September 2023 - Literacy supports boosted for British Columbians - Read more here!
Developing good literacy skills at an early age significantly increases a child's chance of success in life!
YCS provides literacy services in the communities along the North Thompson Highway from McLure to Blue River, as well as Ashcroft. There are two literacy outreach coordinators with offices in Clearwater and Barriere. The literacy programs are guided by the Community Literacy Plan and the Advisory Committees.
Clearwater and Area Literacy Program Ashcroft Literacy Tutor Program
Adult Tutor Program (PAL)
The Partner Assisted Learning (PAL) Program trains volunteer tutors to work with adult learners in the community.
Learners may need help with:
Volunteer tutors are matched with learners and typically meet twice a week for an hour. Tutors provide one-on-one encouragement to a learner in a mutually acceptable location. To become a volunteer tutor, a free training program is provided. Tutors in the Partner Assisted Learning (PAL) Program must be 18 years or older. To become a tutor or enroll in a tutor program in Clearwater, Barriere or Ashcroft please contact: Kerry Milner Cairns Manager Tel: 250 674-3530
The Bright Red Bookshelf program circulates new and gently-used children’s books in the community. The program is designed for pre-school children. They are free to take a book home with them, keep it, or return it to any one of the bookshelves and trade it for a new one. The purpose of the program is to put books in the hands of children. Book ownership and readership are important for enhancing a child’s reading skills and vocabulary, as well as to foster interest in reading and a love of books. The books are displayed on bright red bookshelves at various community locations. Some of the locations are Clearwater Employment Services, The Community Resource Centre for the North Thompson, The Medical Centre, Yellowhead Community Services, Blue River Elementary Playgroup room and The North Thompson Aboriginal Sharing Centre. For further information please contact the Clearwater Literacy Outreach Coordinator Kerry Milner Cairns at 250 674-3530
The Parent-Child Mother Goose Program® is a group experience for parents and their babies and young children which focuses on the pleasure and power of using rhymes, songs, and stories together. Parents gain skills and confidence which can enable them to create positive family patterns during their children's crucial early years, and give their children healthy early experiences with language and communication.
One-hour circle style sing-song with your young child. Nutritious morning snack for parents and children provided. Facilitated by caring individuals trained in the Parent-Child Mother Goose Program. Parent-Child Mother Goose is a FREE drop-in program, no registration is required.
For more information about the Parent-Child Mother Goose Program, please call Literacy co-ordinator, Kerry Milner Cairns, at Dutch Lake Community Centre at 250 674-3530
Raise a Reader Day is held every September in Clearwater and Barriere. There are two events in each community to raise funds for local literacy projects. In the morning we run a newspaper campaign. Volunteers in bright orange shirts stand outside of local businesses and ask the public to trade a special Raise a Reader edition of a newspaper for a donation towards literacy. The volunteers are representatives of local organizations that are passionate about literacy in the community. In the evening, an Adult Team Spelling Bee is held in partnership with Clearwater Secondary School. Teams of four compete to win the coveted Team Spelling Bee Champion Trophy. Local businesses, service groups, book clubs and members of the public register teams in the event. You can also participate in the event by purchasing a “bye" word for the team of your choice or just coming out to watch. Spectator entry is by donation. There are door prizes for participants as well as a refreshment table. Please call 250 674-3530 if you are interested in sponsoring a team or you would like to register a team in the next event. All donations collected on Raise a Reader Day are matched in whole, or in part, by various national and local sponsors as well as the Provincial government. All funds raised will go directly back into the community to support literacy initiatives. Your support of this event will help to ensure the continuation of literacy programs in our community. Donations for Raise a Reader Day or other literacy projects in our community are accepted throughout the year.