Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation

Therapeutic Recreation Section

Therapeutic Recreation Section

Contact Information
Karla Gray
TR Senior Manager
Karla.Gray@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov
980-314-1314
Danielle Dobbs-Jackson
TR Specialist
Danielle.Dobbs@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov
980-314-1309
Karen Howard
TR Specialist
Karen.Howard@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov
980-314-1303
Melissa Johnson
TR Specialist
Melissa.Johnson@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov
980-314-1304
Ariel Kliem
TR Specialist
Ariel.Kliem@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov
980-314-1306
Shannon Maxwell
TR Specialist
Shannon.Maxwell@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov
980-314-1308
Jana McMullen
TR Specialist
Jana.McMullen@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov
980-314-1305
Stacey Thomas
TR Specialist
Stacey.Thomas@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov
980-314-1302

http://tr.charmeck.org

Did You Know?

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Lower blood pressure
Greater flexibility
Enhanced brain function
Lower cholesterol
Strengthened bones ond joints
Weight loss
Decresead stress
Mental focus
Plus much more..
- Statistics by Yoga Health Foundation
Therapeutic Recreation Wire -September/October 2015

Programs
Schools Out Club Youth and Teens
For youth, ages 6-12, with disabilities
For teens, ages 13-21 with disabilities
Marion Diehl Recreation Center, 2219 Tyvola
Road
Sept 23, 2015 (Wednesday)
Oct 23, 2015 (Friday)
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
$35.00 per date
TRinfo@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov
Come spend your days out of school having fun
and going on adventures with your friends! We
will take field trips, play games, do arts and crafts
and more! All of these activities are used to promote peer interaction and appropriate social
skills, physical activity, and independence.

Schools Out Club Youth and Teens in the NORTH

For youth, ages 6-12, with disabilities
For teens, ages 13-21 with disabilities
Location TBA
Sept 23, 2015 (Wednesday)
Oct 23, 2015 (Friday)
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
$35.00 per date
TRinfo@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov
Come spend your days out of school having fun and
going on adventures with your friends! We will take field
trips, play games, do arts and crafts and more! All of
these activities are used to promote peer interaction and
appropriate social skills, physical activity, and
independence.
2

Therapeutic Recreation Wire -September/October 2015

Programs
.Wilderness Bunch
For young adults with disabilities ages 21 to 40
McDowell Nature Preserve
September 11 (Friday) Sunday 13 (Sunday)
Drop off is at 4pm Friday
Pick up is at 4pm Sunday
$100.00
Melissa.Johnson@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov

Spill Your Beans

For young women, ages 16 and up, with disabilities
McAlisters Deli, 4805 Park Rd
3rd Monday of every month
5:30 pm 7:00 pm
$10.00 per session (does not include dinner)
TRinfo@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov

Spill Your Beans is a casual and open-forum style

Wilderness Bunch is a great opportunity for those discussion group for young women to talk about and gain
support for current issues occurring in their lives.
who enjoy or who would like to experience the
great outdoors. Enjoy two nights tent camping in Discussions may include: health & safety, independent
living, relationships, friendships, and self-esteem
McDowell Nature Preserve. We will spend the
(participants will have the opportunity to choose the
weekend hiking, exploring different areas near
topics to discuss). Each month we will either host a guest
McDowell Nature Preserve and kayaking. The
fee for the weekend is $100, and includes meals speaker or lead a discussion about the issues participants
and transportation to and from McDowell Nature have chosen.
Preserve.
Fuel For Life
For young men, ages 16 and up, with disabilities
McAlisters Deli, 4805 Park Rd
2nd Monday of every month
5:30 pm 7:00 pm
$10.00 per session (does not include dinner)
TRinfo@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov
Fuel For Life gives young men a night to just go hang
out with the guys. In the time we meet, they can fuel
their body with food and fuel their life with good
conversation. At Fuel for Life they will have the
opportunity to talk about and gain support concerning
various issues happening in their lives. Each month will
either host a guest speaker or engage in a discussion on
different topics, such as employment and job skills,
relationships, independent living, self-esteem, and other
topics as decided on by you.
3

Therapeutic Recreation Wire -September/October 2015

Programs Sports
Pee Wee Soccer
For youth, ages 2-6, with disabilities
Marion Diehl Adaptive Field, 2229 Tyvola Road
(Queens Sports Complex)
Sept 14 Oct 19, 2015 (Mondays)
5:30 pm 6:30 pm
$35.00
Danielle.Dobbs@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov
Spend the evening with your child, as you learn
together, the basic skills needed to play soccer!
During the 6 sessions, children will have fun with
their friends and work with their parents to develop soccer skills. This is a great opportunity for
parents to interact with their children in a fun environment and to learn techniques for teaching
their children sports.

Adult Kickball
For adults, ages 18 and up, with disabilities
Marion Diehl Adaptive Field, 2229 Tyvola Road
(Queens Sports Complex)
Sept 15 Oct 20, 2015 (Tuesdays)
6:00 pm 7:00 pm
$30.00
Stacey.Thomas@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov
Who says kickball is just for kids?! Let your inner child
come out and play in our brand new kickball league!
Pitch, kick, catch and throw yourself into this
fast-growing trend of adult entertainment. No experience
necessary, so come join the recess fun!

Paralympic Boccia
For teens and adults, age 13 and older, with a
physical disability including CP, SCI, TBI, MS,
and other disabilities affecting coordination and/
or balance.
Marion Diehl Rec. Center, 2219 Tyvola Road
October 5 November 9 (Mondays)
5:00 pm 6:15 pm
$25.00
Jana.McMullen@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov

Paralympic Kayaking Clinics

For teens and adults with physical disabilities
ages 13 and up
McDowell Nature Preserve Waterfront
September 19th and October 3rd (Saturdays)
8:00am-12:00pm
FREE
Melissa.Johnson@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov

Test your strategy. The object of boccia is to

throw/roll a game ball closest to the target ball.
This program is part of Paralympic Sport
Metrolina.

Enjoy a Paralympic kayaking experience and learn how

to kayak! This program is for teens and adults with
physical disabilities, who are new to kayaking! We will
teach the basics of kayaking, and make any adaptations
needed.

Therapeutic Recreation Wire -September/October 2015

Programs Adults
Adult Cooking Class
For adults and seniors, ages 18 and up with
developmental disabilities
Marion Diehl Recreation Center,
2219 Tyvola Road
September 14 October 19 (Mondays)
10:00 a.m. 12:00 noon
$60.00 for 6-week class
Karen.Howard@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov

Creative Arts
For adults and seniors, ages 18 and up with disabilities
Marion Diehl Recreation Center, 2219 Tyvola Road
September 16 October 21 (Wednesdays)
10:00 a.m. 12:00 noon
$60.00 for 6-week class
Karen.Howard@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov
Break out the brushes, paints, paper and much more!
Spend Wednesdays expressing yourself through a wide
variety of art media: painting, engraving, collage and paper mache, to name a few. All materials are included in
the program fee.

Start your week in the kitchen! In addition to

learning or improving basic cooking skills,
participants will learn about kitchen safety and
hygiene; making healthy food choices; and proper
Please note our fee system for our daytime programs
food handling and storage practices.
for adults:
There will be a discount if you register for multiple
Gifted Gardeners
classes: for 2 or more classes, you will receive a $10
For adults, ages 18 and up with developmental
discount for each additional class!
disabilities
Marion Diehl Recreation Center,
2219 Tyvola Road
NEW! Creative Arts - North
September 8 October 27 (Tuesdays)
For adults and seniors, ages 18 and up with disabilities
10:00 a.m. 12:00 noon
North Mecklenburg Senior Center
$75.00 for 8-week class
102 Gilead Road, Huntersville
Karen.Howard@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov
September 11-October 2 (Fridays)
10:00.a.m. 12:00 noon
Welcome to the fall gardens! The Gifted
$40.00 for 4-week class
Gardeners will be very busy: filling our raised
tables with vegetables, herbs and flowers; caring Karen.Howard@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov
for permanent plantings at the Marion Diehl
Join us for the popular Creative Arts programin a new
Center; harvesting produce to take home; and
crafting items using plant materials. Please dress location! Express yourself through a wide variety of art
media: painting, engraving, collage and paper mache, to
for the weather, as we spend part of each class
name a few. All materials are included in the program
outdoors, weather permitting.
fee.

Therapeutic Recreation Wire -September/October 2015

Programs Adults
VIP Travel Club
For adults and seniors, ages 35 and up, with a
visual impairment
Pick-up/Drop-off locations please specify when
registering:
Marion Diehl Recreation Center (MDRC),
2219 Tyvola Road
Metrolina Association for the Blind (MAB),
704 Louise Avenue
September 22 (Tuesday) Lazy 5 Ranch with
wagon ride
October 14 (Wednesday) Gaston County
Museum
Pick-up: MDRC @ 9:00 a.m., MAB @ 9:30 a.m.
Drop-off: MAB @ 3:30 p.m., MDRC @ 4:00 p.m.
$15.00 each date
Karen.Howard@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov
Enjoy a social day with friends, while building
independence in the community. Learn about
historical, educational and recreational attractions
in the Charlotte area. Please bring money for
lunch.

Please note our fee system for our daytime programs

for adults:
There will be a discount if you register for multiple
classes: for 2 or more classes, you will receive a $10
discount for each additional class!

NEW! Adult Cooking Class - North

For adults and seniors, ages 18 and up with disabilities
North Mecklenburg Senior Center
102 Gilead Road, Huntersville
October 9-30 (Fridays)
10:00.a.m. 12:00 noon
$40.00 for 4-week class
Karen.Howard@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov
The same format as the popular Adult Cooking Class
In a new location! In addition to learning or improving
basic cooking skills, participants will learn about kitchen
safety and hygiene; making healthy food choices; and
proper food handling and storage practices.

Therapeutic Recreation Wire -September/October 2015

Programs Dances
Luau Dance
For teens and adults, ages 13 and up, with
disabilities.
Marion Diehl Recreation Center
2219 Tyvola Road
September 18th, 2015 (Friday)
6:00 pm 9:00 pm
$10.00
trinfo@mecklenburgcountync.gov

Monster Mash Dance

For teens and adults, ages 13 and up, with disabilities.
Marion Diehl Recreation Center
2219 Tyvola Road
October 16th, 2015
6:00 9:00 pm
$10.00

Come to the annual Monster Mash Dance! Show off

your costumes, dance to your favorite tunes (including
lots of Halloween favorites), enjoy dinner and
Come out and join us for the Luau dance! We will
refreshments, play games, and win a prize in our costume
be dancing to some great music to get your hips
contest!
swaying, enjoying a Luau style dinner and punch,
trinfo@mecklenburgcountync.gov
and playing some fun games throughout the
evening!

TR Northern Dance BOO Bash

For teens and adults, ages 13 and up, with disabilities.
North Mecklenburg Senior Center
102 Gilead Road, Huntersville NC
October 30th, 2015
6:00 9:00 pm
$10.00
trinfo@mecklenburgcountync.gov
Come to the new TR Dance in the north! Join us for
some ghoulish games, dinner and dancing! Wear your
best costume to compete in the costume contest.

Therapeutic Recreation Wire -September/October 2015