Apr
11
2:00 PM14:00

Mini-Summit - Ways to Play, Wet & Dry

Join us for the Mini Play Summit on April 11, 2025, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM at the Stan Siwik Family Swimming Pool in Lethbridge. This hands-on event, themed "Ways to Play - Wet & Dry," is designed for educators, caregivers, and professionals to explore the creative, educational, and sensory aspects of play with wet and dry materials.

From 2:00 to 3:00 PM, engage in an insightful workshop focusing on how different types of play can enrich children's experiences. Then, from 3:00 to 4:00 PM, dive into interactive activities in both the pool and classroom settings. Participants are encouraged to bring their bathing suits to fully immerse themselves in the "Wet Play" activities.

The second hour is open to families, offering a chance to play together or observe children as they explore diverse play opportunities.

Registration is $10 per person. Co-hosted by Recreation Excellence and the Holy Spirit Catholic School Division, this event promises to inspire and inform. .

 
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Mini Play Summit
Oct
30
2:00 PM14:00

Mini Play Summit

This summit will explore the importance of play in fostering connections within families and communities. Family Centre will focus on the impact of male involvement and the benefits of adult-child play, while Immigrant Services will share insights on their Home Visitor Program and ways to encourage play with household items, particularly for newcomer families. Learn how to create inclusive, supportive play opportunities that benefit children, parents, and caregivers alike.

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Mini Play Summit
Mar
5
1:00 PM13:00

Mini Play Summit

Join staff from Lethbridge College Early Childhood Education and Helen Schuler Nature Centre to learn new tips and tricks with loose parts play and how to implement play in your workplace. Engage in different types of play with the Nature of Play Exhibit, while discovering new ideas and resources available to you

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Jan
23
10:00 AM10:00

Mini Play Summit

The Art of Hanging Out: How to engage young people in a play environment

Tuesday, January 23, 10AM - 11:30AM
Hosted by YOUTH ONE - 1303 13 St N, Lethbridge

While play often seems like an easy thing to do, what happens when the spaces, activities or environments we make for play don't get young people playing? This is where play gets difficult. The question we are forced to ask is how do we engage the young people we encounter in the play we have created? The Lethbridge Plays mini summit hosted at Youth One, The Art of Hanging Out, will seek to answer that question through a mixture of knowledge sharing, from our near decade of creating and engaging youth in environments of play, as well as hands-on play experiences in our center. A little bit about Youth One...

Youth One is taking a growing need and addressing it with a very intentional approach. We believe every youth has so much potential, but many grow up without a dedicated community to help them fully realize it and live it out. That's why Youth One provides mentorship based, after school programs and support services for youth ages 11-18. Programs are designed to give students a community of belonging, support and guidance during their most formative years.

In 2014, Youth One launched because of the need for more affordable, quality driven, mentorship based programs supporting youth after school. In North America, 1 in every 3 youth will grow up without a mentor or caring adult in their life. This means many youth are struggling through life without necessary guidance and support during their most formative years. Research tells us when a youth has even ONE positive role model/mentor in their life it dramatically reduces many risk factors such as drug and alcohol abuse, crime rates, mental health issues, drop-out rates etc. For this reason, we are determined to make sure no youth has to figure out life alone. We firmly believe that when youth are supported to live out their full potential, the future health of our community increases.

Since launching, Youth One has supported thousands of individual youth through their middle school and high school years. This has been done through after-school drop in programs, support groups, leadership training, food services, life skill development and more.


 
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Feb
28
6:00 PM18:00

Play Summit 2023 - Community Session

The evening session is designed for parents and caregivers, and is being offered to the community free of charge. The session will include a keynote presentation from Professional Child, Matt Leung.

Join us on February 28th at the Main Branch of Lethbridge Public Library. (810 5 Ave South).

About the speaker, Matt Leung

Matt Leung is a Professional Child who has spent over 15 years working with children and youth in the recreation sector. He has facilitated trainings and workshops across Canada and the United States and he played a key role in the planning and implementation of the International Play Association conference hosted in Calgary in September of 2017. He is an expert at instigating play for all ages, has appeared on various media networks, and was recently featured in the newly published book, The Playful Life. Matt studied Global Leadership at Royal Roads University, where he focused on the impact of play and positivity in organizational culture. He is the Program Manager of Communities ChooseWell, a health promotion and community development program operated by the Alberta Recreation and Parks Association. He is also a DANCEPL3Y Master Trainer, a podcaster, and sits on the Board of Directors for Outdoor Play Canada.

Registration

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Feb
28
11:45 AM11:45

Play Summit 2023 - Afternoon Sessions

Join us on Tuesday, February 28th for an afternoon of fun and learning with Lethbridge Plays

The Summit will start with lunch and blitz presentations from local organizations, and experts, and opening presentation from Robbin Gibb, and a workshop with Professional Child, Matt Leung on ‘Navigating Productivity and Leadership through Play’.

Registration is now open.



Play Summit Registration - There are 2 sessions being offered. The lunch/afternoon session is perfect for professionals, educators, ect. Cost to attend is $30/person. The evening session is designed for parents and caregivers, and is being offered to the community free of charge.

  • Matt Leung is a Professional Child who has spent over 15 years working with children and youth in the recreation sector. He has facilitated trainings and workshops across Canada and the United States and he played a key role in the planning and implementation of the International Play Association conference hosted in Calgary in September of 2017. He is an expert at instigating play for all ages, has appeared on various media networks, and was recently featured in the newly published book, The Playful Life. Matt studied Global Leadership at Royal Roads University, where he focused on the impact of play and positivity in organizational culture. He is the Program Manager of Communities ChooseWell, a health promotion and community development program operated by the Alberta Recreation and Parks Association. He is also a DANCEPL3Y Master Trainer, a podcaster, and sits on the Board of Directors for Outdoor Play Canada.

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Play Mini Summit
Jun
24
1:30 PM13:30

Play Mini Summit

Join us Thursday, June 24, 1:30PM - 3:30PM at Helen Schuler Nature Centre for our spring Play mini Summit!  This interactive, outdoor Professional Development opportunity will provide learning, networking and the chance to enter into playful experiences!

The Play mini Summit! is designed for practitioners and people working in fields related to child development and play.  Early-bird registration is only $10 per participant prior to June 18th.  Registration after June 18th will be $20 per participant.  Space is limited. 

The mini Summit is an outdoor event. Participants will be placed in small-sized groups that will not overlap. Masks will be required at all times. For further information regarding COVID-19 protocols, please contact hsnc@lethbridge.ca

We look forward to seeing you outside and in-person at the Play mini Summit on June 24

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Jun
13
2:30 PM14:30

Nature Play Day

On the second Saturday in June celebrate Nature Play Day at Henderson Lake Park! This free family festival will feature activities for all ages!! Nature Play Day provides families with the opportunity to try diverse outdoor activities from disc golf to kayaking!

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David Sobolewski - Healthy Childhood Through Play
Mar
5
6:30 PM18:30

David Sobolewski - Healthy Childhood Through Play

David Sobolewski has 31 years of classroom teaching experience and 8 years as a consultant with Teacher Induction and Inclusive Learning at Edmonton Public Schools. David provides support through consulting, coaching and collaborative processes. Play-based learning, early literacy, student assessment, classroom organization, and student engagement are areas where David has had extensive experience providing leadership and support.

Register at: https://lethbridgeearlyyears.wufoo.com/forms/z1vcyza402n2a0a/

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Play Day 2020
Feb
17
11:00 AM11:00

Play Day 2020

Were you born in a barn? Maybe not, but you can build one to play in!

Bring a swimsuit, gym shoes and comfortable clothing and take part in a variety of FREE activities, including:

- Free Build cardboard fort building zone
- basketball
- floor hockey
- swimming
- climbing
- arts and crafts activities
- science experiments
- face painting
- more!

Follow us on Facebook and let us know if you can make it. 

Volunteers Needed: This event wouldn’t be possible without the support of more than 150 volunteers who help facilitate activities throughout the day. Interested in getting involved? Sign up here.

Parking for this event is free. Find your way around: https://www.uleth.ca/campus-map

Refreshments are available for sale, but all are welcome to bring food and drink to enjoy.

BONUS: Sign up for Horns Summer Camps (INCLUDING select Destination Exploration and Music Conservatory Camps) at Play Day, and get 15% off registration fees!

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Family Day Brunch
Feb
17
10:00 AM10:00

Family Day Brunch

Celebrate Family Day at the Galt at our second annual free pancake brunch! After the popularity of last years' event, we will have additional griddles to cook pancakes that morning. Enjoy food, music, crafts and games! Check out the exhibits and complete a special treasure hunt. Head downstairs to the Archives for a tour and to learn about more local history research. Museum opens early at 10 am for this special stat holiday celebration!

10–1 pm | children to attend with adults | registration not required | free admission

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The Importance of Play: Are Children getting enough Playtime?
Feb
13
12:00 PM12:00

The Importance of Play: Are Children getting enough Playtime?

  • 324 Mayor Magrath Dr. S. Lethbridge (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

SACPA (Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs) will be presenting this presentation with speaker Vicki Hazelwood, moderated by Chelsea Sherbut.

Date: Thursday, February 13, 2020
Time: Doors open 11:30 am, presentation 12 noon, buffet lunch 12:30 pm, Q&A 1 – 1:30 pm
Location: Royal Canadian Legion (please enter at north door) 324 Mayor Magrath Dr. S. Lethbridge
Cost: $14 buffet lunch with dessert/coffee/tea/juice or $2 coffee/tea/juice. RSVP not required

For more details: https://www.facebook.com/events/2502463956663347/

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Mini Play Summit
Nov
12
9:00 AM09:00

Mini Play Summit

  • Lethbridge Public Library - Theatre Gallery (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

The ‘Mini-Play-Summit’ will feature a presentation by Dr. Afra Foroud from the University of Lethbridge speaking about “Play for its own sake: Universality, diversity and consequential benefits.”.

Children seem to relish in seemingly simple running, jumping, twisting and falling games, to become fully absorbed in reassembling their surroundings into a nebulous fort, tall towers or novel inventions, and to be transported by social rough and tumble playfighting. While children in most cultures engage in many forms of play, the purpose of play remains an elusive question. Perhaps it is not the reason for play that matters. Perhaps the greatest value of play is that it happens freely throughout childhood- and even adulthood. Join Afra as she discusses both the short and long term benefits of play in emotional, social, learning and creative settings.

If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to lethbridgeplays@gmail.com

Download the poster HERE

Copy of Copy of LP Mini Play Summit Poster November 2019 Revised (2).png


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Oct
26
1:00 PM13:00

2019 Boo Bash - The Halloween event of the year!

From the Family Centre Facebook:

Join us for our FIFTH-TASTIC BOO BASH!!! - The Halloween event of the year! This FREE game and fun filled event is for you and your children ages 2 - 10. Come out in your costume and enjoy crafts, games, bouncy castle, photo booth, face painting, roving gym, tattoos, and so much more!!
Family Centres Parent Advisory Council and Exhibition Park want you and your family to be entertained for a whole afternoon. Exhibition Park donated the West Pavilion so there are no admission charges and no parking fees. There will be raffle tickets, cotton candy, and popcorn that can be purchased for small charges.

Come out on Saturday, October 26th and celebrate Halloween with us!

We are excited to see you there.

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