family fun

Advanced Wilderness Survival

This camp goes in depth into critical survival skills using fun, challenging scenarios. Participants work on their own and in teams to problem solve various skills challenges such as shelter, fire, tool use, knife safety, traps, rope and knots, plant uses, animal tracking, primitive skills, navigation and more (we can’t cover all of it in one week!). Instructors help participants build initiative, self-control, confidence and communication skills while making new friends.

Albany Gems Dance Camp

Let’s dance! Do you need a creative outlet for your young ones this summer? Let us take over a weekend for you! Join the Albany Gems Dance Team staff for a 2-day summer dance experience for kids in 1st-8th grade. Camp attendees will experience a combination of age-appropriate dance routines taught by some of the best instructors in the state as well as lessons in dance technique and some other fun activities. Routines and technique will be broken down according to skill level and no dance experience is necessary!

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.

Albany Parks Passport

Get outside and explore new parts of the community by completing the Albany Parks Passport this spring and summer! Sign up online and receive your family’s free, printable passport to your e-mail, or sign up and grab a passport at City Hall or the Riverfront Community Center. Visit 10 of the parks on the list, complete the corresponding questions, and return your completed passport to the Riverfront Community Center between June 1st and July 31st to receive a playground pack you can use to make memories throughout the summer!

Beginners Yoga (Ages 7-11)

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

Summer is a great time for kids to grow and have new experiences and summer day camp is a perfect setting for it!

Crafter's Camp

Build. Cool. Stuff. This camp is all about tool use, creativity, and engineering. Each day we will introduce a new building project that participants will work on throughout the week to bring home. Projects are generally themed for camping and outdoors. We even try to build the tools we will use to build the other things! Projects may include assembling a bushcraft knife, a bone awl, wood baton, natural fiber, cordage, hand carved wood spoon and/or bowl, paracord survival bracelets or belts, feathersticks, leather medicine pouches, bamboo walking sticks, gourd drinking bottle, rocket stove and more.

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 Dinner in the Park

Learn how to cook a healthy meal and then enjoy some family time over dinner in the park! Each class includes creating a delicious family friendly meal while learning about a different food group. You will get to taste different fresh grown fruits and veggies during class. Learn to create recipes like Garden Sloppy Joes, a Barley, Bean and Corn salad, Veggie Rice Bowls and more! We will also make a Peach Sundae for dessert.

Family Tree Climbing

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.

Fish, Forage, Fire!

Learn the art of being a true outdoorsman! Our primary activity will be fishing and the instructor will fill out each day with lessons in foraging from the natural world and increasing your archery marksmanship! Fish lessons, as time allows, will include baiting, cleaning and cooking as well as gear, casting and, of course, fishing. Foraging will include plant ID and how to safely harvest in various seasons. Archery practice will occur several times throughout the week with an emphasis on safety, practical use and form.

Fun in the Park

This summer join us in a different neighborhood for games and fun for kids of all ages! You are invited to find a bench or bring a blanket and enjoy some sun and time in our beautiful parks before heading home to work on a cool take-home craft kit.

Girls Earth Skills

Work in teams to build communication and leadership skills, and work independently to build focus, self-esteem, and self-sufficiency by practicing an array of wilderness skills, such as shelter construction, fire building, tool and knife use, knots and ropes, navigation, and plant identification.

Girls Stealth & Wildcrafting

Designed to empower girls while they learn wilderness living skills through arts and crafts, games, songs, and archery. Topics include native plants, fire tending, and water filtration, plus participants make healing salve, face paint, felt fabric, macramé, and more. This camp builds confidence while girls develop ninja skills through stealth games while making friends and having fun.

Hip Hoppers

Hip hoppers will learn basic hip hop moves and fun dance routines set to hit music. This class will teach basic leaps, turns, and tumbling while helping develop an overall sense of rhythm. The steps are sure to make kids groove to the beat in their own jazzy style!

Intermediate Wilderness Survival

Five days of building survival skills and testing yourself against survival scenarios! The skills taught/practiced will include shelters, fire safety/building, knife safety, tracking, foraging teamwork, traps, orienteering, cordage and knots and primitive skills. The goal is building initiative, self control and judgement skills while connecting with the natural world and having fun. We use teaching scenarios based on real life survival and play survival themed games.

Intro to Wilderness Survival

Learn the basics of thriving in the wild. Campers learn confidence, initiative, communication, and common sense through fun survival scenarios in teams and on their own. Skills taught include shelters, fire building, cordage, navigation, knots, traps, primitive skills and more. We won’t get to everything, because there’s so much, but the week will be packed!

Intro to Yoga (Ages 4-11)

Participants will learn how to balance, stretch, and focus. This class will include a few minutes of meditation and story time.

Jr Mountain Biking Camp

Students ride trails every day, learning to navigate trees, rocks, roots, and hills. Bike maintenance and proper gear are covered.

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.

Nature Rx

Kids use their imagination in exploring, engaging, and connecting with the forest and river. This program follows a forest free play model/approach. Each day is a new adventure in exploring the details of the natural environment, plants, animals, and geology.

Ninja Warrior Parkour

Learn to jump, vault, tumble, bounce and spin your way under, over and through whatever obstacles and features you come across. Campers build strength, timing, balance, flexibility, and explosiveness as instructors take participants through a challenging and fun progression of skills and exercises. Instructors incorporate obstacle courses, martial art forms, acrobatic movements, and props to learn and choreograph key parkour and free running movements.

Splash Info Music

This energetic movement and music class will keep your kiddo moving! Dancers will explore instruments and dance while they participate in activities that encourage collaboration and movement.

Sr Mountain Biking

Students will ride trails every day, learning to navigate trees, rocks, roots, and hills. Bike maintenance and proper gear are covered. Basic bike skills required.

Summer Camp Sewing Basics - 1

In Basics 1, students start at the very beginning by learning how to use a sewing machine and hand sewing simple projects.

Summer Camp Sewing Basics - 2

In Basics 2, students will build on the skills they have learned in Basics 1.

Summer Camp Sewing Basics - 3

Basics 3 becomes more challenging for the students, as we learn more skills and gain more confidence.

Summer Camp Sewing Basics - 4

Basics 4 is the most challenging summer session. Students must have completed all three previous sessions, as the projects will become more complex.

Teen Fashion Show Week

Students will learn to work with patterns to create several garments in this series of classes. They will acquire the skills to determine what fabrics can be used with certain patterns, how to read the patterns, and construct garments by machine and finishes by hand.

community events

Fun in the Park

This summer join us in a different neighborhood for games and fun for kids of all ages! You are invited to find a bench or bring a blanket and enjoy some sun and time in our beautiful parks before heading home to work on a cool take-home craft kit.

Northwest Art & Air Festival

Great Music, Delicious Food, Beautiful Art, Hot Air Balloons and Fun for the whole family!

River Rhythms Concert Series

Great music under the stars on Thursday nights this summer - you don't want to miss these amazing performers!

Summer Sounds Concert Series

Unwind and enjoy great music in a relaxed part atmosphere on Monday nights this summer.

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

ENRICH, ENGAGE, ENERGIZE

Tech Workshop Series

Join T-Mobile at the Riverfront Community Center for a free tech workshop series! These classes are open to the entire family whether you are a seasoned device user, an app enthusiast, or someone learning your way around new technology, the T-Mobile team is here to help you connect to your world!

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.

Basic and Creative Calligraphy

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

Coloring with Thread

In a park setting, enjoy the practice of coloring with thread while learning the basics of the art of hand embroidery. This family-friendly class (best for those 13 years old and older) will teach you basic stitches and how to create patterns while completing one simple project.

Express Yourself

Do you have a creative and unique mind and like working with different kinds of art media? Then this is the class for you! More than one medium or material will be used with the idea that anything and everything has the potential to create art. Choose what you want to use to do - a collage, an assemblage, a sculpture - whatever you imagine. And express yourself!

Fused Glass Bugs

Create a stunning, unique, and ornate glass bug! Students will have access to a variety of beautiful glass. Let your imagination go wild and dazzle your family and friends with your creation.

Fused Glass Garden Art

Create your own cute garden art! Students will have access to a variety of beautiful glass. Let your imagination come to life and you will go home with beautiful pieces to put on display.

Fused Glass Pocket Vase

Create a beautiful vase that will give your home a pop of color! 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 Windchimes

Create unique and whimsical windchimes! Students will have access to a variety of beautiful glass. Let your imagination go wild and you will go home with beautiful pieces to put on display.

Intermediate Sewing

Students will build on what they have learned in Beginning Sewing or from previous experience. Students must bring a pattern to the first class and the correct amount of muslin for their size as stated on the pattern. Students should also be familiar with the 3 uses of a sewing machine.

Mosaic Birdhouse

You will lay out and place your design at the first class by using tiles and glass. On the second night, you will grout your creation. Get creative and have fun!

Mosaic Dragonfly Plaque

You will lay out and place your design at the first class by using tiles and glass. On the second night, you will grout your creation. Get creative and have fun!

Mosaic Flower Pot

You will lay out and place your design at the first class by using tiles and glass. On the second night, you will grout your creation. Get creative and have fun! Invite your friends, meet new friends, make it a date night, or a girl’s night out.

Mosaic Garden Rocks

You will lay out and place your garden rock design at the first class by using tiles and glass. On the second night, you will grout your creation. Get creative and have fun! Invite your friends, meet new friends, make it a date night, or a girl’s night out.

Sewing: A-Line Dress

Learn to make this form flattering dress for summer. Students will learn various techniques that can be applied to future sewing projects. This class is for a confident beginner with some sewing experience. Students must know how to use their sewing machine and have a basic understanding of sewing patterns.

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.

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.

Gentle Yoga

Increase strength, flexibility, and reduce stress while learning techniques to calm your mind and soothe your spirit. Learn yoga poses that develop strength, balance, proper breathing, and relaxation.

Old Growth Tree Climbing

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.

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

A dynamic, exciting, and effective fitness program perfect for active older adults who are looking for a modified Zumba® class that recreates the original moves you love at a lower-intensity. It is designed to introduce easy-to-follow Zumba® choreography that focuses on balance, range of motion, and coordination.

TRIPS & TOURS

Alsea Thyme Garden Luncheon & Medicinal Herbal Salve Making

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 medicinal herbal salve making. A four-course luncheon (with an herbal focus) will be served under the fir trees.

Depoe Bay Salmon Bake

Enjoy a succulent salmon meal, great performances, and music. Over a ton of salmon is slow-roasted to perfection on alder stakes, just as the Native Americans did 2,000 years ago. Watch as Native Americans perform their traditional dance and song.

Fall Train Excursion

Enjoy a historic, unique train ride through the lower Hood River Valley. Leaving the valley floor, you will cross and ride along 3 miles of the lower main fork of the Hood River while we navigate a 3% grade that takes you on one of only five switchbacks remaining in the United States. All the while, you’ll be enjoying peek-a-boo views of Mt Hood, Oregon’s tallest peak.

Florence Giant Buggy Tour

The giant dune buggy tours are exciting scenic ways to see the incredible dunes on the Oregon Coast! Climb aboard and take an informative and fun one-hour dune buggy tour that covers approximately eight miles of dunes and two miles of ocean beach. You’ll have time to walk along Bay Street, dine on your own, and see the shops before heading to the dunes. Bring some warm clothing and be warned… you might get wet.

Garden Loop & Wine Tasting

Come get loopy with us! We are off for a scenic drive through the valley to discover all it has to offer. Fruits, vegetables, jams, shortcake, plants, flowers, and more! We will start the day at Willamette Valley Pie Company where you can purchase a cup of coffee and some tasty treats! Then we are off to gardens and farms. This trip has something for everyone!

Grand Ronde Annual Pow Wow

Celebrate the traditions, history, and culture of the Grand Ronde Tribe. Dancers from all over the Northwest will compete in this annual Pow Wow hosted by the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. Enjoy the rhythms, beating of the drums, and watch the colorful dancers show off their foot work. Between dances, be sure to hit the food vendors for an Indian fry bread burger or other tasty treat.

Hellgate Jet Boats

Discover the thrill of the jet boats and views of nature and wildlife that are simply stunning. Highlight your summer with this trip on the Hellgate jet boats! This fun excursion on the wild and scenic Rogue River will be something you won’t forget.

Hood River County Fruit Loop (Farms 1-5)

A unique rural farm experience awaits you in the beautiful Hood River Valley, where you will encounter 27 on-the-farm fruit stands, wineries, breweries, cideries and fields of flowers. Hood River Valley has a rich agricultural heritage, beginning with the planting of the first fruit trees in 1855, resulting in 14,500 acres of pears, apples and cherries that cover the valley today. Wander down the 35 miles of scenic country roads on your self-guided tour and create great adventures with family and friends, while exploring the abundance of farm products grown in the valley.

Hood River County Fruit Loop (Farms 6-10)

A unique rural farm experience awaits you in the beautiful Hood River Valley, where you will encounter 27 on-the-farm fruit stands, wineries, breweries, cideries and fields of flowers. Hood River Valley has a rich agricultural heritage, beginning with the planting of the first fruit trees in 1855, resulting in 14,500 acres of pears, apples and cherries that cover the valley today. Wander down the 35 miles of scenic country roads on your self-guided tour and create great adventures with family and friends, while exploring the abundance of farm products grown in the valley.

Mt. Angel Oktoberfest

There is no more appropriate setting for an “Old World” Oktoberfest than Mt. Angel. This small community was settled by German pioneers in the 1800’s. There will be over 60 Alpine food chalets along with arts and crafts and some fabulous music. Dancers and musicians provide almost continuous amusement and add a special flavor to the festivities. You won’t want to miss the Big Bands playing their “oompah” music, the yodeling, and folk dancing.

Multnomah Falls Sightseeing and Sunday Brunch

We will be making a couple of stops before enjoying lunch and sightseeing with the impressive views of an Oregon iconic landmark. Plummeting 620 feet, Multnomah Falls looms above the historic lodge which was built in 1925. Fine Northwest cuisine is only enhanced by the breathtaking sight from each table. There will be time to walk outdoors and visit the gift shop.

Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad

The rhythmic rocking of the car, the soothing clickety-clack of the rails… the Port of Tillamook Bay Railroad offers you the nostalgia of days gone by, traversing some of the most scenic countryside on the Oregon Coast. The Oregon Coast Explorer offers many views and vistas that you can’t access from Highway 101. We will start our trip in Garibaldi and travel to Rockaway Beach where you will have time to stop and browse antique stores and have lunch. Then we will board the train again and travel back to Garibaldi before heading home.

Oregon Zoo

Take a walk on the wild side when you join us for lions, tigers, and bears (oh my!) It’s a wild day at the Oregon Zoo. Meet the animal stars up close and enjoy entertainment, animal chats, refreshments, and more!

Red Ridge Farm

Today we will travel the back roads to Dundee, Oregon’s beautiful wine country with wooded rolling hills. Red Ridge Farm sits on a hilltop overlooking the countryside. The family-owned nursery, olive farm, and vineyard create a stunning setting. We will taste wine, learn about olive pressing, and sample olive oils and gourmet vinegars. Browse the gift shop and take time to meander through the garden or just sit and enjoy the view.

Scandinavian Festival

Junction City turns its downtown area into a charming old-world town for the Scandinavian Festival. Come join us and enjoy cultural entertainment, food, and activities in the authentic Scandinavian spirit. This event pays homage to the cultures of Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Iceland. Find treasured handicrafts including rosemaling, hardanger, pottery, woodcrafts, needlework, original paintings, drawings, and watercolors. Perhaps best of all, enjoy the incredible abelskivers and Swedish meat pies (the list goes on and on!).

Shrewsbury Renaissance Faire

Enchantment awaits young and old alike as jousting knights and noble steeds clash on the tourney field while minstrels, troubadours, jongleurs, dancers, and bards fill the lanes with delight! We will browse the village for unique handmade goods and one-of-a-kind treasures while surrounded by Renaissance revelry and entertainment.

Sisters Quilt Show

cover this 1880's-style town in rich texture and color. Quilts hang from buildings, fences, porches, and windows in this delightful western town! For the past 35 years, quilters have gathered in Sisters to experience one of the most colorful displays of the quilters’ art to be found in the United States. Sisters’ downtown is wrapped in quilts just waiting for you to enjoy!

Swan Island Dahlia Festival

Swan Island Dahlia Festival is a must see for all dahlia lovers! Stroll through and view the 40 acres of dahlias in full bloom, enjoy live music, demonstrations, and talks. This is the largest display put on by one grower anywhere in the United States!

Wildlife Refuge, McMenamins, and Wine

Visit the first-class Visitor Center (including gift shop) and walk the trails. Learn the history of the National Wildlife Refuge System, habitat management on the refuge, and identify wildlife or wildlife signs we encounter. We will have a guided nature walk and learn about the amazing birds on the refuge. Bring your binoculars for wildlife viewing.

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.