Winter fun for teens at Eastlink Park

Ashley Clementovich

Teen Mayhem Night for the month of February was held at Eastlink Park on Friday evening. Besides tubing, Town of Whitecourt Recreation Co-ordinator Emma Harper said the night was designed for kids to “have a hot chocolate, sit by the fire, and hang out.”

Siblings Kyle, Kamren, and Rebecka Westling arrived wrapped head to toe ready for some outdoor fun. Although they hadn’t attended a Teen Mayhem Night before, the siblings were looking forward to a winter activity in temperatures warmer than -40° C. Once the teens had equipped themselves with helmets and tubes, they headed for the hill unperturbed by the falling snow or frosty air.

Eastlink Park staff made sure there were areas to warm up in including a bonfire in the lower benched area, and a propane fire for the upper level viewing balcony. Upbeat music blasted over the speakers as the teens enthusiastically zoomed down the hill and zipped back up on the magic carpet.

Eventually everyone’s fingers and toes needed to warm up, so the teens trooped back into the chalet for a free cup of hot chocolate. Percy Baxter students Mason Lyver, Joey Arsenault, Ryan Newell, and Dakoda Adams shed their heavy coats and mitts, clutched their steaming beverages, and passed around snacks for everyone to share. Amongst the chatter, Lyver asked possibly the most important question of the evening, “How many hot chocolates are we allowed to have?”

The next Teen Mayhem Night will be a gaming night at the Allan & Jean Millar Centre on March 15. There will be regular and giant-sized board games as well as video games projected on the walls of the squash ball courts. Teens 12 to 18 can enter the tournaments for prizes or just enjoy some casual play.

The Allan & Jean Millar Centre will also be hosting a Community Fun Night on February 23 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Music, lights, dancing, and a bouncy castle promise a great evening of family fun!