Posted on: January 23, 2018
In February, it can be tough to find fun outdoor activities to enjoy. The Glen Ellyn Park District is offering two opportunities to be active and play outside: Introduction to Curling and the Frosty 3v3 Soccer Tournament.
Curling is a popular sport that originated in Scotland hundreds of years ago. In the 1930s, it became a demonstration sport in the Olympics, and in the 1990s it became an official Olympic sport. Curling is played with two teams, each consisting of four players, on a rectangular sheet of ice. It’s a curious mix of shuffleboard and bowling, where one team member slides a 44-pound granite stone along the ice and a teammate scrubs the ice ahead of the stone to influence its speed and direction.
On February 17th, the Park District is hosting FREE 30-minute Curling demonstrations, taught by the Windy City Curling Club. Participants ages 8 and up will learn how to throw a stone and sweep the ice, along with discovering basic strategies for success. Demonstrations begin every half-hour, starting at 1:00pm at Newton Park, and run until 5:00 pm. Curling is fun for all ages, and no experience is required. You don’t even need ice skates! Drop-ins are welcome, or you can reserve your group of up to 8 people online.
“Participants aren’t required to reserve a time, but those with a large group who want to play together have the option to do so,” said Christine Hartnett, Recreation Supervisor for the Glen Ellyn Park District. “There will be multiple games running, so we’ll be able to accommodate a number of participants at a time.”
Please note: this event is weather-dependent, so please check the Rainout Line at www.gepark.org/weather for updates.
Another fun opportunity to enjoy the outdoors is offered during the 4th Annual Frosty 3v3 Soccer Tournament. The tournament will be held on Monday, February 19th at Newton Park in Glen Ellyn. To register, visit www.gepark.org by the February 12th deadline.
Players can register as a team of 3-6 players or individually. Individual registrations will be placed on age-appropriate teams, if space allows.
Tournament games will be held outdoors, from 9am – 4pm. “Last year the temperature was in the 60s,” said Brad Thomas, Recreation Supervisor for the Glen Ellyn Park District. “I actually got a little sunburned since I was out there all day. The year before that we had almost a foot of snow.” Games will be played outdoors regardless of the weather.
“The kids love playing in the snow, since it’s unconventional and it allows them to have a different experience,” added Thomas. “The biggest challenge is simply moving around at a quick pace. Having to trek through snow, and trying to make plays with the ball in the snow, is quite challenging.”
The Frosty 3v3 Soccer Tournament is for boys and girls ages 7-15.
For more information about the Frosty 3v3 Soccer Tournament, please contact Brad Thomas at [email protected].