DIRECTION - March 2011

MARCH 2011 | VOLUME 2 | NUMBER 1

S A S K AT C H E W A N PA R K S A N D R E C R E AT I O N A S S O C I AT I O N

SPRING AND SUMMER PROGRAMMING

How to Keep Your Community Coming Back for More!

JUNE 2010

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MARCH 2011 | VOLUME 2 | NUMBER 1

SPRA BOARD OF DIRECTORS President Darrell Lessmeister

Director for Villages Clive Craig

Director at Large Mimi Lodoen

Director for Cities Jasmine Jackman

Director at Large Corrine Galarneau

Director at Large Mike Powell

Director for Towns Mike Schwean

Director at Large Clint McConnell

Director for the North Sandy Rediron

Chief Executive Officer Norm Campbell

Physical Activity and Fitness Wendy McKellar

Administrative Assistant I Amanda Rieger

Program Manager John Firnesz

Aboriginal Support Tim Haywahe

Corporate Services Manager Randy Durovick

Leadership and Evaluation Karen Thompson

Half-Time Administrative Assistant I Donna Matheson

SPRA STAFF TABLE OF CONTENTS SPRA CEO’s Report

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First Nations Culture Brought to Life in Playground Design

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Summer Programming 101

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Information and Research Services Luella Newman

Recreation Facilities Kelly Skotnitsky

Coming Back for More!

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ADMINISTRATION:

Spring and Summer Fun and Games

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Assistant Information Services Chantel Doerksen

Saskatchewan Regional Parks

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Saskatchewan 4-H Council - Keep Your Community

Hiring and Supervision Practices for Seasonal Aquatic Facilities

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June is Recreation & Parks Month - What Does it Mean?

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Lottery Lingo

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Research You Can Use - Benefits Fact Sheets

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Introducing the New National Benefits HUB

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Human Fooseball Street Festival

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Southeast Connection Mobile Playground

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Events

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DIRECTION is published four times a year (December, March, June and September).

The publication is provided to members of the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association. Direct all communications to: Editor, DIRECTION #100 - 1445 Park Street Regina, Saskatchewan S4N 4C5 You may also send letters or comments to Lori Ross, Communications Consultant at 306.780.9370, by fax at 306.780.9257, or by email at lross@spra.sk.ca.

Articles within this newsmagazine are the opinions of the authour(s) and do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of SPRA. Articles in DIRECTION may be reprinted, provided that full credits are shown for the author and the newsmagazine.

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Communications Consultant Lori Ross RECREATION CONSULTANTS: Grants and Funding Lee Anne Balliett Parks and Open Spaces Barry Rogers

Business Administrator Bonnie Thiessen

Phone: (306) 780-9231 or 1-800-563-2555 Fax: (306) 780-9257 www.spra.sk.ca

Executive Assistant Lois McNaught Administrative Technician Ryan Monks Administrative Assistant II Paula Lichtenwald

in motion STAFF Manager Cathie Kryzanowski

School Consultant Lyle Brenna

Manager Community and Target Strategies Marnie Sinclair

Communications Consultant Kim Herperger

Manager - Marketing and Communications Christine Niemczyk Consultant Nicole Yacishyn Assistant Consultant Graham Richardson

Communications Assistant Julie Chabot Thoring Executive Assistant Carol Priebe Administrative Assistant Nicole Schewchuk

Youth Mentor Kendra Schmidt

Phone: (306) 780-9248 or 1-866-888-3648 Fax: (306) 780-9466 www.saskatchewaninmotion.ca

SPRA CEO’s REPORT How to keep your community coming back for more is the theme of this edition of DIRECTION. The majority of articles that have been included, focus on different ideas and initiatives that can be implemented to motivate members of our communities to continue to participate in our programs. The focus of this article however, is a little different and concentrates on how to keep individuals motivated to volunteer and sit on the numerous committees and Boards that support the programs and services offered by our sector.

Committee work and attending meetings is not the kind of activities that people generally clamor to become involved in. Robert Copeland noted that “To get something done, a committee should consist of no more than three people, two of whom are absent.” Mohamed Mehaisi stated that “A camel is a horse designed by a committee”, and finally John Kenneth Galbraith opined, “Meetings are indispensable when you don’t want to get anything done.”

Even though many people have a negative view of the value of committees and meetings, they are a necessary part of our lives and are important for reaching group decisions and consensus. But with many believing that committees are inefficient and meetings a bore, we must constantly search for ways to motivate new committee members to volunteer, and existing committee members to continue to serve.

In many instances people are strong armed, guilted or railroaded to sit on committees. Once they have volunteered, they feel obligated to stay on past the time when they would have liked to have disengaged, because no one else has stepped forward to do the work. This process has developed out of necessity due to the fact that many communities do not have either the time or the resources to really find out what motivates people to serve on committees.

In order for existing and potential Board and committee members to be motivated to serve, some basics steps can be taken and questions asked that will help match volunteer and committee expectations and needs.

One of the very first questions we should be asking our prospective volunteers is, “Why do you want to be a Board/Committee member?” Research has shown that the

answers are both predictable and in some cases surprising.

Some of the more common reasons include: To serve an important cause, a personal interest or need of a family members To fulfill a “civic duty” and contribute to the community good To give back to the community or an organization To fulfill a social need, such as a desire for friendship, recognition, status visibility or affiliation To develop or apply specific knowledge, skills and experience To explore career interests To build a resume To find challenge or variety that does not exist in one’s paid employment To accomplish something that can’t be achieved alone To find personal fulfillment1 Being able to match a person’s position or ability to a committee, to meet some of their personal goals, will go a long way in motivating them to join and to continue to serve.

As an example, it would be in order to ask an individual that has a desire for greater public recognition and visibility, to organize and/or be the Master of Ceremonies for public programs and events. Asking them to work on a portfolio that keeps them to themselves with little or no public exposure or recognition would not motivate them to continue to be a part of the committee or Board.

Determining why a person would be interested volunteering in the first place is relatively easy to accomplish. In smaller organizations they could simply be asked, and in larger organizations they could be urged to fill out a questionnaire.

It is also important for an organization to know what skills and abilities are needed for the committee to achieve their mandate. This will depend on the type of committee (operational, policy, municipal, etc) and the work performed.

It can include a need for specific skills (accounting, legal, public relations, scheduling), experience, diversity of backgrounds, contributions of time, finances, influence, or access to individual or organizational contacts beneficial to the organization. By knowing what skills they require, a Board can not only strengthen their operations, but also match an individual’s skills and abilities to the organization needs. This will help motivate people to serve.

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The challenge is not to just identify organizational requirements but also be able to identify what assets individuals can bring to the organization. Engaging the prospective volunteer in a short discussion or asking them to fill out a short asset questionnaire are two approaches that can be used.

Another way to motivate people to participate on Boards and committees is to ensure that everyone understands their respective duties, responsibilities and expectations. This can be accomplished by developing an annual Board member orientation/re-orientation process. This does not need to be a lengthy exercise and can be easily accomplished by asking committee members to participate in a short exercise that will help them better understand how well they know the organization. A short questionnaire is filled out individually by each Board member and then a full Board discussion is held to provide consistency of understanding and Board interaction.

SPRA provides a session similar to this to its Board members at the first full Board meeting following the annual elections.

Time is set aside, to not only orient new Board members but

to also provide an update to existing Board members, on duties and responsibilities and organizational expectations.

The above ideas are some simple examples of steps that can be considered to keep your Board and committee members motivated to come back for more. They may not all work or be feasible in every situation, but just the fact that an organization cares enough about its volunteers and its members to make the effort to find out more about them, can go a long way to making individuals feel valued and want to serve.

To access resource materials including the What Motivates You to Volunteer survey, the Asset Inventory Questionnaire and the How Well Do You Know Your Organization exercise, contact the SPRA Resource Centre at (306) 780-9411.

Volunteer Centre Ottawa-Carleton. (1992). Why People Volunteer.

Retrieved from http://www.nald.ca/library/research/heritage/compartne/ pdfdocs/whypeopl.pdf

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Norm Campbell SPRA Chief Executive Officer

FIRST NATIONS CULTURE

BROUGHT TO LIFE IN PLAYGROUND DESIGN Henderson Recreation Equipment Ltd. has been working closely with Tim Haywahe, SPRA Consultant – Aboriginal Support, to develop new playground designs specific to First Nation communities. The original intent of the designs, was to offer a level of customization to First Nations communities which would recognize and showcase the important areas of traditional aboriginal culture. However, after talking to Tim, my imagination and creativity took over and the project was taken to a whole new level!

Originally, what started as adding some symbolic touches to an existing playground design, soon expanded to custom language translation panels, “The Eagle” playground layout, “The Dreamcatcher” and my latest idea of incorporating local artist paintings into the design. This has become much more than just customizing our playgrounds. In researching and absorbing knowledge from Tim, as well as the staff at the Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre in Saskatoon, I have gained a greater appreciation for the Aboriginal culture, 02

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values and beliefs. My hope is that in some small way, I can help preserve the aboriginal heritage of Saskatchewan by including traditional language and symbols into something as fun as a playground!

We look forward to working with Saskatchewan communities to develop innovative playgrounds we can all be proud of.

If you are interested in learning more about the First Nations Playground concept or others designs, contact Kelly Crozon at (306) 231-4820, or by email at kellyc@henderson-recreation.com.

Kelly Crozon, Design Consultant Henderson Recreation Equipment Ltd.

SUMMER PRogramming 101 You can make your summer program great by following these simple steps. They’ll ensure that participants have so much fun they’ll want to come back day after day, year after year!

STAFF YOUR PROGRAMS WITH CREATIVE, ENTHUSIASTIC AND ENGAGED INSTRUCTORS There is nothing more welcoming to a program participant than an engaged program leader. The leaders become role models as they interact with the children on a daily basis, creating a safe and non-competitive atmosphere and fostering participants’ self-esteem. Having creative and enthusiastic play leaders is critical to a good summer program, one where everyone feels welcome and wants to attend.

ENCOURAGE SELF-DIRECTED PLAY, WHILE STILL PROVIDING STRUCTURE When children and youth are encouraged to engage in play they select themselves, they take an ownership of the program and feel like they are an important part of the process.

Participants who have a say in what occurs are happier and want to return.

VARIETY IS KEY To keep your community excited about the program, ensure that you include a variety of activities all summer long. To refrain from repeating the same activities over and over, plan different theme days (eg. outer space, music, wild safaris, tropical islands, monsters - anything that interests the children and youth). This may mean planning takes longer and more ideas are required, but the program flourishes because of it.

SPEND THE MAJORITY OF YOUR TIME IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS Saskatchewan’s winters are long and cold! Summertime provides an opportunity for everyone to enjoy the sunshine, parks, outdoor pools and open spaces. There is so much for children and youth to discover and explore outside: Go on nature walks, participate in scavenger hunts and water activities, do arts and crafts, and play games outside that are usually played in the confined spaces of a gymnasium.

These activities will not only excite the participants and teach them something about their community and themselves, but will also keep them interested in the program.

MAKE SURE YOUR PROGRAM IS ACCESSIBLE Finally, one of the most important ways to keep participants coming back for more is to make your program accessible to everyone in the community. Programs that welcome children and youth with disabilities provide a more positive and rewarding experience for everyone - making it so that everyone will want to return.

Following these simple steps will help to ensure that participants attending your summer program will want to keep coming back for more.

Darla McKellar Program Specialist - Youth, Culture, Diversity City of Regina MARCH 2011

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SASKATCHEWAN 4-H COUNCIL

KEEP YOUR COMMUNITY COMING BACK FOR MORE!

Saskatchewan 4-H Council, best run non-profit organization in Canada, provides insights and tips on how to keep your community coming back for more.

(The Saskatchewan 4-H Council was the recipient of the 2010 Donner Canadian Foundation Award for Excellence in the Delivery of Education!)

“The Saskatchewan 4-H Council has made great strides over the past 8 years in the areas of strategic planning, board governance and innovation. Staff are working effectively and efficiently to ensure the continued success of the 4-H program. It is an honour to be recognized for our achievements by the Donner Canadian Foundation Award”, Valerie Pearson, Executive Director, Saskatchewan 4-H Council.

So how has this non-profit organization achieved this status and what are some of their secrets to keeping their 4-H communities coming back for more? Here is what they have to say about it....

But first, introductions...we’re Saskatchewan 4-H. For almost 100 years, we’ve given young people with a dream or interest (anything from outdoor adventure to community gardens) the opportunity to sit down with someone who can show them how to do it. It’s a time-tested learning process we call “learn to do by doing” and the key, as anyone in 4-H will tell you, is that special dedicated individual who can show them how...we call them a 4-H Leader. Unfortunately, as demands on society’s time and options for extra-curricular 04

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activities have increased, Saskatchewan 4-H has needed to find solutions to keep participation numbers up. The Strategy? Saskatchewan has been re-introducing potential leaders to the 4-H program and putting tools in place to help existing leaders. We are challenging them to help us “Make Something....A Difference.”

There is never just one simple solution to keep program participants engaged and satisfied over the long term. It is a continually evolving process and commitment that needs constant care and attention. Here are our top five areas of advice:

SUCCESSION PLANNING Do not put all of your focus on those currently involved in your program today. Make sure you have systems in place to encourage participation for years to come. Think about it: It is so much harder to introduce a program to a community from scratch than it is to keep an existing program going. For the 4-H program, this meant finding unique and interesting ways to empower and encourage existing 4-H clubs to recruit more

leaders and members at the community level. This strategy helps to ensure there is always someone willing to participate in 4-H when others are ready to step down.

TRADITIONAL AND FLEXIBLE Society changes over time; needs and interests fluctuate.

When this occurs, it is important to perform a balancing act: Stay true to your core values while also adapting to changes needed to remain competitive. The 4-H program is traditional, yet flexible. The organization has been able to stay true to our pledge, motto and program for nearly a century, while still adapting to new technologies, interests, projects and markets.

EMBRACE CHANGE Technology has become a major component in life whether we want it to be or not! Society expects fast communication, accessible programming and up-to-date information. Today’s society is also very busy, so providing additional support or minimizing workloads without compromising quality is a key strategy to follow. Saskatchewan 4-H has proactively downsized materials in some areas while expanding and adding tools and resources in others, all in an effort to take pressure off volunteers. Online support, communication and customer service has been enhanced.

INCORPORATE FUN Life can be way too serious! It is so important for extracurricular activities and programs to be light, fun, interactive and engaging. With fun being one of the “Core Values” for the 4-H program, it was important for Saskatchewan 4-H to ensure all clubs within the community were remembering to lighten up, become more active and have fun. This year, 4-H implemented a “Club Fun Factor Challenge” thanks to funding support from SPRA. The program helped incorporate more fun activities into the 4-H program on a monthly basis without overwhelming volunteer leaders.

SAY THANK YOU AND COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS, ONE VOLUNTEER AT A TIME Saskatchewan 4-H would not be in the position that we are today if it were not for our members and leaders. We are very fortunate to have a very strong following of dedicated participants. There is so much pride in the 4-H program.

It is that dedication and word of mouth that keeps the 4-H program flourishing. However, that did not just happen overnight. For our organization to be successful, we must always ensure participants are having a great experience. Surveying our participants for feedback, proactively exceeding our customer’s expectations, and having a solid Strategic Plan are key to our success. And most of all, we must take the time out of our busy schedules to always say thank you to all those who dedicate their time and efforts to our program.

Thank you!

Results to date for the Saskatchewan 4-H Council have been a 26% increase in volunteer retention and a 40% increase in new clubs gained over a one year period.

With all their recent awards and recognition achieved nationally, what is Saskatchewan 4-H most proud of? The four H’s have always been front and centre within the 4-H program.

4-H Clubs use their hands to perfect a skill, their heart to reach out to other people, their head to learn and strategize and they spend every healthy day making a difference in the world. All our volunteers and members show outstanding commitment to the program; without them, we would not have a program to offer.

“We have always known that our unique program develops youth into the leaders of tomorrow, but we are very humbled for our organization to be recognized as a leader of nonprofits throughout Canada”, Jackie Andreas, President, Saskatchewan 4-H Council.

For more information or to get involved in the 4-H program, visit www.4-H.sk.ca, or call (306)933-7727.

Lauren Heistad Marketing and Communications Officer Saskatchewan 4-H Council

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LAKELAND DISTRICT FOR SPORT, CULTURE & RECREATION

SPRING AND SUMMER FUN AND GAMES The Lakeland District knows how to keep their communities interested and engaged in recreation opportunities during the spring and summer months! Find out what great activities they have in store.

URBAN YOUTH SPORT INITIATIVE - HIGHER SPIRITS SPORT LEAGUES The Lakeland District for Sport, Culture & Recreation (LDSCR) offers Urban Youth Sport Programs in Prince Albert which aim to reduce the barriers of transportation, nutrition, equipment and facilities, while providing an introduction to recreational sport experiences for all youth participants. We are very fortunate in the partnerships that have been established in past years and would really like to thank the City of Prince Albert, Prince Albert Share-A-Meal Foodbank, Prince Albert Northern Bus Lines, Prince Albert Grand Council and all of the Community School Coordinators and volunteers who have helped make these experiences possible year after year.

We consult with Community School Coordinators to target within their schools, age groups that are otherwise being missed by programs already available. Through participant evaluations and consultations with the Coordinators, we organize recreation and sport leagues that will draw in a num-

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ber of registered participants. The league runs after school from Monday to Thursday and the schools have the opportunity to play against each other. P.A. Northern Buses provide transportation for the program to and from the school; youth then walk home or are picked up before dark. The Give Kids A Chance Charity – Active Kids Nutrition Project enables us to provide a snack to each of these youth after their game throughout the duration of the league. Last year, we had over 100 youth participate in the program; each participant is awarded a team picture taken during the league.

A Fun Nutrition Component is new to the program whereby our Food for Thought Project – School Nutritionist will present nutrition information to these participants in their own school’s kitchen and also help the youth to create their own nutritious snacks/beverages during each Sport and Recreation League. We have been very fortunate in building great partnerships with many organizations, noted above, and we are looking forward to the evolving nature of the Urban Youth Sport Program!

LAKELAND DISTRICT SUMMER SPORT CAMPS The LDSCR offers Summer Sport Experience Camps in July and August to communities within our District. There is no charge to the communities who host these camps as instructor fees, travel and any additional equipment the instructor must bring is covered. We coordinate the preferred dates and sports from the community with schedules of our local coaches and the Provincial Sport Governing Body (PSGB) contacts to establish camps that will work for all of the above.

Last year, 9 communities programmed for almost 300 youth, to establish 14 different chosen Sport and Recreation Camps. We have found that some classic winter sports, like Ringette are experiences that can be played year round. In providing an introduction of various sports to youth in the LDSCR communities, we aim to encourage youth to become more active and take part in the programs available to them.

and recreation programs, and through these activities they can develop life-long skills and healthy attitudes. We also believe that this can only be accomplished through cooperative efforts by all those individuals and organizations who work with our youth.

For additional information, contact the Lakeland District at (306) 953-1623, extension 3, or by email at kristy.ldscr@sasktel.net.

Kristy Weber Urban Youth Sport Coordinator Lakeland District for Sport, Culture & Recreation

By offering these Summer Sport Experience Camps, we open the opportunity to youth and communities to determine if there is enough interest to begin participating in the sport or to create a team within the community for its members.

We firmly believe that sport, culture and recreation can and does contribute to the overall well-being of our children and youth. Our long term goals are to ensure that individuals within our District have access to a variety of quality sport

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Saskatchewan Regional Parks Each Regional Park in the Province of Saskatchewan is unique.

The parks may offer some of the same services at each location, but they do it their own way!

What is unique about the Regional Parks? These parks can be situated right next to a village or town, they could be in the middle of the sagebrush or they could be in a quiet spot near a lake or creek. Each park is a different size and offers different choices of camping, golfing, beaches or swimming pools. Many parks are complete with their own food services and all manner of other amenities for you and your family to enjoy. Some are quiet, out-ofthe-way parks that give you solitude and little more – you provide the activities!

There are over 60 golf courses to enjoy and 30 plus swimming pools to choose from while many regional parks have glorious, sunfilled stretches of beach for you to linger on and enjoy! The choice is yours – choose the park that fits your family the best and spend the summer with us.

Two things are the same about all the Regional Parks – these parks reflect community pride. They were developed and are operated by volunteers from the local communities who had the desire to provide recreation opportunities for families to enjoy province wide today and in the future.

2011 marks the last year of a four year Capital Project funding program which has been provided by the Ministry of Tourism Parks Culture and Sport for the Regional Parks. Parks have used these funds to upgrade their current infrastructure and for new construction.

Projects include upgrading campsites with electricity, sewer, replacement tables and barbeques, repairing shower buildings, concessions, signage, swimming pools, ball diamonds and important upgrades to water and sewer systems. New construction includes many additional campsites, shower and washroom buildings, equipment such as mowers, tractors, pumps, irrigation equipment and many other projects designed to make the park safe and inviting for the people who use them.

For more information about Regional Parks, please visit our web site at www.saskregionalparks.ca or contact the SRPA office at 306.975.0857 or 1.866.565.PARK. 08

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Photo Credits Top to Bottom: Erik Paquette, Mandy Gryba, Shelly Babiarz, Collette Cooper

HIRING AND SUPERVISION PRACTICES FOR

SEASONAL AQUATIC FACILITIES Seasonal aquatic facilities are starting to post and hire their summer positions for pool managers, lifeguards and instructors. To assist in this task, the Lifesaving Society has provided the following tips, suggestions and reminders.

1.

National Lifeguard Service (NLS) is the preferred and recognized lifeguarding award/standard in Saskatch- ewan and in Canada. This award provides the candidate with special training in lifeguard skills, customer service and liability. Aquatic facilities should make every attempt to hire NLS trained lifeguards.

2.

The minimum qualifications outlined by Saskatchewan Public Health for lifeguards in Saskatchewan are Bronze Cross, Standard First Aid or Aquatic Emergency Care and CPR C. (We still suggest hiring NLS trained lifeguards.)

3.

Lifeguarding and instructing awards must be kept current.

Current is considered “within two years”. Please ensure your new staff have either recertified their awards or recently taken them. If an employee’s awards are not current, it is considered a negligible offence. The onus is on the employer. *Keep a copy of your employees’ awards on file.

4.

Ensure that your instructors have the appropriate instruc- tional award for your facility. In addition, if your facility offers Bronze Star, Bronze Medallion or Bronze Cross, the instructor must have Lifesaving Instructor certification from the Lifesaving Society.

5.

Ensure that employees know, understand and demon- strate the four main roles of a lifeguard at all times: accident prevention, rescue response, public relations and administration.

6.

Ensure that regular staff training occurs before and throughout the open season of the pool. Staff training should include rescue procedures such as spinal injury management and unconscious/non-breathing victim management. It should also include training in the policies and procedures for tornados, lightning, theft, vandalism and fire.

7.

Remember to follow appropriate Occupational Health and Safety Guidelines at all times and ensure that WHMIS training is provided to your staff if they are working with chemicals and cleansers.

For more information on any of these points, please contact the Lifesaving Society in Regina at (306)780-9255.

Shelby Rushton Chief Executive Officer Lifesaving Society - Saskatchewan Branch

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JUNE IS RECREATION & PARKS MONTH

What DOES IT MEAN? Gather your family, your friends, those strangers who live down the block that we used to know as neighbours, your co-workers…get everybody in ‘your world’ and maybe your entire community to celebrate recreation and parks!

Available leisure time, personal choice of activities and pursuits for fun and pleasure, access to special places… these are qualities of life we have virtually everywhere in Canada and good reasons to celebrate. Gather your family, your friends, those strangers who live down the block that we used to know as neighbours, your co-workers…get everybody in ‘your world’ and maybe your entire community to celebrate recreation and parks. If they are not “living” these attributes that are available in their community everyday, perhaps your event may get them started.

June is Recreation & Parks Month (JRPM) is a growing National campaign intended to draw attention to the important benefits and values of recreation for health, happiness, growth and development of individuals, families and communities. The campaign is not only intended to create awareness, but also to get people actively involved in recreating in a park setting. The campaign is showcased by an organized event to celebrate and demonstrate how fun recreation really is, how we can share it with others and how many places there are to do it.

Here in Saskatchewan, JRPM is promoted and supported by the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association (SPRA). The campaign offers communities merchandise for sale; the opportunity to become an official JRPM Ambassador and be entered into a draw to win a piece of playground equipment donated by Henderson recreation equipment limited, and new for 2011, a Celebration Grant of up to $500 to promote and stage an event.

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So what happens at a JRPM event? Other than everything and anything, here’s what some 2010 Ambassadors had to say: “Our biggest asset to a great JRPM day was to partner with an existing event and make it even larger. We partnered with Innovation Credit Union for “Picnic in the Park” which is always the first weekend in June, rain or shine (We’re more than fair weather recreationists here in Swift Current!). We organized games for children and families at the event, and reached over 5000 community members in 2010. This was a huge family event, at no cost to them, filled with fun and activities. We provided information and brochures on all the great things to do in our parks and recreation facilities over the summer and winter months.”

Nicole Peno - Swift Current

“I organized a BBQ/Old Fashion Weiner Roast in our park.

Instead of having the food ready for those who attended, they were given a stick with a raw hotdog and directed to the fire pit….smoke and all. It helped the community realize the potential of our park. It is just not for kids, but for all ages to do lots of organized and informal things. The fire pits are there for public use, the wood pile is always stocked, the bathrooms are open, the Pavillion is clean and accessible and the playground is only a few steps away. You must come for a visit!”

Amanda Burback - Togo

LOTTERY LINGO $25,000 LOTTERY WINNER IN KAMSACK! Kim Chernoff couldn’t believe her eyes when she discovered her $1 THE WESTERN SCRATCH ’N WIN ticket was a $25,000 winner!

“I was scratching the ticket and revealed three identical car symbols in the Bonus Play area,” Kim recalled. “I didn’t believe it, so I read the back very carefully. I even got a magnifying glass to make sure!” she laughed.

Kim then took the ticket back to the store, where the win was confirmed. Instead of choosing to take the vehicle for a prize, Kim opted to take the $25,000 cash prize and said she is planning to use it to invest and share with her family.

The ticket was purchased from Bucks Dollar Store, located at 320-3rd Avenue South, Kamsack, SK.

PRINCE ALBERT RESIDENTS WIN $25,000 LOTTERY PRIZE! “We’re an active family. You’re preaching to the converted…. we do live parks and recreation every day. We celebrated the occasion by jumping on the pathway with our bikes and cycling up to the RCMP Heritage Centre for a look-see and than a picnic on their lawn.”

Dan Smith - Regina “We went camping at Good Spirit Lake Provincial Park. We did a little fishing, played frisbee on the beach, swam, had a campfire, roasted marshmallows and made ‘smores’….and oh, my little brother got stung by a wasp!”

Wendy Philips - Yorkton Yorkton will be the site of the 2011 JRPM Provincial Launch Event which is tentatively set for June 11, 2011.

Let’s fast forward to June, 2011 - Where will you be for the JRPM Celebration?

Claude and Audrey Rousson were thrilled to discover their THE WESTERN SCRATCH ’N WIN ticket from a PLAYER’S CHOICE MEGA PACK was a $25,000 winner!

“We like to buy the PLAYER’S CHOICE MEGA PACK for the different tickets included,” said Claude.

The pair split up the tickets and started scratching. Audrey scratched THE WESTERN and revealed three identical car symbols. “I said, ‘I think we won a car!’” she remembered.

“Claude looked it over and said, ‘We did!’”

Claude took the ticket back to the store, where the win was confirmed. Claude and Audrey opted to take the $25,000 cash prize instead of the vehicle.

The $20 pouch of tickets was purchased from Mac’s Convenience Store, located at 2805-6th Avenue, Prince Albert, SK.

Barry Rogers Consultant – Parks and Open Spaces Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association

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RESEARCH YOU CAN USE BENEFITS FACT SHEETS Public park and recreation agencies can play an enormous role in improving the lives of children and youth by offering interesting, stimulating and enriching programs.

Children and youth participating in these programs: Have higher aspirations regarding finishing high school and obtaining post-secondary education Develop communication, teamwork, leadership and problem solving skills Are less likely to participate in risky behaviours such as crime, violence, and drug and alcohol use (Adapted from SPRA, After School Recreation Benefits Fact Sheet (2010). Retrieved from: http://www.spra.sk.ca/factsheets) Looking for more data to support the great work you do?

SPRA Information and Research Services has developed a series of Benefit Fact Sheets to help you plan, market and evaluate your programs and services. The Benefits Fact Sheets are available at http://www.spra.sk.ca/factsheets.

To ensure that there are quality programs for children and youth, we need qualified recreation leaders.

“We need the very best people and we have to pay for the very best people. Without making this shift, an organization can have a lot of passion but not necessarily the skills to do what needs to be done.”

Money matters: Compensation in the nonprofit sector, The HR Council for the Nonprofit Sector, 2008 http://hrcouncil.ca/labour/trends_compensation.cfm SPRA Recreation Compensation Survey provides credible, province-wide data that practitioners can apply as individuals and organizations. Use The Summary Report: How to Read the Research to guide your interpretation and application of the data to advocate for better compensation for recreation practitioners. http://www.spra.sk.ca/bkce.

For more information, contact SPRA at (306) 780-9411.

Luella Newman Consultant - Information and Research Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association

INTRODUCING THE NEW NATIONAL BENEFITS HUB! The National Benefits HUB is the next evolution of The Benefits Catalogue produced by the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association (CPRA) in 1992 and revised again in 1997. The new National Benefits HUB offers online access to research, promising practices and trends that document the essential role of recreation, parks, active living, sport, arts, culture and heritage.

Visit http://benefitshub.ca to remind yourself, as well as decision-makers of the importance of our work.

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MARCH 2011

DEBDEN’s ANNUAL

HUMAN FOOSEBALL STREET FESTIVAL It started with an idea.

Crazy some would say!

The first community built fooseball table!

On June 27, 2009, this small town aimed for big fun with its first ever Town & Country Fair. Debden’s Main Street was buzzing with excitement and activities. The highlight of the fair was the unveiling of the First Community-Built Human Fooseball Table!

“What’s that?”, you may ask. It’s like a game of the table Fooseball but built to human scale. Only a small town filled with ambition, generosity and great ideas could pull off a project like this all on its own. Many volunteer hours and donated supplies made this possible and it proved to be a huge success! Local teams played a tournament all day long and wanted more!

Of course, there was plenty more to do at the fair. Local businesses and community groups made their own games for the kids (and adults) to play. Local entertainers provided music and songs all day and into the evening. There were also draws and raffles, delicious food and cold refreshments available.

June 26, 2010, was the date of the second Annual Human Fooseball Tournament. With a few adjustments to the table and the equipment, we had 90 people to play. With a spring of unpredictable weather, the day turned out fantastic. Nine teams vied for first place in this year’s tournament. It was an exciting day. The Debden Recreation Board team won the first place spot for the second year. The seniors wanted

their own game, so provide we did. We had a game modified for the seniors modified with a softer ball. They had a blast! This year more games were played and more fun was had by all. Great local talent entertained us through the day.

This year inflatable games were brought in for the children to enjoy. And enjoy they did! Our local artist, Lucille Scott, spent many hour painting the faces of young and young at heart.

The Debden Town & Country Fair was organized by the Debden Chamber of Commerce. It will be an annual event with proceeds going to beautifying our community. Next year plans are already underway for more hours of Fooseball and new games for the kids. This event is a must to see and play, all you need is nine players and off you go for the most fun you can have on Main Street. For more information, visit www.debden.net, or call Carmen Jean at (306)724-2040.

We anticipate more laughs, more fun and even more community spirit!

Thank you again to all the volunteers who made this day a success.

Carmen Jean Recreation Administrator Village of Debden

MARCH 2011

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SOUTHEAST CONNECTION

MOBILE PLAYGROUND The Mobile Playground program is designed to give children ages 5-12 an opportunity to participate in a physical activity program during the months off from school.

Southeast Connection Mobile Playground is a bid to host summer program for children. Communities may choose the age group(s) they would like to offer the program to, but it must be between the ages of 5-12. The Program must include age appropriate activities such as games, sports, songs, music, arts, crafts and special events. Mobile Playground will run for a minimum of one (1) week, Monday to Friday (with the exception of long weekends) and for a minimum of 4 hours a day. Communities are encouraged to offer the program for more than one week if they have the resources to do so. Lunch must be supervised.

The program must be offered to children at a low cost, to reduce barriers to participation. However, a small registration fee may be applied to allow communities to offer the program for a greater length of time during the summer. Host communities must build a partnership within their community to access facilities, resources and volunteers.

The Mobile Playground program is designed to give children ages 5-12 an opportunity to participate in a physical activity program during the months off from school. Physical activity is an important part in the health and wellness of children ages 5-12. The program increases the capacity of communities, especially small rural communities, to offer affordable recreational and outdoor activities during the summer when there is nothing else for children to do.

This program also provides youth within the communities to step up and become community leaders. Youth that are selected to run this program are required to attend the HIGH FIVE速 Principles of Healthy Childhood Development training.

Southeast Connection offers two HIGH FIVE速 training op14

MARCH 2011

portunities at a central location in June every year. With this training, youth leaders will increase their knowledge on how to develop and implement a quality summer play program for children within their community. These leaders are recruited within each host community, resulting in qualified youth leaders who can lead future summer programs, afterschool opportunities and/or take on coaching positions within the community.

Many southeast communities are looking at ways to provide opportunities for children and youth to participate in active, creative and enjoyable sport, culture and recreation activities during the summer months; the Mobile Playground program is a beneficial program for communities that want to start a recreational program. In 2010 there were 19 communities within southeast Saskatchewan that took part in the Mobile Playground program.

This year Southeast Connection is also providing communities with a Tips and Tools Guide to Plan a Quality Summer Recreation Program.

This guide provides links to resources and planning tools that can assist communities in their planning. Whether you are a recreation director, recreation board volunteer, a teacher or parent in the community, start planning now!

For more information contact Laura McCarron, Coordinator for Southeast Connection at (306) 429-2205 or by email at lmccarron@southeastconnection.ca, or visit www.southeastconnection.ca.

Laura McCarron Southeast Connection Coordinator

EVENTS MARCH 7 - 10, 2011 SARM Annual Convention Saskatoon, SK

JUNE 1 – 30, 2011 June is Recreation & Parks Month Locations across Saskatchewan

The SARM Convention provides members with the opportunity to gather to debate resolutions, discuss current issues, and hear from political leaders and other presenters.

For additional information, contact SARM at (306) 757-3577.

Each year, recreation service providers and park authorities throughout the country utilize June to celebrate the return of summer programming, to gather their communities together, recognize volunteers, get residents involved in fun outdoor physical activities and gain support for the parks and recreation sectors. For additional information, visit www.spra. sk.ca/juneisrecreationandparks.

APRIL 4 – 7, 2011 SPRA Spring Education and Training Symposium Humboldt, SK The Symposium will provide recreation directors, facility managers, park operators and volunteers with practical and applicable knowledge related to parks and facilities. For additional information, visit www.spra.sk.ca/ springsymposium.

MAY 5 – 7, 2011 SPEA/SHEA Conference Saskatoon, SK The Conference provides an opportunity for professional development, and the chance to discuss and collaborate on health and physical education issues. For additional information, contact SPEA at (306) 656-4423.

JUNE 3, 2011 SPRA Scott Irving Memorial Golf Tournament Warman, SK The SPRA Scott Irving Memorial Golf Tournament will be a Texas Scramble, with teams of 4. The Tournament will include supper and a variety of great prizes! For additional information, visit www.spra.sk.ca/golf.

OCTOBER 20 - 22, 2011 SPRA Conference and Annual General Meeting Saskatoon, SK The 2011 Conference and AGM will bring together recreation practitioners, parks and facility operators and volunteers from across the Province to learn the latest information and trends in the parks and recreation field. For additional information,

For information on more great Saskatchewan events, visit Events Saskatchewan at www.saskevents.com.

MARCH 2011

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MARCH 2011

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Publication Mail Agreement #41967532 Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to: SPRA • 100 – 1445 Park Street • Regina, SK • S4N 4C5 email: office@spra.sk.ca