Town of Osoyoos Recreation Department

1
Town of Osoyoos Recreation Department

• Cities Fit for Children
• Provincial Summit
• Gerald Davis Director of Recreation
• and Leisure Services
• Sarah Gattinger Recreation Coordinator
• Sonora Community Centre

2
Outline

• We will discuss.
• Recreation facilities in the Town of Osoyoos
• Programs and services that we offer for children
  0-6 years of age
• Challenges, successes, partnerships
• Future plans
• Final remarks

3
Town of Osoyoos Recreation Department

• Owns and operates three main facilities where
  recreational programs take place
• Desert Park Recreation Complex (squash crts,
  special events)
• Sun Bowl Arena
• Sonora Community Centre New recreation facility

4
Desert Park Recreational Complex

• Old recreational facility
• Was not adequate as a recreational complex and
  offered limited programming opportunities (was
  normally closed during summer months).
• Has three soccer fields and four baseball
  diamonds. Also has over 40 acres of undeveloped
  green space.
• Located away from the downtown core.
• Currently the building is not utilized except for
  some special events and squash.

5
Sun Bowl Arena

• Provides space for
• Local Hockey Team
• Sun Bowl Figure Skating Club - offers specialized
  training and weekly lessons throughout the year.
• South Okanagan Minor Hockey Association
• Offers
• Public skating
• Parent n Tot Drop-in Skating
• Cherry Buds Intro to hockey for pre-school
  children

6
Sonora Community Centre

• Originally the Elementary School
• Built in the late 1940s
• Two floors
• Contains
• Five Multipurpose Rooms
• Craft Room
• Dance Studio
• Full size gymnasium
• Weight Room
• Commercial Kitchen
• Regional Library
• Boys and Girls Club Teen Lounge
• Recreation departments administrative offices

7
Sonora Community Centre

• Parents, former students and teachers have many
  fond memories, and therefore, there was very
  positive feedback from the community to renovate
  and preserve the school.

8
Sonora Community Centre

• The centre is very well used
• Not only do we provide recreational opportunities
  but we have become a place for conferences,
  weddings and special events
• Benefits of having a centre like this in Osoyoos
  include
• Year round programming
• Full time and part time job creation
• Provides a central hub for the community
• Fulfills recreational, social and educational
  needs in the community

9
Programs/Services for 0-6 yrs

• Sonora Community Centre
• Soccer Nuts - Parent n Tot Drop-in
• Sporty Squirts - Craft programs
• Mini Hockey - Muckin Around
• Paint n Play - Blastball
• Mother Goose (Interior Health)

10
Programs/Services for 0-6 yrs

• Sun Bowl Arena
• Parent n Tot Skate
• Cherry Buds (3-5 years of age)
• Can Skate Program (5 years and up)
• Other Community Programs/Services
• Regional Library ? Story time
• Step in Time Dance ? Ballet and Jazz
• Sun Bowl Skating Club ?Young Blades

11
Challenges

• Small group of 0-6 year olds
• Limited number of children to program for and not
  all will participate in programs
• According to Stats Canada there are approximately
  200 children ages 0-6 living in Osoyoos and the
  surrounding area
• That figure is expected to decrease slightly over
  the next 10 years
• Lots of choices for children in terms of
  community programs and services
• As children get older there may not be the same
  number to replace them

12
Challenges

• Preschool in Osoyoos was not expected to run
  this year
• Parents must drive out of town which means less
  time for recreational programs
• For some parents the cost of participating in
  programs is too high
• There is a definite divide between the haves
  and have nots
• In 2000 the average yearly income was 32,000
  which was below the provincial average of 44,000

• The recreation department does try to keep
  program costs as low as possible which can be
  part of our success as well.
• Program fees range from 8 - 25 per program
• We also subsidize fees for children and families
  who cannot afford to participate.

13
Successes

• Many of our successful programs are aimed at
  preschoolers and children. There are 3 main
  reasons why our programs are successful

• Location
• Program scheduling
• Instructors

14

• Location
• Next door to Osoyoos Elementary School
• Within walking distance to Osoyoos Child Care
  Centre
• Within walking distance to the downtown core
  which makes it easier for parents to access us
  without having to drive
• Library is located at the Sonora Community Centre
• Program Scheduling
• As much consideration as possible is given to
  other 0-6 yrs programs within the community when
  developing a new program
• Instructors
• Many of our instructors and leaders are parents
  of young children themselves and are well
  connected in the community with other parents.
  Word of mouth is our most successful way to
  advertise

15
Soccer Nuts

• Preschool soccer program
• Focus is on co-opertative play and having fun
• Basic skills are taught

• This is one of our most popular programs

16
Soccer Nuts

• 2005
• Winter 15 registrants
• Spring 16 registrants
• Fall 10 registrants
• 2006
• Winter - 11 registrants
• Spring 15 registrants
• Fall 12 registrants (waitlist 2)
• 2007
• Winter - 12 registrants
• Spring 12 registrants (waitlist 7)
• Fall 12 (waitlist 2)

17
Mini Hockey

• Preschool Floor Hockey Program
• Based on co-operative play
• Skills are taught but they are not necessarily
  the focus.

18
Mini Hockey

• Winter 2005 10 registrants
• There was no registration for this program from
  January 2006-Spring 2007 so the program was
  removed from the list of programs offered
• Program was re-introduced in Fall 2007
• The program is currently full and was one of the
  first programs to fill completely

19
Blastball

• Preschool baseball program
• Modified game based on baseball different from
  t-ball
• Children use a soft ball and there is no throwing
  once the ball is caught
• Honking first base to help signal the end of play
  and helps class control
• Offered in Spring for children ages 3-5 years

20
Blastball

• Spring 2005 11 registrants
• Spring 2006 10 registrants
• Spring 2007 12 registrants (waitlist 6)

21
Parent n Tot Drop-in Gym Time

• Offered Tuesday and Thursday mornings for 2 hours
• One of the longest running programs the
  recreation department offers
• Drop-in no pre registration required
• Toys includes a play castle, play house,
  scooters, slides, blocks, balls, and floor hockey
  equipment
• Equipment was either bought or donated over time
  or is on loan from Penticton Childcare Resource
  and Referral

22
Parent n Tot Drop-in Gym Time

• Provide opportunities for parents to have childs
  development assessed
• Used as a venue to reach parents with information
  regarding other programs and services within the
  community from the CFK local table

23
Parent n Tot Drop-in Gym Time

• 2005 413 single drop-ins/18 10 punch passes
  sold
• 2006 511 single drop-ins/19 10 punch passes
  sold
• 2007 (up to Sept 30) 19 10 punch passes sold
  with drop-ins projected to be similar as last
  year.

24
Future

• Continue to work with the local Communities for
  Kids Table in order to bring in more
  opportunities for parents within Osoyoos.
• We are currently completing an aquatic
  feasibility study. During stakeholder meetings
  and public open houses the consensus was to
  develop an aquatic center adjacent to the Sonora
  Community Center. Council will be making a
  decision in the very near future on how they will
  proceed.
• This will boost our pre-school programs
  tremendously and another facility like this may
  attract more younger families.
• If an aquatic center does not become a reality,
  council has decided to build a splash park which
  will also be a great asset.

25
Closing comments

• We are very fortunate to have a number of
  excellent working partnerships with various
  groups and agencies.
• Osoyoos Child Care facility
• Interior Health
• Local service clubs such as the Osoyoos Elks
• Communities for Kids Local table
• Elementary School and Good Sheppard Christian
  School
• Boys and Girls Club
• Okanagan Regional Library
• Penticton Childcare Resource and Referral

26
Conclusion

• If you would like a copy of this presentation or
  need more info about the programs and services we
  offer please contact us.
• Gerald Davis gdavis_at_osoyoos.ca
• Sarah Gattinger sgattinger_at_osoyoos.ca
• Website www.osoyoos.ca