May 2015
Posted on May 22, 2015
Hiking is a way to lose weight and get in shape. Whether you take daily walks in the park or go on weekend trips to the mountains, you will be burning calories and gaining muscle. International Trails Day http://internationaltrailsday.blogspot.ca/ is an annual celebration of trails to promote trail development, the use of trails and the healthy lifestyle they encourage. It is celebrated each year on the first Saturday in June.
This year we celebrate International Trails Day on Saturday, June 6, 2015. We encourage the public to join in the fun and participate in the International Trails Day events.
Event: Bald Mountain Guided Hike: “A Hike To Remember”
Date: Saturday, June 6, 2015
Time: 9:00 am
Location: Meet at Baddeck Valley Community Center
Cost: FREE
Refreshments provided
Take sturdy boots, water and snacks
Pets are welcome on a leash
Guide: Iris Kedmi
Speaker: Pauline Diekelmann (botanic & knowledgeable about the history of the area) will talk about the Native Flora & Fauna (plants & animals) and the history of Big Glen
Destination: Wonderful View at Destination Point – 1,113 ft mountain peak in NS. It ranks as the 29th highest mountain in NS
Steps – 26,040 steps (10,000 daily goal) will be accumulated on this hike.
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Posted on May 20, 2015
Two Field Leader – Hiking Courses will be offered – one in Baddeck and one in Antigonish – on June 13 and 14, 2015. The course will provide participants with Outdoor Council of Canada (OCC) national certification in Field Leader – Hiking. This includes skills to organize and lead others in a one day, educational or activity based experience in a natural environment.
The course is two full days in length and will provide successful candidates with the necessary skills to be a confident hiking leader. The program is suitable for hiking club leaders, trail group volunteers, recreation department staff, teachers, 4H leaders, Scout and Guide leaders, parents or individuals interested in leading hikes. Courses are taught by OCC certified instructors.
The cost is $100 ($90 for current Hike NS members). The course is offered through Hike Nova Scotia in partnership with the Nova Scotia Chapter of the OCC and supported by the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness. For more information, go here.
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Posted on May 14, 2015
The Re-Connecting with Nature workshop is a hands-on day of outdoor adventure to improve your ability to lead and share an appreciation and understanding of nature with children and youth. The workshop is suitable for youth group leaders, recreation and camp staff, teachers, early childhood educators, parents and concerned citizens. The aim is to increase leadership capacity in Nova Scotia in order to re-connect children and youth with nature. Participants will improve their leadership skills, gain practical activity ideas, network with like-minded folks and have fun in nature. The workshop is offered through Hike Nova Scotia in partnership with the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness with support from Acadia University.
Workshops will take place on the following dates:
Truro – June 12
Halifax – June 13
Wolfville – June 16
Barrachois – June 19
Antigonish – June 20
Lunenburg – June 24
The workshop cost is $50 ($40 for members of Hike Nova Scotia). A $25 subsidy is available for parents not associated with an organization and for volunteer leaders. Registration includes a workshop manual and a one-year membership with Hike Nova Scotia. To learn more and to register go to http://www.hikenovascotia.ca/projects/reconnecting-with-nature/
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Posted on May 12, 2015
For more than 60 years, the Heart and Stroke Foundation has worked to reduce the toll of heart disease and stroke and tangibly improve the health of all Canadians. We’re transforming how society thinks about, prevents, manages and lives with heart disease and stroke. Helping people become more physically active is an important way to reduce people’s risk of heart disease and stroke.
Heart&Stroke Walkabout™ offers Walkability grants to help organizations, groups and individuals take steps to increase walking participation. Grants of $500 – $2,000 were awarded to 5 groups this year with a total of $6000 being distributed.
Champlain Elementary School – Natural Playground Committee
Through the development of a natural playground and perimeter walking trail, the Natural Playground Committee at Champlain Elementary School is providing children, families, seniors and the entire community of Granville Ferry a safe walking route that will be clearly visible and away from high traffic areas. It will link to existing sidewalk infrastructure, include benches and provide accessibility for students and others with mobility issues to engage in walking activities.
Municipality of the District of Lunenburg
The Municipality is looking to improve walkability in and around the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre by improving infrastructure and marketing of walking options to promote physical activity. The primary target audience will be the parents of children who participate in programs at the Lifestyle Centre. The goal is for more parents to be active while their children are playing hockey or participating in swimming lessons.
Town of Annapolis Royal
The Town of Annapolis Royal will be recreating a walking trail to connect St. Anthony Street with Highway #1. Clearing this section of walking trail will remove the obstructed pathway and give residents access to some of Annapolis Royal’s most ideal walking routes that connect the downtown core with the beautiful nature trail that borders the French Basis and a Ducks Unlimited pond. Opening this connector route will help create a walkable community and generate a stronger community spirit.
Town of Bridgewater
The Town of Bridgewater and the Bridgewater Active Transportation Committee created a pilot project to increase physical activity among their residents and visitors by installing signage indoors and outdoors around the town. These signs will provide walking times and distances as well as motivational and engaging messaging at key pedestrian locations to encourage more walking between popular and essential businesses and other facilities. The results of this pilot project will provide new information and recommendations regarding appropriate marketing of active modes of transportation in the community, as well as the effectiveness of prompts and signage that may be used in the future.
White Rock Community Association
The White Rock Community Association (WRCA) is providing a safe place to walk, jog and cycle that is easy to access and free of all motorized traffic in the Eastern Kings County area. The WRCA will be creating programs targeted at the 20 to 49 year old age group. They will be installing two permanent benches at the entrance and exit points of the trail for people who want to change footwear or wait for others to join them. There will also be signs posted adjacent to the road that will provide notice of scheduled events to attract community participation in walking and other physical activity events on the trail and in the WRCA hall.
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Posted on May 12, 2015
Stepping Up is hosting a public talk on the subject of risk and childhood development and is featuring guest speaker Tim Gill from the UK. You can find out more about Tim at http://rethinkingchildhood.com. This event on Sunday, May 17th is just one of many stops during his cross-Canada tour.
When it comes to play, risk is an important factor in healthy child development. Growing fears about child safety and liability are short-changing kids by removing opportunities for independent play, diminishing their ability to assess risk and exercise their own judgement.
Join Tim Gill, one of the UK’s leading thinkers on childhood whose work focuses on the changing nature of childhood, children’s play and free time, and their evolving relationships with the people and places around them. Gill will challenge our views of childhood in a ‘no risk’ culture and help parents and caregivers to bring back some of the freedoms in play that previous generations enjoyed when they were young.
To dive deeper into the subject of risk in play, visit his blog at http://rethinkingchildhood.com
Stay tuned for news on a fun live play demo as part of this event.
Date and time: Sunday, May 17, 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Location: Halifax Central Library, Paul O’Regan Hall, 5440 Spring Garden Road
There is no cost or registration associated with this event
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Posted on May 01, 2015
We would like to encourage everyone to come out and walk on the sidewalks!
Meet at the Sheet Harbour Library at 6:00 PM, Thursday, May 7th for some walking, talking and fun. The Challenge will involve simple on the spot physical activity challenges, active fun for everyone. You can participate in the challenges or just walk, it is up to you.
This event is FREE, children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult unless registered for the Thursday Rocks Program. Thursday Rocks Program participants will pay a fee of $2.00, as staff will be on hand to supervise. The program will end at 8:00 PM at the Sheet Harbour Library. I hope to see you and your family out enjoying the Sidewalk Challenge on Thursday, May 7th.
For more information please call the Sheet Harbour Recreation Office, 902-885-2988.
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