Children & Youth
Contact: Romy Senghera 604-879-8208 ext. 318, email
Registration: You can register in person at our Front Desk or by phone at 604-879-8208, or email. To download an application form click here. Cultural Buddy and Family Camp each have an additional application form. Click here for the CUBU form and info sheet. An MPNH membership is required for all children's and youth programs. See the programs page for more information and a membership application form.
MPNH has an extensive and appealing range of programs and activities for children ages 5-10 and youth and teens ages 8-19. Led by trained staff and peers, our programs offer young people a chance to develop confidence and skill and have fun at the same time. Our programs run at different times throughout out the school year and over the summer, so that there is always an opportunity to take part in something interesting and exciting. From movie nights to coffeehouses, hiking and kayaking to help with homework and learning to fit in at a new school in a new country, we try to meet the needs of the kids who come to our House. Some of our activities have a small fee, some are free, and in all cases, funding is available through our Access Program. (Please see note below for info on the Access Program.)
What we're about
We offer a safe and comfortable place for youth to come hang out, meet kids from other schools and experience new things. We also offer resources for youth when they are struggling and need to talk, keep youth at risk engaged socially and connected with their community. We offer programs and activities to help teens develop leadership skills and explore volunteer opportunities as well as access to career information and job readiness help.
Access Programs
Through this fund we have been able to create a MPNH Child and Youth Access Program, which allows us to offer financial support to families, removing financial barriers and increasing the ability of children and youth to participate in programming. We always try to keep fees as low as possible, but we know even low costs can be challenging. Our goal is to work with families to make this process simple, respectful and affordable. If you can pay the full fee, please do. If you can't, please pay what you can and request subsidy from the Access Program to cover the balance. If you have questions please ask any member of the MPNH Child and Youth Services Team at 604-879-8208 ext. 318.
Programs and schedules
Please verify information prior to registering as dates and times can change somewhat throughout the year.Programs by section:
Preteen Programs Ages 8-12
Afterschool Preteen Adventures
Funded in part by CKNW Orphans’ Fund
Access Eligible
Time: Tuesdays & Fridays 3-6 pm
Date: Starts January 4
Cost: Varies throughout the month; please call for more info
Contact: Jessica or Michel 604-879-8208 ext. 302, email
Program schedules are distributed through our Front Desk and local schools. Please Note: Program will not operate during school breaks/holidays and will run regular hours on Pro-D Days. For walking school bus info, contact Jessica at 604-879-8208 ext. 302.
Day Camp for Scheduled School Closures & Professional Development Days
Contact: Romy Senghera 604-879-8208 ext. 318, rsenghera@mpnh.org or
Jessica Lee ext. 302, jlee@mpnh.org
Ages: 8-12
Cost: TBA
Pre-registration required
Dates:
Wednesday, December 22 (Winter Break)
Thursday, December 23 (Winter Break)
Wednesday, December 29 (Winter Break)
Thursday, December 30 (Winter Break)
Tuesday, January 18 (Professional Development Day)
Friday, February 11 (Scheduled Closure)
Monday, February 14 (Scheduled Closure)
Friday, February 18 (Professional Development Day)
Monday, March 21-April 1 (10 days Spring Break)
Friday, April 15 (Professional Development Day)
Friday, May 20 (Scheduled Closure)
As you likely know, there have been changes to the Vancouver School system and 10 more school closure days have been incorporated into the school year. We are piloting a Day Camp setting to accommodate these closures, to support families in need of care. For more information please contact Romy or Jessica.
LIFT Program
Date: Wednesdays
Time: 3:30-6 pm
Cost: Free
Contact: Mali Bain 778-858-6076, email
Teen Programs Ages 13-19
Funded in part by Ministry of Children and Family Development and CKNW Orphans' FundAccess Eligible
The SPOT!
Friday Night Drop-in
Date: Fridays, 6-10 pm
Time: 6-10 pm
Cost: $1/per evening/members; $3 non-members
Contact: Romy Senghera 604-879-8208 ext. 318, email
Need something to do Friday nights? Now you have somewhere to come and hang out with your friends. We'll do what teens do best: lounge. Movies, playing pool, cooking, air hockey and challenging your friends on the Wii are just some of the ways we have fun!
For Parents: The teen program is a comprehensive drop-in program where youth hang out with peers in a well supported, supervised and safe environment (with adults who get kids and have the papers to prove it).
"CUBU" Cultural Buddy Program Ages 8-12/13-18
Funded by Ministry of the Attorney General, Settlement and Multicultural Branch
Date/Time: runs during the school year
Cost: Free; some activities have minimal costs
Contact: To find out when CUBU will be in your school call Jessica 604-879-8208 ext. 302, email
We support newcomer youth and their families in adapting to life in Canada by connecting them with peer networks and community resources.
We provide young people with the training and skills necessary for cross-cultural interaction, community engagement, and personal development. We promote positive peer networks and empower students to utilize community resources for support, self-growth and fun!
Youth In Focus
Contact: Thor Larson, 604-879-8208 ext. 122, email
Youth in Focus (YiF) is an innovative new community-based photo and video project that develops the capacity of local youth to create change in their community. YiF uses photography as a pathway for community engagement and meaningful participation in the Mount Pleasant Community Planning Program. Through a series of hands-on exercises and workshops, participants document and address issues important to them as members of the Mount Pleasant Community. They also learn about asset-mapping and how they can become more involved in effecting change in their neighbourhood. The photographs and films made during the project are used as a tool to inform city planning staff and the community about the experiences of youth in the community through presentations and exhibits.
Call for Participants
Are you a youth age 13-19 interested in photography and film? Is there an issue in your community that you think needs addressing? Want to have a voice in shaping the future of Mount Pleasant? Learn how to plan and take action through the creative use of photography and film! Through a series of workshops and hands on experience you will receive training in the creative mediums of photo journalism and film to document social issues affecting you. Discover how your ideas and creativity can create social change in the community! Provide an important youth perspective into the City of Vancouver's community planning process for Mount Pleasant. Come connect with other like minded youth and put your ideas into action. All materials including cameras are provided free of charge. See photos made by YiF participants on Facebook.