Gordon Ramsay won’t be screaming at them, but teens will be learning some food preparation skills all the same this fall when Prince Rupert Recreation hosts ‘Food Safe’.
That’s just one brand new programming option that the Recreation Department has planned for the fall.
“[Food Safe] is a teen-only environment, so it’s not the same pressures as if you’re attending with just anybody or the whole public,” explained recreation coordinator Shantelle Berry.
The Sept. 25 course lasts all day for anyone between the ages of 13 and 18 and the Hecate Strait Employment Development Society will also be on hand to teach the participants some kitchen skills.
For the same age group, Prince Rupert Recreation is helping kids prepare for the business world, when they host ‘Employment Readiness’, another one-day course on Oct. 23 that helps teens prepare resumes and navigate interview processes among other things.
“Those courses are designed to run on [Professional Development] Days, so the days kids are out of school, they gain some new skills as well,” said Berry.
Ever needed to replace a button or fix a tear in your jeans? Gain the skills necessary to do so with youth sewing and adult sewing courses, both offered this season once again at the Lapidary Room.
“This is the opportunity to dust off that sewing machine you have around and learn how to actually use it,” said the coordinator.
Noon-hour badminton continues to be hot as ever for the department, and will continue from Monday to Friday. Also making an appearance in the casual, drop-in section of the rec guide is morning shift hockey and noon-hour hockey. Drop-in hockey continues to run on Wednesdays at 8:45 p.m.
“We have shift hockey Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and noon hour hockey on the same days for individuals whose schedules aren’t as consistent,” said Berry.
“We’re also trying out a parent and tot skate, so that parents can come down and experience the ice with their kids in a setting that’s not as crazy as a public skate, and then we have Coffee Club, an [18+ program] that is the same kind of thing – you don’t have all the stuff that goes on in public skates.”
Public skating times occur Sundays and Tuesdays at 3:15 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. respectively.
Fitness programs are on the rise as Rupertites prepare to try and stay in summer shape.
“I think people are getting the word that we have some really strong instructors here and it’s really nice. We’ve got Tai Chi, Athletic Core, Pilates Plus, Yoga, Tone and Stretch and Cardio [programs],” said Berry, adding that Recreation is always continuously tweaking programming in response to feedback and try to fill gaps in service by seeking suitable instructors in the community or lead in-demand programs with current staff. Sometimes ideas are brought to the department as well.
The summer kids camps went off without a hitch, said Berry.
“We heard lots of positive feedback from the campers themselves. The parents were happy with the different activities the organization had. We took them on field trips and our Big Kids (camp staff) actually created their own games. It was lots of fun ... Of course, they also played the more common games like Bench Ball, so they were comfortable in that element as well.”
Maintenance projects continue to invade the Earl Mah Aquatic Centre, as the pool shutdown timespan has been shortened and will now open on Sept. 21. The Fitness Centre has some “exciting projects” coming up for its reopening from its scheduled maintenance period on Sept. 21 and a steam sauna will now accompany the pool area’s dry sauna beside each other.
To register for programming, call Prince Rupert Recreation at 250-624-6707. The Fall 2015 Active Living Guide can be found at the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre or at the Northern View offices on Fraser Street, downtown.