The Friday Letter | April 20, 2018

The

Accounting Tip for the week:

Send deposit tickets on a daily basis.

Nature Preserve & Natural Resources Field Trips at McDowell McDowell Staff have been hard at work planning field trips for several different schools in the surrounding area. Over the course of April and May, McDowell will host eleven field trips for CMS, Clover and Fort Mill schools. Along with the field trips McDowell is offering several different homeschool courses on topics such as soil, genetics and reptiles and amphibians.

The field trips are staff intensive, with some field trips needing up five staff members to run different programs. Schools contact McDowell with the topics they want covered on the field trip. Teachers use the curriculum guide to pick out programs best suited for their class and then our educators take that information to tailor programs that fit the grade level and academic standards. Topics for field trip activities include stream studies, weather, reptiles and amphibians, ecosystems, and woodland wildlife. Field trips are a great way to spread awareness and stewardship to the children who come visit the park and hopefully they come back for more with their families.

Nature Preserve & Natural Resources

Nature Preserve & Natural Resources Historic Rural Hill at Rural Hill Nature Preserve: Loch Norman Highland Games The Loch Norman Highland Games at Rural Hill is a family friendly event presented by Historic Rural Hill. Come and experience all the fun with Highland Dancing, Bagpipe Bands, Highland Athletics, a Giant Kid's Zone, Scottish Merchants, Haggis, Celtic Rock and Traditional Performers, Historic Reenactments, Scottish Country Dancing, Sunday Church Service, Hearth Cooking, NC Beer and Wine, Whiskey Tastings, Kilted Running Events, Scottish Clan Societies, Shoot Long Bows and Blowguns, Throw a Battle Axe and so much more!

April 20th, 21st, & 22nd 2018 Visit www.ruralhill.net for more information

Community & Recreation Centers Bette Rae Thomas Recreation Center: Home School P.E Bette Rae Thomas held Home School P.E. on April 16th with twelve homeschoolers participating. Participants had a discussion about nutrition followed by a word search with healthy food options. Participants did a few warm up stretches, followed by drills and games that taught the basics of passing and dribbling of soccer. Home School P.E. will be held every Monday from 11:00am-12:30pm until June 4th 2018.

For more information about programs and events email BetteRaeThomasRecreationCenter@MeclenburgCountyNC.gov or call 980-314-1111.

Community & Recreation Centers Wallace Pruitt Recreation Center: Boy Scouts Every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month, Wallace Pruitt Boy Scout program meets. This is a new program to the center that started January 2018. Participants have fun while learning life skills that will help them later on. From the thrill of camping trips to learning how to transform a block of wood into a race car, Boy Scouts is one thrill after another. Scouts learn that even when things aren’t easy, it’s always an adventure. In Scouting, everything has a purpose. And kids learn that doing their best is the most important thing of all.

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: MacTabby Cat Café On Wednesday April 11th, National Pet Day, North Meck Senior Center visited MacTabby Cat Cafe. What’s a Cat Café you say? A place to grab a drink, cuddle up in window light and relax with friends while enjoying the company of adoptable kitties. MacTabby has partnered with a local non-profit rescue that provides all of their medical needs including spay/neuter. The cat café is essentially a foster home that gives cats a place to be at peace as well as a chance to socialize and cuddle their way into the hearts of many! Visitors benefit too! Did you know a cat’s purr promotes healing, healthy blood pressure, and helps lower anxiety? Our senior ladies enjoyed kitty cuddles and playtime. It was truly a beneficial hour of therapy! We will most definitely return!

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 Tyvola Senior Center Learns About India It was a fun experience as we embark on a journey and learned about the culture of India. Participants went through a four-week program which included the history of Indian, watching a film or movie about Indian, creating art work, and a luncheon. As we wrapped up the last session of the program, we had a luncheon at Jaipur Indian Restaurant where participants ate authentic Indian food for the first time. Even though participant didn’t physically travel to India they had a wonderful time embracing the Indian culture during this program.

For more information about upcoming programs contact us at 980-314-1320 or TyvolaSeniorCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov.

Community & Recreation Centers Southview Recreation Center: Partnering to make Spring Break a Blast During the week of April 2nd - 6th, Southview Recreation Center hosted its annual Spring Break Camp serving 75 kids. The camp was a collaborative effort between Park and Recreation, The Bethlehem Center of Charlotte and Young Scholars. The three organizations joined forces to put on an exciting week of activities that included trips, arts and crafts, guest speakers, nature hikes and more. The main focus of the camp is academic enrichment. Staff created an environment that fostered creative learning so that the kids kept their brains busy while on break from school. Some of the main goals of the camp were to have all campers grow personally, to become better leaders, and to learn the four core values: Caring, Respect, Honesty and Responsibility. The camp concluded with a fun filled trip to Dan Nicholas Park where the kids rode paddle boats, played miniature golf and were able to see some crawly creatures.

For more information about this and other programs contact SouthviewRecreationCenter@Mecklenburgcountync.gov or 980.314.1105

Community & Recreation Centers Shamrock Senior Center: Kings and Queens Card Players One of our most popular and diverse clubs at Shamrock, where good behavior is optional, is our Kings and Queens Card Players Club! Every day, this dedicated group of friends come together for an afternoon full of competition and fun!

Some of the members of this group have been playing cards together for over five years! We also have some new players, who give the old crew a challenge.

Having a group of friends to laugh and fellowship with is extremely vital for seniors and we are so happy to host this wonderful group of friends. The group enjoys playing bid whist, gin runny, and pinochle. These games are great for the seniors, keeping their minds sharp. With the music and the laugher, the center gets a refreshing burst of air in the afternoons! If you ever get a chance, swing by on a Friday afternoon, you won’t regret it!

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

Community & Recreation Centers Elon Recreation Center: CC2N Elon Staff had a lot of fun this week connecting our community to nature. For this week’s challenge kids had to create and build something they saw outside of the recreation center. With this difficult task at hand, students really had to dig deep into their imagination in order to design their very own nature masterpiece. Students were provided Legos, rocks, play sticks and Jenga pieces, as tools, to work with during the process. Eventually, their creative juices began to flow and within the hour students presented their best work. There is nothing like a good day out in nature to stimulate the brains of youth. Each participant did an amazing job. At the end of the class, we were happy to crown each participant with a “Champion Engineer” for the day.

For more information regarding youth athletics and programming, contact Elon Recreation Center 980-314-1103 or email ElonRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov.

Community & Recreation Centers Tom Sykes Recreation Center: Natural Explorers Big finale for Natural Explorers! Last week, Ms. Catherine from McDowell Nature Center brought over a surprise for the kids; some very special amphibian guests. Our afterschool kids met a Fowlers Toad, a Salamander, as well as some tadpoles. After meeting all these amphibians, the kids learned a few cool things about the them. They learned the difference between amphibians and reptiles and the lifecycle of amphibians. The children also learned to imitate the calls of Cricket Frogs, Tree Frogs, and Bull Frogs. We sure learned a lot about amphibians For more information about our programs here at Tom Sykes, call us at 980-314-1113 or email us at TomSykesRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov.

Community & Recreation Centers Naomi Drenan Recreation Center: Prom Project 2018 This past weekend, Naomi Drenan partnered with GPM INC. to host Breaking the Cycle: Prom Project 2018. The point of the event was to create a dialogue among young females about dating, domestic violence, and what can be done to prevent it. The attendance for the event was phenomenal. At the end of the discussion segment attendees were gifted with a free prom dress, with over 300 options to choose from. With such positive feedback and turnout for the event, we look forward to making this an annual event for the community.

For more information about our programs, events, and outreach opportunities, contact NaomiDrenanRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov or call 980.314.1100.

Community & Recreation Centers Berewick Recreation Center: Pitch, Hit & Run On April 8th, Berewick Recreation Center hosted its inaugural Pitch, Hit & Run event. ScottsÂŽ MLB Pitch, Hit & Run is the Official Youth Skills Competition of Major League Baseball. This program gives kids the opportunity to showcase their pitching, hitting and running abilities in baseball. The baseball players ranging from ages 7-14 were playing for a chance at a trip to the Major League Baseball All-Star Game in Washington, D.C. in July.

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

Community & Recreation Centers Berewick Recreation Center: College Initiative Week Berewick Recreation Center hosted their first College Tour and College Workshop for teens. The staff took students to two local private universities, Wingate University in Wingate, N.C. and Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, N.C. Student toured both schools and got a hands on look at college life, while learning the history and different interest points at both University. To follow up the college tour, Dale Price from Access College America came in and spoke to the parents about preparing their children for college.

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

Community & Recreation Centers Methodist Home Recreation Center: Start Smart Baseball Start Smart Baseball is in full swing and our participants are having a ball. Players are learning the basic fundamentals of baseball with help of MHRC staff and parent involvement. With the confidence gained from practice throwing, catching, fielding, base running and hitting, our participants are already looking forward to stepping on the Tee-Ball field next spring.

For more information about our programs, events and outreach opportunities, contact MethodistHomeRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov or call 980.314.1123.

Community & Recreation Centers Therapeutic and Inclusive Recreation Services: Charlotte Pros Charlotte Pros is a program for adults with disabilities to enjoy an evening of attending a professional sports game in the Charlotte area! Last week, we saw one of the first Charlotte Knights games of the season! We also cheered on the team as they scored an exciting homerun that led to the Knights winning! This program offers an opportunity for participants to socialize with their peers and experience exciting events in the community!

Carina.Castro@MeckNC.Gov

Community & Recreation Centers Therapeutic and Inclusive Recreation Services: Mystery Dinner The April Mystery Dinner was held on Saturday April 12th at Tyvola Senior Center with the theme of Murder in Wonderland. Each participant registered was provided with a character description for the evening in addition to suggested costume ideas. Participants were to remain in character throughout the night while mingling with others. All of Alice’s friend were present except for Tweedle-dee. Together our participants and volunteers worked together to figure out which of them had committed the murder. Participants had a great time using their creativity and problem-solving skills as they socialized with friends.

Stephanie.Myers@mecknc.gov Mistie.Williams@mecknc.gov

Community & Recreation Centers Hickory Grove Recreation Center- FUN COLOR RUN! Saturday, April 14th, HGRC hosted their first ever color run for the community members and local track and field teams to kick off a great season here at the center. A little music, great weather, some fun activities to do while running and a splash of color can make an event worthwhile. Kids were able to be social and have friendly races that mock the events they would be performing in an actually race at a track meet. This was our first event but it for sure will not be our last! Stay tuned‌ For more fun community events and other information, please contact the Hickory Grove Recreation Center at 980-314-1122 or send us a email at HickoryGroveRecreationCenter@MecklenburgCountyNC.Gov And don’t forget to check out www.ParkAndRec.com for other more fun activities county wide.

Community & Recreation Centers West Charlotte Recreation Center: Spring Break Swim and Adventure West Charlotte rec center just finished its first annual spring break swim and adventure camp! We had over 20 campers enjoy, swimming, kayaking, fishing and more as we explored the outdoors. Most of these campers had never experienced these activities, so it was truly a pleasure to witness the joy on their faces. We look forward to these campers joining our summer camp for more outdoor fun!

For more information about our programs here at West Charlotte rec center, call us at 980-314-1120 or email us at WestCharlotterecreationcenter@mecklenburgcountync.gov

Community & Recreation Centers Sugaw Creek Recreation Center: Hidden Valley Optimist Club The Charlotte Sports & Cultural Mentoring Program club members Noah Bonds and Vanessa Lucas participated in the Hidden Valley Optimist Club Oratorical & Essay Contest.

The event was held on Thursday, April 12th at Hope Haven Multi-Purpose Building. The essay topic was “Can Society Function Without Respect? The oratorical contest topic consisted of “What Are My Roots of Optimism? Students from various schools enjoyed a tasty fellowship meal along with hearing inspiring and positive messages from one another.

Top winners received certificates and cash awards. Hats off to the Hidden Valley Optimist Club for a job well done!

For upcoming programs and activities, contact SugawCreekRecreationCenter@mecklenburgcountync.gov

Sports & Fitness and GCC/ALMS American Legion Memorial Stadium: Charlotte Hounds Don't miss the opening game of the season for the Charlotte Hounds! The Boston Cannons will be coming to town on February 21st at American Legion Memorial Stadium. This will be the start of the 7th season for the Hounds. Gates open at 6:00 PM with the game beginning at 7:30PM. For more information on all things Charlotte Hounds, please visit: http://charlottehounds.com/

Grady Cole Center and American Legion Memorial Stadium For information on all upcoming events at the Grady Cole Center and American Legion Memorial Stadium, please visit us at: http://charmeck.org/mecklenburg/county/ParkandRec/Facilities/ EventFacilities/Pages/Events

Sports & Fitness and GCC/ALMS

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 15 • April 20, 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 Lorraine Bias, Sr. Fiscal Administrator Vacant, Capital Planning Terri Stowers, Community and Recreation Center Services Peter Cook, Park Operations Chris Matthews, Nature Preserves and Natural Resources