Take a swing at Challenger Baseball this summer

May 09, 2023

Take a swing at Challenger Baseball this summer

St. Catharines, ON – Calling all Blue Jays fans! Niagara Children's Centre is bringing back one of its most popular summer activities for a new season.

Challenger Baseball, a non-competitive form of the traditional sport, is in association with the Jays Care Foundation.

Children and youth aged four years and up, living with a range of physical, developmental and communicative delays are invited to register for the new season, starting Saturday, May 27.

The sport is designed to be grassroots and non-competitive for athletes of all abilities, creating a safe and inclusive environment for all participants.

Sessions will take place on Saturdays from May 27 to July 29 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at Lancaster Park in St. Catharines and focus on a series of fully adaptable drills and skills followed by a friendly game. Exceptions to the schedule include no session on July 1, due to Canada Day, and July 29, for the team's end-of-the-year party.

Like all activities hosted by Niagara Children's Centre, they're designed around the F-Words for Child Development framework, with a focus on fun, friends, family, and fitness.

"The best part about Challenger Baseball is that it maximizes opportunities for athletes to play, learn, and connect with others," says Stephanie Hicks, Recreation Therapist at Niagara Children's Centre. "It also creates a space for families to get involved and have a great time together.”

The Children's Centre is currently seeking volunteers from the Niagara community to participate in the weekly event to help their athletes in various aspects of the game. Volunteers over the age of 14 must be considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and volunteers over the age of 18 need to complete a vulnerable sector check at their own expense. For more information and to register, please visit the Centre's volunteer website.

Any questions can be directed toward Stephanie Hicks by email: stephanie.hicks@niagarachildrenscentre.com or by phone at 905-688-3550 Ext: 127.

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About Niagara Children’s Centre:
Niagara Children’s Centre provided rehabilitation and support services to nearly 5,300 children and youth last year across the Niagara Region with physical, developmental and communicative delays. The range of services include: physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language services, augmentative and alternative communication, family services and therapeutic recreation.

Photo caption:
Parents, volunteers and children participate in Challenger Baseball at Lancaster Park in St. Catharines, ON.

Media contact: Michael Morrison, Marketing & Communications Officer
Phone: 905-688-1890 ext. 260
Email: michael.morrison@niagarachildrenscentre.com
Web: www.niagarachildrenscentre.com