Frequently Asked Questions
Honest answers to what parents want to know before their child joins the Guild.
The Program
Each 65-minute session follows a consistent structure so players always know what to expect. We open with a brief check-in as themselves and as their character, before recapping where the story left off. From there, the group moves into the main adventure: collaborative storytelling, decision-making, and structured encounters that require teamwork and communication to navigate.
Every session closes with a short facilitated reflection that connects what happened in the game to real-world skills. Players leave knowing not just what they did, but what it means.
The structure is consistent by design. Predictability helps kids feel safe enough to take social risks.
No experience is needed. Honestly, it's often an advantage. Kids who come in without preconceptions about how D&D should be played tend to engage with the story and their character more freely.
Every participant fills out a character preference form before the first session, and their character is built for them ahead of time. On day one, they arrive ready to play with no rulebook required. The facilitator handles the mechanics so players can focus on the fun.
Yes, and VIGA takes extra care to make sure of it. The campaign used in the program is written specifically for ages 10–12, with age-appropriate content, themes, and challenges throughout.
D&D is a cooperative storytelling game. The version your child plays in VIGA involves adventurers protecting a village, solving puzzles, and working as a team. It is not the dark or mature content sometimes associated with the game in popular culture.
The facilitator controls the story at all times. Content is warm, structured, and focused on collaboration and growth.
No, and it's important to be clear about that. VIGA is an enrichment program, not a clinical or therapeutic service. It is not a substitute for occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, counselling, or any other professional support your child may be receiving.
What VIGA does offer is a structured, intentional environment where social skills are practised in a meaningful, low-stakes setting. The facilitator is an experienced educator and the program is designed with that distinction in mind.
Your Child
This is something the program is genuinely prepared for. The facilitator has 14 years of experience supporting diverse learners, including students who experience emotional dysregulation, anxiety, or behavioural challenges in group settings.
If a child needs a moment to step back, that's built into how sessions are run, not treated as a disruption. The small group size means no one gets lost, and the consistent structure means kids generally know what's coming next, which reduces anxiety significantly.
If something happens that parents need to know about, you'll hear about it at pickup, directly and honestly, and not in a way that singles your child out in front of others.
Parent observation during sessions isn't part of the program, and that's intentional. Kids behave differently when a parent is in the room, and the group dynamic that makes VIGA work depends on participants feeling like the space belongs to them.
That said, you won't be left wondering what's happening. At the end of each session there's a brief pickup window where the facilitator shares a summary of the day, what the group accomplished, what skill was in focus, and anything worth noting about your child specifically.
Logistics
Registration begins with a short inquiry through the contact form on this site or by reaching out directly. From there, you'll receive a parent intake questionnaire to complete, which helps ensure the program is a good fit and allows the facilitator to prepare appropriately for your child.
Once a spot is confirmed, you'll receive the program agreement, waiver, and character preference form for your child to complete before the first session. Payment is due at registration to hold the spot.
The program fee is $225 per participant for the full five-session campaign. This covers all five sessions, all materials, pre-built character sheets, and your child's Guild Certificate at the conclusion of the program. There are no additional supply fees.
VIGA is a small-group program with a maximum of five participants and a dedicated facilitator for every session. The cost reflects the level of individual attention, preparation, and professional expertise that goes into each cohort.
For context, that works out to $45 per session for a program specifically designed around your child's social development, with someone who has spent 14 years working with kids who learn and connect differently.
VIGA runs in person at Oliver Woods Community Centre in Nanaimo, BC. Sessions are 65 minutes, with a pickup window at the end of each session. Drop-off and pickup are at the centre.
Specific session dates and times are confirmed at registration.