With COVID still restricting what can be done at Police Point Park, park interpreters are training some local teachers on various programming so they can still have their classes participate.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
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With warm weather arriving, the Interpretive Program at Police Point Park has been coaching teachers to run their own events at the park and are planning more events for the rest of the summer.
For the last two weeks, park interpreter Alicia Lew says they have been coaching teachers on programs they offer for them to use with their students. Current restrictions don’t allow the park to run its own programs, so this allows students to still get outside and participate in programs until the school year wraps up.
“We’ll do one-on-one coaching with the teachers and then they can come back with their larger class to do the programs here in the park,” she said.
Bug Safari has been a popular program, says Lew. She says the program includes learning about different insects and exploring the park to safely capture bugs. They then look at the bug, identify it and talk about why they’re important for the ecosystem.
“We’ve been kind of guiding them through the park and showing them the best places to catch those insects and maybe where they’ll find the most diversity and then give them a guide on where to go and maybe the order to tackle things within the program and then they come back at a later date with their classroom,” said Lew.
Lew says teachers from three to four schools have taken advantage of this opportunity and kids seem to be enjoying the programs.
“We hope to be back in front of the classroom soon,” she said. “There seems to be a real desire from these classrooms to get out and start exploring nature again. I think a lot of people are tired with the virtual environment.”
Yoga will also be offered at Police Point Park this summer, says Lew. One of the park’s interpreters is a certified yoga instructor and will be using her talents to offer yoga in the park to the community as part of the park’s on-going wellness and nature series. Lew adds more events will be offered throughout the summer.
“We’ve offered things like meditation walks, there’s also some painting in the park coming up, so it’s an opportunity for people to paint greeting cards for someone special in their life. Just kind of relaxing and rejuvenating things in nature and we’re trying to emphasize that for a different audience,” said Lew.
Lew says she believes there is a deeper appreciation, especially this year, for how restorative nature can be for people’s mental well-being. She says nature can help people in difficult times and they want to offer that opportunity to the people of Medicine Hat.
Nature photography workshops, story walks through the park and workshops on invasive species are also on the agenda.
Lew says anyone interested in learning more about events this summer and when they will be taking place can find the information on the Police Point Park Facebook page which will also have information on how to register.
