LRF Program Newsletter
February 2024
Department Updates
Recreation Membership Card – Free 2024 Adult Memberships
Beginning Monday, January 1, 2024, the Town of Manchester’s Department of Leisure, Family and Recreation will be offering free Recreation Membership Cards to all adult and senior residents for the 2024 programming season, made possible through funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
A Recreation Membership Card can be purchased at Center Springs Park, the Community Y, Customer Services at Town Hall and the Senior Center. This card will allow access to the town’s recreation centers, outdoor & indoor pools, and the Community Y Fitness Center. Senior citizen passes are also valid for the Manchester Senior Center and Senior Center programs.
This offer is available to Manchester residents only. Questions? Please contact the Recreation Division at (860)647-3084.
Recreation Division
Dance Fusion
Dance Fusion offers an improvised and energetic style of exercise that allows participants to physically express themselves through a range of routines. Dance Fusion isn’t set to just one style of dance – throughout the sessions, there will be a new style of dance to learn and enjoy!
- Meets: M, 01/08/24-03/11/24, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
- Location: Leisure Labs at Mahoney Center, 110 Cedar Street
- Fee: $48/$60 (NR)
Drop-In Youth Basketball
Join us for drop-in youth basketball! Drop-in basketball is offered at the Recreation Centers’ indoor gyms to the public on a first come, first serve basis. Drop-in basketball will be monitored by staff.
- Fee: No Cost (Recreation Card Required)
LEISURE LABS AT MAHONEY CENTER
- Meets: M-F, 5:00-9:00 PM, Sa, 10:00 AM-2:00 PM
- 5:00-6:00 PM: 12 and under
- 6:00-7:00 PM: 13-15 year old
- 7:00-9:00 PM: 16+ (Hours subject to change once Adult and Youth Recreation Sports begin in November/December) No drop-In basketball , December 9 thru February 10.
COMMUNITY Y REC CENTER
- Meets: Monday – Friday, 6:00 – 9:00 PM
- 6:00-7:00 PM: 13 and under
- 7:00-8:00 PM: 14 – 15 year old
- 8:00-9:00 PM: 16 – 17 year old
Neighborhoods & Families Division
Sustainability Learnshop – At Home Composting
Want to get started on composting and don’t know how? Have you been composting, but have been unhappy with the results? Join us for our At-Home Composting workshop to learn from a UConn Master Composter!
- Meets: W, 02/07/24, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
- Location: Eastside Neighborhood Resource Center, 153 Spruce Street
- Ages: All welcome
- Fee: No cost
Spruce Street Farmers Market: Love Your Local Indoor Market
Our Love Your Local Indoor Market is the perfect place to pick up gifts & treats for a loved one (or to treat yourself)! Support small Connecticut businesses as you shop with your favorite market vendors. The market also accepts SNAP/EBT payments & will double the value of SNAP purchases up to $20.00 (spend $20.00 using your EBT card to receive an additional $20.00 to spend on SNAP-eligible items).
- Meets: Sat, 02/10/24, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- Location: Nathan Hale Recreation Center, 160 Spruce Street
- Ages: All ages welcome
- Fee: Free parking & admission
Family Fun Night: Valentine’s Day Dance
Dance the night away with family & friends at our Family Fun Night: Valentine’s Day Dance! Enjoy family-friendly music, dancing, games & more!
- Meets: F, 02/16/24, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- Location: Nathan Hale Recreation Center, 160 Spruce Street
- Ages: PreK – Grade 6
- Fee: No cost
Youth Service Bureau
Youth and Police – Valentines for Veterans
Show your love for our veterans by creating uplifting Valentines with messages of gratitude and support! Dinner provided. For more info and to register, please call (860)874-5545 or email [email protected].
- Meets: Th, 02/01/24, 3:30 PM – 6:30 PM
- Location: Youth Service Bureau, 63 Linden Street
Manchester’s Early Childhood Fair
Manchester’s Early Childhood Fair is free, open to the public, and provides a wealth of information on programs, services, recreation, and local resources available for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and young children up to age 8 as well as prenatal mothers.
- Location: Manchester High School, 134 Middle Turnpike East (Entry from Brookfield Street)
- Meets: Sat, 02/10/24, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Snow Date: 02/17/24)
- Fee: No Cost
Youth and Police – Escape Room
An international jewel thief is about to slip free! Can you and your team stop them from escaping before it is too late? For more info and to register, please call (860)874-5545 or email [email protected].
- Meets: Th, 02/10/24, 3:30 PM – 7:00 PM
- Additional Info: Transportation & dinner provided
Mommy & Me Playgroup
This program is for moms and their infants to early walking age (approximately newborn to under age 2). The group is for parents of young babies and toddlers to socialize in an unstructured playgroup atmosphere. This is a laid-back social group with no judgment, come when you can! A private changing and feeding room is available. Registration is not required to attend, please just show up. Contact Caitlin for questions or to be put on the list for group updates and cancellations at [email protected]
- Instructor: Caitlin McNamara
- Location: Northwest Park Early Childhood Center
- Age: 0-under 2 years old
- Meets: Tu, 01/09/24-04/30/24, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
- Fee: No Cost
What Is Consent?
What is consent? Through thought-provoking activities, students will understand the dynamics of consent. Students will learn key definitions and laws related to sexual assault and consent, and address myths and misconceptions around the topics. Students are also provided with valuable resources available if they or someone they know is a victim of sexual assault.
- Meets: Th, 02/15/24, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
- Location: Youth Service Bureau, 63 Linden Street
- Registration: To register, contact Kellie Gauvin at (860)647-5252 or [email protected]
Cradle to Crayons
Cradle to Crayons is a preschool playgroup that supports the development of skills that will promote success in and out of preschool and kindergarten. Activities include circle time, art, fine motor, gross motor, pre-math and pre-writing skill building. Children will have the opportunity to both engage in socialization and free play with other children as well as structured activities at their own pace.
- Instructor: Caitlin McNamara
- Location: Northwest Park Early Childhood Center
- Age: 2-5 years old
- Meets: Th, 01/11/24-04/25/24, 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm
- Fee: No Cost
My Baby & Me
This program is for new caretakers and their children. Our goal is to establish a community of new parents of young children and provide early socialization opportunities for their babies. Older siblings are not allowed to attend. This is a drop-in playgroup, registration is not required. For reminders and cancellations, text @mybabyme to 81010. This playgroup is for children aged 6-24 months.
- Instructor: Dee Dee Huang and Alison Luong
- Location: Northwest Park Early Childhood Center
- Age: 9-24 months
- Meets: Wednesdays and Fridays, 01/03/24-04/26/24, 9:15 AM – 10:45 AM
- Fee: No Cost
Robin’s Mothering Group
This program is a chance to meet other moms and receive breastfeeding advice from a board certified lactation consultant. Dates are every Thursday unless otherwise specified. Check “Robin’s Lactation Services” Facebook group for updates. Contact Robin to register (860)742-6231 or [email protected].
- Instructor: Robin DeGemmis, IBCLC
- Location: Northwest Park Early Childhood Center
- Age: 0- under 1 year old
- Meets: Thursdays, 01/04/24-04/25/24, 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM (cancellations communicated by facilitator)
The Power of You(th)
The Power of You(th) program provides research-based information for youth on the dangers of underage drinking and other drug use. This program will help prepare you with the tools to resist peer pressure and empower you to take the next step and influence your friends to make the right choice. Please join us for the Power of You(th) Program, followed by an interactive experience facilitated by the Manchester CHANGE Collaborative. Pizza will be served!
- Meets: Th, 03/21/24, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- Location: Manchester Youth Service Bureau, 63 Linden Street
- Registration: To register, contact Kellie Gauvin at (860)647-5262 or email [email protected].
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About Author
James Costa is the Neighborhoods & Families Coordinator for the Department of Leisure, Family, and Recreation. He began working with the division during his sophomore year at Manchester High School, and he is now a UConn graduate with degrees in Journalism & Film Studies.
Fun Fact #1: I won my car in a raffle during Manchester High School’s Project Graduation.
Fun Fact #2: My all-time favorite movies are All That Heaven Allows, Punch-Drunk Love & Twin Peaks: The Return.