The Hillcrest Early Learning Centre hosted its first large-scale Family Fun Day this past weekend, and organizers are already thinking ahead to next year.
Held as a fundraiser for the Estevan-based daycare, the event brought together families, children and members of the community for an afternoon of games, food and fun. Shawna Attwater, director at Hillcrest, said they were thrilled with how it all came together.
“We are hoping to make it an annual thing,” she said. “This was the first one that was out in the community like this. Normally, we’ve done open houses or smaller carnival-style events just in our daycare yard.”
The event featured a wide range of activities geared toward children of all ages, including visits from local emergency responders.
“There were fire trucks, police vehicles and even the conservation officer truck,” Atwater said. “Kids could explore everything at their own pace. There weren’t long lines, and there was something for everyone.”
A barbecue sponsored by No Frills offered hot dogs, hamburgers, smokies, freezies, chips and pop, while a raffle featured prizes donated by local businesses. An ice cream truck also contributed to the fundraising efforts by offering a portion of its sales back to the center.
While a final total has not yet been calculated, Atwater estimates the event raised close to $3,000. The funds will go toward enhancing Hillcrest’s outdoor learning environments for both preschool and toddler-age children.
“One of our dreams is to eventually replace the rubber surface, but that will take more fundraising,” she said. “In the meantime, we’ll do what we can with what we have.”
Roughly 200 people attended the event.
Atwater said community support has always been strong for the daycare. Businesses regularly pitch in with donations for other fundraisers, such as their annual Christmas auction.
“We really appreciate it. The community is always willing to help out,” she said.
The center, which accepts children from 18 months to 12 years old, is licensed for 55 kids and currently has a waitlist. Over the summer, Hillcrest runs several special activities, with the nearby paddling pool and access to a school gym helping to keep kids active and cool.
Thanks to donations from Family Fun Day, the daycare also now has a variety of new outdoor games, including basketball nets, oversized snakes and ladders, Connect Four, Tic Tac Toe and Twister.
Photos from the event can be found on the Hillcrest Early Learning Centre’s Facebook page, and Atwater encourages families to keep an eye out for announcements about next year.
“Hopefully every year it gets bigger and better,” she said.