Van Buren — The Messenger’s new “Parks and rec corner” feature will highlight the towns of Lysander and Van Buren’s parks and recreation events for the upcoming months.
With spring just around the corner, the parks and recreation departments are gearing up for programs in March and beyond. This week, we’ll hear from Van Buren’s department on what’s coming up in the next few weeks.
Boater safety course
If you’re looking forward to getting out on the local waterways this summer, make sure your safety certification is up to date.
Van Buren parks and rec will host a boater safety course from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, March 6, at Van Buren Town Hall, 7575 Van Buren Road, Baldwinsville. The one-day course, which features instructors from the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, satisfies every state’s safety requirements for pleasure boating. Upon completion of the one-day class, certificates will be available without a waiting period or having to mail anything. Registration costs $35 and spaces are limited.
Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt
Van Buren Central Park will be lit up by the flashlights of little ones seeking sweet treats and other prizes for the town’s Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt on March 19.
Children 5 and older and their families should bring their flashlights and a bag to collect their treats. Following the hunt, families can head to the lodge to decorate cookies and Easter eggs.
The Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt takes place at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 19. The cost is $5 per child and pre-registration is required.
Kripalu yoga
If you’re looking to de-stress and get fit, Canton Woods Senior Center is hosting Kripalu yoga classes from March 23 through April 20. Kripalu yoga focuses on meditation and breathing while moving through hatha yoga poses.Registration costs $40 per person. Canton Woods is located at 76 Canton St., Baldwinsville.
League registration
continued — March is the time to sign up for spring and summer sports leagues. Van Buren parks and rec is accepting registration for knockerball and human foosball leagues.
Knockerball is a sport in which players wear large, inflatable plastic bubbles and attempt to knock each other over. The spring league begins May 23 and a summer league will begin in mid-July. Each league session runs for six weeks.
Each league will be made up of six teams, and each team must have a minimum of six players. There is a nonrefundable participation fee of $300 per team and a $30 forfeit fee that will return to the team if it does not forfeit any games. Games will take place from 6 to 6:45 p.m. or 7 to 7:45 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays or Thursdays in Van Buren Central Park, with makeup games scheduled as needed.
Co-ed human foosball leagues will run for four weeks starting in June and July. The leagues will consist of six teams of at least six members with a maximum of three substitutes; at least one player on each team must be female.
“It’s just like regular foosball, only you’re in a life-size human foosball game,” Recreation Supervisor Heidi Anders explained. “There are ropes across the field of play and players have to keep their hands on the rope. Then, you basically play soccer. You can’t use your hands or leave the court. You can slide left and right on the field and kick the ball.”
Anders said human foosball is a low-impact sport in which players of all ages and abilities can participate.
There is a nonrefundable participation fee of $140 per team and a $30 forfeit fee that will return to the team if it does not forfeit any games. Games will take place from 6 to 7 p.m. or 7 to 8 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays in Van Buren Central Park, with makeup games scheduled as needed.
To register for these programs, contact the Van Buren parks and rec at 638-4727 or [email protected]. The Van Buren parks and recreation department is located at Van Buren Central Park, 7350 Canton St., Baldwinsville. The office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information about current and upcoming programs, visit townofvanburen.com/parks-and-recreation or like “Town of Van Buren” on Facebook.
