Over the past two months, more than 4,100 elementary school students have learned the importance of staying active while visiting Brock University.

Coming not only from Niagara but also from communities across Ontario, the students, in Grades 1 to 8, have experienced a variety of sports and put their skills to the test through the Positive Active Living for Students (PALS) program.

For many of the attendees, the Brock experience marked their first time on a university campus, said Karen McAllister-Kenny, Director of Recreation.

“It’s a fun learning opportunity for kids,” she said, while adding the program also provides valuable hands-on experience for the student leaders who oversee the groups.

“For our student leaders, it provides them with a great experience in lesson planning, delivery and teaching,” she said. “And the children always enjoy hearing about their instructor’s experiences at university, where they came from and how they chose what they are taking in school.” 

The young program participants got a taste of Brock’s facilities through days packed with an abundance of activities revolving around team building, communication, physical education programs and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math).

PALS consists of traditional sports such as tennis and lacrosse, but also includes ultimate Frisbee, fencing and archery.

Brock added three new sports this year: Omnikin Ball (a team activity using a giant inflatable ball), tchoukball (handball as a team sport with a trampoline for rebounds) and pickleball (a racquet sport played with wooden or plastic paddles and wiffle balls). 

To learn more about PALS and other recreational children’s activities on campus, visit brocku.ca/kids.