Calling all local children ages 9-12. The Active Play Program aimed at getting kids outside will run again in Grande Prairie next summer. Dave Barr Community Centre Programming and Events Supervisor Hayley Kramps sends volunteers out to parks in the area to encourage children to play and meet others their age.
“We send two leaders to different locations throughout the city… They bring a whole bunch of different materials such as different balls, chalk, skipping ropes and they inspire spontaneous play with kids.”
The free program started this summer as a pilot project. Morning and afternoon sessions were run from Tuesday to Thursday and were targeted towards ages six to 12.
At its busiest session near the end of the summer, 44 children participated. Kramps says the program was created to give children an alternative to staying home in the summer while their parents are at work.
“It gets them outside, it gets them with trusted leaders that will show them how to play and they’ll introduce them to other kids in their neighbourhood. Then once Active Play moves out of their neighbourhood they’ve got friends in their neighbourhood that they can go and play with.”
Looking ahead to next year, Kramps plans to host afternoon play sessions Monday to Friday geared towards children ages nine to 12.
It will run from the beginning of July to the end of August 2019. A full list of locations will be released closer to the start date.
