Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05
January 18, 2007 issue
High Country Packed With Recreational Offerings During Winter Months
Story by Sam Calhoun
Now is the time to start thinking about signing up for recreational activities for youth and adults that will get into full swing over the next few months throughout the High Country in Blowing Rock, Beech Mountain, Newland and Boone. Take a few moments to decide how you and/or your loved ones will get active in 2007.
Avery County
To sign up for any of these youth or adult activities, stop by the Avery County Parks and Recreation office in the Rock Gym close to Newland Elementary or call 828-733-8266.
Youth Basketball League
Avery County Parks and Recreation offers an ongoing youth basketball league. Call 828-733-8266 for information about fees and times.
Little League Baseball
Avery County Parks and Recreation is offering Little League baseball starting at the end of February. There is a small fee for participation but scholarships are available. School signups begin in mid-February.
Easter Egg Hunt
Avery County Parks and Recreation will host an Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 7. The event is free and is open to the public.
Men’s Basketball League
Avery County Parks and Recreation offers an ongoing men’s basketball league. Call 828-733-8266 for information about fees and times.
Community Fitness Center
The Avery County Parks and Recreation’s Community Fitness Center is located behind Newland Elementary School in the old Rock Gym at 185 Shady Street. The center includes treadmills, spinning bikes, stationary cycles, free weights and weight machines. The center is open and free to the public from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and also from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, as well as from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. Low impact aerobics are offered for a fee from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
Beech Mountain
The Buckeye Recreation Center—Beech Mountain’s center for recreational activities—is located at 206 Grassy Gap Creek Road atop Beech Mountain and is open from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 12:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday until March 1. For more information, call 828-387-3003.
Adult Pickup Basketball
Adult pickup basketball games are held every Monday at 5:00 p.m. at the Buckeye Recreation Center. The fee is $2 for Beech Mountain residents and $3 for nonresidents.
Walking Club
The Buckeye Recreation Center Walking Club meets every Thursday at 10:00 a.m. to walk with pedometers (provided) around the center’s indoor track. The fee is $2 for Beech Mountain residents and $3 for nonresidents.
Craft Night
On Sunday, January 21, the Buckeye Recreation Center will host a craft night where participants will create hand warmers. The craft night begins at 4:30 p.m. and the fee is $3.
Kids’ Night
On Friday, January 26, at 5:30 p.m., the Buckeye Recreation Center will host a kids’ night with pizza, crafts and fun and games. The kids’ night lasts three hours and costs $3. Kids’ nights take place every other Friday night.
Fitness Classes
Every Monday and Wednesday, the Buckeye Recreation Center offers Pilates classes at 4:30 p.m. and spinning classes at 5:30 p.m. Each class costs $8.
Blowing Rock
Registrations for four activities begin in the next few months for programs with Blowing Rock Parks and Recreation. To sign up for any of these listed activities, stop by the Blowing Rock Parks and Recreation office at 1036 Main Street in Blowing Rock before the deadline or call 828-295-5222. Note that in many cases, separate deadlines and registration fees apply to non-Blowing Rock taxpayers.
Kinder Basketball
Blowing Rock Parks and Recreation will offer kinder basketball for youth ages 3, 4 and 5 from January 30 to the end of February. Signups have already begun and four spaces were left by press time. The fee is $30 for Blowing Rock taxpayers and $40 for non-taxpayers. The registration deadline is Friday, January 30.
Easter Egg Hunt
Blowing Rock Parks and Recreation will host an Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 24. The event is free and no pregistration is necessary. Children can just show up at 9:00 a.m. on March 24 to participate.
Summer Day Camp
Blowing Rock Parks and Registration will offer a Summer Day Camp for rising first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh graders for eight weeks, starting one week after school is dismissed for the summer. Dates have yet to be set for the camp because the last day of school is not yet known. The cost for participation is $40 per week for rising first and second graders and $50 per week for rising third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh graders who come from families who pay taxes in Blowing Rock. For nontaxpayers, the cost for participation is $95 per week for rising first and second graders and $110 per week for rising third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh graders. For Blowing Rock taxpayers, registration begins Monday, March 25. For nontaxpayers, registration begins Monday, March 26.
Kinder T-Ball
Blowing Rock Parks and Registration will offer kinder T-ball for youth ages 3, 4 and 5 during the month of April. The fee is $30 for Blowing Rock taxpayers and $40 for nontaxpayers. Registration begins for Blowing Rock taxpayers on Monday, March 26, and for nontaxpayers on Wednesday, March 28.
Men’s Pickup Basketball
The Blowing Rock Parks and Recreation 35 and over men’s pickup basketball league will restart this Sunday, January 21, at 7:00 p.m. at the Blowing Rock School gym. The activity is free and will be held every Sunday during the spring.
Watauga County
Many of the Watauga County Parks and Recreation activities and sports teams have a signup deadline in March, so now’s the time to start thinking about the options available. To sign up for any of the listed activities, stop by the Watauga County Parks and Recreation office at 231 Complex Drive in Boone before the deadline or call 828-264-9511.
Youth Programs:
Junior League Baseball
Junior League Baseball is for children ages 13, 14 and 15. The season runs approximately three months and teams meet four times each week for practices and games. Placement drills are required for players new to this league. The registration fee is $47 and the registration deadline is March 1.
Major I Baseball
Major I baseball is for children ages 11 and 12. The season runs approximately three months and teams meet four times each week for practices and games. Placement drills are required for players new to this league. At the end of the season, all-star teams are formed. The registration fee is $47 per participant and the registration deadline is Friday March 2, at 5:00 p.m.
Men’s and Women’s Softball
Watauga County Parks and Recreation will offer five divisions of adult softball—Men’s Open I (most competitive league), Men’s Open II, Men’s Open III, Men’s Church League and Women’s Open League. Participants must be 16 years of age or older and live or work full time in Watauga County. Those who work in but do not live in Watauga County must pay a $25 nonresident fee. Teams play approximately two nights each week for the 8 to 12 week program. The registration fee for Men’s Open I and II is $490 per team, with 18 games guaranteed. The registration fee for Men’s Open III, Men’s Church League and Women’s Open is $425 per team, with 15 games guaranteed. The registration deadline is Tuesday, April 3, at 5:00 p.m.