The annual spring sprucing doesn’t need to end in the home — working on one’s personal well-being can be just as important.
The Red Deer Public School District is hosting a number of spring quality of life programs in the city, said community programs co-ordinator Rixta Moritz.
“We are trying to do more programming to support the family and to support our society before they get into crisis,” she said.
“We are educating with grassroots exposures, so we are step one to a lot of the other programs offered.”
This year’s spring lineup highlights a couple new programs, such as a social media boot camp, herbal medicine and a course on how to raise a happy child.
“Some of the these are new and we think they would be very useful in the community,” Moritz said.
The social media boot camp, offered by social media consultant Jennifer Belanger, helps businesses discover how they can market themselves on social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin. It is a three-session course from 6 to 8 p.m. and starts on Tuesday.
“This is a great way to get your business seen and to face what is happening right now in the marketing industry,” Belanger said. “Social networking is one of those things that you have to do in order to get results and it is a great way to cut costs and to grow a business.”
Abrah Arneson will be taking her students through herbal medicine and showing them how to create their own medicinal herb garden. The program runs from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on May 9 and May 16.
“This is one of the best spring courses because everyone is dying to get out there,” Arneson said. “It is very practical and very hands-on and I always ask people to bring their questions.”
Another new program Red Deer Public School District is offering is How to Raise a Happy Child with Anxiety Clinic of Central Alberta psychologist Dr. Kim Stevenson on May 15 and May 22 from 7 to 9 p.m.
“The first thing is telling people about parenting strategies and the second session will focus on talking to parents about child development and health,” Stevenson said.
“Raising children is probably one of the most challenging things there is to do but also the most rewarding and the biggest wish, if you ask most parents, is for their children to be happy,” she added, also noting that resources will be available if parents need them.
Other programs include salsa dancing, bra-making and tango. For a full list of programs and their cost, and for more information, visit communityprograms.rdpsd.ab.ca or contact 403-342-1059.
jjones@www.reddeeradvocate.com