The City of Southlake's Community Services Department is thrilled to announce its double victory at the 2023 Texas Recreation and Parks Society (TRAPS) North Region Awards. This recognition highlights the department's unwavering commitment to enhancing the well-being of Southlake residents through innovative and inclusive community recreation programs.
The first accolade, the Lone Star Programming Award, was presented to the City of Southlake for the exceptional Club Metro Summer Camp, introduced during the summer of 2023. Club Metro Summer Camp quickly became a resounding success, embodying the essence of a perfect community program: inclusive, creative, and tailored to a unique demographic. Participants cherished the opportunity to develop their soft skills in a supportive environment, and the addition of two summer sessions proved to be a great triumph. The Community Services Department is excited to continue offering specialized Adaptive Recreation opportunities, building on the achievements of Club Metro Summer Camp.
The second honor, the Excellence in Programming Award, was awarded to the City of Southlake for the 2023 Fit City Challenge. This collaborative endeavor between the cities of Southlake, Keller, and Colleyville, now in its second year, resulted in Southlake clinching the title of "Most Fit City 2023" after 45 days of spirited competition, city cooperation, and a shared commitment to promoting healthier communities. With a strong foundation in place, the program aims to expand the Fit City Challenge to neighboring communities, fostering healthy competition and valuable partnerships with private and public organizations. The Fit City Challenge has firmly established itself as a staple in Southlake's fitness programming for years to come.
The Awards Selection Committee lauded the Community Services Department's nominations as exemplary of dedication and excellence in the field of parks and recreation. These accolades recognize the department's relentless pursuit of excellence in its daily endeavors.
Representatives from the Community Services Department will accept these awards on behalf of the City at the annual TRAPS North Awards Ceremony and Holiday Party, scheduled for Wednesday, December 6. The City of Southlake extends its heartfelt congratulations to all staff members who contributed to the success of these award-winning programs.
The City of Southlake's Community Services Department is thrilled to announce its double victory at the 2023 Texas Recreation and Parks Society (TRAPS) North Region Awards. This recognition highlights the department's unwavering commitment to enhancing the well-being of Southlake residents through innovative and inclusive community recreation programs.
The first accolade, the Lone Star Programming Award, was presented to the City of Southlake for the exceptional Club Metro Summer Camp, introduced during the summer of 2023. Club Metro Summer Camp quickly became a resounding success, embodying the essence of a perfect community program: inclusive, creative, and tailored to a unique demographic. Participants cherished the opportunity to develop their soft skills in a supportive environment, and the addition of two summer sessions proved to be a great triumph. The Community Services Department is excited to continue offering specialized Adaptive Recreation opportunities, building on the achievements of Club Metro Summer Camp.
The second honor, the Excellence in Programming Award, was awarded to the City of Southlake for the 2023 Fit City Challenge. This collaborative endeavor between the cities of Southlake, Keller, and Colleyville, now in its second year, resulted in Southlake clinching the title of "Most Fit City 2023" after 45 days of spirited competition, city cooperation, and a shared commitment to promoting healthier communities. With a strong foundation in place, the program aims to expand the Fit City Challenge to neighboring communities, fostering healthy competition and valuable partnerships with private and public organizations. The Fit City Challenge has firmly established itself as a staple in Southlake's fitness programming for years to come.
The Awards Selection Committee lauded the Community Services Department's nominations as exemplary of dedication and excellence in the field of parks and recreation. These accolades recognize the department's relentless pursuit of excellence in its daily endeavors.
Representatives from the Community Services Department will accept these awards on behalf of the City at the annual TRAPS North Awards Ceremony and Holiday Party, scheduled for Wednesday, December 6. The City of Southlake extends its heartfelt congratulations to all staff members who contributed to the success of these award-winning programs.
A few weeks into the Fall Semester, Cross Timbers Forest Preschool won the Texas Recreation & Park Society North Region Excellence in Programming Award!
Cross Timbers Forest Preschool is an explorative, hands-on preschool experience focused on connecting students to nature. Hosted at the Bob Jones Nature Center and Preserve, the curriculum highlights our local ecosystem and includes hikes, storytime, arts and crafts, imaginative play, and discovery. Forest Preschool allows students to build knowledge of the world around them, develop confidence and self-esteem while inspiring connections with nature. With two 15-week semesters in the fall and spring, students spend more than 80% of their day outside learning through exploration. Cross Timbers Forest Preschool is a community-favorite program that maximizes 700 plus acres of preserve to instill an appreciation for nature and a sense of stewardship in our youngest community members.
Forest Preschool staff is honored to receive this award, especially after working so hard to make Forest Preschool the premier preschool experience in DFW. When we first started operations in 2019, we only held classes three days a week and had about 11 students. Since then, we have added an extra day and have increased our student roster times three! In the last three years, Forest Preschool has become a favorite community recreational program. We often see multiple generations of siblings go through Forest Preschool, and watch our kiddos move to Nature Camp after aging out of preschool. Our classes are consistently full, and the growth we witness in our students fuels us to continue making this the best preschool program around. Our curriculum is unique due to unparalleled access to nature. The skills our students gain prepare them for success in kindergarten and beyond!
“I’m so thrilled about winning this award! My staff and I work hard to make Forest Preschool a world-class program that is safe, fun, and educational. We take a tremendous amount of pride in our work and being recognized for it feels wonderful! We are honored to accept the award and can’t wait to continue growing Forest Preschool!” Hannah Nyquist, Programs Coordinator.
Congratulations to all Cross Timbers Forest Preschool staff for your world-class work! The TRAPS North Region Excellence in Programming Award (Class II) will be presented to the City of Southlake Community Services team on Friday, November 5, 2021, at the TRAPS North Region Conference in Allen.
