PAAL (Physical Activity for Active Living) is a program for individuals of all ages who are experiencing physical and/or intellectual disabilities. Our mission is to provide quality physical activity with an emphasis on fun, skill development, and social interaction.

Child/Teen PAAL

Child/Teen PAAL is a program for children and youth ages 5-18 who are experiencing physical and/or intellectual disabilities. Each participant has 1-2 volunteers who assist them through the instructor-led group and individual activities.

Aquatics: The water’s relaxing effect and stimulating qualities are used in working on fundamental to technical swimming skills and games (based on the participant’s prior aquatic abilities and comfortability).

Movement Activities: Through guided-discovery activities, participants work to develop expression of self through different ways of moving one’s body, improvisation, and coordination, often to music. There is also a focus on foundational movements such as sending, receiving, evading, and different types of locomotion, which are emphasized through sport-based activities.

Group Games: Participants play through games which encourage team cooperation, sharing, and social interaction.

PAAL Fitness

PAAL Fitness is a program for adults who are experiencing physical and/or intellectual disabilities and are 18+ years of age. This program focuses on promoting physical fitness through aerobic exercise, muscular strength, endurance, and flexibility, along with building meaningful social connections. Each participant has 1-2 volunteers who assist them throughout the workouts. Volunteers and participants collaborate in small groups to create and adapt a range of exercises to provide a safe and efficient workout.

In addition to the exercise plans that are supplied, this program aims to match each participant’s specific needs and goals at every session. Both the track and gym at our physical activity complex on campus are utilized to ensure a diverse range of physical activity. 

PAAL Summer Camp

The PAAL Summer Camp is designed for children and youth experiencing intellectual and/or physical disabilities who are between the ages of 5 to 18. The camp provides the opportunity to be physically active, socialize with others, work on skill development, and have lots of fun in the sun! Volunteers assist the participants through the activities to ensure each participant is successful in being active.

Note:

Participants must be able to change from street clothes to swim suites and back to street clothes with minimal assistance (ie. the participant can step/place their feet into their pant legs and volunteers help to pull them up, the participant can work with the volunteer in helping to get their shirt over their head, arms, and torso). 

If the participant wears incontinence protection (pull ups) they must be able to change in and out of protection with minimal assistance. Due to safety concerns, USask Rec volunteers and staff will NO longer be responsible for completing this personal hygiene task for PAAL participants.

Participants will be active in two activities per week, the pool and structured activities in the gym/playroom, as a result it is the expectation that participants will stay with their group in the activity area and partake in the activities provided.

Participants must be willing to follow the directions of the coordinator/ instructors/volunteers.

We kindly ask that, if your child does not meet these requirements, please refrain from registering in the PAAL program. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this may cause.

Volunteers play a key role in the PAAL program – they guide the participants through each session, helping them to feel supported and successful in being physically active. 1-2 volunteers are paired with a participant for the duration of the term, which allows the chance for a meaningful relationship to develop, as well as creates consistency for the participants. Aside from creating an inclusive, supportive atmosphere, volunteers are responsible for tasks such as supervising and participating in the instructor-led pool and gym activities alongside their participant, socializing with and getting to know their participant, assisting with changing, helping to adapt activities if need be, and enhancing the overall experience for our participants.  

Activities include learning skills in sports such as basketball, soccer, and floor hockey, working on creative movement through guided-discovery games, and swimming techniques based on individual comfort and skill level. Each session aims to work on one or more fundamental movement pattern while incorporating teamwork and social games throughout. This volunteer opportunity can be used towards volunteer hours, to build your resume, and is a very rewarding experience overall!

Interested?

If you are interested in volunteering please fill out the volunteer application below. If you have any questions please contact usaskrec.aquatics@usask.ca. Please note that once accepted a criminal record check will be required. 

Volunteer applications for Winter 2025 are full.