February 2018 Newsletter
New Programs
Family Dance Party

Join us at Stearns Gym on Thursday, February 8, at 1 pm, for our first-ever Family Dance Party! Aimed at our youngest community members (ages 5 and under) and their parents & guardians, this hour of fun will include music, dancing, parachute play, and some musical games!
ecoEXPLORE
is coming to Polk County!

Head to the Columbus branch of the Polk County Library on   March 7 at 4 pm to kick off the  ecoEXPLORE  Botany Season with the North Carolina Arboretum, FENCE, Polk County Public Library, and the Recreation Department!  ecoEXPLORE  (Experiences Promoting Learning Outdoors for Research and Education) is an incentive-based citizen science program for children in grades K-8. Developed by The North Carolina Arboretum, this innovative pilot program combines science exploration with kid-friendly technology to foster a fun learning environment for children while encouraging them to explore the outdoors and participate in citizen science. 
For more information or to sign up to be an ecoEXPLORER, visit the ecoEXPLORE website.
Program Updates
REFIT ® IS HERE!

Join Debbie Ware, a certified REFIT ®
Instructor, for a new fitness opportunity at Stearns Gym. Classes are Monday s and Wednesdays, 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM, and is totally free! All ages are welcome.
Give Yoga a Try
Yoga is offered on Wednesday evenings from 6-7 pm at Stearns Gym. Cost is $50 for a 6 week session and will be pro-rated for those s tarting mid-session.
New students may try one class, and if it's not the right fit for the m, there is no charge!
Please contact the instructor, Elaina Prevett, to register for the class: 
828-894-5176
Check out her website:  Stepping Stone Massage & Yoga
PEAK and ecoEXPLORE
Our Junior Adventurers have been taking pictures of wildlife and sharing them with the North Carolina Arboretum, as well as conducting schoolground clean-ups!
Our Garden Guardians are creating decorations for their gardens and assessing the habitat for wildlife needs.

Click below for more pictures of our Garden Guardians and Junior Adventurers:
We're having fun with our homeschoolers!

Meet-ups are   at Stearns Gym  and are free. Exercises and games are adapted for the group that is present.

Tuesday afternoons 1 pm - 3 pm
Thursday mornings 10 am - 12 pm

February 13 & 15: Soccer
February 20 & 22: Soccer
February 27 & March 1: Basketball/Volleyball
March 6 & 8: Basketball/Volleyball

You may come on either day or both! Contact  Laura Baird  for more information!
Sports Updates
Basketball is almost over!

With 216 players, it has been a great season for basketball! The end-of-season tournaments are under way now; don't miss any of the action! Stay tuned for the full Season Wrap-Up in our March Newsletter.
For all current basketball league information, including final standings and tournament schedules, click here.
Spring Soccer Registration is Now Open!

The cost to register is $40 per player, and registration will remain open until Friday, March 2nd. 

Click here for all current soccer information, including the Spring Registration Form.
Youth Baseball/Softball Update

Registration for the 2018 Spring Baseball/Softball season is open! The cost to register is $70 per player, and sign-ups will remain open until this Friday, Feb 9th.

Don't miss out on your chance to be a part of this exciting season!

Youth Girls Volleyball Update

Registration for the 2018 Spring Volleyball Season is now closed. We will be holding evaluations for this season on Thursday, Feb 8th at Stearns. The evaluation schedule will be as follows:

10 and Under - 5pm - 6pm
12 and Under - 6:15pm - 7:15pm
16 and Under - 7:30pm - 8:30pm

Teams will be picked the week of Feb 12th, and coaches will begin practicing shortly after that. Game will begin in late February. We are looking forward to another great season!

Trails Update

February Work Days for the Recreation Complex Trail:
2/14 ( 9 am - 12 pm)
2/24 ( 9 am - 12 pm)
2/28 ( 1 pm- 4 pm)
*Contingent on weather*

The next Trails Committee Meeting is scheduled for February 26th at 6 pm  in the Emergency Services Conference Room of the Womack Building, 40 Courthouse Street, Columbus, NC.

Our Nature Navigators have been busy! Check out the middle school hiking club's pictures on  flikr!

Polk County Parks and Recreation | [email protected] | 828.894.8199 | Visit our website
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