The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Recreation Department’s Social Programs held an Outdoor Adventures program on Saturdays during October. The goal was to encourage healthy relationships between parents and children by having them participate together in activities and enjoy the outdoors at the same time.

The program provides an opportunity for Community children to try some new sports other than baseball and basketball. Outdoor Adventures offered kayaking at Tempe Town Lake, horseback riding in north Scottsdale and fishing at Salt River. All these activities require teamwork and interaction. Each Saturday morning, children, parents and staff would squeeze into vans to head out for that particular day’s activity.

“This is the second year of the program,” said Recreation Coordinator Sera Gould. “This year we had more children and parents participating.”

Parents enjoyed being outdoors with their children, learning to how to bond better and build a stronger relationship with each other by being out of their normal surroundings. “I love outdoor Arizona this time of year, especially with my daughters,” said parent Kelly Washington.

On the final Saturday of the program, Recreation staff and the families enjoyed a wonderful day of fishing in the Community. The weather was perfect to be outdoors. Children and some parents brought their fishing poles and fished all morning long, with the staff helping them to bait their hooks and cast the lines into the river. They struggled to catch fish, but enjoyed each other’s company.

Two children caught fish back to back, while others trailed along the river with Recreation staff and parents.

Kiara Andrews, one of the children in the program, caught the first fish. A while later, Amber Tenorio and Gould caught another fish together. “They like the slimy worms,” said one of the children as others watched her bait the hook.

Sports help build self-confidence in children by promoting physical health and teaching teamwork and cooperation with one another in school and at home.

“People sometimes take things for granted, but I truly appreciate that the Recreation Department offers these activities to us,” said Washington. “So I want to make sure to say thank you!”