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KidActive - Commitment to Community PDF Print E-mail
The Facts

Recreation provides children and youth  with opportunities to develop skills and build their sense of self.
–Canadian Council on Social Development (2000)

Two thirds of Canadian school-aged children are not active enough for optimal development and they become less active as they get older.
–Canadian Council on Social Development (2001)

Socio-economic inequalities are related to a  variety of health outcomes in Canadian youth.
–Health Canada (2003)

Regardless of the type of activity, children in the lowest income families participate less than do children in the highest-income families.  
–Canadian Council on Social Development. (2000)

Physical activity is proven to improve quality of life for children and is important in decreasing the risk of obesity, heart disease, depression, and a myriad of other health problems throughout their lives.
–Dr. Andrew Pipe, Ottawa Heart Institute
The Madawaska Valley is considered by many to be the
heart of whitewater paddling in Ontario. Many of us
have taken our first strokes in these waters. It is
an incredible resource to have in our own
backyard. However, paddling on the Madawaska
is a recreational opportunity that is not easily accessible
to everyone. Various factors and barriers have
limited opportunities for many young people in
our community to participate in paddling programs. Since
our inception, Paddler Co-op has introduced a number
of successful summer and evening programs
designed specifically to reach out to our
immediate community. The response has
been overwhelming. In an effort to continue to
make paddling accessible to everyone and to
encourage young people to be more active – Paddler
Co-op is proud to partner with KidActive!

Inspired by a compelling need to address alarming rates
of inactivity and related health issues in our young
people – KidActive! was created as a community
health project aimed at building awareness of the
importance of being active and increasing access to
local recreational programs.

Access to fun and active outdoor programs is critical
to building a strong community full of healthy and
motivated people – young and old. Being active when
you are young sets a solid foundation for lifelong
healthy living. Our goal is to provide 160 children and
youth with the opportunity to participate in a 5-day
paddling based outdoor education program that promotes
the benefits of active living in a fun, supportive and
positive environment. To date, we have received
support from the Ministry of Tourism and
Recreation, Mountain Equipment Co-op, the Child
Poverty Action Network, Renfrew County, Community
Resource Centre, Rapid Magazine, Ontario Power Generation and many individuals.

How you can contribute to helping get kids active!
KidActive! is an opportunity for folks who love paddling to share their passion with a young person. $250 will provide one person between the ages of 7 and 16 the opportunity to participate in 5-days of fun and learning that they would not otherwise be able to experience. Sponsorship of a KidActive spot will provide you with a receipt of donation, a very cool KidActive! t-shirt, and the knowledge that you have provided an opportunity for one young person to turn off their TV, get out the door, be inspired and get active. Your donation will help build a healthy community. Get active and get our kids outside.

To donate online, please click here.