Mini U Programs

The energy this week was absolutely contagious, here are some of our favourite mini moments of Week 5!

Kids in the Kitchen
• Leaders from the Department of Human Nutritional Sciences helped campers transform healthy ingredients into delicious snacks.
• Campers became culinary leaders and assembled their own take-home recipe book to continue their journey at home.

Mini Bisons Track and Field II
• Campers stepped into the blocks and sprinted to the finish line as they worked on running, jumping and throwing skills this week.
• At the end of the week, campers participated in a Mini Meet to test their new skills!

Active Gamers: Level Up!
• From screen to field, campers enjoyed the best of both worlds with video games and multi-sport action playing soccer and ultimate frisbee at the soccer complex.
• Campers worked on teamwork, agility and brought their immersive gaming strategies to life in real world activities.

Mini Bisons Basketball II
• Days were filled with targeted drills focused on proper form, reaction speed and overall skill development.
• Campers also played cross-training games like dodgeball and spikeball to sharpen their athleticism and team play.

Each week of camp has been so special, we can’t wait to continue bringing the Mini U magic to life!

Mini Moments of the week!

Here’s a glimpse into what some of our campers got up to during Week 4 of summer camp:

Archery, Fencing and Racquetball
• In partnership with Sport Manitoba, campers built a physical foundation of three distinct sports in one exciting week.
• While learning the fundamentals of archery, fencing and racquetball, campers focused on building a strong physical foundation with emphasis on fair play.

Becoming a Mini U Leader
• Campers got a behind-the-scenes look into what it takes to be a Mini U leader in this unique two-week program.
• Developing skills in responsibility, behavior management and goal setting, campers got the opportunity to work alongside a Mini U mentor to assist with leading a summer camp.

Mini Gym
• Moving and grooving while learning basic movement and motor control skills.
• Campers worked on throwing, catching and hopping with elements of gymnastics and more.

Mini Bisons Volleyball II
• Designed by Bisons head coaches and led by student-athletes, campers participated in fun, high-quality development training.
• Campers built confidence while developing the physical foundations for volleyball, while learning to be a good teammate.

Badminton and Basketball
• In a multi-sport development environment, campers experienced training designed to build fundamental skills and passion for sport.
• With a combination of drills, exercises and team building activities, campers worked on building agility and endurance in a fun and supportive environment.

We can’t wait to continue to spark campers’ creativity and watch them shine this summer!

It’s not too late to get your camper registered in some of our August camp weeks. Head to our website to find a camp.

In 2014, a six-year-old Hanna Cyr walked into Mini U for her first day of summer camp.

One of her favourite memories from those early days was reaching the top of the wall climbing wall. Hearing the cheers from her fellow campers and leaders made her feel like she could accomplish anything.

“I felt the magic as a six-year-old child, and I feel the same magic twelve years later as a leader,” says Hanna. “I always felt and still feel like I can be exactly who I am while still feeling like I belong.”

Growing up at camp, she gained the confidence to build strong relationships with the help from her leaders. For Hanna, Mini U wasn’t just a summer camp; it was a place to celebrate identity.

“There are not many spaces that can create that magical camp feeling where the difference in identity brings people closer rather than divide them,” she says. “Mini U not only recognizes the importance of uniqueness and identity but also celebrates it.”

Fast forward to today. This is Hanna’s first year as a Recreation Leader. Now that she's a “Blue Shirt,” she is excited to help shape the campers into confident leaders just like her leaders did for her.

“I am able to bring to camp those warm and happy childhood memories and remember that I always want to be like the leaders I had growing up for someone else’s child.”

Register for 17 & 18U open gym space today!

$40 for both sessions. 
 
Eligibility:
17U - September 2009 – December 2010
18U – September 2008 – December 2009
 
Open gyms are intended for athletes interested in Early-Signing with our teams at the 17U or 18U age class. These sessions provide an exposure opportunity to explore our programming and work directly with our coaches. Concluding these sessions coaches will reach out to selected athletes during the Early Signing Period (Aug. 31 – Sep. 3 ’26).
 
17U Boys          Saturday, Aug. 29 11-1pm & Sunday, Aug. 30 6-8pm
 
18U Boys          Tuesday, Aug. 25 8-10pm & Sunday, Aug. 30 2-4pm
 
17U Girls           Saturday, Aug. 29 9-11am & Sunday, Aug. 30 4-6pm

Register at JUNIORBISONS.ca

Our third week of summer camp has officially wrapped up!

Here are some mini moments from this week:

U9 Mini Bisons Co-ed Hockey II
• Campers focused on mastering core techniques in a fun and fast-paced environment.
• With engaging drills and small-area games, campers worked on advanced skating, puck handling and shooting while introducing tactical concepts.

Computer Coding for Kids
• Campers got to know the fundamentals of programming using the drag and drop program Scratch.
• Elevating their creative skills, campers also created their own interactive stories and animated adventures.

Crafty Kids
• Campers explored a variety of artistic techniques including painting, splatter art and sculpting.
• While expressing their unique creativity, campers worked on their own artistic projects to bring home and share at the end of the week.

Glow in the Dark
• Campers adventured into the dark with exciting glowing games and epic team showdowns.
• Focusing on speed, agility and strategy, campers had a jampacked week of gameplay. Campers also took home a special glow-in-the-dark t-shirt to keep the fun shining even after the week wraps up.

The energy at camp each week is absolutely electric, we can’t wait to continue creating more mini moments this summer!

Fifteen years ago, a four-year-old Adam Krentz stepped onto campus for his very first week of Mini U summer camp.

He didn't know it then, but that single week would turn into over 50 weeks of camp at Mini U—and eventually, a role shaping the next generation of campers.

Growing up at Mini U was about more than just trying new sports; it was where Adam learned what it meant to be a leader. From making friends across the city to rewriting the lyrics of “Uptown Funk” with his group to surprise their camp leader on her birthday, camp was where the magic happened.

"It was little moments like that that I chased as a camper, and now as a leader," says Adam. “At Mini U it’s all about the special moments, and that’s what makes this place so magical!”

Fast forward to today, Adam is our Sports Sampler Coach and a fourth leader on our camp team.

With several years as a leader under his belt, he’s helped young campers build confidence, resolve conflicts and learn teamwork on the field.

"Now working at Mini U, it’s this funny and rewarding feeling of knowing that I get to create the experience that my leaders made for me when I was younger. 15 years later, Mini U is still this magical place that I look forward to coming back to every year."