The Recreational Rodeo Rides Again

As temperatures rise and the end of the school year draws near, community members have joined together to offer all area third-graders a safe and responsible introduction to a variety of summer activities at the 7th annual Recreational Rodeo on Friday, May 9.

The Recreational Rodeo is a collaboration between Rhinelander Partners in Education (PIE) and supporting organizations and individuals that gives area third-graders exposure to a variety of recreational activities.

The event hosted third grade classes from all School District of Rhinelander (SDR) elementary schools, as well as Nativity Catholic School and Zion Evangelical Lutheran School, at YMCA of the Northwoods.

“It’s very much a fun, hands-on learning experience, the kids really enjoy it,” said Mike Cheslock, SDR community education coordinator and PIE board member. “Part of it is to prepare the kids for the summer and hopefully introduce them to new activities. When I was a kid we were out biking everywhere, now you don’t see as many students doing that as you did in the past. If we can introduce kids to some new activities that maybe they haven’t been introduced to yet, all the better.”

Students were split up into groups and rotated between six stations.

Owen Waldo (facing away) leads a game of red light green light as Greyson Drake (left) and Noah Cline (center) close in. The game was a part of the traffic safety station at the Recreational Rodeo on May 9.
(Photo by Michael Strasburg/Lakeland Times)

At the bike safety station, students were fitted with a helmet to take home and participated in a bike safety course led by Robbie Deede of the Hodag BMX Club. There was also a bike maintenance station, led by Mel’s Trading Post, where students learned basic bike maintenance and upkeep.

“Students get to actually ride bikes and learn physically how to handle a bike, along with the rules of the road, when to stop, what side of the road to be on and things like that,” Cheslock said.

YMCA staff led the aquatics stations, where students learned about how to be safe while enjoying recreational activities in the water and the importance of wearing a life jacket.

Local martial arts instructor Ernie Paulson led a self-defense stations where students received basic self-defense training. Paulson’s teaching aims to instill respect, courtesy, control and discipline in every student.

Third-grader Adaline Isham delivers a powerful kick to Ernie Paulson of Rhinelander Academy Go-Shin Karate as part of the self defense station at the Recreational Rodeo on May 9.
(Photo by Michael Strasburg/Lakeland Times)

A hiking and backpacking station was led by Tom Stephens, co-owner of The Hiker Box in Eagle River. Stephens discussed the difference between day hiking and backpacking and what items and precautions are required for both activities.

Rhinelander Police Sgt. Kurt Helke led a general safety station that included bike and traffic safety as well.

While the main goal of the Recreational Rodeo is to promote a safety in any recreational environments the students may encounter, a secondary goal, Cheslock said, is to show students how recreational activities could someday develop into a job opportunity.

“We’re also hoping to introduce young students to potential careers in the field of recreation,” Cheslock said. “One of the things the station leaders talk about is how they got to where they are — what education they needed, what training they needed … We want to link young people to potential careers. That is a side benefit of this program.”

Overall, Cheslock indicated the May 9 event was a success, with about 180 students attending and gaining meaningful insight and knowledge from community partners.

“I hope the students leave with a newly-found interest in recreational activities, recreational careers and a new knowledge of how to be safe while taking part in those activities,” he said.

Michael Strasburg may be reached at [email protected].