Fall Highlights: October - December, 2024

 Sole Sisters continues to be one of ACRA’s most well-attended programs, and this fall was no exception. What did shift at the start of this season was some of the volunteer leaders. With three wonderful leaders taking a step back, the recreation team was grateful to have three new leaders step forward. 

The first week of October was Active Aging Week, and the Sole Sisters held their annual walk at Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park on October 2nd. Two new participants connected with the group because of Active Aging Week.

The final walk of 2024 was held at French Creek trail and was followed by the annual Sole Sisters Cheer party. In her speech, Recreation Coordinator Tracy Cargo-White recognized the incredible volunteer leaders as well as the good work this group does, both in meeting their social and physical goals each week, but also in supporting recreation in the community with their donations. 

Child’s Play was offered in Meadowood and Coombs throughout the fall. The initial plan had been to offer both Preschool Play (ages 3-5) and Child’s Play (ages 6-10), but due to low registration, the two classes were consolidated into one program with soft age restrictions. 

This new program was facilitated by Recreation Coordinator Sandra Poelzer at Meadowood Community Centre. Both pre-registration and drop-in options were available for participants. As Bodyweight Strength & Balance is just beginning its journey, class sizes were pleasantly small, creating an intimate environment where attendees felt comfortable sharing their fitness experiences and learning new movements. Participants expressed that “this program was exactly what their body needed.”
 

Sandra does an exceptional job of offering modifications and creating a program that is challenging for all levels of fitness, while still being approachable and enjoyable. 

Raylene’s fantastic facilitation skills combined with the benefits of this dynamic, full-body workout means Essentrics, is one of ACRA’s most in-demand programs. With seventeen participants in the fall session (and a waitlist for winter!), it’s clear this gentle and energizing class is a hit in the community. Essentrics is a refreshing blend of tai chi, flow yoga, and ballet exercises.  If you want a workout that frees your joints and increases your flexibility, this class may be just what you need.

ACRA’s free youth drop-in basketball program continues to thrive. This fall, seventy-nine youth participated across two age groups. Facilitators Michael and Isabella have fostered a vibrant community of basketball enthusiasts, while serving as excellent role models and mentors. 

This program has been offered for close to a decade, and while the games have always been co-ed, the 11-15 program has always been almost entirely boys. Much to Instructor Isabella’s delight, this fall was the first time that there was an equal number of boys and girls. The decline of girls playing sports as they age is well documented, so it was especially wonderful to see such strong participation numbers at Tuesday-night basketball. 

 Each neighbourhood in Arrowsmith has its own unique flavour, and the recreation team is still getting to know the Meadowood community. On a quest to better understand what Meadowood residents are searching for in terms of recreation, ACRA’s recreation team put together a short survey. The survey was accessible on the ACRA website and was advertised through ACRA’s social media, the Lighthouse Community Hall newsletter, and the Meadowood neighbourhood group. It included questions about demographics, ideal time of day/week for programs, areas of interest, and barriers to access. The survey received submissions from forty-nine households. The results were helpful in identifying what types of programs people were interested in as well as when people would like to see programs offered. The recreation team is excited to take action in 2025.