The philosophy of the Recreation Division of the Manhattan Parks and Recreation Department (MPRD) is to provide and create affordable, recreational, cultural, educational, and leisure opportunities to benefit and enhance the lives of all citizens in the community.
If your child likes competitive sports, MPRD provides children with variety of athletic opportunities through out the year. Including extensive program to assist developmentally disabled individuals who choose not to participate in the integrated recreation program.
Swimming lessons for all skill levels through MPRD are offered at CiCo, Northview and City Park swimming Pool. The Manhattan Marlins Swim Team practices and competes at City Park Pool. Swimmers 7 to 18 years old are invited to join. For additional information on the program, contact Head Coach Todd Kramer at 785-317-0545, Helena Grinter at 785-776-0681 or visit their website at www.manhattanmarlins.org.
In addition to swimming MPRD offers other sports for youth, like basketball, volleyball, soccer, British soccer and tennis. While soccer players can begin at age 4, volleyball players must be in 3rd grade, and basketball players must be in 3rd grade to enroll. Golf clinics are offered for beginning, intermediate, and advanced golf instructions for ages 6-17. Tennis clinics are being offered for ages 4 through 18 and adults as well.
For youngsters not interested just in sports, MPRD offers a variety of other fun and challenging activities.
Novices and budding artists can explore their skills in various arts including ceramics, pottery and drawing. Some of the classes qualify as credit toward Scout merit badges. Children may register for various sessions where they can learn how to draw, throw a pot, work with ceramics or make a variety of arts and crafts.
Theatre classes are offered for children age 5 to 18. The younger children focus on creative dramatics, music, dance and basic performance techniques, while the older artists learn and practice basic stage singing and dance techniques while putting on a show where everybody is a star.
Little Apple Day Camp sessions for children are scheduled through the summer where campers can enroll in one or two-week session blocks for a full day. Campers are treated to arts and crafts, nature, music and sports activities. The camp is fully inclusive for children with special needs.
There are camps for youngsters that emphasize on recreational and community learning with story telling, word games, games, swimming and local excursion trips.
Registration is required for all classes and activities. An activity information and registration booklet may be picked up at the MPRD office in City Park, near 11th and Fremont Street. Or visit their website at www.ci.manhattan.ks.us/ParksandRec/ for additional information.
sunset zoo
Take an unforgettable journey to Sunset Zoo. Nestled in the Flint Hills, the zoo is a great place to spend the day with friends and family. Become immersed in the natural habitats and open spaces as you experience an up-close look at animals from around the world.
The animal collection at Sunset Zoo includes exotic endangered species from across the globe. On the African Forest Trail you can meet Big Mac, the dominant male of our Chimpanzee troop, or visit Mandisa, an infant Colobus monkey. Enter the Australian Walkabout, and travel the path just a few feet away from wallabies (with joeys in their pouches) and emus. On the Asian Forest Trail, visit Siberian tigers, snow leopards and sloth bears. The South American Trail gives you the rare opportunity to see Maned wolves, anteaters and peccaries. You can also visit some native Kansas animals like bobcats, swift foxes and prairie dogs.
In addition to the sights and sounds of the animals, Sunset Zoo offers an assortment of educational classes and after school programs for kids ages 3-18. Classes are divided by age and include themed songs, games, snacks and crafts. Sunset Zoo also offers "Piranha School", a fun alternative to childcare for all ages during USD383 in-service days.
Sunset Zoo fills its event calendar with family-friendly activities during the warmer months of the year. From ZOObilation, the zoo's season kick off on Memorial Day, to SPOOKtacular, our daytime trick-or-treat event, your family will have a great time playing games and spending the day together outdoors.
Douglass Community Center
Douglass Community Center is located at 901 Yuma Street in Manhattan. Center offers variety of programs for youth, including arts and craft, basic weight training, basics of Digital D.J. mixing this summer as well as summer enrichment program.
During the school year Center offers homework assistance and tutoring program. Retired teachers, K-State students, and community members work together to provide individual homework assistance and skills improvement for elementary and secondary students. Educational games and software are used to provide improvement in math, reading, and thinking skills. As students complete their work, they progress toward special places marked on a map of Kansas to earn small prizes; they have fun while learning and improving their skills.
Games, competitions and tourneys of sorts are organized through out the year.
For additional information or to enroll, please call 587-2774.
Cottonwood Racquet Club
The Cottonwood Racquet Club offers tennis lessons year round. Children of all ages are invited to join the tennis classes taught by the local tennis pro, Bill Fraley. Cottonwood provides fun and age appropriate activities for the children and works on their level to help them improve their game.
Cottonwood is located at 3615 Clafflin Road and can be reached at (785) 776-6060.
Manhattan Marlins swim team
The Manhattan Marlins Swim Team was founded almost forty years ago by a group of interested parents. Their goal to promote swimming as a sport, both as fun and competition, is still in place today. Swim Team's primary emphasis is on positive self image, physical conditioning, and development to each child's fullest potential.
Over the years, the Marlins have grown, developed and produced national qualifiers as well as state high school champions. Most of all, the team has provided an excellent swimming program to the Manhattan, area and to each swimmer who has become a member.
Swimmers must have acquired minimum swimming skills in order to join. The Marlins have a scholarship program available for qualified swimmers.
For additional information on the program, contact Head Coach Todd Kramer at 785-317-0545, Helena Grinter at 785-776-0681 or visit their website at http://www.manhattanmarlins.org
wonder work shop children's museum
The Wonder Workshop is an interactive children's museum where youth and their families come together to explore, discover, and create through exhibits and programs in the arts, science and humanities.
The museum's goal is to develop self-reliant children, families, and community members. Hands-on activities instill a desire for life-long learning, recognizing our cultural diversity and fostering creative potential.
Hooked on Clubs: After-school enrichment program designed by educators to help kids explore, create, learn, and have fun!!! Some of the activities kids will explore are: 7 Windows into Wilderness, Artful Journeys, Little Harlem Chess & Mancala Club, Sensational Science, and Team Building Workshop! The museum also offers a full day program for students in grades K-6 when there's no school. For more information contact the museum.
Underground Railroad Tour: The tour travels to various Underground Railroad sites within a fifteen-mile radius of Manhattan. Adults & students are presented with information regarding its historical significance. Travelers will learn about the famous Beecher Bible and Rifle Church, Captain William Mitchell, Henry Strong, Native Americans, and Africans escaping to freedom.
Traveling Science & Team Building Exhibits: These hair raising and problem solving adventure exhibits can come to your classroom, camp, birthday party or school. Some of the components are: simple circuits, physics, geography, biology, microscopes, giant spider web, trolley walk and a few more surprises!
The museum is open Monday to Friday: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm, Saturday: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm during summer (June-July); and Mon-Fri: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm, Sat: 10:00 am -2:00 pm. during school year (Aug-May). Admission is $3.00 per child/adult and children under 2 get in FREE!
For more information call 785-776-1234 or visit their website at www.wonderworkshop.org
Boys & Girls Clubs of Manhattan, Inc.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Manhattan provide a safe environment and youth development services before and after school, and during the summer months for boys & girls ages 6-18. Professional staff members provide leadership and guide Club members to observe healthy behaviors and develop good character. Club programs and services promote the positive development of young people by instilling a sense of competence, usefulness and belonging.
The Club offers five core areas of programming that engage young people in diverse activities with peers and caring adults that enable them to develop self-esteem and a sound moral compass. Character and Leadership
Development; Education and Career Development; Health and Life Skills; The Arts; and Sports, Fitness and Recreation are the five core program areas that all Club activities fall under.
Homework help and tutoring is available each day during after-school programs which run from 3:30 - 6:00 p.m. at our Fourth Street site and our school-based sites at Northview, Lee and Ogden Elementary Schools.
Before-school programming is also offered at these school-based sites from 7:30 - 8:45 a.m. Youth transportation to the Fourth Street Unit for after-school programming is provided from Marlatt, Amanda Arnold, Seven Dolors, Bergman, Woodrow Wilson and Theodore Roosevelt elementary schools, Eisenhower and Anthony middle schools and MHS East Campus. For summer, all-day programs will be offered at the Fourth Street site. School-based summer programs will be offered in collaboration with USD 383 summer school at Northview, Lee and Ogden elementary schools.
For youth ages 13 to 18, the Teen Center located at our Fourth Street facility is open Monday through Thursday evenings, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m., and Fridays, 6:00 – 10:00pm. Days and hours of service will differ for summer months. Programs teaching drug and alcohol prevention skills, and preparing teens for higher education and careers are offered to youth attending the Teen Center. Teen dances, concerts and other special events are also held throughout the year.
The mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Manhattan is to inspire and enable all young people to realize their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens. For more information, visit our website www.bgclubmanhattan.com, stop by our main facility at 305 S. Fourth Street (south side entrance), or call 539-1947.
Girl/Boy Scouts
During elementary school many kids become involved in Scouts.
Scout programs promote citizenship through educational programs, projects and outdoor activities to help children learn the qualities of leadership and participation.
Parents interested in getting their child involved with scouts should call 785-539-1947 or contact their child's school for additional information.
4-H club
4-H empowers youth to reach their full potential, working and learning in partnership with caring adults.
Young participants at 4-H learn life skills through projects, activities and events to help them become contributing, productive, self-directed members of society. They have opportunity to take part in projects from rabbits to rockets, from cats to clothing, from foods to photography; in club and group meetings; in camps; in such events as fairs and Discovery Days; in awards, school and international programs.
4-H is open to youth between the ages of 7 and 19. The new 4-H year starts in October, so many prefer to join 4-H at the start of the school year. 4-H enrollment, however, is open year round, so youth can join any time.
Parents of youth interested in 4-H should contact either the Riley County Extension Office or someone they know who is already part of a 4-H club.
Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art
During the fall of 2006 and into 2007, the Orval Hempler gallery in the Beach Museum of Art will be transformed into a space for children of all ages to create and display artwork as part of the Museum's education programs.
Using the museum's permanent collection as inspiration, participants from museum workshops, area schools, daycare centers, and other children's organizations will have the opportunity to create artwork which will then be displayed throughout the year.
"The Creative Place: Children and their Art": 8 September - 22 December 2006 and 16 January – 2 September 2007.
