By Keith Liport
klipfoldt@gbtribune.com
In what is beginning to sound like a broken record, the number of participants at the Great Bend Recreation Centre continues to surpass the numbers in the past few years. GBRC Executive Director Chris Umphres shared the previous month’s statistics at the board meeting in March, as he does every month.
In February, 2,238 people registered in a program sponsored by the Recreation Committee. The total number of participants that month was 10,534, with a total of 3,957 spectators. A total of 1,405 hours of supervised activity was provided for the month. A year ago, in February, 2,132 people enrolled in a program with 7,143 participants, including 1,451 spectators.
In January 2025, 2,283 people registered in a program sponsored by GBRC. The total number of participants that month was 10,002, with a total of 4,226 people in the audience. Last year, 2,046 people registered in the program with 9,358 participants, including 4,463 spectators.
Looking back at December 2024, there were 3,671 people registered in a program sponsored by Rec. The total participation in the month was 12,919, with 5,482 of that total being a spectator. In December 2023, 3,564 people enrolled in the program with 10,588 participants, including a 4,347 audience.
When asked about the increase in numbers, Umphres had provided his staff and updated facilities that they had to work with very free of charge.
“We have very good staff,” he said. “Shane (sports director Sandberg) did a great job in sports. He is very organized and makes good use of the facility. Garrett (Enrichment/Activity Centre Director Fitzpatrick) and Megan (Aquatic and Marketing Director Hameke) are experienced and know what they need to do. What’s more, the improvements we made at the facility attract more participants and the audience is watching.”
Concentration Report
Enrichment classes on the after-school school website continue until mid-April. Classes will not be held during spring break.
Below is a list of enrichment activities offered during March.
•Preschool – Music magic
•Family – Imaginative playground, story walk adventure, mom & my princessie party, this craft, painting with mom.
•Primary School – Art Adventure, Art Academy, Painting Lounge, 3C, Kitchen Crew, Penguin Fellows, Animal Painting Safari.
•Adults – Oil and acrylic painting, line dancing, stop bleeding, homemade bread.
Additional programs will be offered for the $428 US Spring Break, including a Kids Day-Out program. On March 18th, participants will be able to explore Dillon’s Nature Center and play laser tags and bowling in Hutchinson’s alleys. A guided tour of the Sternburg Natural History Museum in Hayes will be held on Thursday, March 20th. These two activities are for students from first to sixth grade and will be held from 9am to 4pm
REC hides 20 plastic lizards around Veterans Lake and my backyard playground, and does the annual Spring Break lizard hunt. If you find one of the lizards, please return it to the Activity Center for a prize. Lizard hunting season opens on March 14th and runs until March 18th. Lizards are not hidden in the waters of dog parks or Veterans Lakes.
Concentration, aquatic report
Several adaptation activities were scheduled for February, but some were cancelled due to the winter storm. Highlights of this month were bowling, Valentine’s Day Dance, Valentine’s Party, Heartfelt Welcome Craft Class, Snowman Stack Craft Class, Afternoon Matinee Movie, and Coffee and Craft Class.
Activities in February included Fit for Life, Midday Stretn, Yoga, Cardio Blast, Chair Yoga, Suspention Training, Tai Chi, Rhythm Ride, Spin Strength, and February spin and sculpting.
Sports Report
Three league adult basketball 3 is in the middle of the regular season. There is a regular season with three weeks remaining and you will be playing the postseason game on Sunday, April 13th.
The Spring Adult Volleyball League is currently in session. In 2023 and 2024, 24 teams participated. In 2025, there are 28 teams. The big jump comes from the Coed Spiking League on Wednesday.
Sandberg said the Adult Pickle Ball 2.5-3.5 league is running in the city auditorium on Tuesday night. Once that’s done, they start a 4.0 league for the more competitive players in town.
Another season in the pickleball class concluded with Debbie Manz, who teaches these classes.
Lil’ Ballers’ coaching basketball program returns on March 25th and lasts for four weeks on Tuesday and Thursday. Last week’s game will be moved from the Activity Centre to the city auditorium on April 15th and 17th.
Esports Open Play returned with over 20 participants on Tuesday and Thursday this February.
Summer plans are currently underway, with GBRC working on a schedule of other activities. This involves finding instructors, booking date trips, searching for out-of-town organizations/instructors and bounces to provide new opportunities for participants, projects and other pre-summer duties.
