Chamber of Commerce hosts Kids Discovery Day 2014

Clowning with Connie at Kids Discovery Day
photos by Lieve Parisis, Chris Davis, Toni Lucas

Toni Lucas and Chris Davis, Pincher Creek Voice

Pincher Creek's Chamber of Commerce hosted their annual Kids Discovery Day on Saturday, May 3.  Children from the ages of 6 to 12 visited various participating local businesses and facilities to experience what each of them do day to day.  Thirty two children got to chose one of seven routes that included up to four places to visit over the course of the day.  The idea behind the day was to give kids a chance to explore some of the opportunities that they might choose when they grow up and enter the work force.  During the 45 minutes that the kids spent at each location thye learned about the business itself, and participated in activities.  The day ended with a puppet show at Heritage Inn.


Places and activities kids could explore included:

• Crestview Lodge
• RCMP
• SPCA
• Pincher Planters
• First Student Canada Busing
• Celestial Sweets
• Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village
• Clowning with Connie
• Swirling Nails
• Funked Up
• Shootin' the Breeze
• KaJay Automotive
• Pincher Creek Emergency Services Department
• Make a survival bracelet with Miles

The following is a sampling of some of the places and activities from the day.

KBPV's Farley "Kootenai Brown" Wuth talks history

"In the olden days, Kootenai Brown was the first park warden down there in Waterton," said Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village (KBPV) Curator Farley Wuth.  "The curator's job is to help save the local history."  Kids on the KBPV tour visited the Northwest Mounted Police and Kootenai Brown cabins on the grounds before finishing their tour at Fishburn School.

Inside Fishburn school with Farley Wuth

Shannon Scherger at Fishburn School

LRSD school board trustee Shannon Scherger assisted Farley, helping the kids make their own autograph scrap books, and she explained how they were an important way for people to preserve memories.

Pool sharks Sam Noel and Helen Nelson at Crestview Lodge

At Crestview Lodge particpants made jewelry using metal washers, string, and nail polish before engaging in games of pool and shuffleboard with the residents.

Hilary at the shuffleboard table

Mary takes a turn

Busted!

At the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Headquarters in Pincher Creek the kids met with Constable Sherri Flundra and Constable Danielle Gouchie who toured them through the station.   "It just gets people comfortable talking to us, allows them to tour the detachment and meet the members, and learn more about what we do serving your community," explained Constable Sherri Flundra.

The kids were very interested in the police car, and were quick to notice the many differences between it and a civilian vehicle.  

Constable Danielle Gouchie demonstrates a spike belt

When the trunk was opened Constable Danielle Gouchie showed that it was a stocked trunk with a spare tire, pylons, a first aid kit, a fire extinguisher, an emergency blanket and a extendable spike belt (shown above), used to stop fleeing culprits.

Constable Flundra takes Jocelyn's fingerprints

The kids also had their fingerprints taken, a surprisingly intriguing activity. When they left they received a goodie bag that had all sorts of souvenirs, including their own fingerprints.

Melissa models a bullet proof vest

Beau had fun.

"I found out I could be a baker, or maybe a firewoman, or police.  I pretty much liked everything I've done today," said Beau after visiting her third placement, the RCMP Detachment.

Yoenne and Triscuit made friends with each other at the SPCA

At the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Manager Ashley Duffield talked about the process of adoption with the kids.  The kids got to play with some of the cats and with Mocha, a very friendly dog.

Ryan redefined his headspace at the SPCA

Esther played Shuffleboard at Crestview

William had a game too

Making baked goodies with Celeste at Celestial Sweets

Clowning with Connie explained about different types of makeup, and how you can portray yourself as different kinds of clowns, including happy and sad clowns. All the clowns we saw were pretty happy.

Robin, Isis, Yoenne, and Justina planted pretty Pincher Planters posies

Cutie Clown Connie

"It was really good, I had a lot of positive feedback from parents and kids, they had a blast," said Pncher Creek Chamber of Commerce Administrator Lieve Parisis. "We had 14 different activities going on today," she explained. "Miles taught the kids how to make survival bracelets out of para cord, and they were all over that," and at Funkedup! the kids painted a wooden animal with non-toxic paint. "It was a really nice craft."

Pigs in a Canoe with Wendy Passmore-Godfrey

The day wrapped up with the highly entertaining "Pigs in a Canoe and other Watery Stories" puppet show, presented by WP Puppet Theatre puppeteer Wendy Passmore-Godfrey.