October 2017 Newsletter


Fall brings a fresh approach to After School programming
Polk County Recreation has combined After School programs with Polk County Public Schools to create PEAK (Polk Enrichment Academy for Kids), and every week, each elementary school gets a visit from our department. Children participate in two clubs: Garden Guardians and Junior Adventurers, where they try their hand at journalling, gardening, nature photography, naturalist training, hiking, and creating wildlife habitat. Spots are still open!  For more information, or to apply, follow the link below:
New Programs for Homeschoolers

We are now offering free gym meetups for homeschool families two days a week:
Tuesday afternoons 1 pm - 3 pm
Thursday mornings 10 am - 12 pm
Come to one or both! The first half is for sports & the second half is for group games like dodgeball, tag, and four corners! Contact Laura Baird for more information!

Sports Updates

Soccer
This Fall Soccer season saw over 250 players sign up. It has been an incredible season to this point, and we are gearing up for an exciting finish! Come out to Harmon Field and check out the action! 

For all current soccer league information, including standings, schedules, rosters and playoff brackets, click here.

Girls Volleyball
Volleyball is back in swing, and it is looking like this is a going to be another fantastic season! This Fall has seen a record number of girls sign up to play, with over 130 players across three different age groups. Games will begin on Monday, October 16th at Stearns Gym, so make sure you come check out all the excitement! 

For full schedules, as well as all other current volleyball league information, click here.

Basketball
Basketball season is right around the corner! The deadline to sign up is Friday, October 27th and the Evaluations for this season will be held on Saturday, November 4th at PCMS.  Don't miss out on your chance to be a part of this season!!

For all current basketball information, including registration form, evaluation schedules, and frequently asked questions, click here.

Polk gets grant to buy land for trail system!

Polk County has been awarded a $375,000 state grant to help purchase 300 acres of land next to the Polk County Recreation Complex.

Click here for full press release and preliminary site plan
Meet our new Program Coordinator!
Laura Baird comes to us from Myrtle Beach, SC, where she was a naturalist for Myrtle Beach State Park. Her educational background is in Marine Science, Environmental Science, and Park/Recreation Management. She has worked as an educator at Ripley's Aquarium in SC and the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta.  Laura is passionate about the country's natural spaces and the impact they have on the people that visit them. She also understands how powerful hands-on learning can be to children and adults alike, and strives to combine the outdoors and experiential education whenever possible.
Meet our new Trails Coordinator
Eli Smith is an AmeriCorps Project Conserve member serving an 11 month term with Polk County Parks & Recreation. As a native of Morganton, NC his love for the North Carolina mountains led him to attend Appalachian State University '17 and major in Recreation Management as well as double minor in Geography and Sustainable Development. During his summers in college he completed an internship as an interpretive ranger on the Blue Ridge Parkway and another as a recreation aid at a military outdoor adventure center in Maine. Service to local communities and stewardship to the environment motivated Eli to apply to the Trails Coordinator position. During this upcoming year Eli hopes to build a relationship with the community and to provide the highest quality of recreation to all populations.
Polk County Parks and Recreation | r[email protected] | 828.894.8199 | Visit our website
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