Free cornhole program gives Whitecourt youth a place to play

By Haylee Winger
With winter settling in, the Whitecourt Cornhole League is giving local kids another way to get
out, have fun and meet others.
The free youth drop-in runs Tuesdays from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Hall from October
through May. Free busing is also available through Whitecourt Transit, similar to the town’s
Doors Open programming. Children can tell the bus driver they are heading to cornhole, and
passes are provided for their trip home.
The youth program began as a pilot in the spring, with more than 60 kids taking part.
“We wanted to create something that was about more than just a sport,” said Leanne Stark, a
representative of the Whitecourt Cornhole League. “We saw an opportunity to give kids in our
community a place where they could come, have fun, make friends, and feel like they belong,
without cost being a barrier.”
Stark said cornhole allows kids of different ages, abilities and experience levels to play together.
“You don’t have to be the fastest, strongest, or most athletic kid in the room to be successful,” she
said.
Organizers have seen kids develop their cornhole skills while also building confidence and
connections with others. Stark said she has watched children who were initially shy or hesitant
begin opening up, making friends, encouraging one another and celebrating their
accomplishments.
“We’ve watched kids develop their skills, but more importantly, we’ve seen them learn
sportsmanship, patience, teamwork, and how to handle both winning and losing,” Stark said.
She added that success does not always mean being the best player. For some kids, it can be as
simple as making a bag in the hole for the first time or having another child cheer them on.
“They’re building friendships, confidence, and a sense of belonging, and those are things that
extend far beyond the game,” she said.