BRATTLEBORO — The Brattleboro Recreation & Parks Department will offer the following programs in January. To register, or to learn more about the offerings, call the Recreation & Parks Office at 802-254-5808, weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon or 1 to 5 p.m.
Chess class
There will be a chess class on Fridays from 4 to 5 p.m. in the Conference Room at the Gibson-Aiken Center, 207 Main St.
The class is for children in grades 1 through 6. Classes begin on Jan. 7 and will run for eight weeks, ending on Feb. 25. The cost of the five-week program will be $40 for Brattleboro residents and $55 for non-residents.
The instructor is Eric Strickland, who will introduce basic principles of chess to participants, along with simple strategies and tactics.
Zumbatonics
A new program for youth ages 7 and up called “Zumbatonics” will be held on Thursdays from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Red Room at the Gibson-Aiken Center. The cost of Zumbatonics will be $55 for Brattleboro residents and $70 for non-residents. Payment in full must be made at the time of registration in order to hold your spot.
Jennifer Moyse, of Motion Works, will instruct the classes, which begin on Thursday, Jan. 6 and will run through Feb. 17.
Zumbatonics is a Latin fitness program tailored for kids. Students have fun learning salsa, merengue, cha-cha and hip-hop dances without realizing they are exercising.
Open Gym and Game Room
The main Gibson-Aiken gymnasium is open for basketball each day, while the game room offers ping-pong, bumper pool, foosball and air hockey.
There is no cost for either activity. All sessions are supervised. Times and age groups are as follows:
• Grades K-6, Mondays and Fridays, 3-5 p.m., and Wednesdays, 3-4:45 p.m.
• Grades 7-12, Tuesdays, 2:45-5 p.m., and Thursdays, 3-5 p.m.
• Adults and Grades 7-12, Saturdays, 1-4 p.m.
A special open gym time for parents and toddlers 5 and under is offered on Mondays and Thursdays, from 10-11:45 a.m., in the second floor gymnasium. Toys provided include a playhouse, blocks, floor foam puzzles, little tike bikes, slides, mats and an assortment of balls. A $1 donation per child per day is requested.
Yoga, pilates and kickboxing
Instructor Cindy Gray offers a series of eight-week classes for yoga, pilates and kickboxing.
Yoga classes meet Mondays and Wednesday at 12:10-1:10 p.m. Pilates classes are on Tuesdays at 12:10-1:10 p.m. Kickboxing classes are on Wednesdays from 5:30-6:30 p.m.
The cost for yoga and pilates is $50 for one class per week, $60 for two classes per week, and $75 for three classes a week. Kickboxing is $30 per week. Add $20 for non-residents and $10 for drop-ins. Prices are based on an eight-week session.
Gray also offers evening yoga classes on Tuesdays from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the third floor Red Room. The cost is $65 for residents, $85 for non-residents.
Tai-Chi classes
Susan Hebson begins a new six-week session of Tai Chi classes on Jan. 18. Classes meets Tuesdays from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the third floor Blue Room.
The classes are for adults 18 and older, and cost $65 for residents and $85 for non-residents. Contact Hebson at [email protected] or 802-257-9425 for more information.
Public skating time
The Nelson Withington Skating Facility at Living Memorial Park is open for public skating at the following times:
• Mondays: 7-9 p.m. (Dollar Night)
• Tuesdays and Wednesdays: 10:30 a.m.-noon. (adults only)
• Fridays: 10:30 a.m.-noon (adults only); 7-9 p.m. (all ages)
• Saturdays: 10:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m.; 7-9 p.m. (all ages)
• Sundays: 1:45-4:45 p.m.; 7-9 p.m. (all ages); 9:15-10:15 p.m. (adults only)
There will be no public skating hours on Saturday, Jan. 8, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., and Sunday, Jan. 9, from 1:45 to 4:45 p.m., due to the annual Hockey Tournament. There will be public skating hours on both evenings from 7 to 9 p.m.