THE BATTLE GROUND PARKS & Recreation Department offers a variety of activities, programs and events that area senior citizens can participate in. Activities include lunch outings, holiday gatherings, exercise classes, a garden speaker series and more.
The cold, wet weather is here to stay for the next few months, but area seniors can stay warm and active by participating in a variety of outings, activities and events offered by the Battle Ground Parks & Recreation Department.
The Battle Ground Parks & Recreation Department partners with the Battle Ground Senior Advisory Board and other area organizations to bring a variety of fitness programs and social activities for people age 50 and better. All of these activities are listed in The Senior Scene, a quarterly newsletter that highlights activities and events in the Battle Ground area.
The Senior Scene can be found online at www.cityofbg.org under “Departments,” “Parks & Recreation,” “Recreation Programs,” “Senior Programs.”
Here are the upcoming activities and events offered by the Battle Ground Parks & Recreation Department for seniors:
The Mad Hatters Club
The Mad Hatters Club meets on the second Friday of each month. There are no membership fees or red hats required. The only requirement is that senior community members join when they can, bring an appetite and have some fun. Most Mad Hatter lunch outings are “Dutch treat,” meaning attendees pay for their own meals.
Upcoming outings of The Mad Hatters include:
• Holiday Party & Cookie Exchange, Fri., Dec. 12, 11:30 a.m.
Celebrate the holiday season with the annual Holiday Party & Cookie Exchange. Bring your best holiday dessert (or cookies) to share at the dessert bar. A pizza lunch buffet will be provided. Bring two dozen of your favorite Christmas cookies to exchange (homemade or store bought, it doesn’t matter). This event will be held at the Battle Ground Senior Center located at 116 NE 3rd Ave., Battle Ground.
• Lunch at Old Town Burger & Breakfast, Fri., Jan. 9, 11:30 a.m.
Eat at Old Town Burger & Breakfast, located in the Wilco shopping complex, in the old Fatty Patty’s space. Bring a big appetite for some homestyle cooking. Meet at the restaurant located at 813 W. Main St. Dutch treat.
• Lunch at Toro Sushi & Bento, Fri., Feb. 13, 11:30 a.m.
Eat at the new Toro Sushi & Bento restaurant next door to Albertsons. The menu features teriyaki, tempura, dumplings, various noodle soups and, of course, sushi. Meet at the restaurant located at 2210 W. Main St., Suite 109. Dutch treat.
Senior Potluck Day
Senior Potluck Day is held the second Monday of each month, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., at the Battle Ground Senior Center, 116 NE 3rd Ave., Battle Ground. There is a suggested donation of $1 per person.
Upcoming Senior Potluck days include:
• Mon., Dec. 8
It’s Christmas time in the city … bring the gift of food and share your best Christmas dinner side dish with the potluck group.
• Mon., Jan. 12
Celebrate the New Year with a down home potluck to help prevent those winter blues. Bring your favorite dish to share with the group.
• Mon., Feb. 9
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with the potluck group and bring something sweet to share.
The Garden Gate
The Garden Gate is a new monthly guest speaker series on everything gardening … from flowers and vegetables to yard maintenance and landscaping. The public is welcome to come and learn from experienced professionals and avid gardeners who are passionate about sharing their knowledge and techniques for successfully growing plants and vegetables. People of all ages, from beginners to experienced gardeners, are welcome. Join the group and discover or rediscover gardening in North County.
Garden Gate meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month, 1 p.m., at the Battle Ground Community Center, 912 E. Main St., Battle Ground. There is no cost to attend.
Upcoming Garden Gate meetings include:
• Herbal Gifts from the Garden and Kitchen, Tue., Dec. 2
Sip herbal tea as Eloyce O’Connor and Erin Harwood of Garden Delights Herb Farm share ideas for making simple and lovely gifts from your garden and kitchen. They will present lots of ideas and share recipes for making fun and practical gifts to give or keep. They will also discuss how to grow and harvest herbs.
• Planting and Care of Succulent Plants, Tue., Jan. 6
Join Stacey Lane of Woodland’s Holland America Bulb Farms and Flower Gardens as she talks about planting and taking care of succulent plants. She will talk about the different varieties, growing habits and planting ideas.
Other Senior Center activities
Bunco
Bunco is offered at the Battle Ground Senior Center on the third Friday of each month, noon-3 p.m. Cost is $5 per person, per day. Roll the dice and play some bunco. This game is fun and fast paced. Anyone can play, no previous game experience or partner required. It’s easy and fun to learn and play. Potluck served at noon prior to game, so bring a dish to share.
Pinochle
Pinochle is offered at the Senior Center each week on Tuesdays and Thursdays, noon-4 p.m. There is a nominal fee per game. Are you a pinochle card player? If yes, then join others for either single deck or double deck games. Having a partner is not a requirement to play. Potluck served at noon prior to game, so bring a dish to share with the group.
Senior Lunch Program
Seniors age 60 and older are invited to join the Meals on Wheels People at the Battle Ground Community Center, 912 E. Main St., on weekdays for a hot and nutritious lunch. Typically there are two entrees offered each day. A monthly newsletter, which includes a complete menu, is available at the community center. Younger guests can also join the lunch crowd for a small fee of $6.30 per person.
Meals are served daily, Mon.-Fri., noon, and there is a $3 suggested donation for seniors age 60 and older. The senior lunch program will not be available on these major holidays – Thu., Nov. 27; Thu., Dec. 25; and Thu., Jan. 1.
Exercise & Fitness Programs
The Battle Ground Parks & Recreation Department offers several popular fitness classes available for adults and seniors. Find one, or all, that fit your lifestyle and fitness goals.
Pilates Fitness Class
Pilates helps to build flexibility, strength, endurance, coordination and increases circulation. People who do Pilates say they have better posture, are less prone to injury and experience better overall health. All classes are a six-week session.
Classes are offered Thursday mornings, 8:30-9:30 a.m., at the community center. Cost is $40 for the multiple-week session. Registrations accepted through the Battle Ground School District Community Education Program at (360) 885-6584 or www.battlegroundps.org.
Yoga Class
Yoga has proven to have profound healing benefits such as increased flexibility, stamina, strength, muscle tone and range of motion and an overall well being and ease in daily life.
Classes are offered Thursday mornings, 10-11 a.m., at the community center. Cost is $59. Registrations accepted through the Battle Ground School District Community Education Program at (360) 885-6584 or www.battlegroundps.org.
Vinyasa Yoga
The word Vinyasa means “breath-synchronized movement.” Breathing technique is very important in the Vinyasa style of yoga. You move from one pose to the next on an inhale or an exhale. This course helps you to gain balance and flexibility, and you will also notice an increase of stamina and endurance after performing Vinyasa yoga.
Classes are offered Monday evenings, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at the community center. Cost is $59. Registrations accepted through the Battle Ground School District Community Education Program at (360) 885-6584 or www.battlegroundps.org.
Senior Enhanced Fitness Program
This course is a group exercise program for people 60 years of age or older. The program helps to improve your balance, flexibility, bone density, endurance, coordination and mental sharpness, and decreases your risk of falling.
Classes are offered Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 8:30-9:30 a.m. or 9:45-10:45 a.m., at the community center. Cost is $1 per person, per day.
Community Events
BG Christmas Tree Lighting
Area seniors and community members are also invited and encouraged to attend the Battle Ground Christmas Tree Lighting Fri., Dec. 5, 5:30 p.m. Christmas caroling, 6 p.m. Christmas tree lighting and 6:30-8 p.m. visit with Santa, all at the Battle Ground Community Center, 912 E. Main St. This event is free, photos with Santa are $5 per photo.
