OWO center offers activities for children of all ages

By Staff
Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
In search of summer fun? If so, Hartselle's new Osborne, Warren, Oden Recreation Center at 906 Roberts Drive might be the place for you. The center officially opened June 1 with a fun-filled session of activities for children of ages six through 16.
Lisa Burns, director, said the summer session has openings for 50 children and applications for membership are still being accepted. The membership fee for the eight-week session, which ends Aug. 5, is $50 per child. The center is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Activities offered include swimming, bowling, arts and crafts, sports and entertainment. In addition, several special activities are planned
Brad Bole, director of the Flint Creek Watershed Project, will teach a class on the environment with the assistance of the Wheeler Basin Wildlife Refuge staff. Subjects will include stream habitat, tree identification, soil conservation and recycling. The class will conclude with a camping trip to the Bear Creek Recreation Facility in Colbert County.
A class on leadership will also be offered with the assistance of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. The qualities of a leader will be emphasized. Class members will select and complete a community project.
Instruction will be provided on the proper way to play most basic sports. In the process, participants will increase their activity level, learn about sportsmanship and get to know what it's like to be part of a team.
The summer session will also focus on the center's own fruit and vegetable garden. Currently in the early growth stage are grape and blackberry vines and fig bushes along with cucumbers, squash, tomatoes, okra, peppers and field peas. Fried green tomato and squash days will be observed when the garden starts producing.
Activities planned in July include a bike safety class and bike rodeo and an Independence Day celebration.
"All of our activities are structured and security is maintained at all times," Burns stated. "The children are never left alone."
She said volunteers are needed to help with some of the planned activities as well as cash donations to help meet operational expenses.
"We have applied for help from the Morgan County United Way and we're also planning some fundraisers to help out," she pointed out.
For additional information, you are invited to call 773-6400.