By Shanti Kessler, Kristi Helms-Smith and Shannon Wilson
Rec Club is part of the 21st Century After School Program offered at Chief Leschi Middle/High School. The premise of Rec Club is to “Get Out, Get Active.” We want to provide activities that develop positive, healthy habits. Students have gone bowling, roller skating, hiking, sledding and snowshoeing this year. Local businesses have welcomed our students and provided an atmosphere that encourages our students to just be kids and have fun. We have gone bowling at Daffodil Lanes and skating at Tiffany’s in Puyallup. In Tacoma, Rec Club has visited WheelZ, where “Skate Dog” coordinated a variety of activities that promoted students to exercise their brains and bodies in a competitive spirit. At Mt. Rainier the kids sledded and were led on a snowshoeing expedition. During the expedition the ranger guided students through discovery activities that helped them become familiar with their snowshoes, environmental cycles, animal adaptation, and encouraged them to value nature. Students have not only had fun, but have conducted themselves in ways that embody the school’s “Guidelines for Success:” effort, respect, responsibility and pride. Due to the popularity of the program numbers have continued to increase, with up to 30 students attending events.
