Blogs Desirea Weninger

90%…

That's the average percentage of time Canadians spend indoors every day. 

These days we're more concerned about binge watching TV shows on Netflix, beating the next level on Candy Crush, and stalking our friends on Facebook to worry about what is outside our front doors. Our obsession with technology is consuming our lives so much we have forgotten how to spend time with the very thing we rely on to live. That’s right, nature is here to keep us alive, and get this, spending more time outside has positive impact on our overall health and wellbeing. The sad thing about our lack of time spent outdoors is the role it is playing on this generation of children. For the first time in the history of our existence children are believed to have a shorter life expectancy than their parents.

So how do we change this?

There are a variety of different options, and one easy solution is to become “Healthy by Nature.” This initiative is used to promote the strong and obvious link between healthy people and healthy parks, and the mental and physical benefits of spending time in outside.

Interested in becoming Healthy by Nature in Saskatchewan? SaskOutdoors can help as they offer a variety of programs to everyone and anyone! SaskOutdoors helps us safely, confidently and enthusiastically participate in outdoor and nature based recreation in all parts of Saskatchewan. Ever think of including outdoor education in your classroom, taking your family winter camping or simply learning more about recreation in nature? SaskOutdoors has it all. 

This includes an exciting professional development opportunity called Growing up Wild that strengthens adults caregivers knowledge and expertise on getting children active outdoors. Growing up Wild is an early childhood education program that builds on children's sense of wonder about nature and invites them to explore wildlife and the world around them. Through engaging children in nature early in life, SaskOutdoors hopes children develop lifelong positive impressions and connections with the world we live in. Growing up Wild provides educators, who participate in the course, with a variety of different activities, crafts and educational resources that revolve around nature, and allows for easy incorporation into teaching plans.

Helping build these connections early in children’s lives will help for the continuation of time spent outdoors, allowing them to absorb the health benefits.  Instilling the benefits early will help make these initiatives lifelong habits and result in healthier lifestyles for the children, as well as their families. 

But we can not only rely on our educators to instill this in our children, it has to be a full team effort. It is our responsibility to work as role models for the younger generations and the ones to come.

So, kick your kid off the couch and get them outdoors, go for a walk outside, or plan for at least one activity outside a day. Whatever you choose to do, just get outside, soak up all the benefits and get “Healthy by Nature”.

If you need new fresh ideas check out these websites for great resources and activities that work to connect your children to nature.

-Active Kids Club

-Childrens Outdoor Charter

-Active After School

This Blog was written by Megan Barrs, who completed her Fieldwork Placement with us at the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association head office in Regina, Saskatchewan as per the requirements for her degree program as a Bachelor of Kinesiology at the University of Regina.

The following Blog was written by Megan Barrs, who completed her Fieldwork Placement with us at the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association head office in Regina, Saskatchewan as per the requirements for her degree program as a Bachelor of Kinesiology at the University of Regina.

At 18 I thought I had my life all planned out, I thought I knew exactly what I wanted to do, and where my degree would take me, but was I ever wrong. As a kinesiology student you are constantly put in a bubble by society of what you are going to do with your life. Everyone thinks when you say you are in Kinesiology you will become one of three things:

1. Physiotherapist

2. Personal Trainer

3. Physical Education Teacher

In my third year of University, when I realized none of those were things I wanted to do, I became worried about my future. I was scared there was nothing in this field for me and that all my hard work during the first few years of University would be for nothing. I was wrong. I became more interested in the promotion of health, rather than the reactive/rehab side. When looking into where I would do my fieldwork I knew I wanted to work with an organization that focused on improving Saskatchewan residents’ overall well-being, through various avenues, and I was beyond lucky to find Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association (SPRA).

During my fieldwork search I stumbled upon an article discussing a program called Take the Lead!®. This program combines improving youth leadership skills and physical activity levels into one. When looking further into the program, I became more intrigued of all the things SPRA had to offer. After browsing through their website and reading up on the multiple programs, services and events put on by SPRA,  I knew this is where my fieldwork needed to take place.

During my time at SPRA I have worked on various tasks with a many different professionals, but my favourite would have to be my special project. As a requirement of completion for my fieldwork a special project is needed to be completed and what better program to focus this project on than Take the Lead!®. In hopes of helping Take the Lead!® grow I began work on a promotional piece focusing on why the Youth Leaders enjoyed being part of Take the Lead!®. This project would involve the youth taking pictures and pairing them with captions to get their thoughts across. In order to do this I had to recruit a school that would be willing to assist me with the completion of this project. After receiving a glowing recommendation from the Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region (RQHR), Glen Elm was the obvious choice to work with. So I teamed up with Mr. Pelling, Ms. Baran and the Youth Leaders of Glen Elm and we began the photo taking process.

Having the opportunity to work alongside these youth, and hear their reasoning behind why they are involved with Take the Lead!® made my admiration for this program grow even more. Each youth had something different to say about how the program made them feel, and I was amazed by how each of them interpreted the program. It was incredible to see firsthand the difference these youth are making in their school and the inspirational role they play on their peers.

Take the Lead!® is a program that is so much more than a way to get kids physically active, it’s about building friendships, growing confidence and improving leadership skills. It is something that is going to push kids further in their future, whether it is at school, work or on a sports team, the lessons learned from Take the Lead! are something these youth can carry with them for the rest of their lives. I believe this is something that should be included in schools everywhere, as it allows the children to development in ways that no book or lesson plan can.

My time at SPRA had opened my eyes up to the vast amount of possibilities I can do with my career. Leaving here I am ready to "Take the Lead!" for my future.

Little sister rocking the agility ladder, big brother trying out warrior pose, Dad killing it at Zumba, and mom acting fly in hip hop? Say what??

This was the case at the Hugh Cairns V.C. School’s “Family Fitness Fun” event held in late November 2015.  Organized by Daryl Lesyshyn and supported by the ParticipACTION Teen Challenge, the event was focused around providing opportunities for families to increase awareness of leisure options and thus improve their Leisure Literacy.

Families had the opportunity to choose three of four sessions to attend, each with a different focus.  The sessions included: Zumba, Yoga, CrossFit and Hip Hop Dance.  Each session was 25 minutes in length.  The day began with a fun game of High Five Tag, with those of all ages (adults, teens, younger children) involved.  In no time at all, the parents became quick targets. 

Daryl Lesyshyn, organizing teacher, said, “After some initial anxiousness, by some parents, to get fully involved in their activity, it was soon evident that they lost those inhibitions and became positive role models for their children by fully participating in all activities.”

This is an important aspect of programs such as this as various studies have shown that, “when children see adults doing activities, their brain cells copy that action. It’s good for parents and caregivers to be active with children, and to make that activity fun. Children pick up on adult attitudes and will establish attitudes of their own based on these early experiences.” 

This holds true for teens as well as research also finds that “Strategies to promote physical activity among adolescents should focus on increasing levels of family cohesion, parental engagement, parent-child communication and adolescent self-esteem.”

In total there were 77 participants involved in the Family Fun Fitness.  Lesyshyn surpassed his original goal of 50 registrations,and is already looking toward to planning the event again next year.

He states, “I am extremely proud of the families of HCVC by their participation, enthusiasm and overall support of this new initiative for the community. Plans are already underway for next year’s Family Fitness Fun event. This was definitely a career highlight within my Physical Education.”

Participants were as thrilled as him with the activity, and surely next year will see an increase in registrations.  Some quotes from participating families include:

“We enjoyed the event as we could try some activities our family had never tried before.”

“I took part in the event because I wanted to spend time with my family doing something fun and meeting other families.”

“Very well organized and piles of fun.”

“An excellent way to try new things as a family.”

“We had a wonderful time.  I hope there’s a chance to do this again, as it is a great way to bring people together.”

As the Provincial Coordinator for the ParticipACTION Teen Challenge, Desirea Weninger (Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Consultant) was proud to see the community in action, “It’s great to see the ParticipACTION Teen Challenge at work reducing barriers to teens to get active.

Hugh Cairns V.C. school has applied for funding in the past and had great success with their events, highly motivated individuals like Daryl Lesyshyn can utilize opportunities such as the ParticipACTION Teen Challenge to enhance the lives of the students they work with.”

Written by Desirea Weninger - Youth Engagement Consultant, SPRA

Do you want to provide a play focused after-school time period, while still focusing on quality? 

The Boys and Girls Clubs of Saskatoon have found keys to successfully managing this, and we will speak to them below. 

The Neighbourhood Club Programs are an After-School Time Period program offered from 3:30-5:30 pm Monday to Friday.  These free Clubs are strategically located in neighbourhoods where children and youth are faced with cultural, socio-economical, and personal barriers to play. Therefore, providing active, fun and safe opportunities for the kids to be kids is essential to their development.

Heidi Carl, Director of Programs states, “We ensure that kids get to play without restraint or responsibilities.  We are purposeful about planning for play. It [play] is the occupation of children, and many of our participants do not get to play outside of the clubs operating hours.”

The programming is “participant lead, not program fed,” states Heidi.  At the heart of this philosophy is an emphasis on understanding the communities in which they operate.  For instance, at one of the clubs participants have 5 minutes of recess at school, and are not engaged in any other form of physical activity outside of school.  In consideration of this, the programming emphasizes physical literacy and fundamental movement skills.  Thus, offering the participants experiences they would not have otherwise gained. 

Adapting to the ever-changing needs of any community can be challenging.  Focusing on these three areas, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Saskatoon are able to create a strong foundation on which to provide emergent programming.

1. Strong Front-Line Staff

“If we did not have engaging front-line staff, our programs would not succeed, nor would they be considered quality programs.  Kids need a Caring Adult.  Our staff have the biggest impact on our programs.  We provide them with HIGH FIVE®  Principles of Healthy Child Development training, which helps them provide safe, positive and quality programs” – Heidi Carl

By engaging staff with learning opportunities like HIGH FIVE and Fundamental Movement Skills, the Clubs are improving their “Human Capital.”  This is one of the shared areas for action indicated in the Multi-Sectoral Framework for Action on the After-School Time Period.  These trainings ensure that “staff and volunteers have the skills and knowledge to deliver effective after-school programming.”

2. Engaged Partnerships

“Our partnerships with the Saskatoon Public School Division, Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools and White Buffalo Youth Lodge are non-negotiable when it comes to our success.” – Heidi Carl

This inter-agency approach is emphasized as integral to promoting the holistic health of students in the Comprehensive School Community Health approach.  Through engaged partnerships, organizations can support student success in a “planned, integrated and holistic way.”

3. Ongoing Evaluation

“We evaluate our success by using the HIGH FIVE QUEST 2 Tool to measure our program quality.  We also measure observable and tangible results; these are the foundation to achieving our short-term and mid-term outcomes.”– Heidi Carl

In line with the desired “Principles of Operation” stated in the National Framework for Recreation in Canada, the Clubs are outcome driven and evidence based.  Toting HIGH FIVE as their quality assurance tool, they are actualizing on best practices emphasized in the National Framework.

By building a strong foundation, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Saskatoon see the benefits of their hard work daily.  This is showcased in feedback received from parents and participants.

“I don’t know what I would do without this place” - Parent 

“There is a drive here to make the kids happy.  They care and are concerned about the kids.” – Parent

“The staff are awesome!  All of our friends come here.” – Participant

Without the club “I would have to walk home and not get to see my role models” – Participant

At the Clubs, role models are not only found in the Caring Adult staff, but also fostered in a purposeful way through a cultural leadership program, titled Youth Leading Youth.  It is run at 3 sites, and designed in a collaborative way with participants, Elders and Boys & Girls Clubs of Saskatoon Club Directors working together.  The goal is to give participants an opportunity to practice leadership skills, learn Aboriginal culture, participate in community service and ultimately help children and youth discover their cultural identity and take pride in it.

“Youth Leading Youth increases their development and focuses on leadership, self-confidence, integrity, commitment, creativity and cooperation.  All skills that children and youth can gain by attending a quality program” – Heidi Carl

Once again, Heidi highlights the hard work and dedication that goes into creating a program of integrity; one that participants can benefit from.  These invested and passionate staff members, supervisors and managers are not reactive, but proactive in their design and evaluation of programs, they understand why and how quality programs NEED to be delivered.  This ensures that a safe, fun and playful environment is achieved successfully.