Fall and Winter Sports & Recreation Participation Needs Funding to Thrive

It’s the holiday season and the words “let it snow,” are echoing in the ears of every child anticipating the sense of joy this time of year brings. Since colder weather tends to encourage cozying up indoors, sports and recreation events and activities are important to keep in mind. It’s true; the lure of game consoles, smartphones, holiday sweet treats, big-screen televisions, and a sedentary school vacation is hard for any kid to resist. However, if you think about it, opportunities for wintery fun and physical activity are just as plentiful and the rewards are far greater than hours lost to online gaming and binge-watching TV. During the seasonal shifts, it’s important to prioritize health, particularly for children, ensuring a balance between holiday indulgence and maintaining an active lifestyle during the fall and winter months.

GrantWatch is keenly aware of the growing need to keep our children healthy and active. In addition, we are equally aware that many nonprofits, schools, religious organizations and municipalities depend on grants to provide sports and recreation opportunities for their communities. As a result, there are close to 700 Sports and Recreation grants currently available in our directory.

Sports and Recreational Activities

• Basketball: Who doesn’t love a good hoop game? While not technically a winter sport, perhaps the best thing about basketball is that there are indoor and outdoor courts practically everywhere.
• Bowling: A laid-back, friendly round of bowling is perfect if the weather is bad. The good news is that bowling is always a family favorite and promises a good time for all.
• Hiking: Braving the chill outdoors? Hiking with friends or family is an excellent opportunity to let your kids experience the seasonal change up close and personal.
• Walking the Mall: For those days when the winter chill is too frigid. Many malls open their doors to early walkers. Why not take a stroll and do some window shopping with the littles? It might just prove to be worthwhile.
• Jogging: Kids love challenges. Jogging a safe route with mom or dad is invigorating for young folks. Why not build on a friendly sense of competition and turn it into a race home?

Of course, there are also a number of official winter sports and recreation activities you can consider doing with your young ones as well. Ice skating always seems to spring to mind first, and it’s harder and more physically challenging than it looks. In addition, there’s ice hockey, skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and sledding for those kids who really want to get into the seasonal swing.

Benefits of staying active in Winter

The Benefits, you ask? Oh, so many benefits come from playing sports and enjoying recreational time. Whatever the activity, kids experience better hand-eye coordination, physical fitness, and better overall health. However, winter sports tend to also advance endurance, plus they’re fun to participate in and many winter games are team-centric.

• Less Time Online:  The more time your kids spend on winter activities like sports and recreation, the less time they will spend online. Spending time online can be beneficial but only when it’s balanced with other socializing and physical activities.
• Health and Immunity: Let’s face it, active kids are healthy kids. Any activity where they can burn calories, have fun, and exercise is a worthwhile experience.
• Face to Face Socialization: Your child is away from friends and people they see daily at school. Don’t let them feel isolated and lonely; get them involved in winter sports and recreation.
• Stress Relief: Children who are involved in hobbies and outside activities may experience less stress. Indeed, cabin fever from being cooped up inside during inclement weather is a real thing. Sports and recreation can provide the release needed for lasting stress relief.

GrantWatch has provided the list below of Sports and Recreation grants for your consideration.

Sports and Recreation Grants

1. First, grants and in-kind support to Ontario registered charities, amateur athletic associations, municipalities, Indigenous communities, and housing corporations for sports and recreational programs that benefit local children and youth.
2. There are also grants to swim lesson providers to offer free/low-cost swim instruction to youth from underserved backgrounds. Purpose of the program is to expand existing programming to reach underserved and underrepresented youth. Youth served up to age 19 would otherwise not have access to swim instruction.
3. In addition, grants of up to $5,000 to swim instructors, programs, and facilities to provide adult swimming lessons. Funding supports provision of free or low-cost opportunities for underserved and underrepresented populations to acquire basic swimming skills. Purpose of the program is to help make more adults safer around water. Goal is to reduce adult drowning risk through education, financial support, and community outreach.
4. Grants to researchers for research projects to reduce performance-enhancing drug-use. Purpose of the funding is to address the root causes and prevent the use of these drugs in sports.
5. There are also grants to middle schools for after-school athletics programming serving students in grades 6-8. Funding is for the acquisition of after-school athletics equipment. Funding will also be used to acquire safety equipment and uniforms. Goal of the funding source is to help as many programs and schools as possible.

Additional Sports and Recreation Grants

1. Grants of up to $1,000 to schools, volunteers, and educators for activities to improve physical fitness and education for students. Funding is for trips to eligible roller skating rinks for physical education classes and educational STEM (K-12) field trips. Funding will also be used for the school’s reward program. Programming must take place within roller skating rinks that are members of the Roller Skating Association.
2. There are grants to nonprofits for projects related to boating/environment. Funding is for projects that promote water safety. Funding is also to develop economical personal safety equipment and minimize the deleterious effects boating can have on the environment.
3. Additionally, there are grants to nonprofits and social enterprises for health/fitness initiatives. Funding is for projects addressing healthy aging, including preventative health support. Goals also include the prevention of non-communicable diseases, community support for older people, and at-home care. In addition, goals are also for nutrition, mobility, mental well-being, mental health, exercise and sport, and physical fitness. Projects will benefit people ages 40 years or older.
4. Grants offered to organizations, government agencies, land trusts, and individuals for projects to promote rock climbing. Funding supports projects to increase accessibility and opportunities for climbing. Goal is also to conserve the climbing environment throughout the country. In addition, funds are for climbing area facilities, educational outreach, research, and advocacy.
5. Finally, grants of up to $10,000 to nonprofits and government agencies to ensure the future of all-terrain vehicle off-road riding. Funding is to organizations working to preserve trail access and promote safe and responsible riding. Awards are paid with either monetary grants or products.

Hopefully, one of these Sports and Recreation grants will be a good fit for your community!

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