January 05, 2025
Sports - McHenry County
Sports

Local elementary schools add bowling to PE classes

By ALEX KANTECKI
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Summer Toussaint, 7, practices her bowling skills Tuesday at Ringwood Elementary in Ringwood. Part of a new physical dducation program, the equipment was donated byRaymond's Bowl owner Steve Kuna. (Ken Koontz)

Ringwood Elementary School physical education teacher Raven Davis always is on the lookout for new and fun activities for her students. With the help of Raymond's Bowl in Johnsburg, Davis is thrilled to bring bowling back into the classroom.

Raymond's Bowl purchased Bowler's Ed, an in-school bowling curriculum, for use among local schools, including Ringwood. Davis first learned about Bowler's Ed when she saw it advertised on the PE Central Facebook group page.

She brought the idea to Raymond's Bowl, which agreed to purchase one kit for about $1,500, Davis said. Schools will share the kit throughout the school year. The kit includes six, 20-foot carpeted lanes and comes with full sets of weighted bowling balls and pins.

Each kit provides easy-to-follow lesson plans and teachers go through a training session with Bowler's Ed representatives prior to using it with their classes.

The idea is to teach students a life-long skill, Davis said. She said 400 students at Ringwood will use the program in addition to area schools from McHenry, Johnsburg, Richmond, Spring Grove, Fox Lake and Ringwood.

"Not everybody wants to play basketball, soccer, baseball, or football," Davis said. "I think it's a great skill to instill at a very young age, the knowledge of bowling and the proper techniques of doing it, and also all the fun involved.

"It gives the kids another choice, another activity to play and participate. I also love the idea of community businesses supporting the schools and the activities that we do. I think it is a great thing (Raymond's Bowl) is doing for us."

Raymond's Bowl co-owner Steve Kuna said Davis' enthusiasm sold him on the idea, and the family business of 40 years was happy to help. Raymond's also runs summer youth leagues.

"When I met with her, she was very excited," Kuna said. "It’s a great program and bowling is a great sport. You can be 5 years old or 95 and still go bowling. It’s a neat program and I think it would really get more kids interested in bowling."