Nature Play Day a big success at Henderson

By Justin Seward on June 14, 2022.

Herald Photo by Justin Seward A group of kids enjoy the parachute area during Helen Schuler Nature Centre's Nature Play Day at Henderson Lake Park on Saturday.

The Helen Schuler Coulee Centre saw the return of its Nature Play Day at Henderson Lake Park on Saturday afternoon.
The outdoor-style festival had 20 plus play-based activities from local community organizations for all ages.
Among vendors were Helen Schuler Nature Centre’s outdoor games, Family Centre’s mud kitchen, Lethbridge College’s loose parts playground, try dragonboating from the Dragonboat Association of Southern Alberta, YMCA’s outdoor yoga and Yellow Fish Road’s painting activity, to name a few.
“It’s our annual festival that celebrates outdoor play here in Lethbridge,” said
Taylor Hecker, Helen Schuler Nature Centre program leader.
Hecker said there’s lots of statistics that kids are spending less time outdoors and even adults are spending less time outdoors.
“And especially since COVID, many people are not meeting those physical activities that are set out by Health Canada,” he said.
“So, you know just showing that it’s not hard to be outside. It’s not hard to play, there’s lots of opportunities out there and, yeah, just encouraging them and showing what’s out there.”
According to ParticipACTION’s 2020 report card on physical activity for youth, 4.8 per cent of youth between ages five to 11 and 0.8 per cent of youth ages 12 – 17 were meeting 24-hour movement behaviour guidelines during COVID-19 restrictions.
Those numbers were compared to the 15 per cent of ages five to 17 years old in 2019.
“ParticipACTION indicates that family is a key source of influence on kids’ healthy movement. Parents and guardians are encouraged to facilitate physical activity by encouraging, watching, role modelling, co-participating, and attending events like Nature Play Day. They are also encouraged to be active together as a family and make it a priority every day,” as read in the release.
Hecker felt this was their busiest year yet.
“I know in the past we’ve been between 1,000 and 2,000. But, I wouldn’t be surprised if we hit that again.”

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