Spring brings with it a sense of renewal and, often, a desire to create healthier habits, or even just to get out and try something new. The Town of Huntsville’s spring and summer programs are chock full of options – you’ll find plenty of ways to be active, get creative, and learn something new.
Be Active
With friends new and old, with family or on your own, there are plenty of ways to stay active in Huntsville.
Now that the ice is out, ever-popular pickleball has moved onto four courts in the Jack Bionda arena. If you haven’t discovered pickleball yet, imagine a cross between tennis, table tennis and badminton – it’s a racquet sport using a lightweight wiffleball, played with either two or four players. It’s such a ‘hit’ that it will be available three days a week beginning in May.
Remember playing summer street hockey until the streetlights came on? Revive some of that childhood fun on Wednesday nights, at the new drop-in, co-ed ball hockey night for adults. Grab your friends and head to the Don Lough arena – everyone can play this game, and limited equipment is required. Bring your own CSA-approved helmet, gloves, indoor running shoes, and a hockey stick with no tape on the blade. Players are split into teams so don’t forget to bring both a light and dark coloured shirt, too.
Or take some family fun to the streets of Huntsville with the third annual Mayor’s Bike Ride on June 8. Cycling isn’t just great exercise, it’s a sustainable way to get around, too.
For your littlest riders, the Kids’ Bike Rodeo will be on June 1. A variety of biking activities will help young cyclists understand the things they need to be aware of on the road, like recognizing road signs, using cycling hand signals, and safely crossing intersections.
Teens 14-18 can get in on the arena fun, too, with the recreational dodge ball program. It’s co-ed and it’s a blast. Sign up on your own or with a friend – all you need are indoor shoes.
Teens looking for some real-world job experience this summer don’t have to look farther than the Counsellors-in-Training (CIT) program. Level one will give 13-14 year olds a taste of what it’s like to be a day camp counsellor while gaining valuable skills and first aid knowledge. Level two CITs learn how to plan age-appropriate camp activities and have the opportunity to be certified in Standard First Aid. Both levels are required to complete 40 hours of volunteering with the Summit Centre Kids’ Camps, which can be applied toward Community Service hours.
And don’t forget about family canoe instruction and geocaching this summer. And there’s so much more! You’ll find them all in the Spring/Summer Leisure Guide.
Be Creative
Has spring got you itching to brighten up your outdoor spaces? Join the maker series on Tuesday, June 13, to learn how to design a beautiful planter full of flowers for your porch. Kelly from Sandhill Nursery will provide all the supplies, Whimsical Bakery is bringing sweet treats, and you get to take home a gorgeous planter to admire all summer long.
If a beat gets you bopping or the sound of strumming is music to your ears, check out drop-in drumming for all ages (kids must be accompanied by an adult) or the eight-week ukulele program for ages 15-plus – bring your own or use one that’s supplied.
Do you have a story idea that’s just waiting to be told? Get started with an introduction to novel writing. In the four-week workshop you’ll learn how to develop engaging characters and a plot that has readers wondering what’s next. You’ll learn how to avoid common pitfalls, too.
Love art, culture and history? Then this summer’s Speaker Series, which pays tribute to iconic painter Tom Thomson, is for you. On June 2, adventure seekers Sue and Jim Waddington share their 40-year-and-counting journey to photograph and document the locations that inspired Thomson and the Group of Seven. Then, on July 4, former Huntsville resident, Andrew Kear, Curator of Canadian Art at the Winnipeg Art Gallery, explores our collective and enduring fascination with Tom Thomson’s art and tears away the myths surrounding his life. Seating is limited for these engaging talks – pre-registration is recommended.
Be Well
Finding balance can feel like an impossible task when life gets busy. Sometimes taking an hour to relax is all you need to feel ready to take on everything life throws your way. A practice like Wellness Chi Kung helps to balance and increase your energy and increases your strength and well-being. “It’s becoming more and more popular as people look for wellness balance,” says Simone Babineau, the Town of Huntsville’s Manager of Recreation and Leisure Services. “It’s a cross between yoga and Tai Chi – there is less memory work, and it’s very relaxing and good for balance.”
Eating well can improve your sense of well-being, too. How about learning to grow your own sprouts and greens? It’s easier than you might think – no green thumb required! Sharing meals, and conversations, with family and friends can give you a boost, too. Wow them with some comfort food when you learn how to make pasta from scratch, complete with an Italian nonna’s recipe for delicious sauce.
Or how about spending some quality time just with mom? The annual Mother’s Day luncheon is on Wednesday, May 10.
Want to learn more? Check out all of these programs and others available in the Spring/Summer Leisure Guide.
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