SC Spirit of Excellence held two events for kids and youth at YMCA Camp Elphinstone on Sunday, Feb. 18.
Some 100 participants solved exciting physical and mental challenges following a two-hour course on forest trails.
Mini Mudders ages six to 10 and their families lined up to register their eager athletes. Four Grade 6 team leaders took charge of their teams applying warrior and Amazon face paint before they tried to build the most creative fire and balanced on rope structures connecting wooden swings and platforms or along a suspended narrow bridge.
A stunning old-growth tree was the perfect hidden place for solving a riddle and then ran back to a big field for a series of relay races. Families enjoyed hot chocolate or coffee during the closing ceremony.
In the afternoon, the 10 to 15 year-olds started the highly anticipated Y-Games with the ring of a big ancient bell.
Teams followed their own course with map in hand to tackle the tasks at six different stations such as The "King's Finger" which required the whole team to lift off a tire that was on the forest ground and around a eight-foot tall post without the tire touching the post. One team even formed a human pyramid. Brave teammates tightened up the mandatory harness before climbing up the poles at the high ropes area.
Specialist Amanda Sawyers guided the competitors from one side to the other who at times only had dangling ropes to reach for every 10 feet. The archery station was a highlight for all.
YMCA's Pam Chater walked teams through the required technique with bow and arrow to hit the big rubber spiders or bats on the target. All teams reunited on the big field to race in various relay challenges and finished off the event with hot beverages and awards for all.
SC Spirit of Excellence plans to run these events with new challenges each year in early spring and fall with the next big event to be announced for September.
A somewhat similar program will start on Fridays after school at Gibsons' pool with team competitions and games in the water rather than the forest. Kids ages eight to 14 can play hard from 3 to 5 p.m. Drop-in fee is $8.
During Spring Break youth ages 10 to 14 can join a snowboarding camp at Cypress Mountain from March 20 to 22. Parents drop off and pick up students at Langdale ferry terminal. More information on all programs is available at www.scsoe.ca.
-Submitted
