Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy (CBAL) is back in action with a full list of free programs for the Elk Valley this 2017/18 season.

CBAL strives to provide relevant and fun learning opportunities for residents. “People retain more when they are having fun and doing things that matter to them personally,” explained Community Literacy Coordinator Chrisy Hill. “So we try to tailor our programs to the needs and wants of each specific community, in a fun and engaging way.”

CBAL is also designing and running programs to include technology and use it in a meaningful way. Three of these new and innovative programs are, Healthy Tech Tots, Audio Book Club, and Digital Storytelling.

Healthy Tech Tots is a parent/child program for families with two to five year old children. There are many traditional aspects to the program such as singing songs, doing a craft, having a snack, and listening to stories. The activity that sets this program apart is the use of digital mobile devices. This is done carefully and strategically to promote healthy digital use. Healthy Tech Tots will run every Thursday afternoon for eight weeks and registration is required. Even though each week will have a different theme, families will get to enjoy kid’s yoga every session.

“Giving a child an iPad is generally thought of as a sedentary activity,” said Hill. “Cosmic kids yoga is one of the many ways of using mobile devices to get kids moving.”

Audio Book Club is a new kind of book club for adults. Audio books are gaining popularity in busy lives. This book club is ideal for busy people who don’t have time for a regular book club. It is also an excellent way for anyone using English as a second language to improve their listening and reading in English. As well as those who would like to improve their reading or just relax and enjoy a book and a group discussion.

Audio Book Club will run weekly for six or eight evenings this winter. Each session will have a different book, with some hard copies available for anyone who would like to follow along. For anyone who would prefer to sit back and listen, CBAL will provide detailed colouring pages to enjoy while the book plays.

Digital Storytelling is a program for adults using participatory videos. Participatory videos have been around for years, but with new user-friendly technology it is easier for the average person to partake. The finished product is a video or slide show used to explore a specific subject, address a problem or tell a story. Participants plan, script, edit, and create their own personal video.

“This technology allows us to slow down the world around us and live in the moment – literally one frame at a time,” explained Bridget Uhl – Masters in Comparative Media Arts. Digital Storytelling will run weekly for eight weeks in the spring. Pre-registration is required and spaces are limited.

The CBAL office for the Elk Valley is at 521-4th Ave, Fernie. This office provides support and programs for Elkford, Sparwood, and Fernie. For information on CBAL contact the Elk Valley Community Literacy Coordinator, Chrisy Hill at (250) 946-7257 or [email protected]

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