Activity Descriptions

Activity Descriptions - Special In-House Activities - Activities Off-Premises

ACTIVITY FEES: The Board of Directors has established a small activity fee system for participants in various activities. These fees help the Center support the physical plant (lights, heat, cleaning, upkeep,etc.). A nominal fee is required each session per day. Participants in more than one activity or daily in one activity, may find it less expensive to buy a monthly activity card. The card allows you to play pool, card games, participate in exercise, aerobics, etc. It cannot be used to play bingo or for the dances. Anyone who participates more than 16 times a month, will find the activity card is the less expensive way to go.

500 CARDS:  The group meets every Thursday at 11 A.M. in the annex. Generally there are 6 to 9 tables. Six games are played each afternoon.

AEROBICS:  Aerobics meets each weekday morning from 8:30 - 9:30 A.M, in the upstairs area. The VCR/TV with video tapes is used for the routine. As one member puts it, "if you can walk, you can join us." The activity is a little more vigorous than the exercise group, so come dressed accordingly.

BADMINTON:  This activity is as an active indoor sport and has been meeting Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons at 2 P.M. prior to volleyball in Viking Hall.

BASKETBALL:  This is an open activity for members to get in a little proactive exercise on the court. Interested members practice in the Viking Hall on Thursdays at 2 p.m. for an hour.

BINGO:  Center sponsored bingo games are held every Friday from 1 - 3 P.M. in the main room and are open to the public. There are 20 games each afternoon. Popcorn is available and a break is taken mid-afternoon for snacks and coffee. Callers and card sellers are volunteers from the Center.

BREAKFAST WALKERS: We are the Canyon Lake Senior Center's breakfast walkers! Every Tuesday morning at 8 a.m., you will find us at the Mall or walking at the track in Sioux Park. About 8:45 a.m., we are all ready for breakfast, which is as much for visiting as eating. We choose someone's favorite restaurant and off we go.  We have a lot of fun and wonderful companionship. Come join us or call Polly at 342-7252 and we can make plans.

CARD PLAYING:  All participants pay a nomial fee to play or may show their activity card. Breaks are taken midway for refreshments. Members need to check the monthly calendar to confirm time and location.

CARD RECYCLING:  A cheerful, fun-loving group meets every Thursday morning for a couple of hours. Free chit chat while cutting, pasting and decorating with sparkles and colored pens provides low-cost greeting cards for purchase at the display located at the Center's office. The group wishes to thank those who furnish the used cards and remind them to bring the whole card--everything but the envelope. New envelopes are supplied with every card purchased. This generates income for the Center and saves seniors money on their card purchases. Come and enjoy the fun and companionship.

CERAMICS:  The Center's ceramics group meets in the northwest corner of the annex on Tuesdays beginning at 9 A.M. The ceramics room houses 2 kilns, worktables, green-ware and other supplies. The group makes ceramic articles for their individual use and also some to sell at the Center's gift counter and at the Center craft sale.

COMPUTER ROOM:  The computer Room has five Windows XP computers that are connected to the Internet via Knology cable.  These computers are available to CLSC members to use as an Activity - either by $.50 per visit or the CLSC activity card may be used. Typical use is to search the Internet for information and read email. Microsoft Word 2000 is available for creating letters and other documents.  If a member does not have an email account, the computer room volunteers can help them set up a free email account at places such as Yahoo.com or Google.com. An Introduction to Computers Course and individual tutoring is available. The Course consists of six two-hour sessions. Typically the class will have 3 to 5 students. Individual tutoring is done on an hourly basis. Application forms are available in the CLSC office and in the Computer room. Volunteers available to assist you are: Steve DiStasio, Bonnie Fingerhut, Frank Shaw, and Clint VanBlaricum. Stop by the Computer Room to use a computer as an activity or to chat about your computer wants/needs/problems/etc. with the volunteers. Visitors are always welcome.

CRIBBAGE:  The cribbage group meets every Wednesday afternoon from 1:00 to 3:30 PM. in the card room. There are usually 12 to 20 players, with plenty of room for new participants.

DANCES:  Dances are held at the Center on Saturday nights. Organizations, which sponsor these dances do so, on a rotation basis. Dances are open to the public and a nominal fee per person is charged. The Center also has contracts with various dance groups who provide dance instruction utilizing the Center's facilities.

DRAMA CLUB:  This group is a relatively new activity. They meet periodically and practice whenever necessary as space is open. The group performs short skits, some of their own writing, for Center's special events as well as other locations around town and the Black Hills. We are in need of members to bring this activity back to life.

DUPLICATE BRIDGE:  The duplicate bridge group meets on Tuesday and Friday afternoons at 12:30 PM. in the card room. The group welcomes new players. They are not a teaching group; therefore, anyone who wishes to play should have had some experience and knowledge of the game. A few basic rules apply as follows:

1. Anyone wishing to play should have arranged for a partner before play begins.
2. Bridge rules as set down in "ACBL" are followed.
3. Routinely partners are changed to enhance the sociability of the game and to give everyone a chance to win at some point in time.

EXERCISE:  "A Place to Stay Young" could well be the motto of Center members who meet on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings for general exercise, in the Viking Hall. The exercises are done with simple props such as sawed off broomsticks and hand weights. The taped routine that is used, is neither aerobic nor weight-reducing but is designed to keep the body's many joints loose and limber...a must for senior citizens. It is approved for senior citizen use. The sessions begin at 8:30 A.M. and lasts for one hour. A break is taken midway, and there is always time for a joke or two. Come join the group, you'll be glad you did. Passive or active exercise equipment is also available for member use in the upstairs area. Introductory instruction is required prior to use of the automated equipment. Exercise bikes, treadmills, weight lift and rowing machines are also available in this area. The upstairs exercise area is also open on Saturdays, 9 A.M. to 2:30 P.M.

GARDENING:  Members can rent one or two rows (50 feet each) for the season in a fenced garden area. Their responsibility is to plant, weed and harvest. Water is furnished through the watering system set up in the garden. Rows rent for a nominal fee/per season.

HAND AND FOOT:  Meets every Monday afternoon at 1 P.M. in the card room.

HEALTHY HEARTS:  We have recently changed our name to Healthy Hearts Exercise Group.  We were previously known as the Armory Group because we exercised at the National Guard Armory.  Our group consisted mainly of Cardiac Rehab People, but we now have all kinds of members with or without heart problems.  We are just people who want to Exercise together and keep a healthy heart.  We exercise and work out up-stairs where there are all types of machines, bikes, treadmills, and weight machines.  Our set time slot is 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.  We weigh-in, check our blood pressure on the blood pressure machines provided by the Center and we exercise together.  We welcome any one to join our group during this time period. Come join up for some good exercise and keep you heart healthy!

LINE DANCING CLASSES:  A fun activity/class is in line dancing which is held on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. Check the calendar in the Senior News as to when the various line dancing classes are offered. New "beginning" line dance classes are started twice a year for first timers.

MAH JONGG: This is a game of skill coupled with wit and good fortune.  It originated in China, and dates so far back into ancient times, that it is said even Confucius enjoyed a variation of this intriguing game.  It is played with tiles, 152 plus four as jokers, and they are arranged in a wall formation.  A player draws a hand from the wall and the play begins.  It is just draw and discard, with a book as a guide to the hands that will win you a mah jongg. It is a wonderful game, we play every Wednesday at 9 a.m. in the annex and if you wish to learn, we will teach you.  You do not need a partner.  We can play mah jongg with three, four or more players. We would be delighted to have you join us.

PAINTING CLASS:  CLSCC Painting classes meet for 3 hours each week on Thursdays from 12 - 3 p.m. in the library lounge. You furnish your own supplies. You may choose oil or acrylic paints. To start, it will cost you about $35 to $40 in paint. brushes, and etc. Classes will be $5 plus the 50 cents activity fee or activity card.

PARTY BRIDGE:  There are party bridge sessions in the card room on Thursday and Saturday at 12:30 P.M. You do not need to have a partner prior to joining the group for the day.

PICKELBALL:  This is a relatively new activity and has become one of our most popular sports. They meet three times a week on Tuesday and Thursday at 12:30 P.M. for 3 hours and Friday at 1 P.M. for 1 hour.

PINOCHLE:  The Pinochle group meets on Monday and Friday nights at 1:00 P.M., in the card room. The play is with a single deck.

PITCH:  Pitch players meet at 1 P.M. on Thursdays.

POOL/SNOOKER:  The Center has four regular pool tables and two snooker tables. The pool room is open from 8 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. week-days, as well on Saturday from 9 A.M. to 3 P.M. The Center has an ample supply of cue sticks. Ladies and men players are both welcome.

RUG LOOMING:  The Center has one rug loom and the group meets weekly on Monday mornings at 9 A.M., in the annex building. Individuals interested in cutting and sewing strips of fabric and learning how to use the loom are welcome. Rugs and place mats are standard sizes or made to order. These are sold at the Center gift counter.

SHUFFLEBOARD:  Two shuffleboard courts are available. Equipment is available at the Center. Rules are posted and two to four people can play at one time when the Viking Hall area is open. We are in need of a leader and times can be made for this activity if you are interested.

SINGING (JOYFUL GALS AND GUYS):  If you love to sing, this is the group for you. It is good therapy and they have a lot of fun. Practice is held every Friday at 10:00 AM. No practices are held during the summer months. This group provides entertainment at the nursing homes and other senior centers on Thursday afternoons.

TABLE TENNIS (Ping Pong):  The Center has folding table tennis tables available which are set up on the second floor of the new addition. Equipment is available upstairs if you wish to play. This is one of the events in the Senior Olympics and you may practice at the Center anytime. Players meet Wednesday and Friday afternoons at 3:20 P.M.

T'AI CHI:  Meets each Monday and Friday morning form 10 - 11 A.M. in the upstairs area. The VCR/TV with video tapes is used for the routines. As one member puts it, "it's like moving in slow motion." The activity is not a vigorous exercise, so come dressed accordingly.

VOLLEYBALL:  Our Spacious Viking Hall with the high ceilings makes an ideal place for the Center favorite activity. This group meets three times a week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 3:15 to 5 P.M.  We are in need of players so come and join the fun.

WHIST:  This is another exciting card game for everyone to enjoy. If you want to learn, I recommend you come at 12:00 noon and when enough players come, they can help teach you for an hour a week or until you feel you know the game well enough to play with us.  It is a nice and fun group to play with. For new members, the first 3 times of play are free. Then like all other activities it costs .50 cents for the Center and we ask .25 cents for coffee & a dessert which each player takes a turn in bringing. It is great for socializing too!CREATIVE WRITERS:  This is a group interested in improving their literary writing skills. Critiquing and guidance is offered to participants. They are currently meeting Tuesdays at 1 P.M. in the annex.

Wii: Learn to play videogames the "Wii". It is for kids from ages three to 103. Wii Sports lets you participate in your favorite sports like bowling, golf, tennis, baseball and boxing with gentle motion, balance and coordination through mild physical activity.  You'll use a hand-held wireless controller (similar to a TV remote control) and make swinging motions like bowling the ball and swinging a raquet or golf club.  You can play standing up or sitting down.  If you can hold a TV remote, you can play Wii videogames.  With a little practice you'll soon be able make pars in golf, and bowl strikes! Wii Play lets you play pool, table tennis, laser hockey and other games. The Center also has the Wii game, Big Brain Academy, to keep your mind exercised too. Some of the activities I like are bingo, poker, reading, exercising, geocaching, watching movies, playing videogames, eating and chatting with friends.