A GROUP GOES CANOEING AS PART OF EAU CLAIRE PARKS AND RECREATION’S OUTDOOR ADVENTURES PROGRAM, WHICH JUST WON A SILVER STAR OF EXCELLENCE FROM THE WISCONSIN PARKS AND REC ASSOCIATION.

The great outdoors is a great place to be in Wisconsin, and a curriculum designed by the Eau Claire Parks and Recreation Department is doing a great job getting kids out and about in it. The Wisconsin Parks and Recreation Association recently awarded the local department its Silver Star for excellence in recreation programming after reviewing the department’s Outdoors Adventure curriculum.

Through a series of classes throughout the summer, students ages 8-17 can try sailing, canoeing, mountain biking, archery, fishing, camping, nature photography, outdoor skills, and wildlife study. Through a partnership that leverages school district funding, many of the classes are available to residents for $14 to $18.

“According to a survey conducted by the Nature Kids Institute, children today typically spend 90 percent of their time indoors,” said Superintendent of Recreation Dawn Comte. “We wanted to create an engaging and affordable program that exposed youths to outdoor activities they could enjoy for a lifetime.”

Since the curriculum’s inception in 2012, enrollment has grown from 104 participants to 265 participants this last summer. The department is expanding course offerings to include winter activities as well, starting with introductory and intermediate snowboarding lessons starting in January.