The Spring Brochure went into the mailboxes on Monday, March 14. If you didn’t receive one, please let the recreation department know and we’ll forward one by email. If you prefer a hard copy, please come in to city hall to pick one up.
For preschoolers there are several new programs starting up, including “Music & Movement,” a parent participation class for children three to four years old. This class is a great way to get moving in the morning — exploring musical instruments, parades, ribbon rhythm dancing and more. This class starts April 6 and runs until April 27, on Wednesdays from 10:30 - 11:15 a.m.
If you have a budding artist in your house, check out the “Preschool Animal Art Classes” on Wednesdays from 9:30-10:30 a.m. A four-week-long version of this class ran in February and received rave reviews from parents and children alike. The instructor is a certified elementary school teacher specializing in art who brings great enthusiasm to the class.
If you have a young musician in your midst, check out the Sunrise 2 Program starting on April 4 and running until June 6 on Mondays from 9:30-10:15 a.m. This is the second level preschool music class in the Music for Young Children music program. MYC is an internationally recognized music program with levels from Preschool to Teens. The Sunrise 2 class is a great introduction to the curriculum and teaching philosophy. For more information please log on to the website at www.myc.com.
Tumbalina is a parent participation gymnastics program starting up on Wednesdays; 4-4:45 p.m. March 30-May 18. Program costs are $40 per eight classes or $6 per drop-in. This is a great way to meet other families and get active! Children have a chance to explore gymnastics equipment set up in a circuit format. The last 15 minutes of the class includes songs and movement games to help increase spatial awareness and introduce gymnastics fundamentals. Tumbalina is located at the MacLean Annex gym.
There are also two art classes coming up for children ages five to 10 years. “Animal Art for Kids” five to seven years focuses on the six classifications of animals and using drawing techniques, photographs, paint and pastels and recycled materials, kids will create cartoons of real and imagined animals. The “Medieval Art” class for kids aged eight to 10 years focuses on castles, dragons, and knights and has the children creating their own 3D versions, including an original shield and crest. Both classes are on Wednesdays, starting April 6 and running until June 8.
For adults and teens, there is a beginner and intermediate violin / fiddle class coming up. Janis Anderson is an accomplished musician and an experienced teacher. The beginner class is on Thursdays from 7 - 7:45 p.m. starting April 7 and running until June 2. The beginner and intermediate class also runs on the same dates, but from 8 - 8:45 p.m.
If you’re interested in learning to knit, there are three classes coming up. The beginner’s class will teach you how to read a pattern and introduce you to the basic stitches - casting on and off, knitting, purling, increasing and decreasing. This class is on Saturday April 2 and 9 from 10:30-12:30 p.m.
If you enjoy pottery and lasagna, you’ll love the new class that Sarah Zanussi is putting on. The “Make a Homemade Lasagne Pan” class teaches you the basics of hand building and slab work. Participants can decorate their own pan using unique colours and designs. The result is either a 9”x13” or 10”x14” lasagne pan that is oven safe and completely functional. There are two sessions to choose from — one in April and one in May.
The BC Seniors Games are coming to the West Kootenays, August 16-20, 2011 and are being hosted in Castlegar, Nelson and Trail. The 55-plus BC Seniors Games promotes active participation in fitness and wellness in sport, recreation and education for BC Seniors. This annual four-day celebration attracts about 3,500 seniors participating in up to 26 events. The Kootenays are classified as Zone 6 within the province, and the goal is to encourage as many seniors as possible to participate in the event of their choice and to continue their interest in the months and years to come. The Zone 6 executive and sport co-ordinators hold monthly organizational meetings to help seniors stay informed throughout the year and to enjoy some social events. For more information about the games, or to inquire about registering as an athlete, please contact Barb Roberts, zone 6 director, at barb-zone6@telus.net or 250-362-9489. For more info: www.bcseniorsgames.org.