Active Living

Welcome to the Active Living Page! Where we talk about living a healthy, active lifestyle here in the Municipality of Barrington

Learn to Cross Country Ski!

Hike Barrington and take on the Hike NS Challenge! 

Fall Hike Challenge! The Hiker Challenge is about inspiring, motivating and rewarding hikers to start hiking or to hike more. Your reward for completing a challenge is a badge to show off on clothing or backpacks (or blankets!) and making the Honour Roll. It challenges you to visit at least 7 of 10 local trails over the course of a year and we're amping it up! In addition to the seasonal prize draw for gift cards generously provided by The Trail Shop, Barrington Recreation has a limited number of hike blankets to give away. This is great to sew all your hike badges on from across the province and show them off! Links to all the hike maps are in the comments along with the form to check off your hikes. each hike completed = one entry. The special contest part of this challenge will run from Thanksgiving weekend (CAN) to Thanksgiving weekend (US) October 12-November 30. For full details and hike maps: https://barringtonmunicipality.com/Recreation/active-living All NS Hikes in the Hike NS Challenge - https://www.hikenovascotia.ca/programs-hiker-challenge/

Woods Harbour Trail: Begin at the Woods Harbour Station Rd and hike north along the Woodland Multi Use Trail until you reach the second bridge on the trail for a 4.6 km hike.    .
Barrington Bay Trail: Begin near the Starboard Inn and hike on the Rail Trail that follows the coastline of Barrington Passage. Turn around once you have reached the end of the Barrington Bay Trail near Doctors Cove for a 5.18 km hike.
Wireless Station Rd: Begin on Wireless Station Rd and hike the old road until you’ve reached the Wireless Station. There are remains of the old station that was used as part of communication during the First World War. The wireless station is about 4.8km from the Rail Trail, which totals to be a9.6 km hike.
Green Hills Trail: Walk the Green Hills Trail that follows the shoreline until you have reached the beach and turn around for a 3.38 km hike
Stoney Island Beach: Hike one of the most beautiful beaches in Cape Sable Island, which is a 2.94 km hike
The Hawk: Hike the most southern part of Nova Scotia! Walk south-east towards the drowned forest and turn around at the tip of Nova Scotia where you will see the Cape Sable Lighthouse on an island. It is a roughly 2.6 km hike.
North East Point Beach: Hike along the North East Point beach and learn about the Causeway for a 968 metre hike.
Port Clyde Trail: Park on Lyles Road and hike South on the Rail Trail for 5.76 km until you have reached the Highway 103 intersection. If you are doing this challenge with a group, we advise one person to park their car on the shoulder near Highway 103 so then you do not need to turn around and hike again. However, if you wish to hike back to the starting point, it will be a 11.56 km hike
Sherose Island Nature Trail: Visit the most magical trail in Nova Scotia! Complete the 1 km loop and view all of the decorated rocks for a 1 km hike
Barrington River: Park at the parking lot near the Barrington Museum complex and the trailhead will be about 150 meters south. Once you reach the trailhead, cross the bridge and continue hiking until you reach the 103 highway then turn around for a 4.5 km hike.

Find more Hike NS Challenges!  Click here for the hikes closest to you or where you are visiting in NS! 

Make Your Move Campaign

The Healthy Tomorrow Foundation has launched the "Make your Move" Campaign. This is a public awarness campaign designed to encourage Nova Scotians to move more throughout the entire day. Their goal is to inspire people to think about movement differently and recognize that it's easy to do. Their website has blogs about some of awesome people in our province doing neat things to increase movement! Check it out by clicking here. 

Are you looking at making your move in Barrington? Here are some areas that are easy to explore and get active! Remember, the best piece of exercise ever invented is YOU!

• Baccaro Point Look-Off and Lighthouse
• Barrington Bay Trail
• Barrington Leisure Parks Association
• Barrington Recreation Tennis Court
• Barrington River Picnic Area
• Crow Neck Beach
• Drinking Brook Park
• Fort Creek Park
• Fort St. Louis, National Historic Site
• Green Hills Walking Trail
• Island View Park
• Municipality of Barrington Equipment Loan Program
• Northeast Point Beach (Causeway beach)
• Port Clyde Trail
• Sand Hills Beach Provincial Park
• Shag Harbour Rock
• Sherose Island Nature Trail, Sherose Island Rocks!
• South Side Beach, Daniel's Head Beach
• Stoney Island Beach
• Strangs Lane Boat Launch and picnic
• Stumpy Cove Park
• The Hawk Beach
• Woods Harbour Multi-Purpose Trail

Benefits of walking

Are you aware of all the benefits walking has to your body? Take a look at these facts! 

Looking for some resources on walking more! Check out the NS Walks website:https://www.hikenovascotia.ca/ns-walks/  This website has some videos on stretches you can do, some inspirational videos and information on starting your own walking group, and some information how YOU can become a walking leader in your community!

Outdoor Unstructured Play in Barrington 

The Municipality of Barrington values the importance of outdoor unstructured play. When we are talking about outdoor unstructured play, we are referring to risky play and nature play. This play normally happens where natural elements are present- such as water and mud, rocks, sticks, hills, forests, and natural loose parts such as pine cones, leaves, grass etc. This sort of play is self-directed and exploratory. This means that the child is in charge of the play and directs how they are playing.    This sort of play includes some element of risk. Outdoor play provides thrilling and exciting forms of play that involve uncertainty and the potential for physical injury- which can be good. It is good for children to test their limits, explore boundaries and learn about injury risk. Click here for more information on an overview of risky play.

Another way the Municipality of Barrington is supporting outdoor unstructured play is through our Loose Parts Play shed initiative. We currently have one Loose Parts Play Shed located at the Sherose Island Playground. The Shed houses plenty of Loose Parts items such as tires, stumps, ropes, tunnels, crates, cooking supplies, etc. The reason loose parts play is important for children is because the items allow the kids to be in charge of the play. They can use and adopt the equipment as they please, which enhances their creativity and development. Loose parts play also develops problem-solving skills and competencies needed for later academic skills. If you want to learn more about loose parts play, click here.

Check out this infographic on the adult's role in supervising outdoor unstructured