Park Prowl gives kids, parents new insights

Friday, October 19, 2012
Photos by Lynn A. Wade/Daily Mail This bridge is the beginning of a hiking and biking path in Postlethwaite Park in Nevada, and tiger paws like the one on the bridge railing marked the way for people participating in the Park Prowl: Tigers on the Hunt scavenger hunt, operated by the Nevada R-5 School District wellness program, Sept. 17-Oct. 8. Participants were to collect information from several locations in and around Nevada. Many said they were unaware of amenities available at many of the places they visited -- some were completely unaware of the park or venue itself. Wellness Coordinator Crystal Burch said participation far exceeded her expectations, and noted that many families said the best part was that they spent some quality time together. "And they learned something about their community," Burch said. She hopes the scavenger hunt will become an annual event.

* Participants say R-5 activity helped them spend quality time with family members.

By Lynn A. Wade

Nevada Daily Mail

A recent wellness program put together by Nevada R-5 Wellness Coordinator Crystal Burch send families all over Vernon County -- and just a little beyond in some cases -- to find out about local parks, organizations, history and more.

Hundreds participated in the Park Prowl: Tigers on the Hunt scavenger hunt and wellness challenge, Sept. 17-Oct. 8.

For a few years, the school district's wellness program has offered, among other things, a spring progressive marathon, which gives students and adults six weeks to complete the course of 12 miles for the youngest children, 18 miles for older children, and 26 miles for still older people participating. Burch, who's been wellness coordinator for two years, wanted to do something in the fall and came up with the Park Prowl. "Who doesn't love a good scavenger hunt?" she said.

So she worked with several area organizations, including the Nevada/Vernon County Chamber of Commerce and the city of Nevada's parks and recreation department, to develop the program.

The program challenged families to visit area organizations, parks and other facilities and to find the answers to questions posed. Tiger paws were placed in parks as clues for students and families to find, too.

For example, the first challenge was to visit the chamber's offices in the Carnegie Building at 225 W. Austin Blvd., pick up a map and find out Mr. Carnegie's first name, make note of what anima guards the sign near the entrance, and identify what symbol identifies schools on a hanging map inside.

"The chamber gives maps to anyone who needs them, and that's why that was first on the list," Burch said.

Chamber director Gina Ensor said, "Quite a few of the kids were here, and their parents came in with them. They would come in and get the map, and I would show them the sign. Greg has a sign that I think was one of the original sign markers for the building, that talked about Andrew Carnegie, and all of the organizations that made it possible, that kind of thing."

Participants seemed eager to begin the hunt, Ensor said. "When they left here, they were energized and ready to go."

Other challenges sent families to Spring Street Park, Hester Park, Marmaduke Park, Walton Park, the Franklin P. Norman City/County Community Center, Old Settlers Park, the skate park, Davis Park, Radio Springs Park, Blair Park and Postlethwaite Park, and the courthouse grounds. Bonus challenges included attending special events like the Thundering Toms youth event held in September at Elks Lake, an anniversary event at Prairie State Park, and visits to other, more outlying places like Walker Park.

"It's an opportunity to explore what's in your own back yard. People say in this community there's nothing to do. There are lots of things to do," Burch said.

At the close of the event, many of the participants filled out feedback forms, and the most common response was that families enjoyed spending quality time together. "That's what our deficit is right now -- families spending quality time together." Burch said she was pleased that families got that benefit out of the scavenger hunt, and that many also said they'd enjoyed learning more about their community.

"It's interesting. A lot of people said they enjoyed Davis Park," enjoying in particular the playground equipment on the site. "It doesn't take much for a child to enjoy a park, just exploring, being outside, being with the family," Burch said.

She hopes the scavenger hunt will become an annual event.

Prizes were donated by several area businesses, along with some prizes provided by the district's wellness fund; winners will be announced soon.

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