Grade 2 Field Trip: Fitness, Fun, and Life Lessons at Bam Bam Fitness Club and The Pin

Commentator/Courier Photo submitted by Susan Cleland

Submitted by Susan Cleland
Bow Island Elementary

On Monday, Oct. 19, our Grade 2 class travelled to Taber for an exciting day of fitness, learning, and fun at Bam Bam Fitness Club and The Pin.

Following his visit to Bow Island Elementary, where former professional boxer Joel Mills introduced our students to the sport of boxing and, more importantly, the values of discipline, respect, teamwork, and courage, our class had the opportunity to visit Joel at the gym where he trains boxers.

The students rotated through several fitness stations, including punching bags using their three-punch technique, mountain climbers, step-ups, strength and cardio training, and rope drills to practice ducking and moving forward in the ring. They also had the opportunity to work on their mitt skills with Joel himself.

The class completed each station twice, demonstrating tremendous effort, enthusiasm, and perseverance. Throughout the activities, Joel continued to emphasize the importance of challenging ourselves, working as a team, showing respect, and striving for personal growth.

Joel has an incredible ability to connect with children, and it was inspiring to watch our Grade 2 students put their learning into action. The gym visit culminated in some friendly boxing matches, with Joel taking on individual students and even groups of students! Everyone was fully engaged, and there were plenty of laughs for the students, parent volunteers, and teachers. Each match began with a handshake and ended with respect for the opponent, another handshake, and a well-deserved “Great job!” The smiles, confidence, and excitement were wonderful to see.

Our adventure continued next door at The Pin, where Carrie Bolen-Vayro welcomed us and introduced the students to the ins and outs of bowling. After learning the basics, the students enjoyed playing a couple of games together.

It was a fantastic day filled with physical activity, new experiences, laughter, and valuable life lessons. By the time we boarded the bus back to Bow Island, our students were happily exhausted after a day of learning, moving, and growing together!

A huge thank-you to Joel Mills for sharing his time, knowledge, and passion with our students. His positive influence and dedication to teaching young people valuable life skills made this experience truly memorable.

We would also like to extend our sincere appreciation to our wonderful parent volunteers: Mrs. K. Hopkins, Mrs. Eskeland, Mrs. Lyczewski, and Mr. R. Hopkins. Thank you to Mrs. Mary Hamm, our lovely bus driver, for getting us safely to and from Taber, and to Miss Madson, our classroom educational assistant, whose support helped make this opportunity possible.

What a memorable day for Grade 2! We returned to school with tired bodies, happy hearts, and a deeper understanding that being strong means much more than being physically fit—it also means showing courage, respect, discipline, and kindness.