Obstacle course to help raise funds for outdoor classroom
A St.-Lazare elementary school is organizing a new all-ages obstacle course race later this month to raise money for an outdoor classroom on campus.
The Giant Obstacle Race Fundraiser, organized by Forest Hill Jr.’s Home and School Association, will be held on April 28 between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. in the field behind the school, at 1950 Chanterel St.
Organizer Diane Keirstead said the event is designed for children between the age of five and 15 to race with their families, but noted that obstacles can be adapted for smaller children, seniors, or people with physical limitations.
“I hope it becomes a draw for the entire community, not just the Forest Hill kids. It’s open to all families,” she said. “We have one hockey team from Vaudreuil, with 16 12-year-olds, who are looking for another team to challenge them!”
Designed by RX1 Nation, creators of Pointe-Claire’s annual Blackout Race, the race will include a 2-kilometre running course with 10 challenges along the way, such as fly burpees ( jumping forward instead of in place after each burpee), carrying weighted balls, squatting with kettlebells, box jumps, bear crawls, carrying a 75-pound fire hose, pushups or sit-ups.
Karine Roy, who manages RX1 Nation’s junior programs, said the race includes both running and crossfit-style functional movements, most of which can be adapted for people at any level of strength or fitness level.
“We push, we pull, we throw things, we run, we jump, we crawl,” she said.
Keirstead is an obstacle race aficionado herself, competing in about 10 events per year. At $20 for adults and $10 for children, she noted the tickets are a deal compared to the $45 to $80 tickets typical of many other obstacle races. Proceeds of the race will help build a new outdoor “classroom” for Forest Hill Jr.’s kindergarten to Grade 2 students, with a range of activities designed to get kids moving, thinking and playing creatively.
Although the specific attributes of the outdoor classroom are not determined yet, Keirstead said it will be inspired by a concept called universal design for learning, which has dramatically transformed the look and feel of the interior of the school.
Classrooms at Forest Hill’s junior and senior campuses include a variety of places where children can work or read. As well as traditional desks, kids can choose to use fidget stools, bean bags, floor mats or standing desks. There are also activity stations in the hallways where kids can take a five- or 10-minute exercise break.
“Indoors we have things like a bunk bed where kids can take some time to read on their own quietly, as well as bicycles and exercise stations where they can go and get their beans out,” said Keirstead. “We’ve seen it have a great effect on the kids, especially those who have trouble focusing.”
She said outdoor classroom installations could include anything from a magical fairy tale-inspired creative play space, to play stations designed to practice counting, to benches and lounge spaces where kids can pause for conversation or a quiet moment.
“We’ll start slowly and hopefully it will expand eventually.