.
Details for the SNAP Summer Program are released in June on our SNAP social media platforms, and we share information pamphlets with SNAP members for registration.
High school can be intimidating for any student, but even more challenging for newcomer youth.
SNAP hosts a one-week summer program called NOW, Newcomer Orientation Week, to help newcomer teens adjust to Canadian high school.
Care for Newcomers does not provide English as a Second Language (ESL) classes for youth; however, they learn ESL through the school system. Our CARE Coordinators assist newcomer families in registering their children in Central Alberta schools if they weren’t already referred to Care for Newcomer by a SWIS employee.
A Youth Coordinator will connect newcomer Youth and their families to other Care for Newcomer programs as needed.
Play games, learn sports, create amazing arts and crafts, and make new friends at SNAP!
Our programs and activities are fun and exciting for middle school and high school-aged youth to learn more about Canada and Central Alberta while meeting other kids who understand what it is like to move to a new country.
If you have a newcomer youth who is interested in joining SNAP, you can register through your SWIS worker at school, contact our main office, or inquire on Facebook or Instagram.
There are many fun and adventurous stories from SNAP events and activities! We love to hear how you enjoy being a member of SNAP and what it has been like moving to Central Alberta.
