To see a calendar of program times for the Windermere Valley

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Valley Connections, Invermere - The Family Resource Centre of Invermere (FRC) and CBAL, Windermere Valley are partners in this community facility that provides a meeting and program space for a variety of community groups and programs. These include parent and child family literacy and parent support programs. The FRC holds the lease for the space and provides day to day management of it. WVL contributes a percentage of the annual operating expenses. Some operating expenses are recovered through rental fees from other groups.

Headwaters, Canal Flats - CBAL, Windermere Valley and the FRC are partners in this community facility that provides a meeting and program space for a variety of community groups and programs. These include parent and child family literacy and parent support programs. WVL holds the lease for the space and provides the day to day management of it. The FRC contributes a percentage of the annual operating expenses.

Headwaters Community Library - This is a project of WVL. The library is operated by community volunteers.

Open Access Computer Centre - WVL provides free access to computers and the internet and staff to provide learning support or assistance at Headwaters to the residents of Canal Flats three afternoons and two evenings per week.

Bridges to Learning - is a project that focuses on youth and adult learning and literacy development through the use of technology. It includes adult tutoring in basic skills and the uses of computer technology, workshops on topics such as resume writing and job skills, youth projects such as web site design, animation and video making, and open access computer learning support for adults and youth at Headwaters in Canal Flats. The project also includes refurbishing and redistributing used computers to individuals who need one.

Seniors Computers - is a partnership between CBAL, Windermere Valley and the Invermere Seniors Centre. Computer tutors offer assistance at the Seniors Centre to seniors who would like to learn about computers or increase their skills.

Adult Literacy and ESL Tutoring - Tutors meet one on one with adults needing help improving literacy skills or their knowledge of the English language and Canadian society.

Book Clubs for adults and Red Cedar book clubs for youth. Writing Out Loud - women's journaling workshops. Eight sessions January-March 08

Earn Your Silence - is a newsletter just for aboriginal youth. Artwork, poetry, articles, essays, illustrated comic strips, and short stories written by aboriginal youth. It is published four times each year.

One to One Children's Reading Program - community volunteers are trained to read with children in school. Children in the program read with a volunteer 4 times a week for ½ hour in fall and winter sessions of eight to twelve weeks. This program takes place in four elementary and middle schools located in Canal Flats, Invermere, Edgewater and Windermere. The program is delivered in partnership with schools and Parent Advisory Councils.

Play and Learn- a developmental 'learn through play' early literacy and parenting program.

Homework Clubs - for grades 4-7 and 8-12 in Canal Flats, once each week September to June.

Homework Clubs - for grades 4-7 and 8-12 in Canal Flats, once each week September to June.

A Book Under Every Tree - books are gathered by donation during November and early December for distribution to families at Christmas time.

Books for Babies - a book bag is given to every family with a new baby containing books suitable for reading to babies, an infant t-shirt, information about the importance of reading, singing and rhyming with very young children, and community information regarding programs and services of interest to parents of young children. Welcome Baby parties are held twice each year at the Public Library in Invermere. This program is delivered in partnership with the Invermere Public Library and the Public Health Nurses.

Growing Together Program Series - This series of family literacy and parenting programs for parents and children under 6 is collaboratively developed and delivered by CBAL, Windermere Valley, the Family Resource Centre of Invermere and the Community Action Program for Children. Growing Together programs are offered two to four days each week between September and May at Valley Connections in Invermere and Headwaters in Canal Flats and in Edgewater.

The programs include:

Baby Goose/Baby Talk - rhymes, songs, fingerplays and stories are shared with parents of children under 18 months. The Baby Goose program is combined Baby Talk; a series of community presenters on topics of interest to parents of babies.

Play and Learn - a developmental 'learn through play' early literacy and parenting program.

Parent Time, Family Time - A program for parents of preschool children to assist them in understanding and supporting their child's development and emerging literacy skills combined with parenting education and support.

For more information about The Windermere Valley Family Literacy programs contact: