NEW ACTIVITIES IN Y.M.C.A. PROGRAMME

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32540, 25 February 1971, Page 15

NEW ACTIVITIES IN Y.M.C.A. PROGRAMME

Japanese conversation, Chinese boxing, pistol and rifle shooting and a wilderness club are activities being introduced this year by the Young Men’s Christian Association in Christchurch to its recreation programme. About 1500 children, young adults and adults are expected to enrol at classes at the association’s headquarters in Hereford Street and an additional 1000 persons are expected to take part in the programme at the Bryndwr branch. The general secretary of

the Christchurch Y.M.C.A. (Mr R. H. French) said that the wilderness club would be open to all secondary school pupils and would involve lectures in bush craft, rock climbing, first-aid and canoe-

ing. The major activity, however, would be in week-end rambles. Initially these trips would be made in the Arthur’s Pass National Park. It was also hoped that these activities could be used towards helping members gain their Duke of Edinburgh award.

Mr French said that it was hoped to develop the pistol and rifle shooting club as an activity for both fathers and sons. This club and the wilderness club will meet on Tuesday evenings. Classes for the Chinese boxing course, which is being organised by Mr P. Chen, physical education director at the Y.M.C.A. at Bryndwr, will be held at the Hereford Street headquarters and at Bryndwr. Mr Chen, who came to New Zealand from Taiwan, is an international gymnastics coach and coached teams at the 1964 and 1968 Olympic Games. Other classes for boys and girls which are included in the association’s programme are gymnastics, judo, swimming, camping, hobbies, tramoline work, table tennis, exercises, films and holiday programmes. For young adults there will be social activities such as dances, barbecues, outings, folk evenings, car trials and camping, and for adults there will be squash, keep-fit classes, sauna baths, basketball, volleyball, weight training, square dancing, table tennis, jogging, luncheon and fellowship clubs, and gymnastics.