Chase tries out the hula hoop during the recent Family Fun Night hosted by Oliver Parks and Recreation. If this event expands, there may be an opportunity for community groups to attend with information about their activities.
Carol Sheridan photo
A local parent is calling for the return of “mass registration” in Oliver.
Margie Mathieson, a member of the local scouting movement, said the group benefitted from this registration event hosted by Oliver Parks and Recreation.
“I found it very helpful as a parent with a young child to be able to ‘sample’ by going to the mass registration and seeing what interested him.”
Mathieson said the scouting group is disappointed that this opportunity has been discontinued.
“I am hoping they will bring it back for next year so that there is a forum for all the groups to show what their programs provide and allow parents to register their kids for different programs in one spot.”
Carol Sheridan, the Town’s new recreation manager, said mass registration was discontinued after 2011 because attendance was very poor over the past few years.
“It does take staff time to track groups down and pull the details together, and the last few years it was held the result was basically 10-12 community group volunteers and their kids sitting around talking to each other for two hours.”
This year, Parks and Recreation was only contacted about mass registration by the Beavers and Cubs group, and one other individual, said Sheridan.
She noted that Parks and Recreation has always provided space for groups for registration purposes, but after 2011’s attendance, it was felt that staff time could be better spent on other things.
Sheridan said they have a quarterly brochure that groups can buy advertising in or have their community contact information listed.
In addition, the Parks and Recreation website has links to other community organizations that groups are welcome to utilize to promote themselves.
Sheridan said they have introduced a new “Family Fun Night” event to get families out and be physically active together. “Perhaps if that event is successful and should be repeated, other community groups would like to attend with information about their activities as well.”
