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Cumberland to introduce after-school skateboarding program

October will introduce a new after-school skateboarding program for young students in Cumberland.
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The after-school program is available to kids in kindergarten to grade nine. Photo by Scott Strasser.

October will introduce a new after-school skateboarding program for young students in Cumberland.

The Village of Cumberland, the Cumberland Community School Society (CCSS) and Get on Board Youth Society will work together to put on the after-school program, which is open for CCS students who are interested in skateboarding, aged kindergarten to grade nine.

The free program will take place throughout October on Tuesdays after school. Around 20 kids have already signed up, meaning the program is essentially at full capacity.

CCSS executive director Sue Loveless says the program will not just teach kids skateboarding basics, but also park etiquette and maintenance.

“We think skateboarding is an accessible, low-cost recreational activity for kids and now that there’s a skate park in Cumberland that they can walk to, we thought we’d help them out,” she said.

The Village of Cumberland introduced its new $460,000 skate park in July. The park was mainly funded by the Village, with additional money coming from the CCSS and the United Riders of Cumberland via fundraising events, grants, and in-kind donations.

Read More: Cumberland unveils new skate park.

The skatepark includes bowls, ramps, and rails of all kinds for riders to use.

“With the new addition of the skatepark, we were finding some of the kids were wanting to have the skills to participate in the park,” said Village of Cumberland recreation manager Leah Knutson.

“This is a great way to be able to incorporate that into free programming, increase their skills and physical literacy,” she continued. “It also gives them some ownership over the park and maintaining it and keeping it in good condition.”

Instructors for the program will be from Get on Board — a youth society that encourages kids to take up skateboarding and other board sports.

“This is an opportunity for the kids in Cumberland to learn how to skate, how to know skate etiquette, how to be active and how to enjoy themselves here,” said Get on Board creative counsel Grant Shilling. “Get on Board works with youth of all descriptions and it’s great to be able to do this in my hometown.”

According to Loveless, the program will likely return in the spring.

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Cumberland’s new skate park opened in July 2017. Photo by Scott Strasser.