ALSO INSIDE:
• Making a Splash in Aquatics
• #HeresWhatsHappening
President
Jessica Campbell
City of Aiken
President Elect
Katherine Jones
Lancaster County
Vice President
Jon Woodsby
Spartanburg County
ELM Branch
Kim Moultrie City of Spartanburg
PRM Branch
Josh Blackstone Charleston County
Secretary
Megan Young
City of Greenville
Treasurer
Michael Bradley
Charleston County
Past President
Dustin Jordan
City of Myrtle Beach
Central VP
Brian Jones
City of Rock Hill
Programming Open
SCAP Branch
Nathan Dawsey Florence County
Student Branch
Kevin Lynch City of Rock Hill
Executive Director
James E. Headley jim@scrpa.org
Eastern VP
Ryan Caputo
City of Myrtle Beach
Southern VP
Nicole Murray
City of Goose Creek
Western VP
Daniel Halliman
City of Spartanburg
SC PRT
Representative
Matt Elswick
South Carolina
Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism
Membership Services Coordinator
Melissa Williams
melissa@scrpa.org
CHAIR
Kristen Guilfoos
Spartanburg County
VICE CHAIR
Alison Cribb
City of Aiken
CENTRAL REPS
Randy Duteau
City of North Augusta
Gretchen Haskett
City of Newberry
Samantha Green
City of Clover
EASTERN REPS
Erin O’Hagan
City of Myrtle Beach
Lauren Wolf
City of Myrtle Beach
Samantha Green City of Clover
SOUTHERN REPS
Megan Boisvert
City of North Charleston
Pam Zanowski
Dorchester County
South Carolina Recreation & Parks Association
P.O. Box 1046, Lexington, SC 29071 (p) 803-808-7753
www.scrpa.org • info@scrpa.org
To advertise in the magazine, contact Todd Pernsteiner: todd@pernsteiner.com or (952) 841-1111.
by Jessica Campbell, SCRPA President & Jim Headley, SCRPA Executive Director
It’s Christmas in July for Parks and Rec professionals. For some agencies, it means the gift of a new fiscal year budget! While of you are well into summer camp and aquatics programming, the behind-the-scenes planning of our favorite holiday events are happening simultaneously. I applaud the Marketing Committee for providing insight this summer to help spur some creative ideas for programmers gearing up for the winter season. Read through the articles in this issue for all of your Christmas (planning) in July!
Our branches have done a great job with their institutes. The Sports Management Institute will be moved to January, our Parks Maintenance Institute Part 2 will be in fall. We will also be
hosting the Certified Playground Safety Inspector Course and Exam in October.
We continue to work with our SC Congressional Delegation to have options to expand Recreational Trails Program. At the statehouse, we have worked feverishly to represent our membership on various issues. We will be sending a report to all directors and the ELM branch with an update in mid-May after the session has ended.
With that, let’s look ahead at the great things the Board of Directors has underway. This month we will be finalizing our strategic framework, which outline plans to achieve future goals and uphold the overall vision of the Association. Our Senior
Virtual Education Sessions - Visit www.scrpa.org for details.
Carolinas Joint Conference
December 11-13, 2023, Wilmington, NC
For more details and to register for upcoming SCRPA events, visit www.scrpa.org/events.
Beach Retreat will be held again in Myrtle Beach at the Double Tree October 9-11. Please be on the lookout for that information. On October 19th we will hold the annual SCRPA Golf Tournament at LinRic Golf Course in Columbia, and December 11th -14th our joint-conference with NC returns! We will be in Wilmington, NC. These are just some of the highlights of upcoming events and activities. Please make sure to be checking Snapshots for updated meetings and information.
The calendar is full of workshops and district meetings, and we hope you find a way to connect with your peers in a meaningful way.
- Jessica & Jim
Fall 2023
Winter 2023
Deadline: June 18, 2023
Deadline: September 15, 2023
Spring 2024 ...................................
Deadline: January 4, 2024
Summer 2024 Deadline: April 16, 2024
To advertise, contact Todd Pernsteiner at todd@pernsteiner.com or 952-841-1111.
Things were hopping at Myrtle Beach’s annual Easter Egg Plunge. More than 120 children enjoyed hunting for eggs in the swimming pool at Mary C. Canty Recreation Center. They were grouped by age, from three to 12, with the youngest accompanied by their parents. They jumped and dove to collect eggs – and practice their swimming skills – then traded the eggs for “bunny bucks,” which they used for candy and treats. Kids played games, made crafts and more before and after the aquatic attraction. The free event included a chance to see and sit in a Myrtle Beach Fire Truck and learn about water safety from the Myrtle Beach Police Department.
City of Aiken Tourism Supervisor, Casey Lozon prepares to hand out Aiken Maps and Visitor Guides at the Aiken Municipal Airport during Masters Week. Masters Week is the busiest week of the year for the airport. It is a great time to let visitors know what’s going on in Aiken. City of Aiken Facilities Assistant, Talan Anderson greets a guest during Masters week at the Aiken Municipal Airport. Many guests use the Aiken Airport for the privacy and ease of movement.
The City of North Myrtle Beach Parks & Recreation hosts a Touch A Truck event every April that offers kids of all ages an opportunity to climb, learn and discover! This free event provides a hands-on opportunity to explore larger-than-life vehicles like fire trucks, law enforcement vehicles, construction equipment, race cars and much more! Many civic groups are on site offering unique experiences for the children to grow and learn while having fun.
AGENCIES: SUBMIT YOUR UPDATES!
Submit a brief for a future issue of SCRPA magazine. Send your text (70 words or less) plus up to three high resolution photos to: Kristen Guilfoos at kguilfoos@spartanburgcounty.org.
As the old saying goes, ‘Tis the season to wear shorts and plan for Christmas activities… or something like that. There are so many amazing holiday events that parks departments across the state put on every December, so we thought by sharing them now, it would give you plenty of time to learn something from others’ successes and implement new ideas this upcoming holiday season.
We Wish You a Merry Christmas in July (or whenever you get a free minute to read this issue)!
By Megan Boisvert, North Charleston Parks & Recreation
There is no shortage of holiday cheer being spread by the staff of the North Charleston Recreation Department during December. The staff spends most of the month doubling as Christmas elves, hosting various events and programs for the community. The holiday season kicks off with the city’s Christmas Festival and Parade, followed by Cookies & Cocoa, Santa events at the Aquatic Center, Senior Holiday Bingo, holiday luncheons, activities during our afterschool programs and so much more! Although the department loves all these events, there is one that really makes our spirits bright and hearts warm!
The Kickin’ with Claus Inclusive Kickball game, is a holiday special that is offered as part of our therapeutic recreation programming. The event is hosted annually at the North Charleston Convention Center and includes students from various local high schools and young adults from group care facilities. At the 2022 event the department hosted 100 kickball players from North Charleston High School, West Ashley High School, and Healing Farms Group Facility. This program is an opportunity for all the City of North Charleston Staff to engage with the community, many members from the Police and Fire Department look forward to playing kickball.
This program is an opportunity for all the City of North Charleston Staff to engage with the community, many members from the Police and Fire Department look forward to playing kickball.
During the event teams, went head-to-head in a kickball showdown, while Santa floated around and interacted with the participants. Following the Kickball games teams were able to enjoy pizza together. This model of engaging with Santa allowed him to spend extra time with individuals that use communication devices and have a more personalized interaction with each person. It also allowed participants the freedom to engage with Santa on their own terms throughout the event. There was never pressure for any of the participants to engage or take pictures with Santa if they were not comfortable doing so.
“We are very appreciative of the Santa who helped facilitate a meaningful experience for everyone with patience and holiday cheer!” says Deputy Director, Kathy Kackley. At this year’s event we had a family attend that has never successfully been able to take a picture with Santa. Throughout the event these participants were able to get more comfortable engaging with Santa, which allowed them to capture that perfect moment on film. It’s the little moments like these that help remind our staff, what Christmas Spirit is really all about! n
All aboard!
Myrtle Beach’s Polar Express is a free, annual event held at the Historic Myrtle Beach Train Depot at Christmastime. Thousands of kids, parents, grandparents and friends gather to enjoy snacks, games, a holiday storytime and an outdoor screening of the movie The Polar Express
“The Polar Express is our holiday kick-off event of the season. We are fortunate to have a unique, historical building that coincides perfectly with the movie. It’s a wonderful way to bring about tradition and invite families to enjoy the holidays with our community,” said event coordinator, Adreanna Wilson.
The Polar Express comes to town with a family-friendly train ride around the campus, giving the event the magical feel of Christmas. The scene is filled with yuletide cheer, as children meet Santa Claus and sip on hot chocolate while enjoying the festivities.
The City of Myrtle Beach offers a “sensory friendly” portion an hour before the main event. It includes low music, dimmed lights and a more controlled atmosphere, appealing to children of all abilities.
Local vendors are a big part of this event’s success, creating a sense of community support. This December will be the third consecutive Polar Express in Myrtle Beach, with each year more successful than the last! n
Polar Express is our holiday kick-off event of the season. We are fortunate to have a unique, historical building that coincides perfectly with the movie.
The
We had the sweetest celebration with Santa as our first holiday gathering in the post-Covid era. Donuts with Santa at the Woodruff Leisure Center was a big hit!
For five dollars a person, participants came in their pajamas (staff also dressed up in their pajamas) and enjoyed a morning of Christmas fun. Each guest enjoyed a Krispy Kreme donut, as well as a make-your-own hot chocolate bar with all sorts of toppings like mini chocolate chips, crushed peppermint, mini marshmallows and of course whipped cream! We also included gluten free options of all the toppings
and gluten free donuts, as we had a few people with gluten allergies and didn’t want them to have to miss out on any fun.
We had 3 stations (each in different rooms within the community center) for guests to move through freely so there was room for everyone to enjoy and not feel crowded or rushed. The gym was packed with carnival style games, some of which we made ourselves to stay on theme with donuts. One station was the craft room where each guest got to make their own ornament to take home. We used clear ornaments which they were able to fill with glitter, pompoms, stickers,
and other small Christmas theme items. The last room was the Santa station. The Santa we had loves to sing, so we gave the guests the option to karaoke with him. We had a full photo shoot, so kids (and adults) could take their picture with Santa.
Guests had a chance to win some holiday prizes during the event as well. They could earn a raffle ticket by bringing in a new unwrapped toy that we donated to children in need. It was a great morning filled with lots of smiles, laughs and family fun. n
Spartanburg County’s Sensory Santa program began in the fall of 2021, and since its inception, has continued to grow. Christmas season was approaching and the Spartanburg County Parks team sat there and asked one simple question: “Are there any people in our community we aren’t serving this holiday season? Is there anyone missing out?” There are traditional holiday events: Santa in every mall, toy drives, food drives, caroling, school concerts, cookie decorating, clothing drives, and so much more. When we asked ourselves the “what’s missing?” question, Sensory Santa was born.
Sensory-Friendly Visits with Santa is held each year at the Lake Cooley Outdoor Recreation Center. The Christmas season is known for bright lights, music and commotion. While many find joy in the holiday hustle and bustle, it can become disheartening for families who have children with special
needs, who are often unable to participate in traditional experiences. This program was unlike anything offered in the region at that time. In fact, families drove from North Carolina and Charleston just to attend that first year. Each family gets a 15-minute one-on-one meet and greet with Santa. There’s no music, no flashing lights, no crowds and no pressure. With a population that often feels secluded, this event is designed so the entire family can enjoy the experience, which includes family photos so they can build memories together that will last a lifetime. Santa sits on a bench, with plenty of room next to him if children aren’t comfortable sitting so close together. Families also partake in some holiday snacks, with allergy friendly options such as dairy and gluten free hot chocolate and gluten free cookies and candies. If families arrive early, there are sensory-friendly activities and crafts in a separate space. This helps to ensure a special experience with Santa where no personal visit time would be interrupted or turned into a high-pressure situation.
We don’t dictate what special needs means when it comes to this event. It may be a family with a child on the spectrum, a family with foster children who have been exposed to trauma and leery about how they would do in large crowds, or a newborn just released from the hospital from major heart surgery and can’t be exposed to germs in large crowds. The experience may not be quantifiable. However, the experience is one that no one will ever forget, as demonstrated in the overwhelmingly positive feedback we’ve received:
“This is the first family photo in many years! Thank you!”
“So laid-back and lowkey, but at the same time very thought out, which was exactly what our kids need.”
“This was an amazing experience for our family!”
We can’t wait to do it all over again in December 2023! n
“This is the first family photo in many years! Thank you!”
- Sensory Santa participant
The City of Aiken PRT Department puts together a collective effort to offer a charming holiday season for all. We promote the time of year as “Aiken is Magical”.
It’s all starts with a Farmers Market Christmas Craft Show on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Being that it is low season for produce, we open available tables for craft vendors. Each year brings approximately 35 artisan crafters alongside the regular market vendors. This event is followed by our annual Christmas Craft Show, over 50 years running. This indoor/outdoor show is held at our largest activity center and park. Featuring over 125 exhibitors from across the Southeast, the two-day event brings in nearly 5,000 shoppers.
A family favorite event is Polar Express Movie Night, where kids dress in their festive pajamas and snack on popcorn while watching the motion picture The Polar Express, held at PRT’s Performing Arts Center. Just as popular is Breakfast and a Book with The Clauses. Held at our Senior & Youth Center, children enjoy a fun filled morning of breakfast, crafts, and story time with Ms. Claus, and then Santa makes his appearance to hear everyone’s Christmas wishes.
Like many other agencies, Aiken PRT sponsors a community tree lighting in early December. However, our tree is quite unique! The spectacular 24-foot tree has 8,000 flashing lights that dance in patterns synchronized
to favorite holiday tunes. This event is held in conjunction with the local Downtown Development Association and brings in support of the local business. The tree lighting also features musical performances, a speech from the Mayor, a visit from Santa Claus, and an abundance of people enjoying the start of the holiday season together in downtown Aiken. For a more traditional tree lighting, we offer the Festival of Trees. Held at our Visitors Center and Train Museum, a dozen local organizations participate by decorating trees to put on display. The festival kicks off with a tree lighting event, and locals and tourist can vote for their favorite display throughout the month. The Visitors Center becomes full of holiday cheer, and all the work is done by our partners who decorate the trees.
Hopelands Gardens is a 24-acre public garden located just outside downtown. Each December, for 12 or more consecutive nights, we transform the gardens to a beautiful holiday wonderland. Featuring two miles of lighted pathways and displays of over 100,000 twinkling lights, live music, fresh baked cookies, hot chocolate, crafts for kids and visits with Santa all free of
along with support of over 200 volunteers to assist in implementation of installing lights, serving refreshments, shuttling in guests and more! The event has grown tremendously since its beginning in 1991, with an amazing record attendance of 21,491 in 2017, and our most attended night to date of 4,589 spectators in 2019.
A few years ago we needed to decorate the three palm trees we had planted in front of our new house for Christmas.
We bought string lights and wrapped them around the trunks. We stood back and said, “Well, they look as good as any tree we have ever seen wrapped with strings of lights, but something was missing.” We were also putting away some tomato cages and I got an idea! I thought if I turn the cages upside down, place one inside the other to make it more full, cut the lower rings out, then bend the eight legs down to look like palm tree fronds, cut sections out of the remaining rings between a couple of the former legs so it can be placed on the trunk. We then zip-tied LED lights onto the wire fronds and zip-tied the whole thing to the trunk just above the trunk lights. It looked awesome! It was a huge hit in my neighborhood.
That is how the Palm Tree Topper was born. It is no longer tomato cages but a refined product specific to this purpose and a platform for a product line. We also created the Light Blanket to make it easier to illuminate the trunk. You no longer wrap lights around the trunk, you simply tie the Light Blanket to the trunk to illuminate it.
We also designed a way for it to be easily assembled and disassembled for storage, selling and shipping – Fast-Safe-Easy!
Tree Toppers help you create a magical wonderland of lights!
The Palm Tree Topper is now in the final stages of the utility patent process and is officially patent pending. We’ve had the first run of second stage prototypes manufactured. For the lead product in this product line we use RGB LED lighting that is remote controlled with either a controller, a remote, or an app on your phone.
The product can be used yearround by simply changing the colors and glow patterns. Select from many different colors as well as flashing, chasing, strobe, and more. Choose colors based on the time of year:
• multicolored or white for Christmas
• red, white and blue for patriotic holidays
• purple, white and gold for Easter
• dark blue to honor law enforcement and the Navy
• light blue for the Air Force
• green to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day or the U.S. Army
• red for Valentine’s Day or to celebrate the Marines
• purple, orange and green for Halloween. You can also select school colors for the big game or graduation.
The combinations and options are endless.
Light Blankets are available in 9’, 6’, and 3’ heights in 40” widths. Everything interconnects with rainproof connectors. Both the Palm Tree Topper and Light Blanket work together with the same transformer, controller, and remote supporting multiples of both. The Palm Tree Topper can be used with your trunk lighting and the Light Blanket can be used without a Palm Tree Topper. We also have a version that is static with one color (white), multicolored or red-white-blue created specifically for municipalities and other government organizations. We can also assist with custom orders in your choice of colors. It is the evolution of Christmas lights into celebration illumination so they can be used for holidays throughout the year.
Products are sold online and are perfect for parks and recreation departments, states, counties, and towns as well as restaurants, hotels and other businesses.
Order now for late summer delivery! Contact Buck Jones for information and demonstrations at 803-261-2262 or buckjonessc@gmail.com. Learn more at www.letslightitup.online.
We also have an agricultural application built on the same patent pending platform designed to help protect palms and other plants from cold shock. The Palm Tree Hugger and Heavy Light Blanket use incandescent lights to generate warmth. We also sell a fireproof and waterproof fabric wrap called the Palm Tree Comforter. Fireproof to protect itself from burning when it comes in contact with the incandescent light bulbs, and waterproof to help protect the incandescent lights from rain.
By Jon Whitbeck, Mount Pleasant Recreation Department
Who is thinking about the holidays in this summer heat?
Recreation professionals! Planning far in advance is necessary for all facets of recreation department management, and holiday events are no exception. Christmas in July has a whole new meaning for staff involved with community-wide holiday planning.
Winter holidays are a joyful time for many, and the Mount Pleasant Recreation Department (MPRD) does its part to ensure plenty of merriment with two major events that draw huge crowds: the Mount Pleasant Christmas Light Parade and the Holiday Market. The town’s grandest event is the Mount Pleasant Christmas Light Parade on the second Sunday every December. Around 100 local community organizations and companies march up West Coleman Boulevard in brilliantly lit fashion, riding on unique floats and marching in creatively illuminated groups, to the delight of an estimated twenty to thirty thousand residents and visitors.
The record-setting state championship Wando High School band has kicked off the parade for many years along with the Mayor, Town Councilors and other dignitaries. Grand Marshals have included such notable community members as Senator Tim Scott, the late Thomasena Stokes-Marshal, Lucy Beckham and Julian Smith, local celebrity meteorologist Rob Fowler, and Middleton Foundation’s Elliot Middleton. Legislators and most of the local media outlets join in the lineup.
The event has been live streamed with Ric Rush from “the Christmas station,” Y102.5 FM, and iHeart Radio’s Kelly Golden along with other special guest co-hosts.
For nearly 30 years, the parade has fostered a strong sense of community pride, with many floats created and sponsored by local businesses, nonprofit organizations, and schools who use the occasion as a “team building” morale boost. It provides an opportunity for those groups to come together to celebrate the season and showcase their creativity and talent. Additionally, the parade itself offers residents a variety of volunteer opportunities, giving even more people a chance to get involved and contribute to the festivities.
Another major winter event organized by MPRD is the Holiday Market, held at the town’s Farmers Market Pavilion on the grounds of a local middle school on Coleman Boulevard. A tradition for 25 years, the Holiday Market attracts about 5,000 shoppers. Each year, around 100 vendors offer a variety of items including jewelry, home décor, leather goods, forged iron products, stained glass, local sweetgrass baskets, and much more.
The Holiday Market provides many benefits to the greater community. Buying from the event supports small businesses and local artisans who produce unique items made with care. Shoppers can meet the artists and crafters behind the products. Often vendors share their creative processes, giving shoppers an appreciation for the care invested into their items. This personal connection can add a special meaning to gift-giving, adding to the spirit of the holidays. The Holiday Market can also ignite a creative spark in attendees looking for DIY ideas.
Both events bring our community together to celebrate the season, in light, song, dance, and craft. MPRD never stops getting ready for the holidays, and we bet many of you don’t either. n
A tradition for 25 years, the Holiday Market attracts about 5,000 shoppers.
Rock Hill’s annual ChristmasVille festival features over 70 events and activities including horsedrawn carriage rides, historic tours, workshops, art, music, shopping, a gingerbread house contest, ice skating and fun with Santa. Many events and activities are free, thanks to festival and event sponsors.
Held the first weekend in December, this fourday festival celebrates the whimsical art of Vernon Grant with festive decorations, Santa images and gnomes. Grant, Rock Hill’s adopted son, was a well-known children’s illustrator and artist of the famed Kellogg’s ® Rice Krispies Snap! ® Crackle! ® Pop! ®
ChristmasVille is supported by sponsors and community volunteers, with the City of Rock Hill providing numerous services and staff support. For example, Rock Hill Parks, Recreation & Tourism (PRT) sets the scene and transforms the downtown district, known as Old Town, into a charming, picturesque holiday village. This effort takes planning with the actual transformation beginning weeks prior to the festival. Throughout the festival, PRT handles equipment set-ups and breakdowns, servicing of trash and recycling containers and other needs. Police, Public Works and other city departments also contribute to the festival.
Several festival events and activities are programmed by PRT. Deck the Hall is an outdoor sing-along with performances by children’s groups and includes our mayor reading “Twas the Night Before Christmas.” This is held outside City Hall in the Old Town Amphitheater.
The Rock Hill Christmas Parade is a nighttime, lighted parade with 80-90 community and business entries coordinated by PRT with volunteers from Winthrop University and others. The fan favorite is of course, Santa Claus, who rides and sings on a custom float at the end of the parade. Yes, he sings! Santa Tony is quite the character, even when not in “Santa mode.” A little-known fact is his connection with PRT -he was an employee at Cherry Park during the
1980’s.
Rock Hill’s historic Glencairn Garden is the setting for A Story with Santa in the Garden. PRT staff offer craft activities, hot cocoa and cookies and after Santa reads Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer, children can visit with him as parents take photos. It’s a fun free event!
In 2022, a new ChristmasVille event debuted, based on a holiday activity that PRT has offered at the City’s inclusive park, Miracle Park. The
goal of Sensory Sensitive Santa is to provide a modified festival experience to those who can be anxious and overwhelmed by large crowds and overstimulated by the variety of sights, sounds and aromas found at festivals.
The 3-hour event was held on Sunday at a local coffee shop, prior to the shop’s opening. Pre-registration was required to limit the wait times and participants. Sensory stations were positioned throughout the space for hand-on activities similar to Santa’s Workshop, one of the festival’s most popular events. The stations
offered exploration with items to touch, taste, smell, see and hear. Participants could also visit with Santa at their level of comfort.
ChristmasVille has been recognized with several awards, including four awards from the Southeast Festival and Events Association at their 2023 meeting. To borrow a saying, “it
takes a Christmas village” to plan and execute such a large-scale event. Since the festival’s inception, the PRT department has been a key player alongside other City departments and numerous sponsors and volunteers. PRT looks forward to many ChristmasVille’s to come.
ChristmasVille 2023 will be held Thursday, November 30 - Sunday, December 3. n
Fall 2023 Magazine & Buyer’s Guide
Deadline: June 18, 2023
Winter 2023 Magazine
Deadline: September 15, 2023
Agencies: Articles in SCRPA’s SOUTH CAROLINA magazine is a great way to get exposure for your agency and staff. Email articles to:
Commercial Members: SC magazine gets you in front of key decision-makers for as little as $400 per issue. No other advertising gets you so directly targeted right to your customer or potential customer! Learn more at www.bit.ly/SCRPA2023
MULTI-ISSUE, VALUE-ADDED PACKAGES NOW AVAILABLE. Contact our publisher, Todd Pernsteiner, for more information: Email: todd@pernsteiner.com | Phone: (952) 841-1111.
Spring 2024 Magazine
Deadline: January 22, 2024
Summer 2024 Magazine
Deadline: April 16, 2024
Calling all gingerbread house builders! The City of Greer’s Cultural Arts Division organizes a gingerbread house competition each year at the Center for the Arts. Entries are submitted the week after Thanksgiving and are on display for public viewing during gallery hours.
Entries are divided into three categories: Adult (Age 16+), Youth (Ages 5-15), and Family/ Group (any size and age combination). Prizes are awarded to the top three submissions in each category. Prize amounts start at $20 and go up to the Grand Prize of $200.
Category winners are announced at the Gingerbread Jamboree event, which also includes live music and a visit from Santa. All entries remain on display for the next week.
Each year, the City of Greer hosts the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Greer City Park. The event kicks off a weekend full of events. While attendees wait for the countdown to light the tree, the park is filled with performances, free crafts, activities, roaming carolers, and a s’mores station.
Back again for the second year was a live ice sculpting demonstration. Attendees gathered at the amphitheater to watch the wonder of a block of ice being formed into a sleigh with gifts. “The holidays are all about creating magical moments,” Events Supervisor Robbie Davis said. “What better way to add some extra excitement to our Christmas Tree Lighting than with a mesmerizing ice sculpting demonstration on the big stage?”
While attendees wait for the countdown to light the tree, the park is filled with performances, free crafts, activities, roaming carolers, and a s’mores station.
The demonstration was not only entertaining, but also educational. The sculptor explained the process step-by-step, which tools to use, and the importance of proper safety gear. Upon completion, the sculpture provided a great photo opportunity for families. “We partnered with Ice Age of Greenville, a renowned ice sculpting company, knowing they would deliver a top-notch performance. The interactive experience of getting sprayed with ice and water added an element of fun and surprise for our audience, making it a truly unforgettable event,” Davis said.
Included in the weekend event line-up is Breakfast with Santa, which provides an opportunity for the community to make festive crafts, enjoy a meal from a local restaurant, and spend time with Santa and get a professional picture taken. The event is divided into three, one hour sessions to allow for more opportunities to enjoy the event and allows families to choose a timeframe that works best for them.
City of Greer employees and their families can enjoy crafts and dinner at Supper with Santa, which takes place in conjunction with the Tree Lighting Ceremony. All proceeds from ticket sales goes to Cops for Tots, a program that helps supply presents to underprivileged families. Cops for Tots is an annual program organized by the Greer Police Department. n
Learning how to swim is something many may take for granted, but it’s a critical life skill that offers many rewards, and the best time to learn is at a young age. The Mount Pleasant Recreation Department has provided kindergarten and first grade classes at six area schools with an introduction to swimming and water safety through the W.A.T.E.R. program (Weaving Aquatic Training with Education and Recreation) for more than 15 years. The benefits of swimming are many, from healthy bodies to enjoyable opportunities to life safety in the Lowcountry’s numerous bodies of water. MPRD Aquatics proudly offers instruction that allows children to become stronger swimmers and stay safe while doing so.
Each school class receives eight 30-minute swim lessons over a two-week span for a total cost of $5 per student. Depending on the school location, instruction takes place at either the R.L. Jones Center or the Park West Pool. The program serves students from the following elementary schools: Belle Hall, James B. Edwards, Mamie Whitesides, Charles Pinkney, Jennie Moore, Carolina Park, and Laurel Hill Primary. Instructors bring years of experience and earn certification by The Starfish Aquatic Institute. “Our students learn water safety in such a fun and dynamic setting! This is such a great program for our community,” explained a Laurel Hill Elementary School educator.
Three to five swim instructors teach two hours’ worth of lessons to well over 500 students during each season. The results of the program are powerful and heartwarming. On the first day, children are evaluated for appropriate placement in swim groups based on skill level. By the last day, the young swimmers all display tremendous improvements over the short timeframe of instruction. At the end of the program, teachers and parents watch swimmers demonstrate what they’ve learned over the two-week period. Children beam with broad smiles, accepting certificates of completion and posing for photos. Teachers and parents are always pleased with
the progress they’ve seen, sharing compliments to children and gratitude to instructors.
“It was amazing to see the progression of the children in just two weeks!” said a Carolina Park Elementary School faculty member.
Students learn about water safety, proper entry, floating, gliding, stroke development and so much more. Some program participants who decide to attend MPRD summer camps are able to pass their required swim tests, allowing them to swim both the deep and shallow ends of the pool. The young swimmers gain self-confidence with their accomplishments and their ability to demonstrate their skills, and parents gain peace of mind. Those that attend MPRD camps or sign up for swim lessons enjoy seeing the same instructors and staff from the W.A.T.E.R. program. Continuity allows them to quickly connect and feel comfortable trying new things.
Swimming provides a critical skill used throughout life when going to the pool, beach, or other enjoyable Lowcountry activities like boating, kayaking, surfing, water skiing, tubing, or sailing. MPRD Aquatics supports the growth of the Town’s young swimmers and we hope it leads to years of safe, healthy exercise, leisure, and maybe even some future swim instructors or lifeguards.
It is hard to believe that only four years ago the small rural town of Hollywood, SC had no access to a public pool to recreate and/or learn how to swim. Well, the tides have changed. In 2019 Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission (CCPRC) built the West County Aquatic Center and opened the Genesis Pool, named in honor of a 14-year-old Hollywood boy who had tragically drowned a few years earlier. Since that time the aquatic programming at this facility has grown from offering basic swim lessons, aquatic fitness programs, and a swim club to the formation of their very first competitive swim team!
The West County Wahoos swim team will represent the West County Aquatic Center at their very first swim competition this summer organized by the Coastal Carolina Aquatic Association. Swimmers ages 5-18 will train hard to compete at six CCAA-sanctioned meets from June 1–27 and then head to the championship City Meet to be held July 8-9 at the North Charleston Aquatic Center.
CCPRC Fitness and Wellness Manager Allison Foster explained “the swim team is the natural progression of WCAC efforts, providing a platform for area youth to showcase their swim skills and gain valuable life experiences through hard work, discipline, patience, perseverance and teamwork.”
The Charleston County Parks Foundation’s, Genesis Swim Safety Fund provides the funding for the West County Wahoos swim team and other swim safety programs at the aquatic center. The fund was established to reduce the number of drownings and equip people with the knowledge and skills to be safe in the water.
As the new West County Wahoos swim team embarks on these new uncharted waters, the hope is other youth will be inspired to learn how to swim, maybe join the Wahoos swim team, and possibly cultivate a lifelong passion for swimming.” Go Wahoos!
• Restore old, damaged courts to make them like-new again.
• Sport Courts offer a longer life/warranty than acrylic paint surfaces.
• Convert unused tennis courts into multi-sport courts to attract new users.
• Help keep residents safe - Sport Court technology absorbs shock, lessening impact and risk of injuries.
To learn more visit sportcourtcarolina.com or call 704-239-4900.
Carolina
By Erin O’Hagan, City of Myrtle Beach
To start every summer, four days of free swim lessons are offered to anyone in the community at Myrtle Beach’s Mary C. Canty Recreation Center.
As long as their at least 5 years old, participants jump into the shallow end of the pool with a certified American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor to learn the basics of water safety. It’s called “Splash Without Cash,” to emphasize that it’s free. This program is important to the city’s Aquatics division because so many public activities at the beach revolve around water. 85% of Americans say they can swim, but only about half of can complete all of the basic lifesaving skills needed to be safe in the water.
The main purpose of these free swim lessons is to provide those skills. Even if you aren’t on the beach regularly, you might still find yourself enjoying outdoor water activities at the neighborhood pool, on a lake or in a local river.
The lessons include: stepping or jumping into water that’s over the swimmer’s head, returning to the surface and floating or treading water for one minute, turning around in a full circle to find an exit, swimming 25 yards to the exit without stopping, and safely exiting from the water – all completed without a lifejacket.
To cover as many scenarios as possible, swim instructors teach safety habits such as playing or swimming with a buddy, looking before
jumping into any body of water, recognizing when someone is in trouble and how to find help.
Splash Without Cash also explains when and where it is appropriate to wear lifejackets, along with reminders about wearing sunscreen and finding shade to play in on hot days.
While kids are in the pool learning lifesaving skills, their adults are learning a few things, too. The City of Myrtle Beach recently added a requirement that adults whose kids are attending swim lessons must come to one session of a community CPR demonstration. Three out of the four lesson days, adults are welcome to watch their young ones from the viewing area. However, one day while the kids are in class, the adults are attending a CPR demonstration with a City of Myrtle Beach CPR/AED/First Aid Instructor. These demonstrations will not certify the adults a certification, but with the requirement the goal is to expose as many members of the community as possible to the basics of CPR. They will be better prepared for an emergency.
The hope is that this minimal demonstration encourages parents and guardians to sign up for an American Red Cross CPR/AED/ First Aid certification course in the future. The more people who know how to help in an emergency, the safer everyone will be in Myrtle Beach.
The North Charleston Aquatic Center was constructed with the vision of providing widespread aquatic programming and competitive swimming to the area. Dorchester School District 2 (DD2) shared that vision and in partnership with them, the North Charleston Aquatic Center was brought to life. This 53,000 square foot, state of the art facility has been designed to host an array of competitive and recreational aquatics programs. Since opening its doors in July 2020, the Aquatic Center has been the host of hundreds of swim meets and various programs, including water aerobics, dive training, water polo, special events and of course, swimming lessons!
Through the partnership with Dorchester School District 2, the department was provided a unique opportunity to teach swimming lessons to every second grader as a portion of their school
curriculum. This programs aims provide equal access to water safety and swimming instruction for all children. Being able to provide these lessons as a portion of their school day, gives children of all backgrounds the same access to knowledge and resource. It also eliminates the barriers and struggles the families face to provide swimming lessons to their children outside of school hours.
Due to COVID-19, this program was initially put on hold but has since been able to resume for the 2022-2023 school year. This year, the Aquatics Center hosted students from fifteen elementary schools over the span of twenty-four weeks, which totals over 1,500 students.
Throughout the school year, each student received four 30-minute group lessons. During these lessons the students are taught basic safety
techniques such as, entering the water feet first, kicking streamline, floating on their back, the different types of swim strokes and more water safety tips. Through the help of instructors from a local swim lesson company, Lowcountry Swim School, the department has been able to add additional instructors each week to supplement our staff and ensure each student received quality lessons.
This program has helped students learn to be comfortable in the water and foster a love of swimming. Many of the students who participated in this program have since signed up for additional lessons, joined swim teams, or visited the pool for family swim time. The North Charleston Aquatic Center is proud of everything these students have learned and can’t wait to welcome a new set of second graders next year!
