Keeping active on Family Day won’t be a problem for Foothills families.

Scavenger hunts, broomball, hockey, swimming and skating are among the activities available in Okotoks, Black Diamond and Turner Valley on Feb. 18 — and it won’t put a dent in the pocketbook.

The fun begins in Turner Valley with a scavenger hunt during the town’s annual Family Day Scavenger Hunt and Skating Party at the Flare ‘n’ Derrick Community Centre.

Families go head to head in this annual event challenging them to find answers to questions, collect items and hunt down landmarks in Black Diamond and Turner Valley. Registration is at 10 a.m. and the hunt begins at 11 a.m.

“It gives the teams an opportunity to learn about some of the services that are in the businesses,” said Town of Turner Valley community events coordinator Hazel Martin. “We’ve asked the businesses if they could maybe give a coupon out to bring the families back to their stores.”

Martin said 40 teams competed in the scavenger hunt last year.

“It’s just a lot of fun,” she said.

The Turner Valley Fire Department is also challenging families to games of broomball on the skating rink. Those not up to the task can enjoy a leisure skate to music, said Martin.

Families looking for a good book can check out the selection at the Sheep River Library’s used book sale from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Rowan House Emergency Shelter also has pictures for youngsters to colour in the library.

Families burning off energy with outdoor activities can refuel with free hot dogs and hot chocolate from noon to 1 p.m., said Martin.

Hockey fans are invited to head to Black Diamond to watch the Western Hockey League’s Calgary Hitmen play five Atom teams at the Scott Seaman outdoor arena from noon to 3 p.m. Members of the Hitmen will sign autographs and have giveaways following the game.

Okotoks is offering a variety of free activities throughout the day including swimming, skating, live entertainment and free tennis lessons and demonstrations by the Okotoks Tennis Club. Check the town pages in the Western Wheel for a full schedule or go to www.okotoks.ca

Town of Okotoks community events coordinator Mark Doherty said the hope is to have people move away from electronics for the day and get better connected with each other in what the town is calling Family Day Unplugged.

Family and Community Support Services is challenging youth to disconnect from electronic devices and turn to other activities like walking, playing games, skating and swimming on Family Day in its Disconnect to Connect initiative.

“Ideally, the best group of people to make aware of how much time is spent on computers and plugged in is the school age kids,” he said. “I have six kids and it’s been a struggle from day one to deal with how to get innovative and get the kids off computers and video games.”

Having activities to get involved in will help give youth incentive to stay away from electronics, said Doherty.

The Town is asking youth to report what activities they participated in at the Town’s Facebook page with one name drawn to win a 10-visit Family Pass to the Okotoks Recreation Centre.

Disconnect to Connect is challenging youth to compete with other classes in getting as much unplugged time in as possible during the day. The class with the most unplugged hours each in elementary, junior high and high school will be presented with a pizza party.

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