聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Arcola School recently hosted Curling Canada's 鈥淩ocks & Rings.鈥� This uniquely Canadian program has introduced over one million students to the game of curling-and on Wednesday, Jan. 18, Arcola students from kindergarten to grade eight joined their ranks.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭his program is a great way for kids from throughout the province to be exposed to the sport of curling,鈥� says instructor Callan Hamon of Regina, a teacher and member of the Jolene Campbell rink. 鈥淲e can visit a community without a rink or a curling rink and kids from those places still get a chance to try the game.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Even though Arcola has both a rink and a curling rink, bringing 鈥淩ocks & Rings鈥� to the school is 鈥淕reat!鈥� says Arcola Curling Club President and school parent, Terri Lees. 鈥淲e've been waiting for a chance to host the program for a couple of years. This will get more youth exposed to curling.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淣ot all of them can come to the (curling) rink and this will encourage them to give the sport a try.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The one-day workshop- organized by Arcola School teacher, Judy Nalen- allowed each age group to receive a 40-minute coaching session from Harmon, which included an introduction to the game's fundamentals, curling etiquette and the opportunity to team up for sweeping and rock-throwing competitions. Wheeled, lightweight throwing rocks allowed the young curlers to learn the game within the confines of the school gym.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Hamon- one of two 鈥淩ocks & Rings鈥� instructors in the province- says: 鈥淐urling is really Saskatchewan's game. I grew up with curling and as part of Jolene Campbell's rink, I've curled in the Scotties, so obviously, it's a big part of my life.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淕rowing up in Regina, I went to the (curling) rink a lot as a kid, because members of my family curled. I was in the Curl For Kids program in grade five or six and for me, it went from there.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淏ut not every young person lives near a rink or has the chance to play the game,鈥� adds Hamon. 鈥淚'm one of two instructors in this program. I cover the southern part of the province and I'm based in Regina. Our other instructor covers the north- from Saskatoon.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚've been doing this since October and we're busy. I'm on the road a lot, but it's not just smaller communities-I've been to schools in Moose Jaw, in Weyburn- It's not just a way to get kids exposed to the game, but the indoor rocks we use can be purchased by schools and organizations for an indoor gym or recess activity.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淐urling is a sport that can be enjoyed throughout someone's entire lifetime and we're thrilled to聽 expose young people to the game.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Arcola School Vice-Principal Eugene Brown agrees, saying: 鈥淚 like this program because it provides an opportunity for the kids to have a new experience. Whether it's an athletic or academic activity, it's great to be exposed to different things. And hopefully, that diversity will allow them to pick up a new interest that will enrich their lives.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 School parent and curler Stacy Brownridge of Arcola says: 鈥淚t's great that this program has come to Arcola School. The biggest thing is that it exposes kids to the game and the kids have been so enthusiastic. This is a great opportunity for all of our students and it really supports our elementary youth curling program at the school.鈥濃��
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭he best way to sum it up is what I heard one little boy say today- 鈥淚've cheered so hard my hands hurt.'鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 For more information visit: rocksandrings.com
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