ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, August 11, 1996 TAG: 9608090139
SECTION: DISCOVER ROANOKE VALLEY PAGE: 85 EDITION: METRO
All of the Roanoke Valley's parks and recreation departments offer a variety of activities, classes and trips for children, teens, adults and seniors all year long.
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, New River canoeing, white water rafting, and knitting. There are also day trips to the Crab Orchard Museum Burke's Garden, West Virginia State Fair, 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 baton, karate, computer and music lessons, as well as an after school program (A.S.K.) at nine of the county's centers that features a different activity each week.
Teens: The department's teen center on Brambleton Avenue is open to any teen in grades 6-12. It features a game room, baskeball court, 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 North Carolina Zoo, Lancaster and Reading Pennsylvania, and the Barter Theater, 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 like the challenge course at Camp Roanoke.
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.
Area Parks
Contact the department for a complete list of parks.
Park reservations: In order to reserve a park shelter for parties, etc., call the department and order by major credit card, such as Visa or Mastercard. Rates for city residents: 1/2 day (10 a.m.-3 p.m. or 3 p.m.-9 p.m.), $25; full day (10 a.m.-9 p.m.), $35. Rates for non-city residents: 1/2 day, $35; full day, $45. Shelter availability cannot be guaranteed without a reservation. All parks close at 11 p.m.
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