Celebrate Earth Day at Legacy Park! Join the City of Lethbridge Parks, Forestry and Waste & Environment departments, along with Helen Schuler Nature Centre and Environment Lethbridge for this family friendly event.
Hosted by the Lethbridge Sport Council, SportFest 2025 will be held on Saturday, June 7th at Servus Sports Centre.
More details will be added as they become available.
Hosted by the Helen Schuler Nature Centre, get ready to dive into a world of outdoor fun and adventure at Nature Play Fest!
More details will be added as they become available.
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. .
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.
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
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.
Come celebrate National Child Day with Lethbridge Plays and our partners ~ Saturday, November 18th, 9:30 am - 12:00 pm! There will be FREE play activities, dancers, games, prizes, community agencies, and more!
Lethbridge Plays members, Be Fit For Life and Building Brains Together, are partnering to host a fall Play Mini Summit - “The Brain on Exercise.” Date: Tuesday, October 24, 1:30 - 3:30PM
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).
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.
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.
Lethbridge Plays, in collaboration with many local organizations, is hosting a FREE fun event to celebrate National Child Day! Join us at Lethbridge College on Saturday, November 19th, 9:30 am - 1 pm. Click for more details!
The YMCA invites the Lethbridge Plays community to attend a professional development opportunity to build their skills on implementing and encouraging play across all age groups. Learn new activities you can use with the communities you play with, and meet others who promote play in Lethbridge.
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
Nearly 3000 athletes and coaches will be coming to Lethbridge to play their sport!
Visit the ASG 2020 website for full details: https://albertasport.ca/alberta-games/summer-games/
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!
The 6th annual SportFest will be held on Saturday May 30th at the Servus Sports Centre. SportFest is a free interactive event promoting sport, active recreation, and physical literacy. Learn more at sportfest.ca
On the third Friday in March we celebrate the arrival of spring at the Nature Centre! This free family festival will feature activities for all ages!! Enjoy an afternoon of games, spring activities, prizes, crafts, live music & more.
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/
You are invited to COME TRY LACROSSE! This is a FREE event for all (age 8 and up) to come try lacrosse. Register online at https://lethbridgesportcouncil.wufoo.com/forms/k155atpx0eualo2/
Learn more: https://www.facebook.com/events/206233627167933/
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!
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
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/
Looking for a low key event for your family?
Get outside and have some fun in the river valley at the Nature Centre!
Explore the Energize Exhibit!
Experiment with energy in a series of hands-on activity stations.
FUN FOR ALL AGES!!
Learn more here: https://www.facebook.com/events/2845488008850371/
PLAY! Summit will bring together educators, researchers, parents, students, and policy-makers to learn from each other.
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
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.
Stop by the Community Conversations event at ATB Centre to see all the projects the City is working on, and make sure to stop by the Play Charter booth.
Learn about harvest celebrations and create a doll out of corn husks and other craft supplies.
Children are invited to attend with adults, registration is not required. Museum admission applies.
Learn more on the Galt Museum website.
Join us at the Crossings Branch of the Lethbridge Public Library for Indigenous Games. More details coming soon!
Visit Play Alley at Nature Play Day - Hosted by Helen Schuler Nature Centre
