By Hannah King
As British Columbians we will celebrate our first official Family Day holiday on Feb. 18, 2013.
Of course we here at parks, recreation and culture are happy to hear that families will have a chance to take a break together and connect that day. It is a big part of what we are all about.
In fact, we’ve been celebrating families for more than 50 years now. To be exact, 1954 was the first year on record of our ever popular free supervised playground program.
One of our newest preschooler-friendly offerings is tots movie night held at Bowen Park. This is a great (and inexpensive) family outing and the popcorn is included.
If you are looking for some daytime options for your little one, our pooh bear and beach tot preschools might be a good fit.
They are parent participation focused, in which you will rediscover the joy of play, craft time and sing-a-longs.
Our weekly parent and tot skate sessions allow you to introduce the fun of skating to your little one in a comfortable setting without the worry of other skaters whizzing by.
We also offer a number of fitness programs specifically geared for the family unit. One coming up with new moms in mind is our power punch boot camp – mom and babe. This is an action packed hour designed to accommodate you and baby (in or out of the stroller).
For those with older children, the fit together for teens and mom (or dad) class is a great way to be active together. The class timing fits nicely into the after school routine.
One of the best ways to encourage your children to be active is to be engaged right alongside them.
Looking for something hands on to do as a family? Create family treasures in our family clay art program offered at the Bowen Park pottery studio.
This spring we will be offering a card-making course for parents and tweens to enroll in together. It will be a creative afternoon of family time.
If you’ve got a family trip planned, why not look at taking one of our introductory language courses together? Watch for more family friendly programs in our upcoming activity guide including family rock climbing, kayaking and family tennis.
If it’s a simple family outing to the pool or rink you are looking for check out our online public schedules at www.nanaimo.ca to find a time that works for your family.
Something else to keep in mind that most of our programs found within the adult section are open to teens wanting to join with a parent or caregiver.
So far we’ve only talked about the program side of things, but of course parks and cultural events are great places to reconnect with your family.
For more information on parks, recreation and culture programs services and events, please visit www.nanaimo.ca, stop by a recreation centre or call 250-756-5200.
Nanaimo, it’s a lifestyle – live it together.
Hannah King is a marketing and communication specialist with Nanaimo parks, recreation and culture.
