Twillingate Recreation Committee gets involved

TWILLINGATE - A new approach to recreation programming seems to be working well in Twillingate and getting off to a great start.

Organized under the co-chair of Grant White and Patti Hicks-Brown with a group of mostly younger parents involved, the committee is striving to include everyone in recreation but with a special emphasis on the young families in the area. And in an effort to succeed, the group has decided in some instances to approach programming from a different angle.

Faced with whether to have a week-long winter carnival as attempted over the past few years, for example, the committee decided they would instead have similar events but spread over a longer period of time. Aware of the fact that for the past couple of years the carnival idea has not been successful mainly because of inclement weather and lack of snow during the scheduled week, the events starting with a sliding party at Churchill's Pond have been hosted when conditions are ripe. Thus, the sliding party was an extremely successful event back in mid-winter with conditions just right for those attending to enjoy the bonfire and the opportunity to roast wieners and marshmallows over the fire as well as get involved in actual sliding and the fun that accompanied it.

A program designed for smaller tykes called "Kid Kicks" is still operational on Saturdays at Twillingate Island Elementary. Catering to little ones ages one to four, the program with at least one parent or guardian in attendance allows small children the freedom to get involved in various activities while at the same time build on their social skills. And another important feature, noted Ms. Hicks-Brown, who co-ordinates the program, is that the activity is "free of charge." The activity is an hour long and starts at 10 a.m. on Saturday mornings.

Another event was the costume skating competition at the local arena on March 19 that was very well attended and where some 41 pre-schoolers to grade six participated.

And for older individuals, especially those who may feel they should be more active, there is a special group that meets weekly called "Twillingate's Most Active Group." Based on the idea of TV's "Biggest Loser," the program is aimed not just at weight loss but weight control and healthier living.

Thus the program stresses eating according to Canada's Food Guide and emphasizes activity with participants even being given pedometers to measure their walking record.

Participants, and there are currently some 46 registered, have sessions where helpful information about good health habits and active living are given. But it's not all instructional time. Plans were being made at the end of March for those interested to book the pool at Gander for an aerobics water session.

Participants are also encouraged to visit the Public Health nurse and avail of the services offered in determining the essentials of physical fitness. Each participant is expected to keep a fairly accurate record of activities so that at the end of the 10-12 week period the degree of success can be determined.

But the two biggest drawbacks, noted Mr. White, is a lack of equipment and the funding to purchase needed items. But that, too, is being addressed. Already a grant of $600 has been promised from the Central Regional Wellness Coalition that will be used to purchase equipment for a soccer program for this coming summer for pre-school and school age children. And a possible $1,000 grant may be forthcoming from the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation through the local MHA's office. This money, reported Mr. White, will be utilized to purchase much needed equipment for recreation programs during the summer when it is hoped that university students can be employed as instructors in a thematic summer sports program rather than a keep-busy routine. More funding sources are being investigated, Mr. White reported.

One of the bigger projects being undertaken by the committee, advised Mr. White, is to upgrade the local swimming facilities. This would mean either an effort to make improvements at the pool or replace it so that more people can have access and the activity to be more efficient, and in particular to make it more accessible for the disabled and for seniors. That will require considerable funding, he said, but the committee is willing to spearhead the drive, for it would be a great asset to the community.

The volunteer effort being put into the recreation programming in the community is commendable and the committee is to be congratulated and given support.