The Next Generation of NWT Recreation Leaders: Activate NT Workshop a Success
From September 25–27, a remarkable group of young people gathered in Yellowknife for the latest Activate NT training workshop. Over three busy days, participants demonstrated the creativity, enthusiasm, leadership potential, and commitment to their communities that make this program so exciting.
Delivered by the Northwest Territories Recreation and Parks Association (NWTRPA), Activate NT provides young people aged 15–30 with $5,000 grants, training, and ongoing support to develop and deliver recreation projects in their communities.
The September workshop brought together the newest group of grant recipients for an intensive, hands-on learning experience designed to help them turn their ideas into successful community recreation programs.
Learning, Connecting, and Leading
Throughout the weekend, participants explored essential recreation leadership skills, including communication, teamwork, project planning, budgeting, financial management, risk management, and creating positive recreation experiences.
The workshop emphasized learning by doing. Through interactive activities, group challenges, discussions, and practical planning exercises, participants had opportunities to experiment, collaborate, solve problems, and learn from one another.
One of the weekend's highlights was an evening of Dene and Arctic Games, where participants learned about and tried traditional games together.
But what stood out most was the participants themselves. Their engagement was exceptional. They approached activities with enthusiasm, contributed thoughtful ideas, supported one another, and demonstrated an impressive willingness to learn and take on new challenges. The creativity and capability in the room were unmistakable.
Just as importantly, the workshop created opportunities for young people from different communities to build relationships, exchange perspectives, and discover how much they could learn from one another.
From Ideas to Community Impact
With the training workshop behind them, recipients will now return to their home communities to put their learning into action. Over the coming months, they will plan, organize, and deliver their own recreation projects, creating opportunities for people to be active, connect with others, learn new skills, and enjoy meaningful experiences in their communities.
These projects are about more than individual activities or events. They are opportunities for young people to build confidence, develop practical leadership skills, strengthen community connections, and discover what they are capable of accomplishing.
The September workshop offered a compelling glimpse of the next generation of recreation leaders in the Northwest Territories. If the enthusiasm, creativity, and determination demonstrated throughout the weekend are any indication, the future of community recreation across the territory is in very capable hands.
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