Adults have plenty to do at Hoffman Hall this fall and winter
Editor’s note: This is the second in a three-part series about upcoming recreational offerings in Prairie du Chien.
By Correne Martin
Adult fitness, aquatics and leisure activities are abundant through the Prairie du Chien Parks and Recreation Department over the winter season.
More details about the programs, which are mainly held at Hoffman Hall, are available in the city’s fall/winter activity guide, available at the rec center or city hall. Register online at pdc.recdesk.com/community/program, or mail or drop off completed registration forms and fees to the city office.
Walk or swim regularly at Hoffman Hall and stack up Culver’s meal rewards during open walking hours, Monday through Friday from 8 to 10 a.m., and during lap swim times.
All ages are invited to take advantage of the Olympic-sized indoor pool. Lap swim is available Monday through Friday from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Thursday from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 12 to 1 p.m. starting Oct. 5. Open swim hours are weekdays from 9:15 to 11:30 a.m. and weekends from 1 to 3 p.m. Oct. 5 through Nov. 1 and extending to 5 p.m. starting Nov. 2.
Water aerobics, including deep water classes, are offered several times a week.
Outside of the pool, fitness classes are scheduled on weekdays, consisting of tai chi, pilates, step aerobics, hatha yoga, yin yoga, zumba, body sculpting, and the new “butts and guts.”
According to Parks and Rec Director Mike Ulrich, the butts and guts class can challenge the core and increase balance in an upbeat short workout to fit people’s busy schedules.
Adult co-rec volleyball and basketball leagues are also part of the fun at Hoffman Hall this off-season. Groups of three men and three women are encouraged to get together and form a team for volleyball. Games are played on Tuesdays, at 6:30 p.m., starting Nov. 12. Register and pay the team fee by Oct. 25. Adult basketball league happens on Sundays beginning Nov. 24, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Again, the deadline to register and pay is Oct. 25.
Bingo is another leisure offering on Wednesdays from 1 to 3 p.m., beginning Sept. 11. This all-ages experience is the perfect opportunity for friends and family to play some games, enjoy some popcorn and a drink and have a good time. Supplies are available and volunteers are eager to help newbies learn the ropes. There are cash prizes, hard cards and paper specials.
Free garden talks with a Master Gardener are also starting this fall and winter on the second Tuesday of every month, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. No pre-registration is required. Sessions will feature a variety of topics, from storing bulbs for the winter to holiday plants and vegetables in containers. Beginners on up to Master Gardener are welcome to come and enjoy this learning occasion and time to socialize with others interested in gardening.
For aging citizens, there are also several programs offered through parks and rec. A Memory Café is open each third Tuesday of the month at Hoffman Hall from 10 to 11:30 a.m. These are free drop-in programs that enable people with memory loss to socialize and enjoy fun activities with family members and friends in an informal setting. Additionally, every fourth Tuesday of the month, beginning Sept. 24, a Caregiver Support Group meets from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Groups are facilitated by skilled and knowledgeable volunteers. These sessions are free and open to the public.
To learn more about either program, contact Heather Moore, dementia outreach specialist with the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Allliance of Wisconsin at (608) 723-4288.
Furthermore, seniors may be interested in a new class at Hoffman Hall called PALS: Physical Activity for Lifelong Success. This will start in March of 2020. Contact the Aging and Disability Resource Center to learn more at 326-0235. PALS is an evidence-based program specifically designed for older adults who are active less than 60 minutes per week, to help them become and stay physically active.
Ulrich reminds the public that any area community member of any age is welcome to utilize the recreation center. Individual and corporate memberships and daily passes are offered. Call 326-2985 for more information.
