Virtual Assignment Helps Students Gain Critical Skills
Second-year Recreation and Leisure Services students in Professor Sherri Branscombe's Special Event Management course planned and hosted two successful virtual events. "Back to the Future" was hosted over Zoom while the "Lockdown Fitness Workshop" was hosted on Twitch.
Back to the Future Event
On April 6th, a student event team planned the first-ever annual Recreation and Leisure Services alumni "Back to the Future" event in support of the Ben Sabic Foundation (BSF). The BSF is a not-for-profit organization established to fuel a range of philanthropic endeavours centred around supporting young people in Canada, advancing equity in sport, and minimizing barriers to post-secondary education. The students partnered with the BSF to create an exclusive bursary for the Recreation and Leisure Services program and raised $1,455 to support future students.
The event kicked off with a dance video by alumna Thalia Wright and featured keynote speaker and former student Sally Hakim. Speeches from Program Coordinator Ashwin Patel, BSF Charity partners, a stretch break by Professor Deb Singer as well as other fun breakout games and activities followed.
Lockdown Fitness Workshop
On April 7th, another student event team planned a virtual Lockdown Fitness Workshop hosted on Twitch in support of Women's Habitat of Etobicoke, a community-based, feminist organization providing vital support to self-identified women and their dependents who are survivors of violence and poverty.
The students hosted special guest speakers and fitness professionals Brad Sloss, Deb Singer, Debra Basch, and Judith Haig-Tullio in many engaging fitness and nutrition sessions, raising $705.
The students showed adaptability, resiliency, and dedication when planning both events during the semester. Furthermore, many employability skills were also acquired - from the soft skills obtained through online learning to the hards skills learned in the practical nature of this course. These graduating students will be entering the recreation industry with the theory, experience, and critical abilities to execute a virtual, in-person and hybrid event!
Check out some of the student's event materials here as well as on Instagram at @lockdownfitnessworkshop and @humber_rec.
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