Fair Oaks Lodge extended an invitation in the Wadena-Deer Creek High School, asking for groups to come and spend time with the residents as part of their activities program. Coaches for Wadena's Squirt A hockey team (a group of 11 boys ages 9-11) and a few hockey sisters, went to Fair Oaks Lodge to play Nintendo Wii with the residents and Beach Ball Games.
The coaches had been wanting to teach the team not only how to become better hockey players, but how to give to our community, to build a good character as well, explained Jill Boline. "When I called Michelle Simpson, the activities director, she informed me that they had purchased a Wii system for the residents, but that no one knew how to run it!"
A group of young boys seemed like pretty good mentors, Boline thought. Wearing their team jerseys and Wii hockey games in hand, they took on the challenge on Saturday, Feb. 13.
Half of the team played Wii hockey on the main floor while the other half went down stairs to play beach ball games. The hockey players and the residents laughed and had an amazing time together, Boline said. "Our boys asked to come back in two weeks!"
The players handed out popcorn and sugar-free candy at the end and said goodbye to their new friends.
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Simpson told the boys they were one of the best groups to visit, they were not shy with the residents, were polite and made the morning a lot of fun.
