Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, August 13, 1995 TAG: 9508160029
SECTION: DISCOVER ROANOKE VALLEY PAGE: 90 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Programs for people with visual impairments and developmental disabilities also are available. The departments publish detailed listings of all of their offerings each quarter, including information about fees, dates and times. Many classes and activities are seasonal. Here's a sample of what's available and how to get in touch:
Roanoke City
The phone number for the Roanoke City Parks and Recreaton Department is 981-2236.
All ages: Arts and crafts programs are available for all ages. Dance classes, including traditional tap and ballet as well as Mideastern, country and western line dance, are also available. Sports and fitness classes include swimming, aerobics, water aerobics, golf, pool, karate and tai chi. Miscellaneous other instruction available including sign language, hunter safety, canning and freezing and dog obedience.
Youth: Kids' special offerings include crafts, such as sidewalk art and paper wind socks, "Chef Tell Thursdays" and water battles.
Teens: Teen activities include pool parties, trips to college sports games and a teen rock climbing day.
Seniors: Special senior activities include the Golden Olympics, bridge, ballroom dance and knitting. There are also day trips to Mountain Lake, Abingdon's Highland Festival, Danville's historic churches and others.
Outdoor adventure: Outdoor activities include star-gazing, rock climbing at the Rocwood Climbing Wall, caving, hiking scuba and snorkel classes, as well as scuba, mine treasure dig and other trips.
Roanoke County
The phone number for Roanoke County Parks and Recreation Department is 387-6078
Youth: Youth programs include an after school program at eight of the county's centers, baton, karate, computer and music lessons.
Teens: The department's teen center on Brambleton Avenue is open to to any teen in grades 7-12. It features a game room, lounge, club room and food court. Other teen activities include classes in cartooning and paper sculpture, amateur disc jockey nights and other parties, and ski trips.
Adults: Classes for adults include art, crafts, ceramics, bridge and needlework, as well as interior design and health, fitness and dance.
Seniors: Activities especially for seniors include bridge and canasta clubs, a defensive driving course, and potluck luncheons. There are also van outings to musical performances at Virginia Tech and Roanoke Express hockey games. Longer trips are also taken to the Chinqua-Penn estate in North Carolina and Branson, Mo., among other places.
Visually impaired and other disabilities: Special programs for the visually impaired include square dancing, trips to the orchestra and monthly luncheons. There are adult activity programs for people with developmental disabilities, and a fun and leisure group for people with head injury-related disabilities.
Outdoor education: Outdoor programs include caving, canoeing and kayaking, map reading and kite building, as well as ski trips and summer adventure camps.
Salem
The phone number is 375-3057.
Community activities: Bowling, ceramics classes, dancing, including Carolina shag lessons, as well as yoga, aerobics, kung fu and self-defense.
Youth: Classes for kids include drama workshops, library activities, chess camp, gymnastics for 3-year-olds to advanced, tennis, music and baton lessons
Seniors: Seniors can take classes in bridge, basket weaving, painting, and they can participate in a garden club and evening dances twice monthly. Seasonal outings are also available, ranging from trips to the mall to out of state.
This is only a partial listing. Contact the department for complete listings of available programs.
by CNB