On August 14th a group of 10 set out for a wonderful morning on the water. Our group was comprised of 2 coaches from IF Vancouver (Four Seasons), members from both IF Vancouver and IF West Van, family members, and former IF members. The make-up of the group really proves that IF is building a community that expands beyond the walls of the gym.
The group met at 9:30am in Deep Cove to do some kayaking. The original reason for this activity? An opportunity to prepare for the upcoming Innovative Fitness Adventure Challenge in support of kids’ health. But the day became about more than just training for an upcoming event; it became a day when new friends were made and when children, who previously thought they disliked outdoor recreation, realized that you can have a LOT of fun being active outdoors!
Right up until the moment the group got out on the water you could hear one of the kids asking, “How long is this going to take?” But after 20 minutes on the water that same kid was grinning ear to ear.
Our group set out following the shore line with the lighthouse in the distance at the intended destination. Once we reached the lighthouse, and realized we still had way more time than we needed to reach our final destination, we decided to take a detour to Jug Island. Once there, we beached our kayaks and took a 20 minute break for healthy snacks and a quick swim. Once everyone was refreshed from their swim and re-fueled from their snacks we got back in our double-kayaks and began the trip back to the rental shop.
Not ready to say goodbye just yet, the group went for lunch together at The Raven, a well-known Deep Cove establishment, for tasty food, refreshing beverages and all-around good times. It was also a good opportunity to celebrate Camille’s (one of the coaches) birthday. Yes, of all the things she could have done to celebrate her birthday she chose to spend the day with our members, having a wonderful adventure!
Before we knew it, it was mid-afternoon and most of us had to be on our way to begin preparing for the coming week. It was the perfect example of how “time flies when you’re having fun.”
In the end, it was an incredible day for everyone who partook, even though it was the first time many of the participants had met. An outdoor adventure is a great way to bond with people and make new friends, which is one reason that IF hosts these type of events every month!
Want to join our next adventure? Talk to your coach to find out what we’ve got coming up and how you can get in on the fun!
Sean Allt, BA, CSEP-CPT, CFST
Club Manager
Innovative Fitness – Vancouver
p. 604-609-5450 / c. 604-314-8627
www.InnovativeFitness.com
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