Johnson County Park and Recreation District Program Highlights - December 14, 2022

Dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in our community, Johnson County Park and Recreation District offers year-round program, activities, and special events for all ages!

For more information or to register online for the programs listed here, visit JCPRD.com/Register and complete a search for any of the activity numbers listed below. To register by phone, call 913-831-3359. For all in-person programs, physical distancing and COVID-19 safe practices will be encouraged.

A reminder that while JCPRD’s 50 Plus programs are primarily for people who are age 50 or older, interested parties who have not yet reached that magic age may still be able to attend. Persons 18 and older who are interested in a 50 Plus class are invited to call the 50 Plus Department at 913-826-2975 for space availability.

I’ve attached photos that go with: Caring Hands Knitting Group, Memories of Meeting Santa, and Redlined exhibit

Here's a sampling of programs JCPRD has coming up for the week of Jan. 1-7.

Jan. 3 & ongoing - Crafts: Caring Hands Knitting Group (Ages 50 & Older)

Roeland Park City Hall, 4600 W. 51^st St., Roeland Park, Tuesdays, 1 to 3 p.m., FREE

1^st of a new season! Join this generous group of individuals who knit and crochet hats for charity. Free lessons given to beginners. The Roeland Park Community Center accepts yarn, knitting needles, and hat donations year-round from those unable to attend meetings. Activity number 24295. Call 913-826-3160 to learn how you can contribute.

Jan. 3 - April 29 - Fitness: Fitness Equipment Orientations (Ages 14 & Older)

Mill Creek Activity Center, 6518 Vista Dr., Shawnee, by appointment, $15 per person, $17 nonresidents

Take advantage of this 30-minute appointment to let us orient you on the best ways to use our weights and machines in your fitness routine. Ages 14-17 must be accompanied by parent or guardian. Activity number 24297. Call 913-826-2950 for more information.

Jan. 3, 5 - Exercise: Chair Yoga (Ages 50 & Older)

Meadowbrook Park Clubhouse, 9101 Nall Ave., Prairie Village, Tuesdays or Thursdays, times vary - see below, 7 sessions, $56 per person, $62 nonresidents

1^st of a new season! Take yoga off the mat and onto the chair, incorporating breathing with movement while retaining all the benefits of yoga.  Use the chair for support if needed during standing poses. Virtual Recording is a pre-recorded class you can use through-out the week. Beginners welcome. Tuesday session beginning Jan. 3, 10:30 to 11:20 a.m., activity number 24789. Chair Yoga Virtual Program, 9:30 to 10:20 a.m. with same dates and costs, activity number 24798. Thursday program beginning Jan. 5, with same hours and costs as above, activity number 24797. Chair Yoga Virtual Recording program, 9:30 to 10:20 Thursdays beginning Jan. 5, same cost as above, activity number 24799.

Jan. 3, 5 - Gentle Yoga (Ages 50 & Older)

Meadowbrook Park Clubhouse, 9101 Nall Ave., Prairie Village, Tuesdays or Thursdays, times vary - see below, 7 sessions, $56 per person, $62 nonresidents

1^st of a new season! Gentle Yoga is performed at a slower pace, with less intense positions, and includes extended time for meditation, yogic breath work, and relaxation. Tuesday session beginning Jan. 3, 8:30 to 9:20 a.m., activity number 24846. Thursday session beginning Dec. 5, 9 to 9:50 a.m., activity number 24849.

Jan. 4 - Yoga: Rise and Shine Yoga (Ages 16 & Older)

Ernie Miller Nature Center, 909 N. K-7 Highway, Wednesdays, 6 to 7 a.m., 4 sessions, $32 per person, $35 nonresidents 

1^st of a new season! Start your day with an invigorating yoga practice at Ernie Miller Nature Center. This is yoga for anybody. All are welcome, no experience necessary! This class will focus on gentle stretching, serenity, and rejuvenation and will be tailored to individual abilities. Please bring your mat to class. Instructor is Robin Olson, ERYT (Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher). For more information call 913-826-2800. Advanced registration required. Meet at the parking lot flagpole to walk into the building together at 6 a.m. Activity number 25160.

Jan. 4 - Yoga: Yoga (Ages 14 & Older)

Mill Creek Activity Center, 6518 Vista Dr., Shawnee, Wednesdays, 5:30 to 6:20 p.m., 7 sessions, $56 per person, $62 nonresidents 

1^st of a new season! LOW INTENSITY: Improve circulation, regulate your metabolism, and increase flexibility and coordination with this Yoga class. You will lengthen your muscles while increasing both muscle and bone density. Yoga participants of all levels are welcome. Join us for this class and find out all the benefits of yoga in your life. Activity number 24105. For additional information, call 913-826-2950.

Jan. 4 & 18 - Preschool Storytime: Animal Tales (Ages 2-6 with an Adult)

Ernie Miller Nature Center, 909 N. Kansas 7 Highway, Olathe, select Wednesdays, 10:30 to 11 a.m., $3 per person

1^st of a new season! - Join a park naturalist for animal stories and surprises geared for preschool age children. Come listen, learn, and meet a special animal friend every time. All children must be accompanied by a paying adult. Program held indoors. Jan. 4 session, Whooo are You?, activity number 24698; Jan. 18,   session,Warm Winter Tails, activity number 24699. To see all upcoming sessions this season, click here.

Jan. 4 - Redlining is Only Part of the Story (All Ages)

Virtual Event, 6 to 7 p.m., FREE

In this final companion program to the Johnson County Museum’s special exhibit “REDLINED: Cities, Suburbs, and Segregation,” join Annie Evans with the University of Richmond’s digital website, Mapping Inequality. The Mapping Inequality project includes interactive scans of redlining maps for cities around the nation, including the 1939 map for the Kansas City Metro Area. Learn about the origins of the maps, how to access and interpret them, and how these maps continue to impact our communities today. Activity number 25011. Register by 4 p.m. on Jan. 4 to receive the Zoom link.

Jan. 6 - Nature & Outdoors: Full Moon Hike (Ages 8 & Older)

Ernie Miller Nature Center, 909 N. Kansas 7 Highway, Olathe, 6:30 to 8 p.m., $9 per person, $10 nonresidents

By the light of the silvery moon, join us for a quiet hike to connect with nature and the night sounds. Let your eyes adjust to the moonlight and experience the park after dark. Enjoy shadows and listen for owls. The full moon hike will happen even on overcast nights. Dress for the weather and wear comfortable shoes. Activity number 24648. For information, call 913-826-2800.

Jan. 6 - Performing Group Vocal: The Side By Side Experience (Ages 50 & Older)

Meadowbrook Park Clubhouse, 9101 Nall Ave., Prairie Village, Fridays, 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., 12 sessions, $14 per person, $15 nonresidents

Looking for a way to sing and enjoy music with other performance lovers? This group of easy-going singers and piano players welcomes you to have fun with music regardless of your skill level. We offer weekly rehearsals with performances throughout the community during the month. Activity number 24824. For questions, call 913-826-2975.

Jan. 7 - Final day for the Johnson County Museum’s “Memories of Meeting Santa” holiday exhibit (All Ages)

Johnson County Museum at Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center, 8788 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, during regular museum hours of 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, included with regular admission of $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, and $4 for children

The handmade chair where tens of thousands of visitors of all ages met Santa Claus at the former Metcalf South Shopping Center from the 1970s through the early 1990s is the centerpiece of the Johnson County Museum’s 2022 holiday exhibit. Santa’s chair is exhibited outside the museum’s All-Electric House along with a special camera used to take photos with the jolly old elf, as well as mechanical carolers also used at the mall. No live Santa will be at the exhibit, but there will be opportunities for visitors to take their own photos at a Santa selfie station in the museum. In addition, the All-Electric House will be decorated with a 50s Christmas holiday theme, including an aluminum tree. 

Jan. 7 - Final day for the Johnson County Museum’s “REDLINED: Cities, Suburbs, and Segregation” special exhibit (All Ages)

Johnson County Museum at Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center, 8788 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, during regular museum hours of 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, included with regular admission of $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, and $4 for children

After drawing unprecedented public response, garnering accolades, and being captured in the form of a new 73-page book, this nearly year-long temporary exhibit, which is tied into to the museum’s 55^th anniversary, is soon coming to a close. The exhibit chronicles more than 175 years of history related to redlining, its foundations, and its continuing legacies. Redlining - the system of disinvestment that went from a private prejudicial practice in the early 20th century to a federal policy during the Great Depression - shaped and continues to impact daily interactions, neighborhoods, cities, and the nation.