During the summer months of July and August we operate a law camp program in conjunction with various day-camp and day-care centers in Edmonton and the surrounding area. The purpose of this program is to provide an introduction to children, about the Canadian legal system.

The law camps are divided into two separate sessions, with each session lasting approximately 1.5 to 2 hours. In the first session, SLS workers will teach the participants about the basic principles of the Canadian legal system and the roles of different individuals involved in the legal system. This first session involves a series of games and group activities. The second session gives the children a chance to apply what they have learned through a mock trial. In the Faculty of Law moot court room, children have the opportunity to act out the roles of Judge, court clerk, lawyer, accused, witnesses and jury members. In addition, the mock trials are centered around the themes of characters popular among children.

The law camps, in use for several years, continue to receive tremendous support and praise from those groups that participate from year to year.

It is important for any day camp organization to note that the law camps will be of maximum benefit if the summer camp staff who work with the children on a daily basis, take an active role in supervising their charges and participating with the children in the program.

For further information on these activities please contact the Legal Education/Reform Co-ordinator at 492-2227 or 492-2226, or email legaled@ualberta.ca.