by Heather Wood

Spring will not officially begin until March 20, but the Kernersville Parks and Recreation Department (KPRD) is already celebrating the warmer weather, sunny skies, and the signs of things in bloom.  Our Parks Maintenance staff is busy beautifying our local parks in preparation for the spring season to hit.

The KPRD along with Tree City USA will be celebrating its fourth Arbor Day on March 21 in Harmon Park.  This year, the Christmas tree in Harmon Park will be replaced with a Norway spruce.  The current tree, a Leyland Cypress, was only a temporary replacement after the previous Blue Spruce was attacked with a disease.  The new tree will come from Northlake Nursery in Benson N.C. and resemble more of a traditional Christmas tree with the triangular shape.  The day’s events are still in the planning process for updated information visit the Town’s website at www.toknc.com.

The spring temperatures also encourage people to get outside and visit a local park, creek, or lake. Forsyth Creek Week is a county-wide initiative.  We depend upon creeks, and the fresh water they carry, to produce our food and sustain our lives.  Join in this week-long celebration from March 15-22, celebrating all things creek with creek crawls, bird walks, workshops, guest speakers, book and film discussions, canoeing and fly-fishing demonstrations, children’s activities, and lots more!

Kernersville Events:  

Creek Week Craft Time – Tuesday, March 18 at 4:00pm – Registration required; may do so by calling the library at 336-703-2930.

Wild About Water Preschool Story Time – Tuesday, March 18 at 10:15am.

Wild About Water Toddler Story Time – Thursday, March 20 at 10:30am.

Other Kernersville Forsyth County Creek Week activities include a Rain Barrel workshop, Tuesday, March 18 at 6:00pm, to register call 336-996-6462 or email ecolyer@toknc.com.  The Kernersville Police Department will hold an Operation Medicine Drop event on Friday, March 21 from 9:00am – 2:00pm; the location is to be announced so check the website for an update soon.  Operation Medicine Drop provides residents with a safe and environmentally friendly way to dispose of unused medications.  The Great American Clean Up, a litter pick-up event, will be held in Kernersville on Saturday, March 22 from 9:00am – noon.  Please pre-register by calling 336-996-6462 or emailing ecolyer@toknc.com to have an assigned location, or work to keep Kernersville clean and green in your own neighborhood!  There is also a Most Unusual Find contest for the clean-up; the rules are on the Forsyth Creek Week website.

A daily Facebook photography contest will be ongoing for the entire week, with details also on the website.  Be sure to “like” Forsyth Creek Week on Facebook to get updates, photos, and more.  Please visit www.ForsythCreekWeek.com for more information, to register for events, to enter the contests, and to find an activity near you!

There are several events and programs happening this spring at the Kernersville Parks and Recreation Community Center.  Check out the list below and visit our website at www.toknc.com/pr for more information.

Legends Game Day

KPRD and the Shepherd Center of Kernersville are offering a variety of games while socializing with friends.  There will be games such as badminton, football toss, corn hole, basketball, and much more!  Join us Friday, March 14 from 10:00am- 1:00pm.  This event is free and open to adults 50 and over.

Life Line Screening

KPRD is pleased to offer a preventative health event.  Life Line Screening, a leading provider of community-based preventative health screenings, will host their affordable, non-invasive, and painless health screenings on Thursday, March 20, 2014.  Five screenings will be offered that scan for potential health problems related to:  blocked arteries, abdominal aortic aneurysms, atrial fibrillation, bone density, and hardening of the arteries in the legs.  In order to register for this event and receive a $10 discount off any package, please call 1-888-653-6441.

5K BEAST Adventure Run

Kernersville Parks and Recreation and Fitness One will host its first adventure race at Ivey M. Redmon Sports Complex starting at 9am on Saturday, April 12.  The Beyond Endurance and Strength Training (BEAST) 5K race will be on the cross country course with fitness stations and challenges along the way.  There will be a series of strength and agility exercises every half mile.  Competitors can either compete to win or just compete for fun and fitness.  Entry fees in advance are $40 per person and $160 per four person team, with race day costs of $50 and $180.  To register for the BEAST 5K, visit our website at www.toknc.com/pr.  All proceeds from the race will benefit prevention of domestic violence programs in memory of Fitness One trainer Charles Nichols.

Summer Camp 2014

Looking for a summer adventure for your child?  This full day camp offers daily excursions to the local parks, games, crafts, swimming, field trips, and lots of fun.  The 8 week camp will run from June 16- August 11 for children ages 6-12.  Each week the children will do a service project in the community that is geared toward the themed week.  Registration begins Monday, March 17.  Register before Monday, March 31 and the $50 registration fee will be waived.  Visit our website at www.tokn.com/pr.

Special Olympics- Volleyball

KPRD will hold volleyball matches for the Special Olympics beginning Saturday, March 22- May 24 from 11:30am- 12:30pm.  We are looking for volunteers and athletes to participate in this program.  If interested please call 336-996-3062.

The following programs are now taking registration: RDU Tennis, Adult Softball, Adult Kickball, Building Blocks Ballet, Basic Digital Photography. Visit www.toknc.com/pr for prices, dates, and times.