The Friday Letter | July 13, 2018

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Nature Preserves and Natural Resources Latta Plantation Nature Center Young Explorers Camp: You Are Here is an orienteering-themed day camp for ages 6-7. Throughout the week campers have spent each morning exploring Latta Plantation Nature Preserve and learning to navigate their way using a map and compass. Campers took on a geocaching challenge course using GPS, fished for bass and sunfish in Mountain Island Lake, and finished up the week with a canoe adventure!

For more information about outdoor adventure, contact Latta Nature Center 980-314-1129.

Nature Preserves and Natural Resources

Community & Recreation Centers Bette Rae Thomas Recreation Center: Safe Play Days Bette Rae Thomas Recreation Center is offering a “FREE� Safe Play Day camp from 8:30A-12:30P for ages 6 to 12. The camp operates Monday thru Friday until August 17th, 2018. Campers start each day with free breakfast to get them energized for the day ahead. After breakfast, campers will embark on a half day filled with a variety of activities. Activities include indoor and outdoor games, arts & crafts, and a concentration on nature activities. Campers are also provided lunch before it is time to go home.

For more information on this program and others offered at Bette Rae Thomas Recreation Center call 980-314-111 or email BetteRaeThomasRecrationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov.

Community & Recreation Centers Wallace Recreation Center: STEAM Camp (Engineering Week) Wallace Pruitt Recreation Center is currently hosting its STEAM Summer Camp.

With full registration, Engineering week was nothing short of a major success.

Campers spent the week designing different structures and gadgets. Camper used information learned in camp to improve their designs throughout the week. Along with other various Engineering related activities throughout the day, campers also visited the NASCAR Hall of Fame where they learned about the history of race car design along with other fun facts about NASCAR. Campers where also able to design their own Balloon powered cars out of paper, tape, and straws while visiting NASCAR. Campers are looking forward to our next week of camp were we will be focusing on art.

For more information about our programs contact Wallace Pruitt Recreation Center at 980-314-1114 or email at WallacePruittRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov

Community & Recreation Centers North Meck Senior Center: Door DÊcor Each month in Door Decor seniors create a new seasonal decoration to adorn their doors. This program is held twice a month offering the same craft so more seniors can participate. On Tuesday, July 10th and Thursday, July 12th they created flowery flip flops. Scrap paper, glue and flowers were used but the base was made from cereal boxes – one of our favorite and FREE craft materials! Each senior had fun creating their own unique pair and were excited to display them!

For more information about our programs and trips, please contact the North Meck Senior Center at 980-314-1127 or northmeckseniorcenter@mecklenburgcountync.gov

Community & Recreation Centers Naomi Drenan Recreation Center: Basketball Camp Basketball Camps at Naomi Drenan Recreation Center have been fun and exciting through the first month of the summer. Campers have worked hard throughout the weeks to perfect their craft as they become better shooters, ball handlers, passers, and most importantly become better teammates. Parents are taking full advantage keeping their players skills perfected and living a healthy lifestyle through exercise, sportsmanship and team bonding.

For more information about our programs and events, contact NaomiDrenanRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov or call 980-314-1100.

Community & Recreation Centers Shamrock Senior Center: Visual Art Workshop with Live Music The seniors at Shamrock had an exciting opportunity with Community School of the Arts last week. Artist Alicia McDaniel taught participants how to freely express themselves through painting. She educated the seniors about native Charlottean artist Romare Bearden. Romare Bearden was an African-American artist who practiced using many types of mediums including cartoons, oils and collages. The seniors used stencils and painted flowers, landscapes, portraits, or whatever their creativity lead them to. Musician Troy Conn played a large part in the program. His soothing guitar music enhanced the participant’s creativity, and allowed them to relax while concentrating on their artwork. We always appreciate our partnerships with the ASC culture clocks.

For more information about upcoming programs and events, contact us at 704-531-9101, or at ShamrockSeniorCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov.

Community & Recreation Centers Tom Sykes Recreation Center: Summer Camp Water Week The theme for this week of Tom Sykes Summer Camp is H20 + Sun = Summer Fun. This week provides a cool way for our campers to escape the summer heat wave. Our water-based theme week is filled with loads of fun games and activities including water balloon relay races, beach ball races, Slip-n-slide kickball, water balloon fights, team building water activities as well as a trip to McDowell Nature Center to kayak. The kids not only had a blast on the water but they also were able to take a stroll on the hiking trails and visit the nature center!

For more information regarding programs and activities at Tom Sykes Recreation Center call 980-314-1113 or email TomSykesRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov.

Community & Recreation Centers Elon Recreation Center: Elon Visits Sea Life Aquarium The campers at Elon Recreation Center had a great journey on their field trip to SEA LIFE Aquarium located in Concord, North Carolina. As they arrived to the aquarium they prepared to enter a world full of shimmering scales, towering tentacles, strong sharp shark teeth, and all the fantastic underwater creatures.

They had an opportunity to step underneath the wonderful underwater world in the 360-degree Ocean Tunnel to get a closer look at thousands of aquatic creatures. Everyone had a fun and enjoyable learning experience, the Aquarium stimulates a new appreciation for the world’s aquatic life. .

For more information regarding programs, and events; contact us at 980-314-1103 or email us at ElonRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov.

Community & Recreation Centers Winget Recreation Center: Elon Vs Winget Recreation Center AMF Bowling Field trips are always the best part of summer camp. Campers look forward to having the opportunity to visit different places each week. Elon and Winget Recreation Center had a blast as they played in a friendly game of bowling.

Campers were on the edge of their seats as each participant took a turn trying to knock down all 10 pins down the lane. The board would flash STRIKE! If they reached the targeted goal. Laser bowl is always a thrill as the pins light up and glow, music plays in the background and shoes glow in the darkness. Who was the better bowlers Elon or Winget? At the end of the session everyone was the winner of the who can bowl best.

For more information about Winget Recreation Center programs and events, contact staff at 980-314-1103 or at WingetRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov.

Community & Recreation Centers Berewick Recreation Center: Camp Adventure Summer Camp Week 3 The fun and learning experiences continue at the Berewick Recreation Center Summer Camp. The third week of camp, 48 campers were engaged in learning about gems and minerals as part of their day was to go look for Quartz that can be found around Berewick Park. The campers pretended to be part of a mining company in search for the best Quartz in order to win a prize. Campers made rock and gem related crafts, as well as have their swimming lessons on Wednesday, and took their Friday field trip to Dan Nichols Park in Salisbury, NC. At Dan Nichols Park, the children were able to go gem mining, where they collected a bunch of gems to take home. After lunch, they took a train ride, rode on their carousal, then walked through the Wilderness Zoo and Barnyard.

For more information about our youth programs, contact BerewickRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov or call 980.314.1102.

Community & Recreation Centers Berewick Recreation Center: Basketball Clinics Berewick has been hard at work this summer during the Basketball Clinics held for youth aged 7-10 years in June and 11-14 years during July. Our Basketball Clinics are a staff run program that occurs every Thursday from 6pm to 7pm.

Staff focuses on teaching the participants the importance of fundamentals of playing the game. Overall, we had 20 kids enrolled and they are enjoying what they are learning through our clinics in order to heighten their skills.

For more information about our upcoming youth and teen programs, contact BerewickRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov or call 980.314.1102.

Community & Recreation Centers Methodist Home Recreation Center: Lil’ Ray Indoor Flag Football The Lil’ Ray Indoor Flag Football season is officially underway as our Bulls took on the tough teams from Tuckaseegee and Bette Rae Recreation Center. Last week’s scrimmage between our two teams payed dividends on Saturday when we are able to see all the hard work paying off on game days. Our players are eager to get back on the field and show off their talent to the rest of the league!

For more information about our programs, events and outreach opportunities, contact MethodistHomeRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov or call 980-314-1123.

Community & Recreation Centers West Charlotte: 2018 Xtreme Camp: Sports Week West Charlotte Recreation Center continues with their sports week! Campers were experienced a different sport each day of the week which included. Football, Basketball, Soccer and Tennis. They also enjoyed trips to Charlotte Motor Speedway, Spectrum Center and Bank of America stadium where they met Sir Purr of the Carolina Panthers! The party gets better as we prepare for more fun this summer!

For more information about our programs here at West Charlotte Recreation Center, call us at 980-314-1120 or email us at WestCharlotteRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov

Community & Recreation Centers Sugaw Creek Recreation Center: Skills & Bills Enrichment Camp 17 Campers gathered at Sugaw Creek Recreation Center from June 25th – June 29th to participate in the Skills & Bills Enrichment Camp. The Skills and Bills Enrichment Camp is a high-paced, interactive camp which teaches campers (ages 5-12) the fundamentals of finance. Including how to establish and build credit, saving money and the concept of interest. Throughout the course of the week the campers were placed into groups and assigned to come up with a company name, slogan, mission statement and company description. On Friday, the campers presented their company’s vision to the “Sugaw Creek Bank” in a Shark Tanks style manner; fielding bids from the Sugaw Creek Bank for a stake in their company.

For more information regarding programs, events and outreach opportunities at Sugaw Creek Recreation Center contact us at (980) 314-1124 or email us at SugawCreekRecreationCenter@MeckNC.gov

Community & Recreation Centers Therapeutic and Inclusive Recreation Services: TREC Summer Camp!

TREC is our summer day camp for ages 13-21 (still in high school) with a disability and is based out of Marion Diehl Recreation Center. TREC is 8-weeks long and is filled with gardening, cooking, swimming, arts and crafts, sports, field trips, and more! This summer, we have traveled to Lazy 5 Ranch, Dan Nicholas, and Carowinds! We are looking forward to the other fun adventures we will be having this summer, such as a visit from the balloon artist, pet therapy, and other fun activities!

Carina.Castro@MeckNC.Gov

Community & Recreation Centers Safety Day for Camp kids at Ramsey Creek Beach Mallard Creek, Hickory Grove and Berewick Recreation Centers were in for a treat when they planned their visits this summer at Ramsey Creek Beach. The Aquatic Staff, Anna Kirkland and Franci Robinson along with Stephanie Frisbee from Mallard Creek decided that swimming at the lake was just not enough for these campers. Cornelius Police Department and Fire Department agreed to offer a “Safety Day at Ramsey Creek”. Camp Participants were greeted by Aquatic Staff, Franci Robinson, where they learned about Waterfront safety and Life Jackets. The Police and Fire boats were docked at the dock, the campers learned what the lake units job entailed and why Lake Units are needed in our community. Campers were allowed to board the boats for a tour of all the cool things the boats can do. The dock was rocking when campers jumped in excitement when the Fire boat turned the sprayers on to show how they extinguish the fires from the Lake. The Cornelius FD also allowed the campers to get a tour of Fire Engine 4. They also got to enjoy the rest of the day swimming/lounging at the beach. Everyone including the Camp Counselors left Ramsey Creek with Big Smiles on their faces. If you are interested in having a ‘Safety Day at Ramsey Creek” please reach out to Anna Kirkland.

Adult Dodgeball Interested in a little team building? Look no further than the Adult Sports Dodgeball Tournament at Southview Recreation Center. This fun two-day tournament, July 25 and August 1, will be a co-rec event and one in which you can enter your team or join an existing team as a free agent. The deadline to register is July 18.

For more information on our Adult tournament and leagues, visit www.parkandrec.com or connect with us by email at AdultSports@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov or by phone at (980) 314-1117.

Adult Softball A routine ground ball can sometimes be anything but “routine” (ask former Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner) but that is what the Lazy Lab Brew Dogs faced in the bottom of the 9th with the championship on the line. Luckily there were no errors on the play and the Brew Dogs defeated the Hogs 10-9 to win the Men’s Division I softball title at Revolution Park. Over at Men’s Division II championship at Berewick, 3rd-seeded TNT posted an upset win with a 22-21 victory against top-seeded Good Wood in the finals. It was just the 2nd loss all season for Good Wood.

For more information on our Adult tournament and leagues, visit www.parkandrec.com or connect with us by email at AdultSports@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov or by phone at (980) 314-1117.

Adult Volleyball After a hard fought battle, a congratulations are in order for James and Jennifer who defeated Maksim and Tracy for the Spring Outdoor Mixed Doubles Championship at Nevin Park on Tuesday. They can celebrate only for a short while; the Summer session will begin in less than two weeks.

For more information on our Adult tournament and leagues, visit www.parkandrec.com or connect with us by email at AdultSports@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov or by phone at (980) 314-1117.

5841 Brookshire Blvd.

Charlotte, NC 28216 (980) 314-1000

Recreate All Year!

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www.parkandrec.com Please submit all news for the Friday Letter to your Division Director for review and routing.

Park Partners may contact The Friday Letter Team at Richard . McNeill @MecklenburgCountyNC.gov for publication assistance.

The Friday Letter Volume 8 • Issue 26• July 13, 2018

CHARMECK ALERTS The CharMeck Alerts Notification System relays accurate and timely emergency notifications. You control how you’re contacted— whether it’s on your cell, work or home phone, via text, email or voice message. You can receive up-to-the-minute notifications about events and emergencies that may affect your home, workplace or other points of interest—anywhere in Mecklenburg County. Sign up here or call CharMeck 311. To receive CDOT-specific alerts, you must sign up for that item in the list.

Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Senior Leadership Team Lee Jones, Director Vacant, Deputy Director Renea Barber, Human Resources Liz Morrell, Strategic Planning and Evaluation Lorraine Bias, Budget Administration Vacant, Capital Planning Terri Stowers, Community and Recreation Center Services Peter Cook, Park Operations Chris Matthews, Nature Preserves and Natural Resources