Staff
“Play Zone 2016,” a new event held last Wednesday evening to showcase the various clubs and sports available to local youth, was deemed a success by both organizers and participants.
“We received positive responses from clubs, parents, and kids,” said co-organizer Elaine Fischer.
“There’s nothing better than having kids leave the event with rosy cheeks saying, ‘That was a lot of fun, I never tried that before,’” she enthused.
“And parents saying, ‘I had no idea that we had that here.’”
Held in the Fort High gym, some 21 groups and clubs participated in the event.
Fischer noted 10 other groups expressed interested in attending but ultimately were unable to do so.
“Several clubs and parents were interested in an event in August or September, and again in the spring, that would offer one-stop registration,” Fischer noted.
“We will follow up with clubs to determine interest,” she added.
Sports such as golf, curling, and pickle ball all were on hand last Wednesday, offering kids a chance to try out the sport.
Parents, meanwhile, could talk to organizers and gather information on the program.
Other groups, such as the “Kids’ Garden Club” and the “Horse Club” at Dreamweaver Ranch, also offered hands-on activities for youngsters to try.
To further entice families to attend, the first 200 kids received a grab bag and snacks.
And participants who visited 10 or more booths had their name entered in a draw for three $100 gift cards to be used towards a 2016 sports registration.
“We realized that many people are not aware of all the great sport and recreation opportunities available to kids, youth, and adults in Fort Frances,” Fischer explained.
“We talked to several other key health and sport organizations, and all were in agreement that an event like this was needed to increase awareness for all ages,” she added.
“It was great to see all the different activities and sports in action,” Fischer enthused.
“We really wanted the event to be a hands-on, ‘try-it,’ see it with demos or an opportunity to talk to the clubs.”
The event was a collaboration among several local organizations, such as KidSport Fort Frances, the Northwestern Health Unit, the Town of Fort Frances and Memorial Sports Centre, the Gizhewaadiziwin Health Access Centre, and Child and Family Services.
“We had a great group to help plan and, of course, the biggest thanks goes out to all of our club coaches and volunteers,” Fischer said.
She noted less than 10 percent of kids in Canada currently meet the guidelines for physical activity.
“Each of us has different interests [and] abilities, so an event like the ‘Play Zone’ is a great opportunity to expose kids and parents to so many different opportunities to get kids moving and, most importantly, having fun,” Fischer stressed.
“We know that if we get kids or families active from an early age, they will be more likely to be active as adults.”
