District of Clearwater has a new community recreation/healthy living coordinator.
“I definitely have same big shoes to fill, with Christine leaving the community,” said Eleanor Collins, referring to Christine Parsons, the former coordinator.
“I’d like to build in the foundation she set. It is fun and I’m excited to bring the program to the community.”
Collins started on her new job the first week of June and already has made a splash - several of them, in fact.
An initial session on standup paddle-boarding with instructor Suzanne Foster was sold out and people had to be turned away.
More sessions, for both adults and for kids, are scheduled for Aug. 14.
Next big item on the recreation agenda will be EZ-play tennis sessions at Rotary Sports Park on Tuesday.
The 1-1/2 hour sessions will begin at 11 a.m. for kids from eight to 11, at 12:30 for those between the ages of 12 - 15, and at 2:30 for beginner to intermediate players over 16 years old.
Instructor Brock Shea from Kamloops comes highly recommended, said Collins.
Cost is just $15 for each session.
Also coming up at Rotary Sports Park is the Variety Sports Camp for kids six - 12 years old.
This will take place the week of Aug. 20 - 27, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., with instructors Tori Barstow and Graham Jones. Each day will feature a quick, basic lesson on a different sport: floor hockey, soccer, tennis, basketball and volleyball. That’s five days of fun for only $100.
Craig Hewlett will instruct family canoe lessons at Dutch Lake on two Tuesdays, Aug. 21 and 28. Times will be 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Cost will be $40 per family for the two sessions.
Zumba is ongoing through the summer until Aug. 15 at the Sportsplex. Collins is the instructor for the Latin dance-inspired fitness craze. Times are Wednesdays, 6 - 7 p.m. Drop-in fees are only $8.
Fall programs on the way
Community recreation activities won’t cool off when fall weather arrives, according to Collins.
A retired resident of Chase who has family ties to Clearwater has volunteered to put on monthly tennis workshops, she said.
Group fitness activities will include resistance training, yoga, tai chi, boot camp and Zumba.
Also on the agenda will be community volleyball, walk-fit, learn to run, ballet for tots, and hiking (too many local residents don’t know the local trails, she said).
Chris Martin is keen to help organize a mountain bike group. This will primarily be targeted at teen boys but would be open to all ages.
Healthy living programs will include having a nutritionist from the Kamloops Blazers hockey team come to Clearwater to do a grocery store tour and a healthy cooking session. Also planned is a healthy cooking workshop for kids.
Other workshops will focus on diabetes prevention and treatment, as well as heart health.