Board Brains
Details
Southern Alberta
The Idea
Board Brains is a pilot program for children ages 7–12 and their fathers (or father figures), combining the joy of skateboarding with intentional relationship-building activities.
Weekly sessions bring dads and kids together to:
Learn skateboarding side by side in a safe, supportive environment.
Celebrate persistence, resilience, and small wins through skill-building.
Reflect together with guided activities that strengthen communication and bonding.
The program is grounded in principles of therapeutic recreation, using physical activity as a tool to promote emotional regulation, confidence, and family connection. By providing skateboards, helmets, and trained facilitators, the program ensures accessibility for all families, including those who face financial barriers.
The collaboration between Families Matter and Hull merges father-focused engagement with youth mental health and therapeutic recreation expertise, creating an innovative, community-rooted approach to connection.