Articles from:February 2021

• Brock launches virtual March Break camp for kids

  Friday, February 05, 2021 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: 05 February 2021 – R0018

  Brock University has designed a memorable virtual camp for kids this March Break.

  Registration is open for families who are looking for a fun, safe and rewarding experience with Brock’s Virtual March Break Camp.

  Campers will enjoy hands-on activities with a variety of themes including science, technology, art, adventure and sport designed by Youth University, the innovative learning environment for kids run by Brock’s Recreation Services.

  The virtual camp runs each day from March 15 to 19 for youth in Grades 2 through 8.

  “One of Brock’s core pillars is strengthening the Niagara community,” says Greg Zwiep, Program Manager, Brock Recreation. “We will support the Niagara community and its families by providing safe and memorable programming options for their children this March Break.”

  In July 2020, Brock made the difficult decision to cancel its summer camps due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but launched Camps at Home as an online catalogue for parents and guardians to access lesson plans and links to fun camp-related activities.

  Brock’s virtual camps have the unique opportunity to revitalize social group learning for kids in a fun environment, says Youth University Program Manager Michelle Leone.

  “We miss camp as much as our campers do,” she says. “Our new virtual programs give us the chance to interact with new and familiar faces as we learn together. Although we can’t be together in person yet, we know camp is where we can make friends, feel good about ourselves and try new things, and we’re looking forward to continuing this online.”

  The virtual camp aims to teach kids important life skills while having fun and giving them a sense of being valued and belonging, Leone adds.

  Campers participate each day from 11 a.m. to noon through Microsoft Teams and will receive a link to access the meeting prior to March Break.

  Camps are typically moderated by two staff members and are tailored with kids’ screen time in mind. They include daily activities using common materials found in homes.

  “We understand students have primarily been participating in online schooling the last little while, so our focus was to avoid long virtual programs, but rather short and fun experiences to recreate that camp atmosphere,” said Zwiep. “We ensured the virtual format could be easily followed.”

  Virtual March Break registration is now open online here. For any questions, please contact [email protected]

  For those unable to participate in virtual March Break programming, parents and guardians are encouraged to access the library of activities available online at Camps at Home.

  More information on Summer Camp programming will be announced in the near future.

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews: 

  * Dan Dakin, Manager Communications and Media Relations, Brock University [email protected] or 905-347-1970

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  Categories: Media releases

• Brock students learn to make Icewine in first-of-its-kind co-op

  Wednesday, February 03, 2021 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: 03 February 2021 – R0017

  Not everyone appreciates chilly winter nights, but Niagara’s recent cold snap was welcomed by Brock University students Claire Findlater and Mario Spinosa, as it allowed them to participate in their first-ever Icewine harvest.

  The third-year Oenology and Viticulture (OEVI) students are taking part in a first-of-its-kind Icewine co-op with Pillitteri Estates Winery, and they have been patiently waiting for temperatures to drop below –8 C so they could press the frozen grapes needed to make the specialty product.

  The co-op gives Brock students hands-on experience with all aspects of working on a Canadian Icewine harvest.

  Jamie Slingerland, Director of Viniculture for Pillitteri Estates, says the partnership between Brock and the winery is beneficial.

  “From a resume-building perspective, working on a co-op at a renowned winery in Icewine is a tremendous opportunity; there’s not too many students who are able to say they’ve done that,” he says. “It’s also an honour to mentor these brilliant, hard-working students because they are the future and helping them learn means helping the future evolution of our industry.”

  Pillitteri is one of the few wineries that has chosen to produce Icewine this year — allowing the students to also work on a rare vintage of the dessert wine.

  Much of Canada’s Icewine sales is driven by tourism and duty-free shopping, which have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. With that in mind, some wineries with enough inventory to meet this year’s demand decided to skip the Icewine harvest and focus more on table wines.

  “Getting to do something so special to Canada in such a whirlwind year has been a really cool way for us to get that hands-on industry experience,” says Findlater. “Jamie is always so willing to help us with anything we need and there is so much experience and knowledge we are gaining from everyone we’re working with.”

  Pillitteri, which is recognized internationally for its Icewine, has been partnering on research, outreach and student learning opportunities with Brock and the University’s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI) for nearly a decade.

  The winery is passionate about bringing on Brock students and worked with the Co-op, Career and Experiential Education office and Steven Trussler, CCOVI Senior Lab demonstrator and Academic Advisor for the OEVI program, to develop the Icewine co-op.

  The goal is to offer it to students every year.

  “We work together, hand-in-hand, to make industry connections, and present our students with amazing opportunities such as this,” says Melissa Beamer, Brock’s Manager, Talent Development and Engagement. “We are proud to be able to provide our students with great opportunities — especially during this challenging time — and we look forward to continuing this strong partnership and continuing to offer our students unique opportunities in this amazing industry.”

  OEVI students take three co-op terms during their degree.

  Trussler says it allows them to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to a real-world setting, make important industry connections and see their work tangibly impact the local grape and wine industry.

  “This particular experience with Pillitteri also provides practical experience with a style of wine production that not all students will have when they graduate — which sets them apart when it’s time to start looking for jobs,” he adds.

  During their work term, the students will tackle everything from working in the field and understanding how the harvesting machinery operates, to crafting the wine itself and learning how it’s promoted and sold in a retail environment.

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:

  * Dan Dakin, Manager Communications and Media Relations, Brock University [email protected] or 905-347-1970

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  Categories: Media releases