commission report regular meeting to: parks, recreation

City of Delta COMMISSION REPORT

Regular Meeting

To: Parks, Recreation & Culture Commission File No.: 14000-01

From: Parks, Recreation & Culture Department

Date: October 31, 2017

Delta Programs for Children and Youth

• RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the Parks, Recreation & Culture Commission recommend that Council receive this report for information.

• PURPOSE:

To provide the Parks, Recreation & Culture Commission (Commission) with an update on accessible programs available to children and youth in Delta.

• BACKGROUND:

At its August 14, 2017 Regular Meeting, Council received a presentation on the Child Friendly Community Survey. The City Manager directed staff to report back to Council on accessible program opportunities available in Delta.

The Early Years Development Instrument (EDI) which helped form the survey, is designed to access population trends and measure core areas of child development. Data has been collected province wide since 2001, and measures patterns and trends in the development of over 245,000 kindergarten children in British Columbia.

The EDI measures five scales:

1. Physical Health & Well-being

2. Social Competence

3. Emotional Maturity 4. Language & Cognitive Development

5. Communication Skills & General Knowledge

• DISCUSSION:

Recognizing the importance of providing innovative programs and services for children and youth, the Parks, Recreation & Culture Department (Department) delivers opportunities that inspire participation, encourages connection and fosters lifelong learning and growth for children and youth in Delta. The power of recreation and play

Delta Programs for Children and Youth 14000-01

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and the lasting effects it has on building a strong vibrant foundation is essential to the emotional, soqial and physical well-being of the children that live in Delta.

The following highlights the variety of programs and services offered to Delta children and youth through the Department.

The Early Years (0-5 years)

The first few years of a child's life are a critical time for learning, nurturing and exploring the world around them. Delta's Early Years program offers a diverse and ex~iting curriculum that includes parent participation, recreation, camps and year-long playtime programs. In 2016, over 5,000 children between the ages of 0-5 years old participated in registered programs.

The Middle Years (6-12 years)

Children between the ages of 6 and 12 undergo important cognitive, social and emotional changes that establish their lifelong identity and set the stage for adolescence and adulthood. Children this age have approximately 67 hours of free time each week, which is more than they spend at school. In 2016, Delta offered over 700 sports, arts, drama, music, skating, fitness, cooking and dance programs to children aged 6-12 years old with nearly 8,500 participants.

Youth (13-18 years)

In this last phase of childhood, youth between the ages of 13 and 18 experience tremendous changes socially, mentally and physically. Delta offered 182 programs ranging from sports, fitness, arts and leadership, aimed at positively influencing behaviour, strengthening connections, and helping to increase confidence and activity. In 2016, 1,300 youth aged 13 - 18 participated in recreation programs.

Awesome Afterschool

Launched in 2012, high quality before and after school programming is offered to Delta children and youth that encourages active play and recreation, homework support, social-emotional skills and leadership development in a screen free enyironment. The program runs in two locations; at the South Delta Recreation Centre and at Pinewood Leisure Centre.

Currently, the program has reached over 200 children and had the capacity to service 72 children between the two sites.

Grade 5 to 8 Admission Pass

In 2008, Delta introduced the Grade 5 Admission Pass. A complimentary one-year pass was provided to all grade 5 students living in Delta for unlimited access to all dropin programs including swimming, skating, gym activities, fitness classes and weight room . . Over 14,000 visits were made by Grade 5 students in 2008. The program was so successful that over time it was expanded to include Grade 5 through 8 students. Over 230,000 visits have been realized at Delta facilities to date.

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$20.00 Summer Pass

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During the spring of 2014 a $20.00 Child and Youth Summer Pass (Pass) was introduced to Delta residents. The Pass allowed children and youth between the ages of 2 - 18 to participate in drop-in programs at Delta recreation facilities. The intended goal of the Pass is to increase activity by children and youth at recreation facilities during the summer months.

Passes went on sale April 27, 2017, with June 29th representing the first day of use. Between June 29th to September 4th, 4,258 passes were issued to children & youth, and garnered a total of 40,028 visits to Delta facilities. From the launch of the Pass in 2014 through 2017, there were a total of 144,886 visits during the months of July and August and recreation facilities.

Leaders of Tomorrow

The Leaders of Tomorrow program offers an opportunity for youth to gain knowledge and skills needed for seeking future employment in recreation. Leaders of Tomorrow is an introductory course for youth to learn what makes a good leader, how to -problem -solve and communicate in a fun and open environment, plus basic resume and interview skills. At the end of the program, participants volunteer a minimum of 10 hours with Delta.

The program began in 2013 and has provided leadership skills to 669 participants.

Adventure Playgrounds

In the summer of 2017, Delta introduced two Adventure Playgrounds; one at the North Delta Community Park, and the other at the South Delta Recreation Centre. Adventure Playgrounds are quite different from Delta's existing registered and drop-in programs,

· and offered a new type of play for children. Children use their imagination and creativity to independently develop skills and increase their social development without the assistance of an adult.

The Adventure Playgrounds, which were a tremendous success, were available 62 days, from July 3 through September 3. There were 3,786 visits during times when the sites were staffed and the feedback received from parents was very positive with many expressions of how this type of play fulfilled a need that is not readily available.

Financial Implications - There are no Financial Implications associated with this report.



• CONCLUSION:

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Through our diverse range of programs and services and Delta's many welcoming spaces, Delta provides children and youth with a strong sense of belonging and the support they need to reach their full potential through recreational experiences that include participation in physical activity and sports, and in artistic, cultural, and social activities.

Ken Kuntz Director of Parks, Recreation & Culture

Department submission prepared by: Michelle Towstyka, Recreation Facility Complex Manager MT: DLC/cb/dlc

• ATTACHMENT:

A. 2016 Programs


~

"). City of Delta

IN 2016 ...

OVER 37,000 REGISTRATIONS BY CHILDREN AND YOUTH INTO DELTA PROGRAMS

697 Cfiifdren & 'Youth.

4,097 CHILDREN PARTICIPATED IN Prescfwo{ Programs

WITH DISABILITIES WERE SUPPORTED IN ADAPTED PROGRAMS AND OPPORTUNITIES

~ 11,500 HOURS 'Drop-in Programming

OFFERED TO CHILDREN AGES 6-18

2,573 CHILDREN AND YOUTH

LEARNED

Jlow to Sf(ate

Del~a

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