Second Annual Kids’ Discovery Day and Magic Show a big hit

Some of the Kids Discovery Day participants at the Heritage Inn
Lieve Parisis photos

Lieve Parisis, Administrator, Pincher Creek and District Chamber of Commerce

Last Saturday, the Pincher Creek and District Chamber of Commerce hosted its Second Annual Kids’ Discovery Day with the idea to bring the business community together with the community at large.

This free event for kids ages 6-12 turned out to be a huge success! 45 kids signed up, and dressed in their Kids’ Discovery t-shirts and a big smile.  Their exploration tour started at 10 am.

Gassing up at Co-op

13 local businesses and organizations opened their doors to welcome groups of up to 5 kids. By offering them some engaging, hands-on experiences the kids got to learn lots about the businesses in their community.

Papa Joe entertains

For participating businesses and community service agencies, it was an opportunity to raise awareness of their products, services and activities and to encourage community volunteerism. And it worked! One youngster asked Celeste if she could come and work there in summer and some kids decided to become a reporter while working on a story with The Pincher Creek Voice, only to name a few.

At the Mountain Radio activity

A short summary of the activities kids got to explore:

Trying out the fire hose

Checking out an ambulance

Making Napoleon's at Celestial Sweets

With the Pincher Planters

Making a Mother's Day gift

At the SPCA

Fingerprints with the RCMP

• At the Pincher Creek Veterinary Clinic, kids got to see x-rays of different animals, they got to stitch up a real (stuffy) bear, learned about dental care for animals and lots more.
• Ever used a piping bag and fantastic decorations to decorate cupcakes? 4 groups of kids became experienced cupcake decorators at the Co-op bakery. They also enjoyed a tour ‘behind the store’ and got to see the huge fridges and ovens.
• Geared with a camera, junior journalists went out for an interview with the Pincher Creek Search and Rescue team and their stories will be published and illustrated by movies on the Pincher Voice website.
• At the Fire Hall they went into the ambulance where they could see their own heart beat on the monitor, they were fascinated by the vehicle wrecks and saw how they were cut open to get victims out. But the biggest attraction was using the water hose dressed in a real Fire Fighter’s jacket! 
• At Celestial Sweets they had great fun learning about puff pastry and baking hygiene. The end results were scrumptious: puff pastries decorated with fresh berries, chocolate and lots of whipped cream. 
• The Pincher Planters showed the kids how their volunteer work makes the Cenotaph park the beautiful park it is today. They got to plant and water their own flower and bean pots.
• Tara Cryderman helped kids create a fabulous Mother’s Day Gift! 
• Everyone had a blast at the Mountain Radio booth where they could record their own voices and play with the sounds.
• At the Co-op Gas Bar they got to fuel up some vehicles, wash windshields and more.
• During a visit at the Pincher Creek SPCA, cats and dogs were overwhelmed with hugs and petting hands.
• At the Brick, kids showed how handy they are by putting together some chairs.
• At the Co-op bulk fuel plant, they got to climb on top of a big truck to see how it was filled up with gas. Taking a ride in the truck was very nice as well.
• At the RCMP everyone got a tour of the detachment. All kids got fingerprinted and their picture taken.

RCMP Fingerprinting

And did the kids have fun? I think the following quotes speak for themselves:

‘This was so much fun!
‘I want to do this again soon.’
‘ This was the best day of my life’
 ‘It was great that even little brothers and sisters were invited to take part in some activities. That made it a perfect day for the whole family.’
‘ It was fabulous!’
 ‘I had never seen my own heart beat on a monitor before!’

At the Pincher Creek Veterinary Clinic

Wheel of Fortune at Heritage Inn

At the Co-op Bulk Fuel station

Making pastry with Celeste

The Heritage Inn Hotel was the central venue where kids could let their creativity run wild while playing with PlayMais and win prizes at the Heritage Inn Wheel Of Fortune. Papa Joe entertained the crowd by making balloon animals and showing magic tricks. Always a big hit.

Making cupcakes at Co-op

Exraction practice vehicle at Emergency Services

Magic Show at Heritage Inn

The closing event this year, sponsored by the Heritage Inn Hotel and Convention Centre, was a Magic Show by Calgary Magician Yeats Wong. The enthusiasm of the over 100 spectators was incredible. Kids were watching with amazement and when Yeats asked for volunteers at least 50 little hands when right up in the air. The show was a great end to a very successful day.

Everyone went home with a satisfied smile on their faces and lots of new experiences in their pockets which tells me that they for sure will be coming back next year.

The Pincher Creek & District Chamber of Commerce wants to thank the Heritage Inn Hotel, Pincher Creek Family Resource Society as well as all sponsors, volunteers and activity providers! 

This Chamber’s Youth Initiative is definitely growing! We’re already thinking about how to make Kids’ Discovery Day 2013 an even bigger success. If you would like to offer an activity next year, let us know (403-627-5199).

Click here to visit the Chamber of Commerce Facebook page  for lots of pictures.


Related links:
Kids Discovery Day Junior Journalists Part 1: Candid Cameras
Kids Discovery Day Junior Journalists Part 2: The videos
Pincher Creek Emergency Services responds to quad accident and douses ambulance fire
Kids Discovery Day (2012) was a terrific experience