How Mini U works

Program content

Select a program of your choice. Our leaders will build lessons that focus on that subject area (ex. special interests, sports, specialty aquatics).

Our Mini and Junior Bisons sport based programs will be lead with the expert guidance of our Bison Sport departments. 

Unique experiences

Our experience grows as our participants do. Programs are designed to keep you engaged and excited to come back. Unique, age-appropriate programs, activities, T-shirts, leadership cards, spaces and opportunities are created for each age group.

Recreational activities

Many programs include recreational activity time as part of their schedule, indicated in program descriptions with the abbreviation "rec." A wide range of recreational activities are used to engage participants in physical activity and leadership. We create activities that help participants develop physical literacy and social skills. Our goal is to keep you engaged and participating in the action.

All of our activities will be evaluated to ensure meaningful participation while ensuring physical distancing. Any games/ activities where this is not possible will be removed from play for 2021.

Hours

Arrival and supervision: 7:45 to 8:45 a.m.*
Program hours: 9 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Departure and supervision: 4 to 5:30 p.m.

* To ensure social distancing is possible at all times, all groups will exit the drop off space, one group at a time and move around campus in a very specific way. As this may take us a bit more time to get to our first activity we are requesting all campers be dropped off prior to 8:45 a.m.

Location

Mini U Programs and Junior Bisons administrative offices
Room 146 Frank Kennedy Centre (420 University Crescent)

Arrival and departure
Max Bell Centre Field House (109 Sydney Smith Street) and
Investors Group Athletic Centre (109 Sydney Smith Street)

In order to ensure decreased building capacity can be maintained we require that only one parent/guardian from each household attend camp arrival and departure.

Accessible parking

Proximal parking spaces are available in I lot for customers with a Manitoba Parking Permit Program pass. Display your permit visibly from the rear-view mirror and our staff in this parking lot will be happy to assist you.

Daytime parking

Pay and park spaces are available in the Active Living Centre lot. Use the meters and spaces as indicated.

Event days

IG Field event days may impact your ability to access campus on days of your selected program. Further details regarding event days can be found at https://umanitoba.ca/campus/parking/igf.html.

First day

Arrival on the first day is commonly slower compared to other days of the week. Please allow yourself some additional time to get checked in.

Late arrivals

We hope you don’t miss out on your program activities beginning at 9 a.m. If you arrive after 9 a.m., check-in at the Mini U Programs office in room 146 Frank Kennedy Centre (420 University Crescent). We will connect you with your group at our earliest convenience. Pay and park spaces are available in the Active Living Centre (ALC) lot. Use the meters and spaces as indicated.

Groups

Many of our programs are split into multiple groups based on age. If you are interested in having your child grouped with a friend or family member, submit a "group with" request to mini.u@umanitoba.ca. Include: your child’s first and last name, other child’s first and last name, program name and week number.

These requests must be received 7 days before your child's camp experience. We will do our best to make this accommodation but it may not be possible in some cases. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, 'group-with' requests will not be accommodated on the first morning of camp.

Food and snacks

Our program is action-packed. We recommend sending a healthy lunch with additional snacks throughout the day. Microwaves are not available. 

Allergy aware environment

We do our best to create an environment that is allergy aware but due to the size and diversity of the university we cannot guarantee that all spaces will be free of your child’s allergens. 

Participants are expected to bring food that does not include nuts. Nut replacement products such as wow butter are not permitted as they can be difficult for children with allergies to identify from a safe distance. In the event of a severe food allergy in your child’s group, you may be expected to avoid additional foods or ingredients.

Forgotten lunch

Participants who do not have a packed lunch will be provided a lunch by our team at a cost to the family. An invoice will be created and sent home in your child’s bag.

Lunch hour activities

Participants will eat lunch in classrooms provided. Younger groups aged 4-7 and 8-11 may be shown a G-rated movie for a portion of the lunch hour. 

Early check out

Notify our staff as soon as you become aware of a need to check out before 4 p.m. We would be happy to accommodate an early check-out on the top of every hour ie. 10 a.m., 11 a.m., Noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m., or 3 p.m. Early check out occurs at the Mini U Programs office in room 146 Frank Kennedy Centre (420 University Crescent). Children will only be released to individuals that have been authorized for pick up. Photo identification is required. Pay and park spaces are available in the Active Living Centre (ALC) lot. Use the meters and spaces as indicated.

Late fee

A $1 per minute fee will be charged to families arriving after designated check-out times. Payment is required before continuation in the program.

Authorized pick ups

Families will have the opportunity to add authorized adults to pick up their children before the program begins via our electronic personal information form. In the event you would like to authorize additional adults after the program has begun, a member of our leadership team would be happy to assist you.

What to bring

The day is action-packed. We recommend you come prepared with: 

• a water bottle
• a hat
• sunscreen
• bug spray
• physical activity clothing such as indoor runners
• a bagged lunch that does not require a microwave

We do not recommend bringing:

• electronic devices as they are not permitted during program hours
• collector cards
• valuables

The University of Manitoba is not responsible for lost, damaged or stolen personal belongings.

Ratio

A minimum swimmer to adult ratio of 7 swimmers to 1 adult is maintained at all times in the swimming pool. There will be lifeguards on duty at all times, as well as one or more group leaders per group (plus volunteers when available).

Flotation devices

All children 7 and under must wear a life jacket or swim belt. Parents interested in their child not wearing a flotation device are expected to send a written note indicating their permission. Our group leaders will present this note to our lifeguards who will administer a swim test for the participant prior to each swim time.

Toys

Our wiggle bridge will be out of commission this summer but we do hope to be able to bring it back in 2022.

Diving

This activity is not available this year .

Our 1-meter diving board is available for participants who pass a swimming test administered by a lifeguard prior to each swim time. Our 3-meter diving board is not available for our participants.

T-shirts

Participants attending camps will receive one complimentary Mini U Programs T-shirt to take home. Shirts will be provided during their first week of programs. We do our best to deliver your preferred shirt sizes however sizes are not guaranteed.

Lost and found

We do our best to help participants keep their personal belongings with them at all times. All items that are found will be brought to a central location in the Max Bell Field House. In the event that you have lost an item, a lost and found will be available for you at arrival and departure.

Fire evacuation

In the unlikely event of a fire alarm, our team will evacuate the pool.

Should it be safe to do so:

• individuals in the observation deck will be evacuated to the Active Living Centre lobby.
• swimmers will be kept on the pool deck and supervised by their swim leader.
• further evacuation may be required (to be determined by the fire warden on duty)

You may also be looking for:

Swimming lessons

Location

Frank Kennedy Centre
Entrance via the Active Living Centre (430 University Crescent)

Max Bell Centre (109 Sydney Smith Street)

Outdoor Tennis Court (Chancellor Matheson Road)

Parking

Parking is provided for in ALC, U and P parking lots. Parking map here. Parking in these lots is free after 4:30pm Monday to Friday and on weekends. Please pay careful attention to the signage in these lots as there are some spaces that are reserved 24 hours for staff parking only.

Parking tickets may be issued if parking occurs outside of the times and specifications listed above.

Check in

We request that only one parent/guardian attends programs with their child(ren) and will be required to check in upon arrival. Entry for program classes is available 30 minutes before the start of the program

Upon arrival, check in with your program leader in the space or room indicated on your receipt.

All visitors to our facilities are required to remove their outdoor shoes, however indoor shoes are welcome.

Check out

Participants are dismissed from the class. Parents and guardians are expected to be readily available to supervise children once the program is completed. Our team will not be available to assist in changing after the program or supervise participants.

Changing rooms 

Our facilities have various changing spaces available for you. 

The community changing room has been designed for everyone. It contains space that is accessible and enclosed for changing/showering, use of lockers and using the rest facilities. This space is located on the second floor of the Frank Kennedy Centre adjacent to the pool observation deck. 

Male and female changing rooms are also available. These rooms are accessible and contain open spaces for changing, showering, use of lockers and rest facilities. These spaces are located on the first floor of the Frank Kennedy and Max Bell Centres.