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Welcome to Activate!
Activate! is a seasonal recreation guide that serves as your one-stop guide to the many recreation programs, events, classes, and trips that Albany Parks & Recreation has to offer. Whether you are 1, 100, or somewhere in between, Albany Parks & Recreation is your place to play, learn, connect, explore, and grow!   

 
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Last updated: March 2, 2023, at 4:22 pm

Family Fun

family fun

After School Basic Sewing (Ages 9-12)

Our sewing classes offer opportunities for children to learn the basics of sewing and celebrate their achievements while creating items they can use. Students will learn the basics of sewing with a machine as well as by hand. Projects will be varied to keep students excited!

After School Teen Sewing Sessions (Ages 13-16)

Our sewing classes offer opportunities for children to learn the basics of sewing and celebrate their achievements while creating items they can use. Students will learn to use patterns to create garments and other projects. Use of a sewing machine and hand sewing will be covered. Sewing classes at Albany Parks & Recreation are a great way for your child to exercise their creativity!

Albany Exploration Zone

We provide the STEM supplies, staff, and activities – your kiddo just needs to arrive ready to have fun! These Saturday classes include an age-appropriate STEM activity and an additional activity or free time. Because we understand that families have busy schedules, you can register for as many of these standalone activities as you like – choose just one or all of them!

Albany Gems Dance Team

Do you love to dance? Are you interested in joining an awesome team? The Albany Gems Dance Team, a program offered through Albany Parks and Recreation, provides great opportunities to develop skills and the attitude youth need to be successful! Dancers learn fitness, nutrition, teamwork, and valuable life skills all while being part of a team. This team is a competitive performance team, but also has positions available for dancers that aren’t quite ready to get in front of a crowd or are new to the program.

Beginners Yoga (Ages 6-11)

Yoga is a great way for little ones to learn how to calm their minds, improve concentration, and move their bodies! Participants will learn stretches and yoga poses that develop balance and strength, while having fun with their peers. Kids in this class will release tension as they stretch, bend, and twist. They will learn child's poses, breathwork, lunges, and more.

Camp Albany

Make every day an exciting adventure!

Egg-cellent Adventure

HOP, HOP, HOP on over and have some fun with us!

Fairytale Dance

There’s nothing more imaginative than fairytales! Experience the magic of ballet as your child stretches, leaps, and dances across the floor. Using props and interactive songs, this class will help improve balance and coordination while introducing your child to the fundamentals of ballet.

Family Tree Climbing at Silver Falls State Park

In this intro experience designed for everyone, learn to climb some of the largest and tallest trees in the world around 300ft high. Recreational tree climbing, also known as canopy climbing, is an unforgettable adventure that will allow you to climb to the top of the canopy of these massive trees where few people have been. This is your chance to try something not even 0.001% of the population has done. Explore a perspective of nature rarely seen and learn about the unique ecology, plants, and animals of old-growth forests.

FREE - Community Play Date

Connect with other parents & caregivers at this free weekly meetup at the Riverfront Community Center! There will be toys, games, rotating crafts for the kiddos, and snacks and drinks available in the coffee shop. Crafts are designed for kids ages 2-5.

Fun in the Park

Join us in a different neighborhood for games and fun for kids of all ages!

Homeschool Gathering (All Ages)

Meet other parents and kids at this FREE weekly hangout for homeschooling and unschooling families. Activities for kids & teens will be provided at this casual social gathering, and families of all backgrounds are welcome!

Intro to Yoga (Ages 3-11)

Yoga is a great way for little ones to learn how to calm their minds, improve concentration, and move their bodies! Participants will learn stretches and yoga poses that develop balance and strength, while having fun with their peers. This class will include a few minutes of meditation and story time.

Just Dance

A combo jazz and lyrical dance class that is fun and energetic. This dance style is often associated with Broadway musicals. Dancers will learn turns, leaps, and jumps as well as building flexibility, strength, techniques and coordination as they move to inspiring music.

Spring Break Camp (Ages 6-11)

With active games, art projects, and hands-on learning activities, Spring Break Day Camp is a great opportunity for new experiences! Youth will be involved in art, cooking, and science activities that will encourage their creativity and provide learning opportunities. Join us for a fun filled week of new adventures this spring break at Camp Albany!

True Magicians Magic Class

A life-skills program disguised as a magic class that includes amazing games, videos, magic tricks, and group activities that will delight your child while they make new friends and gain new confidence in themselves. Each child receives 8 individual magic tricks including full-color instructions, magic fun folders, a Discover Magic Key card, certificate of achievement, and a magic wand.

Youth Dungeons & Dragons Club (Ages 11-17)

Experienced players and total novices will have a blast at this weekly Dungeons & Dragons club! There will be a guided character-creating session on the first day, followed by a series of short campaigns spanning two weeks each. No experience is required, so participants can try out a session or two, or attend every week.

Community Events

community events

BINGO & Ice Cream

Join the fun - win some great prizes and enjoy some yummy ice cream!

Egg-cellent Adventure

HOP, HOP, HOP on over and have some fun with us!

Fun in the Park

Join us in a different neighborhood for games and fun for kids of all ages!

Aquatics

aquatics

Aqua Jog

Aqua jogging is a group fitness class with a trained professional teaching for about an hour. The classes focus on aerobic endurance, resistance training, and creating an enjoyable atmosphere sometimes with music.

Household Recreation Swim

Gather up the entire family for some fun in the pool! Members of the same household are invited to come and swim together. Adults are required with anyone under age 16.

Lap Swim

Lap Swim is exactly what it sounds like - swimming laps! Do your own personal training routine. When the shallow end is available, walking is permitted.

Personal Exercise

Aqua jogging is so fun & popular. This is not an instructor led session and participants must remain socially distanced from other participants. Flotation devices are available.

Senior Fitness

Senior Fitness is a group fitness class with a trained professional teaching for 45 minutes. The classes focus on aerobic endurance, resistance training, and creating an enjoyable social atmosphere sometimes with music.

Water Aerobics

Water Aerobics is a group fitness class with a trained professional instuctor. The classes focus on aerobic endurance, resistance training, and creating an enjoyable atmosphere sometimes with music.

Youth Swim Lessons

Make a splash with swim lessons at Albany Community Pool! Learning to swim teaches skills to be safe in the water and so much more. Swimming builds self confidence, develops self-esteem and makes water a safe, fun environment for a lifetime. We are focused on developing strong swimmers and confident kids.

Active Adults

active adults

ENRICH, ENGAGE, ENERGIZE

AARP Driver Safety Course

A classroom program designed to help develop and reinforce safe driving skills and techniques. Satisfactory completion may also qualify you for reduced insurance premiums.

Albany String Orchestra (Ages 10-Adult)

The Albany String Orchestra is a beginner-intermediate level ensemble for violin, viola, cello, and string bass players with prior playing experience or who have completed at least a year of instruction.

Oregon's Rich History

There’s more to Oregon than you probably know. This class will examine the rich and diverse history of our state and will include topics covering Oregon’s frontier heritage and its role in American history from pre-European contact all the way to the modern era. This course is enlightening, fun, and out of the ordinary.

EXPRESS YOUR CREATIVITY

Acrylic Painting for Fun

This course is designed for all skill levels, no experience required, and you can use whatever acrylic paints and brushes you have already. We will be painting on wood, glass, cloth, canvas, canvas boards, and anything else that sounds like fun. The goal of the class is to have fun and explore the versatility of the medium of acrylics.

Advanced & Intermediate Watercolor Painting

Delight in the color, brilliance, and challenge of watercolor painting. Learn composition, perspective, reflections, shadows, and color theory with new and challenging techniques. This class is for those who are already knowledgeable of the basics of watercolor.

Basic and Creative Calligraphy

Practice letter forms and handwriting in this class that will help you fine-tune your artistic talents. This class also covers calligraphy related art and crafts including bookbinding, basic watercolor, and more.

Beginning Watercolor Painting

Learn traditional techniques including wet-into-wet, dry brush, lifting, glazing, color mixing, and much more.

Fused Glass Dish

Create amazing fused glass dish that will make the perfect gift, or a perfect dish for your jewelry! You will have access to a variety of beautiful glass. Have a fun time meeting new friends, getting creative, and have a new masterpiece at the end of your creative journey!

Fused Glass Flower

Join us to create a beautiful fused glass flower. Students will have access to a variety of beautiful glass. Let your creativity take over and create a work of art, literally!

Fused Glass Garden Art

Join us to create a beautiful fused glass spring garden art piece, even if you’ve never worked with glass before! Students will have access to a variety of beautiful glass. You’ll make something fun, exciting, and unique!

Fused Glass Mushroom

Join us in making a beautiful and unique fused glass mushroom! Simply arrange different shapes and types of colored glass elements to make your very own unique design. will have access to a variety of beautiful glass to build their creation. You will have a fun time meeting new friends and creating a beautiful masterpiece!

Fused Glass Wavey Art Scene

Create a stunning fused glass art scene! Students will have access to a variety of beautiful glass. Let your imagination go wild and dazzle your friends with this handmade item.

Great Women Artists to Inspire You!

Discover more about well-known female artists and the genre of art for which she is known. Each class will include some discussion on the historical context of each woman followed by the creation of your own original artwork based on the inspiration of the famous artist.

Mosaic Easter Plaque

You will create your very own mosaic easter plaque! You will lay out and place your unique design during the first-class using tiles and gorgeous glass. On the second night you will grout your creation. Invite your friends, make it a date night, or fly solo!

Mosaic Flower Pot

Create your own mosaic flower pot! Students will have access to a variety of beautiful tiles. Let your imagination come to life and you will go home with beautiful pieces to put on display.

Mosaic Totem

Create your own mosaic totem, perfect for your spring garden! Students will have access to a variety of beautiful tiles and a variety of different items to mosaic. Let your imagination come to life and you will go home with beautiful pieces to put on display.

HEALTHY, ACTIVE, AND FIT!

Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program

This program offers gentle, joint-safe exercises developed specifically for people with arthritis to help relieve stiffness, decrease arthritis pain, and improve balance. The low-impact exercises can be done while sitting, standing, or on the floor.

Belly Dance Basics

Learn foundational belly dance movements, while exploring proper dance posture, transitions, cueing, and group improvisation. Belly dance is fun, but it also helps develop fluidity, core strength, and balance.

Belly Dancing - Level 2

This course is designed for individuals who have already attained a basic belly dance vocabulary and would like to add more complex movements to that vocabulary.

Better Bones & Balance

OSU Bone Research Labs have shown this exercise program will significantly slow the rate of bone loss in adults of all ages. Improve your balance, flexibility, coordination, and see an increase in muscle tone and overall body fitness.

Better Bones & Balance - First Steps

Exercises are adapted for individuals needing improvement in balance and strength, who may have limited mobility, and/or difficulty standing for long periods of time. Balance aids will be used. Focus on lower and upper body strength, improving balance, and strengthening your core. The benefits? Reduce your risk of falls, increase your strength, and improve overall mobility and fitness.

Gentle Yoga

This class will offer a slower paced yoga practice what will encourage moving the body within a pain free range of motion. Cues for safe alignment and a chair can be used throughout class.

Tai Chi

Tai Chi is a form of movement, meditation, and martial art that originated in China. Promotes relaxation, relief from stress, and improved general well-being by practicing mind/body harmony and cultivating internal energy or 'chi”.

Zumba / Zumba Toning

Zumba/Zumba Toning provides a total body workout using easy to follow choreographed dance moves to combine all elements of fitness-cardio, muscle conditioning, balance, and flexibility. Zumba Fitness classes are often called exercise in disguise because they are super effective and amazingly fun.

Zumba Gold

Zumba® is a dynamic, exciting, and effective fitness program featuring easy to follow, low-impact aerobic/fitness interval training with a combination of fast and slow rhythms. Latin and international dance music create fun and even party-like classes. Achieve long term goals and benefits of improved agility, flexibility, cardio, and muscular strength. Join the fun and feel the beat!

TRIPS & TOURS

Alsea Thyme Garden Luncheon

The Thyme Garden is a family-owned farm hidden in the beautiful coast range mountains between Philomath and Alsea. Owners Janet and Rolfe Hagen offer the Northwest’s largest selection of herbs and useful plants. A special treat will be the creating your own hanging basket filled with your selection of the herbs and flowers they offer at the nursery.

“A MID SUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM”

Join us for one of Shakespeare’s most popular comedies as it takes you on a beguiling odyssey full of mistaken identities, misguided passions, love potions, and magic spells. Kings, queens, fairies, lovers, and spirits all collide in an enchanted forest one midsummer night proving that “the course of true love never did run smooth.” Fall in love all over again-but watch your step!

“RENT” at Actore Cabaret

La Vie Boheme! Jonathan Larson’s iconic Pulitzer prize winning musical that shaped a generation of audiences and taught us all to measure our life in love. Set in the East Village of New York City, Rent is about falling in love, finding your voice, and living for today.

Beppe & Gianni's Trattoria and Prince Puckler's Homemade Ice Cream

Beppe & Gianni’s Trattoria is an exceptional Italian restaurant located in an older home nestled in a residential area of Eugene. If you love roasted garlic with cambozola cheese and lasagna, or handmade ravioli with baby spinach, you won’t want to miss Beppe & Gianni’s for traditional Italian cuisine. After the meal, we’ll wander across the street to Prince Puckler’s ice cream. Serving locally made ice cream since 1975, Prince Puckler’s has everything from shakes, sundaes, and ice cream pies to coffee drinks and cones.

Big Fish

Based on the celebrated novel by Daniel Wallace and the acclaimed film directed by Tim Burton, BIG FISH tells the story of Edward Bloom, a traveling salesman who lives life to its fullest…and then some! Edward’s incredible, larger-than-life stories thrill everyone around him—most of all, his devoted wife Sandra. But their son Will, about to have a child of his own, is determined to find the truth behind his father’s epic tales. Overflowing with heart and humor, BIG FISH is an extraordinary musical that reminds us why we love going to the theatre—for an experience that’s richer, funnier, and bigger than life itself.

Camp 18 Restaurant - Seaside

There is no better place than this combination restaurant and logging museum to learn how logging was done in the days before clear cutting. The restaurant is in a huge log lodge with lots of chain-saw art, axes for door handles, and a hollowed-out stump for a hostess desk. After enjoying logger-size meals (don’t miss the marionberry cobbler!), you can wander the grounds studying old steam logging equipment.

Come From Away

On 9/11, the world stopped. On 9/12 their stories moved us all. Join us for the true story of the small town that welcomed the world. Broadway’s Come From Away takes you into the heart of the remarkable true story of 7,000 stranded passengers and the small town in Newfoundland that welcomed them. Cultures clashed and nerves ran high, but uneasiness turned into trust, music soared into the night, and gratitude grew into enduring friendships.

Gardenpalooza

Gardening is one of Oregon’s most popular activities, and at Garden Palooza held at Bauman Farm and Garden there is plenty for gardeners to see, do, and experience. More than 45 local nurseries and garden art vendors will purvey thousands of plants, tools, and items of décor during this colorful spring ritual. You can shop at the country store, eat from the deli, and enjoy fresh donuts and pie.

Hairspray

You don’t want to miss Broadway’s Tony Award winning musical comedy phenomenon HAIRSPRAY! Join 16-year-old Tacey Turnbald in 1960’s Baltimore as she sets out to dance her way onto TV’s most popular show. Can a girl with big dreams (and even bigger hair) change the world?! Featuring the beloved score of hit songs including “Welcome to the 60’s”, “Good Morning Baltimore”, and “You Can’t Stop the Beat”.

Hulda Klager Lilac Garden

A 110-year old farmhouse and Victorian-style garden welcome you in celebration of Lilac Days. The house features original furnishings and guides in Victorian dress. Three and a half acres of gardens showcase over 150 varieties of lilacs and other rare or unusual trees and shrubs. The house and gift shop are accessible only by stairs.

Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

This colorful retelling of the story of Joseph, his coat of many colors, and his amazing ability to interpret dreams is a blockbuster of biblical proportions! This is a one-of-a-kind show that you won’t want to miss! Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is a sung-through musical with lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Lunch Cruise on the Portland Spirit

Portland Spirit, the Northwest’s premier dining ship, has a delightful lunch menu. Join us for fresh Northwest cuisine prepared in the onboard galley. Beautiful views of Portland’s downtown skyline will make this an extra special treat.

OMSI - Marvel: Universe of Super Heroes

Don’t miss your chance to see this one-of-a-kind exhibit. Marvel: Universe of Super Heroes is a groundbreaking exhibition that celebrates Marvel’s 80-year history, from the iconic characters to the creators who’ve told the stories. Marvel: Universe of Super Heroes features hundreds of artifacts including original comic book pages, interactive displays, life-size statues of your favorite Super Heroes, and costumes and props from Marvel films and television programs, many of which have never been on public display outside this exhibition.

Portland Spirit Independence Day Fireworks Cruise

Join us for a relaxing dinner cruise followed by the annual downtown Portland fireworks display viewed from the best possible location… on the river just a couple hundred yards from the firework barges! Enjoy live piano music, dinner, and fireworks while you cruise on the Willamette River.

Rice Museum of Rock and Minerals

The historic Rice Museum houses one of the world’s finest collections of rocks and minerals. The collections and displays are top-notch, and the exhibits feature over 20,000 specimens, including the largest Thunder Egg in the world. The building itself is on the National Register of Historic Places and is known for its stone and woodwork.

Rose Festival Parade and Breakfast

You won’t want to miss the Rose Festival parade which features all-floral floats, marching bands, equestrian units, and many other special entries. Vintage vehicles, flag-festooned marching groups, and colorful dancers are icing on the cake. Your assigned seat awaits you, with all the amenities of being indoors (comfortable seats, no ‘weather worries’, restrooms, and concessions).

Timberline Lodge

On the slopes of Mount Hood, Timberline Lodge has become a classic. The lodge is an inn, but in another sense, it’s also a museum. Built during the Great Depression by skilled and unskilled labor, craftsmen, and artists, it remains a symbol of hope and prosperity. Enjoy a personal and informative tour led by a knowledgeable curator. Relax and have a buffet style lunch in the lodge’s dining venue and take in the breathtaking views of Oregon’s most majestic mountain peaks.

Wooden Boat Show, Crab Feed, and Ducky Derby

Delicious Dungeness crab and finely crafted wooden boats will be the star attractions at the Depoe Bay Crab Feed & Classic Wooden Boat Show. Dozens of exhibits will feature hand-crafted vessels both vintage and modern from across the Northwest. Hundreds of colorful bathtub ducks will be released to race into the harbor, and you can buy a ticket for a chance to win some great prizes. Take part in cheering your “ducky” to the finish line during the Ducky Derby. The US Coast Guard station will be open to tour its patrol and rescue boats stationed in “the world’s smallest harbor”.

Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival

Spring is in the air and tulips are everywhere! We’ll head to the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm which boasts more than 40 acres of tulips and daffodils. View stunning displays of color and beautifully landscaped grounds as we enjoy tulips, tulips, and more tulips! You can buy cut flowers or order bulbs for fall planting; take the train for a riding tour through the tulips.

Volunteer Opportunities

volunteer opportunities

Adopt-a-Park Program

Albany Parks & Recreation’s Adopt-A-Park program is a way for individuals, groups, or businesses to show their pride and commitment to the city's parks and green spaces. With your help, we can keep our city parks beautiful, clean, and safe.

 

We promote healthy living through recreational experiences and serve as stewards of Albany's public parks and facilities.

Albany Parks & Recreation

 Contact us

Recreation

 541-917-7777
 333 Broadalbin SW (1st floor)

Maintenance

 541-917-7759
 3650 Dogwood Ave SE
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