ACTIVITY GUIDE
Guide to Programs and Events for Spring 2023
Recreation
mhkprd.com
Youth
Home-school PE
Age 5-8 year olds
Dates
February 13 - April 28
Age 9-14 year olds
Dates
February 13 - April 28
Fee $40
My First Soccer
Grade
Pre-K & Kindergarten
Dates
Fee $60
High School Girls Flag Football
Grade 9-12 grade
Dates
March 20-TBD on teams
Flag Football
Grade 7 & 8 grade
Dates
March 20-TBD on teams
Fee $65
Grade 1 & 2 grade
Dates
Fee $50
Fee $40
Parents Night Out
Age 5-12 year olds
Time 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Dates
Friday, January 27
Friday, February 17
Friday, March 31
Fee $15
Friday, April 28
Friday, May 26
Fee $40
April 3, 10, 17, 24 (Mondays)
Dance
Pre-Ballet
Age 3-5 year olds
Dates
Fee $65
February 13 - April 24 (Mondays)
Pre-Ballet A
Pre-Ballet B
5:00 PM - 5:30 PM
5:45 PM - 6:15 PM
Pre-Ballet C 6:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Dance Squad
Age 6-16 year olds
Dates
February 14 - April 25 (Tuesdays)
Hip Hop Age 6-16 year olds
Dates February 14 - April 25 (Tuesdays)
- 7:15 PM
Jazz / Ballet Age 6-8 year olds
Jazz / Ballet Combo A
Dates
February 15 - April 26 (Wednesdays)
Fee $70
Time 5:30 PM - 6:15 PM
Age 9-16 year olds
Dates
February 15 - April 26 (Wednesdays)
Tap Age 6-16 year olds
Dates
February 16 - April 27 (Thursdays)
Fee $70
Jazz / Ballet Combo B Time 6:30 PM - 7:15 PM
Fee $70 Time 5:30 PM - 6:15 PM
Senior Barre Fitness Class
Age 50+
Dates
Fee $65
Feburary 13 - April 27 (Mondays & Thursdays)
Time 9:00 AM - 9:45 AM
Adult
Co-Ed Softball
Location
Twin Oaks
Dates
Fee
$300 Team Registration
April 3 - June 12 (Mondays)
Mixed Pickleball
Location
Anthony Rec Center
Dates
Fee $60 Team Registration
March 22 - May 10 (Wednesdays)
Men’s Softball
Location
Twin Oaks
Dates
Fee
$450 Team Registration
April 6 - June 15 (Thursdays) (Double Headers)
Women’s Volleyball
Location
Anthony Rec Center
Dates
Fee $280 Team Registration
March 28 - May 25 (Tuesdays or Thursdays)
3x3 Basketball (Men & Women)
Location
Anthony Rec Center
Dates
Fee $250 Team Registration
March 18 - May 13 (Saturdays)
Free Agent registration is available for all adult leagues
Adult |
Douglass Activity Center
Fitness Pass Program
Want to support Manhattan Parks & Recreation?
Adult Pass $20/Month $10/Month
Senior Pass
Fee Hours
Monday - Thursday
Friday Saturday
Fitness Classes
Session Dates
1 PM - 8 PM 1 PM - 6 PM 10 AM - 4 PM
Scan the QR Code to learn about our sponsorship opportunities!
Fall Session November 14 - January 5
Winter Session January 16 - March 9
Spring Session March 20 - May 11
Total Body Strong
Time 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Days
Mondays & Wednesdays
Total Body Fitness Time 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Days
Tuesdays & Thursdays
Yoga Time 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Days
Tuesdays & Thursdays
Fee $25/session
Speakers Bureau
Fee $25/session
Do you have an upcoming civic group or meeting and are looking for a speaker? Invite us! We have stafff available to come and speak to your group to share what is happening in Manhattan Parks and Recreation. Contact Chris Curtis at chris. curtis@cityofmhk.com to schedule!
Fee $25/session
Ice Rink
mhkprd.com/IceRink @mhkprdaquatics Wefald Pavilion at City Park
Skating Lessons
December Session
Admission & Pricing
Adult $3.50 Child $3.50
Skate Rental
$3.50
Punch Pass
$30 for 10 punches
Hours of Operation
Wednesday - Friday 4:00 - 7:00 PM
Saturday & Sunday 1:00 - 7:00 PM
USD 383 Holiday Breaks
1:00 - 7:00 PM
5:15 PM | 6:00 PM | 6:45 PM $40/session
Mondays or Tuesdays
January Sessions
Mondays or Tuesdays 5:15 PM | 6:00 PM | 6:45 PM $40/session
Saturdays 8:30 AM | 9:15 AM | 10:00 AM $40/session
Skate with Santa
Santa Claus is coming to the ice rink! Join Santa at the ice rink for a fun-filled afternoon of skating! He will be on the ice, and available for photos!
Date Saturday, December 17
Time 2 PM - 4 PM
Flint Hills Discovery Center
Exhibits Programs
Dinosaurs: Fossil Exposed
January 21 - May 7, 2023
Explore the bones and fossils belonging to the giant creatures that once roamed the Earth in Dinosaurs: Fossils Exposed. Guests can view and even touch six full dinosaur skeletal molds including a Triceratops, Tyrannosaurus Rex, and Velociraptor. Kids can stand next to a 6-foot-1 Apatosaurus femur and use paleontology tools to unearth ancient dinosaur bones.
Family New Year’s Eve
Put on your favorite pair of pajamas, grab your slippers, and be ready to party! It’s our annual family-friendly celebration to ring in the New Year. Participate in games, crafts, and activities. Eat delicious party food and dance the night away. The evening ends with our iconic balloon drop at kid’s midnight (8:30 PM). Pre-registration is required, and spots are limited
Date Saturday, December 31
Nature Together
Time
6:30 - 9 PM
Mission Aerospace
May 20 - September 10, 2023
Explore the history of flight, navigation, and NASA’s vision for the future. Experiment with thrust, lift, control surfaces, and gyroscopes. Build rockets and paper airplanes, then test them for distance and air-dexterity. Launch your rocket to Saturn, your plane to Sydney, or learn about a career at NASA!
Toddlers will have a great time exploring nature at our outdoor classroom and prairie garden with their adult partner. Play games, hear stories, and use the five senses to raise a nature lover. Sign up for a six-week session. Pre-registration is required and class size is limited.
Age 18 months-3.5 years
Time 9:30 - 10:30 AM
Date March - April (Wednesdays or Fridays)
Programs
Preschoolers in the Flint Hills
Preschoolers in the Flint Hills is where children begin discovering the wonder of the Flint Hills where they live but look beyond the city limits in their exploration. Children further their sense of place and belonging to this region through interactions with the ecology and the history of the area. Pre-registration is required, and spots are limited
Age
3-5 Year Olds
Dates
January 17 - May 2
Discovery Camp
Time 10:30 - 11:30 AM
Dino Night In (Parent’s Night Out)
Bring your little “Dinos” to the Flint Hills Discovery Center and enjoy a few hours of free time while your child participates in fun, engaging, and educational activities in a safe environment! Dinner is included. Pre-registration is required, and spots are limited.
Age
6 - 12 Year Olds
Date
Friday, February 24
Time 5:30 - 8:30 PM
$8 $10
Dino Academy
Discovery Camp is a unique program offered throughout the school year when USD 383 is not in session. Camps include hands-on activities such as exciting experiments and creative crafts, outdoor excursions, and time in the exhibits. This spring, students will explore the world of the dinosaurs, the wonder of the Flint Hills, and more!
Grade
K - 2nd Grade
Enjoy an hour of fun with the Flint Hills Discovery Center as you become a “junior paleontologist”! Kids will explore the world of dinosaurs and the fossils they left behind while discovering what we can learn from these bites into our history. Two sessions will be offered, one each for ages 5–9 and 10–13. Preregistration is required, and spots are limited.
Age Groups
5–9 Year Olds
Date
Saturday, February 25
9:30 - 10:30 AM
Programs
Walk and Talk
Enjoy lessons in nature provided by local experts. Each Walk and Talk location and topic will vary depending on the season and expert leading the group. Travel to and from locations will be on your own. Appropriate for all ages unless otherwise noted. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Fees vary per activity.
Tallgrass Tours
Explore the Flint Hills and beyond with Tallgrass Tours! Join the Discovery Center as we embark on day trips to exciting locations in central Kansas. We will dive into the history, culture, and natural beauty of our remarkable state. Trips leave from the Flint Hills Discovery Center. Fees vary per trip.
Greater Prairie-Chicken Booming Tours
Don’t miss this rare opportunity to visit a Greater Prairie-Chicken booming ground at the height of the booming season. You will witness the majestic ballet of the Greater Prairie-Chicken as they dance for dominance. FHDC staff will accompany you on your trip and provide all the insight you need. Visit our website for more information, and to fill out an interest form.
Meet the Makers
Each day, a local creator, crafter, or maker will present live demonstrations of their work in the first-floor atrium of the Flint Hills Discovery Center. Interact with the artists, ask questions, and see their work come to life! Meet the Makers is open to the public.
Date
March 14 - 17
Tuesday - Friday
Flint Hills Festival
Time
10 AM - 5 PM
Experience the culture and beauty of the Flint Hills at our annual festival. Located inside the Discovery Center and at Blue Earth Plaza, this fun-for-all-ages celebration of our beautiful region features live entertainment, food trucks, wine tastings, children’s activities, local craft vendors, and much more!
Date
Saturday, May 6
Time
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunset Zoo
Programs
School Safari Camp
All Kindergarten through 5th graders can now join Sunset Zoo for unique animal experiences all school year when USD 383 is not in session. Campers will embark on journeys that will keep them engaged, both physically and mentally, while their teachers at school take time to plan for future lessons and grow professionally. Journeys will include explorations into animal groups, individual species, ecosystems, and how they can help the natural world around them.
Pelican Pod
K - 2nd Grade
Time
7:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Price
Chimp Troop 3rd - 5th Grade
Zoo Parent Program
Adopt An Animal
Caring for animals and their habitats is central to Sunset Zoo’s mission. A trained and dedicated staff provides the best care possible through a commitment to the health and well-being of the animals. Symbolically adopt an animal and support Sunset Zoo’s mission, “To Inspire Conservation of the Natural World.” You can choose from over 128 species! When you choose to become a Zoo Parent, you’ll share the care. In addition to contributing to their daily care, you are also helping conservation efforts within the zoo and around the world.
Party for the Planet
FOSZ Member Rate $29 per session
Non-Member Rate
$33 per session
It’s an Earth Day celebration surrounding the conservation efforts of Sunset Zoo and the community. Join us for interactive booths, entertainment, presentations, and more!
Date Saturday, April 22
Price
Time
9:30 - 4:30 PM
Regular zoo admission rates
Programs
Kansas Science Festival
Explore the wonders of science with a series of FREE activities led by Researches from across Kansas. Learn more at scienceks.org
Date
Saturday, April 29
Location
Downtown Manhattan- Poyntz Ave.
Love Bites
Love bites. Name a cockroach after someone and feed it to a Sloth Bear! Learn more at sunsetzoo.com!
Date
Tuesday, February 14
Early Childhood Learning Programs
Sensory Safari | Preschool Ages
Foster your child’s curiosity with a sensory-focused exploration of the animal world through this new program at Sunset Zoo! This program will have guided and interactive activities, and children will explore the many aspects of nature wildlife through interactive participation. Each class will go outside, so plan accordingly. This will be a parent/guardian participation required class. All other infants/toddlers are welcome to tag along as well.
Each class will last 30 minutes and begin at 11:30 a.m. Families will be invited to explore the Zoo following their program. Pre-registration is required. Registration will open in early January.
Dates
Films for FOSZ
Friends of Sunset Zoo Members are invited to a family-friendly movie night at Sunset Zoo featuring Sing 2!
Date
Saturday, January 14
Location
Time
Zoo Opens: 5:30 PM
Movie Starts: 6 PM
Nature Exploration Center - Rotunda
March - April
Price
$10/Non-member
$8/FOSZ member
Time 11:30 AM
Programs
Early Childhood Learning Programs
Creature Feature Preschool Program
Help your child explore the natural world with this animal-themed class at Sunset Zoo. This hands-on program will highlight a unique animal, and staff will help children and their parent/guardian explore a variety of features about each animal through activities like:
• Introduction of animal with a movement activity
• Multisensory activity
• Animal encounter
• Paint/Take home activity
Each class will be 30 minutes and begin at 11:30 a.m. Families will be granted access to the Zoo following the activity. Pre-registration is required. Creature Feature class opportunities will be in January and February.
Dates
January - February
Price
$10/Non-member
$8/FOSZ member
Time 11:30 AM
Family Programs
Painting with the Animals
The whole family can join Sunset Zoo for this new unique experience by painting our animals in their environment. During this experience, families will be by the animal habitat while painting their fantastic artwork. To begin, Sunset Zoo staff will introduce the highlighted animal and provide fun, unique facts about each animal. After the introduction, families will be guided through a painting experience with tempera paint and 8x10 canvases. Dependent on the weather, the experience will occur near the animal’s habitat. If there is inclement weather, indoor plans will occur. While art is drying, families will be encouraged to visit the rest of the Zoo.
Pre-registration is required for this program and is first come, first served. Each experience will last approximately 45 minutes. Sessions will occur every other month beginning in January. All family members attending the program must register.
Dates
January - November
Price
$17/Non-member
$15/FOSZ member