There's a new Parent Child Program Coordinator at the Portage Friendship Centre.

Gail Ducharme has taken on the position and explains she jumped at the opportunity.

"I do enjoy working with children, I was at the Eagles Fire Youth Centre for two years and I was working there with kids from 13 to 24, it was more of the older kids and now I'm moving over to the younger ones."

She notes there are two Parent Child programs; Stay and Play for children ages 0-5 and their parents, as well as the after school program for kids ages 6-12. The after school program runs from September to June with a day camp program during the summer months.

Career consultant and former Parent Child Program Coordinator Jeanna Emms explains the goal of the program.

"We try to provide cultural activities as well as physical activity is another big thing for the program. Keeping [the kids] active [and] giving them experiences that they might not otherwise have the opportunity to have; the camping trip in the summer is a big one."

She adds the activities range from snowshoeing and tobogganing to teaching the kids about medicine and berry picking.

Emms says they're really excited about Ducharme taking on the program.