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Home My WebLink AboutOES 35-08 Call 0# REPORT TO EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Report Number: OES 35-08 J Date: October 14, 2008 From: Everett Buntsma Director, Operations & Emergency Services Subject: Durham Region Grade 5 Action Pass Program File: A1440 Recommendation: 1. That Report OES 35-08 regarding the Durham Region Grade 5 Action Pass Program be received; 2. That Council approve the Durham Region Grade 5 Action Pass Program for Grade 5 students to have free access to City of Pickering public swim and public skate programs; and 3. That the appropriate officials at the City of Pickering be given authority to give effect thereto. Executive Summary: The objective of the Grade 5 Action Pass Program is to reduce financial barriers to youth and promote physical activity, in order to get youth (specifically Grade 5 students) more active. The City of Pickering is recommending making all public swim and public skate programs free of charge to Grade 5 students with the use of the Grade 5 Action Pass. The other Durham Region municipalities that are participating in the Grade 5 Action Pass program will also be designating free programs for access to Grade 5 students. Durham Lives! Steering Committee has provided funding of $4,000 for the implementation of the Grade 5 Action Pass commencing this fall. The funds received will be used for promotion of the program, as well as the costs associated with providing membership cards to each participant. Report OES 35-08 October 14, 2008 Subject: Durham Region Grade 5 Action Pass Program " r /' () Page 2 Staff anticipate minimal impact to the Culture and Recreation current budget with this program, but an increase in program revenue may be experienced as families participate together. Financial Implications: The City of Pickering will experience minimal impact on the current budget to implement this program because it is believed that many of the children this pass targets are not consistently participating in drop-in recreational activities at our facilities, therefore creating minimal revenue loss. It is possible that a revenue increase would be expected as it is assumed the student may participate with someone, including a parent, sibling, or friend, who is not in Grade 5 and who is not currently participating. It is also the end goal of this program that students would continue to participate in activities well beyond their Grade 5 year. Although the City of Pickering does not currently have statistics for Grade 5 student participation in our public swim and public skate programs, it is anticipated that an increase in overall participation will occur in both paying and non paying participants, based upon the concept of families participating together. Sustainability Implications: The Grade 5 Action Pass Program supports development of a safe and healthy community, through encouragement of active participation. The program contributes to the physical, social, and emotional wellness of residents, and promotes the benefits of active living. The Grade 5 Action Pass will expand opportunities for children and youth to participate in quality sport and physical activity. Background: Durham Lives! was formed in 1998 as a result of funding from the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. Durham Lives! promotes physical activity, healthy eating, and smoke-free living for a healthy community. The municipal working group focuses on the physical activity component. Representatives in the Physical Activity Group include Municipalities of Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa, Clarington, as well as the Oshawa YMCA, the Region of Durham Health Department, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Oshawa Senior Citizen's Centre, and Metroland News Group. Just over one third of children and youth meet the guidelines for optimal growth and healthy development (Active Healthy Kids Canada, 2008). Children's habitual physical activity levels are low, and more importantly, these levels decline dramatically from CORP0227-07/01 revised Report OES 35-08 October 14, 2008 Subject: Durham Region Grade 5 Action Pass Program Page 3 17 childhood through adolescence. In addition to their bodies changing and activity levels decreasing, adolescence is an age where the children are becoming more independent and wanting to get involved in their own activities, but at the same time they still have strong family ties, and want to be involved in their family happenings. Durham Lives! would like to target ten year olds with a Grade 5 Action Pass to generate an interest in fun activity that may carry on into future years, and maintain a regular commitment to fun physical activity throughout their teens, as well as to help address the rising obesity & inactivity being experienced in this age group. The Durham Region Grade 5 Action Pass Program is being targeted to the Grade 5 demographic based on historical research findings on physical activity patterns. This research shows that during the pre-teen ages of 11 and 12 years there is a decline in physical activity. This trend can be attributed to hormonal changes, rapid growth in the body, peer pressure, self esteem, and confidence. The Grade 5 Action Pass will generate interest in fun activities, allowing the youth to maintain a regular commitment of physical activity throughout their teen years, as well as help address the rising obesity and inactivity levels experienced within this age group. The objective of the Grade 5 Action Pass is to reduce financial barriers to youth and promote participation by providing a free activity pass to get more youth more active. The pass will be offered to all students during the year they are in Grade 5. It is recommended that the Grade 5 Action Pass include free access to public swim and public skate programs. There are many community benefits that can be realized through participation in this program: · Assisting in getting inactive kids off the couch or the computer and into municipal facilities creating a healthier community; · Changing lifestyle behaviours in children at an impressionable age, whereby they may choose to invest in themselves once they have moved beyond the program by continuing to participate in future grades; · Providing families for which fees may be a barrier to participation, an avenue to participate in our facilities and activities; · Encouraging families as a whole to become more active by participating in our facilities and programs with their Grade 5 child or sibling(s). CORP0227 -07101 revised Report OES 35-08 October 14, 2008 Subject: Durham Region Grade 5 Action Pass Program i '3 ' I ,.. '.. \. Each Grade 5 student in Pickering will receive a letter from Durham Lives! and will be required to come to the Pickering Recreation Complex to receive their Grade 5 Action Pass, by showing identification provided by Durham Lives!, and the Durham District School Board or the Durham Catholic District School Board. Page 4 The success of the program will be tracked and evaluated by the number of participants registered for the program. The Durham Lives Physical Activity Working Group will also conduct surveys pre and post program. At the time of registration, the student will complete a survey and again nearing the end of the program an online survey will be developed for completion by the students. Prizes will be awarded for completion. The group will also conduct a progress tracking activity with the participants at the mid-way point to keep motivation high, and encourage keeping physical activity in their daily routines. Durham Lives! will work with its community partners including the Durham District School Board and the Durham Catholic District School Board, to communicate this program to the Grade 5 students. Each municipal partner will communicate the program availability for each participant to be distributed by the school boards to the students. The Grade 5 Action Pass Program is not unique. It is based upon best practices of Kingston and Lennox and Addington Counties, which have operated similar successful programs for the past few years. This program has been so successful, with approximately three quarters of the grade fives participating, that it has now been extended to include students in Grade 10 and is "on the radar" of the Ministry of Health Promotion. Durham Lives! is supporting this pilot project to Durham Region Grade 5 children in hopes that the success in Durham will mirror that of the Kingston area program. Future funding is not guaranteed by Durham Lives! but there are hopes that the program will be adapted in future years, either by the Ministry of Health Promotion or included in annual program plans and operating budgets by the participating partners once evaluated, and the value of the program to the children and youth as well as to the community observed. Attachments: Not applicable CORP0227 -07/01 revised Report OES 35-08 October 14, 2008 Subject: Durham Region Grade 5 Action Pass Program Page 5 9 Prepared By: Approved/Endorsed By: ~ / /' .' / - ,/' ,Ai "" ~'-~ .:,'. (~). '- . .--CI fA ~-._ I Stephen'-Re1nolds Division Head, Culture & Recreation ~li , ... . /J '.', -J..' 'c- "'11".... ... -....._ . .... .c ~./ IL!,~1..b:f,t'~:.:i~~ Stiaron Milton - Supervisor, Facility Programs Approved/Endorsed By: SM:lg Copy: Chief Administrative Officer Recommended for the consideration of Pickering City cil / 6?t , CORP0227-07/01 revised