The Beach Workout event in the Meadow Lake Provincial Park is back this year, giving campers an opportunity to keep fit this summer. Depending on weather, the workout attracts dozens of people who participate in a range of cardiovascular activities and stretching techniques. Here, head interpreter Dallas Beuhr breaks a sweat as she holds a demonstration for the public.
by Derek Cornet
When on holidays, it may be difficult to fit in a daily dose of exercise, but this year a relatively new program is keeping campers toned in the Meadow Lake Provincial Park.
The Beach Workout event, which was added to the park’s event schedule permanently this year, has been attracting lake visitors to morning workout sessions on the beach. Head interpreter Dallas Beuhr, 21, led the workouts since last summer and was happy to see it join the regular programming.
“We thought it would be really cool if we held just a fun beach workout because some people just need something to look forward to to get out of bed in the morning,” she said.
Beuhr was excited to learn that the workout in 2012 spurred enough interest and would be scheduled if she’d like to facilitate it.
“Amanda Brucks and I both worked here last year,” Beuhr said. “We figured since we’re both here again this year, we may as well hold the beach workouts.”
The workouts, which are held at the Greig Lake, Kimball Lake, Murray Doell and Sandy Beach campgrounds, usually attract upwards of 20 people and many of the participants are already at the beach when they get started. Beuhr said they encourage people who just happen to be at the beach to participate and most do. She noted however, attendance is weather pending and if it’s not warm and sunny, not as many people take part.
Beuhr said the reason she thinks the program has been a success is because it provides an activity for people in the morning that’s physical. Many of the other activities offered are not as intense and the beach workouts are meant to fill in that gap.
“The workout is also good because exercise is so important to our well-being,” Beuhr said.
Sherri Curtis from Lloydminister and her daughter Jessica Hiens-Schille, 12, were at the Greig Lake Campground for the Beach Workout held July 24. Hiens-Schille said it was her first time participating with the summer programs and the workout was worth coming out for.
“I like how it’s on the beach and it’s like being with nature,” she said. “It’s way better than playing video games or watching movies.”
Jodie Thompson, a teacher from Meadow Lake, escaped from her family to join the beach workout. She said her family had taken part in several other activities and the beach workout worked well with her schedule.
“It’s nice to get out in the morning to exercise like this,” Thompson said. “Having it on the beach is a bonus.”
