Sligo CTC is proud to be involved with Gaisce over the last number of years.  Gaisce – The President’s Award is a self-development programme that encourages you to find your passion, get active and make a difference in your community! By taking part in Gaisce, you will take on exciting personal, physical and community challenges and develop new skills and new friendships.   
In our health promoting centre, Gaisce is headed up by our President Award Leaders Aideen and Steve. Trainees have created many fond memories and achieved bronze awards over the years. Today we are going to take a trip back and look at some of the treasured photographs as reminders of all the beautiful scenic places we visited and skills we learned over the years.  
The Gaisce group had the privilege of going on a hike to the Carrowkeel Passage Tombs, a very historical site that was very interesting to visit and had a great view from which we could see Lough Arrow.  We cycled all the way to the Gyreum Ecolodge, the facilities were fantastic and provided a unique experience that all the trainees enjoyed.
We climbed Truskmore, cycled, stayed in Benwisken Youth Hostel and lit a campfire.  We climbed Dartry Mountains and took in spectacular views of Sligo town and its surrounding areas including the Atlantic coastline, Glencar Lake and Glenif Horseshoe.  The trainees had to plan, train for and complete these outdoor Adventure Journeys as part of a team.  This was a unique, enjoyable and memorable experience, as well as an opportunity to experience self-sufficiency.
Of course not forgetting how some of the Gaisce trainees under the Community Involvement Activity, helped with building and developing our own Garden Project.  They made raised beds and helped convert the ex smoking shed into a fabulous green house under the guidance of Danny.  We’ve eaten so much of the organic produce over the years!!
As with many of the other CTC trainees, they have planted and weeded the front flower bed to give us a beautiful display when coming into train and work! Trainees also helped with the health promotion initiatives in the centre and last year the sports group did the ‘Litter Pick’ while out on their morning jog.  Well done to everyone involved.  You can continue to complete ‘Gaisce at home’ click here for more info:  https://www.gaisce.ie/
Compiled by Aideen and Steve