Children need active play after school and during the summer. Give your school-age child an active alternative to watching TV. Enroll him or her in an afterschool program, a summer camp, a youth club, a physical activity class or a sports team.
Waushara County 4-H Youth Development Program
There are 14 4-H Clubs throughout Waushara County. Youth, five year old kindergarten through one year past high school graduation, are encouraged to join a 4-H club in their community. Contact the organizational leader or visit a club meeting to learn about the club. Each club determines what community service, educational programs and fun activities they wish to do. 4-H offers over 60 different projects ranging from animals, craftsmanship, agriculture, environment, cooking, arts…. 4-H members are involved in many fun and physically active projects and club events. Additionally 4-H allows many leadership and educational opportunities for youth and adults.
- Make sure to verify the time and location by calling ahead and to learn more about the club you are planning to join. The next page shows the clubs in Waushara County and their meeting times and locations.
- Contact the 4H Youth Director at 920-787-0416 or online http://fyi.uwex.edu/wausharacounty4h/
Aurora Busy Bees - 3rd Sunday at 5:30 pm, 1st Lutheran Church, Poy Sippi. Contact Bill Deppe 920-229-5547 or Linda Pomplun 920-987-5997
Blazing Stars - 1st Tuesday at 5:00pm, Courthouse, Wautoma. Contact Marcia Reindeau 715-256-4691
Cedar Valley - 1st Sunday at 2:00pm Aurora Town Hall. Contact Scott Krueger 920-428-2287 or Bob Kettlewell 920-361-3362
Coloma Dynamites - 2nd Sunday at 1:00 pm, Coloma Community Center. Contact Jessica Rettler,
715-228-5714 Carrie Flyte 715-570-2683
Cross Country - 2nd Sunday at 4:00pm (school year) 7pm (summer), Emmaus Lutheran Church, Poy Sippi. Contact Michelle Kasuboski, 920-765-1334
Four Corners - 2nd Tuesday at 7:00 pm, Hancock Community Center. Contact Pam Spillner 715-249-5338 or Mary Adams 715-335-6930
Four Stars - 1st Tuesday at 7:00pm, Hancock Community Center. Contact Nicole Severin 920-647-6567 or Chris Sheppard 715-249-5195
Loyal - 3rd Sunday 1:00pm (school year) Members residences at time to TBA (summer) Contact Bernadette Krentz 920-361-1934, Becky Olsen 920-987-5826
Mt. Morris Pioneers - 2nd Sunday at 6:30pm, Mt. Morris Community Center. Contact Kay Peterson,
920-744-7102
Oasis Prairie Ramblers - 2nd Sunday at 6:30pm, Oasis Town Hall. Contact Debbie Kramer 715-325-2241 or Paula Lauer 920-787-2011
Pine River Rainbows - 1st Sunday Cloverbuds and Explorers at 5:30pm Club meeting at 6:30pm, Leon Town Hall. Contact Tammy Kretzmann, 920-987-5332
Richford Busy Beavers - 2nd Sunday at 4:00 pm, Richford Community Center. Contact Adam Rigden 920-240-6187 or Denise Rigden 920-240-6197
Springwater - 2nd Sunday at 4:00pm, Rosemore Village. Contact Marty & Missy Weasner 920-229-8199
Warren Future Citizens - 1st Sunday at 6:30pm, Warren Town Hall. Contact Jerry Piechowski 920-789-8794 or Angie Clark 920-450-7879
Wautoma Roadrunners - 2nd Sunday at 6:00pm Wautoma Fire Station, Wautoma. Contact Jennifer Struzinski 920-765-3858
After-School Programs
A+ After-School Program
For all students to participate in activities, intramurals, and active educational activities after school until 5:15 or 5:30 at Parkside, Redgranite, and Riverview Schools Monday-Friday.
Contact the Program Coordinator at 920-787-1736 (ext. 1)
Wild Rose Elementary and Pleasant View Elementary After-School Programs
Homework time, tutoring, enrichment programs, snack, and physical activity 3:30-5:35PM Contact the School at 920-622-4203
Raise the Roof!!
Every Friday 6:30-9pm ministry youth ages 12-18 can participate in rock climbing, volleyball, basketball.. and much more.
Crossroads Family Church
640 S. Water St. Wautoma, WI 54982
Call: 920-787-2355 for more information
Check your church or local churches to get involved in Worship, youth groups, and volunteering services.
Girls Scouts and Boy Scouts
Girl Scouts of Wisconsin - Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes
Girl Scouts is open to all girls from kindergarten through 12th grade. Yearly membership: $12. Financial assistance is available. Girls Scouts get involved in a variety of activities, including camping, swimming, horseback riding, jump-roping, hiking and canoeing. For a variable fee (anywhere from $5-$180), girls may attend a variety of different Girl Scout Summer Camps. Call to find the location of a troop nearest you or for more information on summer camp programs and costs.
Appleton Girl Scouts Service Center
4693 North Lynndale Drive Appleton WI 54913 920-734-4559
Boy Scouts of Wisconsin - Twin Lakes District - Bay Lakes Council
Open to boys in first grade through high school, scouting emphasizes character development, citizenship and mental and physical fitness. Cub scouts and boy scouts get the opportunity to camp, hike, swim and do other physical activities. To locate a scout troop to join or to volunteer to become a scout leader in your local chapter, contact the Bay Lakes Council.
2555 Northern Road, PO Box 267 Appleton, WI 54912
Contact Bill Kohl 920-573-3029
Youth Recreation Clubs/Programs
Coloma Youth Program - Tues & Thurs 9-11am Meeting at Coloma Village Park. Summer fun for kids including tennis, volleyball, swimming…
Contact Sue Apps 715-228-2622
Wautoma on the Move is a project at Wautoma Area School District to help attach childhood obesity and physical inactivity. Currently fitness activites are offer after school at:
Riverview Elementary - Monday & Wednesday: K-1st grade
Riverview Elementary - Thursday: 2nd-3rd grade
Redgranite Elementary - Thursday: 3rd-5th grade
Parkside School - Monday & Wednesday: 4th-8th grade
Wautoma High School - Mainly Monday & Wednesday: 9th-12th grade.
Contact the school's main office for more information.
Bigger Faster Stronger (BFS) - This is a program that encourages positive change in the lives of young people through character education and sports fitness. This program has been helping athletes excel all over, and Wautoma holds their own BFS classes. Call Wautoma High School 920-787-7112 go online to get more information about BFS www.biggerfasterstronger.com
Boys and Girls Club of the Tri-County Area Berlin- Offers a number of recreation programs including a Fitness Authority Program, Little Brewers (ages 9-12), T-Ball (ages 6-8), Flag Football (9-12), Cross Country Club, Open Gyms, Dodgeball Games, Mystery Hour, Triple Play, Gym Adventures. Contact the club to find more on their programs and joining. 920-361-2717
PO Box 254, 344 Broadway, Berlin WI 54923
Girls Softball - Summer League for Girls Grades 2-8. Practicing 2X/wk at the Coloma Park and traveling for games 1X/wk and tournaments. Contact Mark Kalbus 715-228-2066
Coach Pitch - Summer League (May-July) for Boys & Girls Ages 4-8. Practice 2X/Wk, Games 1X/Wk at Coloma Park. Mark Kalbus 715-228-2066
Little League Program - games & practices April-July Mon & Thurs games, age 7-13 boys & girls, Meet at Coloma Lions Park for practice and traveling throughout Waushara County for games. Contact Mark Kalbus 715-228-2066
Youth T-Ball/Baseball/Softball – Summer League for girls and boys K-9th Grade. Includes games 2X/Wk, practices and teams throughout Waushara County. Contact Tom Butt 920-229-4933
Waushara Youth Soccer - Promotes semi-competitive recreational youth soccer for players grades K-8. The programs goals focus on soccer skills, teamwork, good sportsmanship and enjoyment of the game. Practices start in August and games end in October, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Parkside School soccer fields.
WYSP Coordinator: Ann Dobbertin, PO Box 6, Wautoma, WI 54982 920-787-4735
Activities for Older Adults
Don’t let your age slow you down. It’s important to keep moving and stay active as you age to maintain bone and muscle strength.
Waushara County Senior Centers & Dining Centers
Coloma Community Center, 155 Front St. 715-228-3145
Berlin Senior Center, 142 Water Street, Berlin, WI 54923 920-361-5422
Hancock Community/Senior Center, 420 Jefferson Street, Hancock, WI 54943 715-249-5872
Neshkoro Senior Center,132 S. Main, Neshkoro, WI 54960 920-293-4026
Plainfield Senior Center, 114 W Clark Street, Plainfield, WI 54966 715-335-6735
Poy Sippi: The House Next Door, W2306 Prospect Street, 920-647-0066
Redgranite: Civic Center, 202 Pine River St. 920-566-2844
Saxeville: Saxeville Town Hall, W4022 Archer Ave. 920-987-5005
Wautoma Senior Center, W8220 Cottonville Avenue 920-787-2055
Wautoma Senior Club (50 or older); Bingo every 2nd, 4th, 5th Sat. of the month; Yoga on Mon & Wed; Aerobics on Tues and Thurs; Line dancing on Fri; Bridge & Sorry Charlie on Mon; Sheepshead on 1st Tuesday of the month; Pool League on Thurs
Getting involved in local clubs, groups, organizations or volunteering is a great way to stay active as you get older… Try Something New!!
- Self-Management Programs* - Living Well with Chronic Conditions is an evidence-based program
- Fall Prevention Programs* - A Matter of Balance, Stepping On and Tai Chi
- Exercise Classes - Click here for fitness and yoga opportunities
- Volunteer - Click here for places to help volunteer in gardens or parks
- Tufts University’s Strong Bones strength training program and Healthy Hearts program - for middle aged and older adults.
- Women’s Group Quilting Club - Coloma offers a number of clubs Contact Mary Jane Brandt 715-228-5761
*These 2 programs are for ages 60 and older. Contact the Aging and Disability Resource Center for more information and other services for elderly Call toll-free 1-877-883-5378; 209 South Saint Marie St. Wautoma, WI 54982
Get Active in Your Living Room
If you’re short on time and money, and it’s too cold, hot or rainy to take a walk outside, you can create your own private aerobics class in your living room with a “workout” video or DVD. All you need is a TV, a VCR or DVD player, a small area of wood or carpeted floor, and a pair of gym shoes.
Borrow a few exercise videos from your local library and preview them: Do you like the instructor’s style and personality? Do you like the music? Does the video explain how to perform each exercise safely? Does it include a warm-up, stretching session and cool-down? Can you imagine yourself doing the exercises on a regular basis? You may have to preview three or four exercise videos to find one you would buy to use.
Set a “doable” goal with your workout video: If doing every exercise in a 30-minute session seems exhausting, start by doing only the first 10 minutes of the tape three times a week. Then set goals to exercise longer as you get stronger. The important thing is to make your exercise video time a regular part of your routine.
Active Videos for Kids
Depending on the age of your child try a variety of computer and video games to get them moving when the weather is bad. Try a variety of things - dancing and singing videos, Wii games, Dance Dance Revolution, Kinect Games, Sony Eyetoy… and many more!!!
Get the following videos at a local library or video store:
- Chicken Fat - The Youth Fitness Video: Ages 2 & Up
- Move ‘n Groove Kids: Age 3 & Up
- Sesame Street—Get Up and Dance: Ages 1 & Up
- Dance & Hop with the Doodlebops: 86 minutes
- The Wiggles - Dance Party: Ages 1-6
- Baby Dance! Ages 1 & Up
Locate the top rated active Wii video games and rearrange the living room for a little indoor exercise! Assess their activity levels, 1 being least and 10 being most active
- Wii Fit: All ages
- Wii Sports: All ages
- Star Wars - The Clone Wars: Age 10 & Up, Activity level 9
- High School Musical 3 - Senior Dance: Age 6 & Up, Activity level 9
- We Ski & Snowboard (W/ balance board): Age 5 & Up, Activity level 7.5
- Mario Power Tennis: Age 4 & Up, Activity level 8
- Playground: Age 4 & Up, Activity level 6.5
- Active Life Outdoor Challenge: Age 5 & Up, Activity level 9.5
- Ultimate Band: Age 7 & Up, Activity level 6
- Raving Rabbids: Age 8 & Up, Activity level 9
- Boogie Star: Age 7 & Up, Activity level 5.5
Get Active at Work
Does work seem to consume your life and conflict with your work out plan? Fitting physical activity into your daily schedule can be a challenge for many people. Employers must understand how important it is not only for the health of themselves and their employees but to the success of their workplace. Worksite wellness…
- Reduces absenteeism
- Improves productivity and presenteeism
- Controls increasing health care costs
- Reduces injuries and extensive sick time
- Improves employee morale and retention
Here are a few helpful tips to increase your activity and healthy lifestyle at work:
- Use the stairs instead of elevator
- Park 2 blocks from work or at the end of the parking lot furthest from the entrance
- Replace a coffee break with a brisk 10-minute walk. Ask a friend to go with you
- Take part in an exercise program at work or a nearby gym
- Join the office softball team or walking group
- Stretching is important to keep you loose and supple, increase flexibility, increase blood circulation, kick start your metabolism and keep your body warm
- Pack your own lunch and healthy snacks, instead of eating dishes brought in, or going out to eat