Encampment resident Shannon Fagan-Craig teaches children the basics of disc golf on March 18
Between the time that school in Carbon County School District No. 2 (CCSD2) was cancelled and the time that Governor Mark Gordon issued a public health order prohibiting gatherings of 10 or more people, there was a brief sliver of time in which Valley children were able to learn about the game of disc golf.
In the days following the closure of schools within the district, Encampment resident Shannon Fagan-Craig quickly put out a call to parents in the area. With school no longer an option, Fagan-Craig provided an option for parents to allow their kids to get outside and keep from getting cabin fever.
"In my heart I felt it is important to encourage kids to get outside and what better opportunity during this pandemic that has everything that kids love to do closed," said Fagan-Craig.
So, on March 18 parents and children alike gathered at Rick Martin Memorial Park in Riverside. Fagan-Craig handed out discs to children and let them practice on throwing the discs at one of the baskets. Eventually, as the children seemed to get the handle on the idea, she took them to one of the tees and played a small portion of a round.
Some of the children were quick studies and were able to fling the disc quite a distance. Others, still learning, advanced only a few feet at a time. No matter how they were doing, Fagan-Craig encouraged them all and gave them accolades after each throw.
It took some time, but all the young disc golfers eventually landed their disc in the basket. Now knowing the basics of the game, the kids requested to play from another tee to another basket. Fagan-Craig was happy to oblige.
Once again, while it took some time, all the junior discers appeared to have fun as they advanced to the second basket. Some of them by leaps and bounds, others by small jumps.
"Kids love going to school, so I thought of making a once a week outdoor learning scenario, which helps keep the kids stimulated with their home studies and be able to stretch their legs and be kids," Fagan-Craig said. "Break up the mundaneness of the uncertainty."
Due to the eventual orders from the State of Wyoming to promote social distancing to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, the outdoor education went for one day. For that one day, however, the children were able to enjoy themselves while learning a new activity.
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