Amid the sports leagues, yoga classes, chess clubs and bingo that the Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Department offers throughout the year, there are a couple of events aimed directly at youth in middle and high school that are coming up, and Youth Services Outreach Specialist Lauren Jones said they’re both going to be a lot of fun.
There’s always something going on that is offered through the rec and parks department, Jones said, but teams are forming now for a Teen Trivia competition, scheduled for 12 noon on Saturday, Feb. 17.
Five-member teams will square off to answer questions about R&B and hiphop music from 2023, she told WIZS co-host Bill Harris on Wednesday’s TownTalk.
Middle school teams will compete against each other and high school teams will do the same.
“We hope to have at least six teams – three per age group,” Jones said, “but we’ll make it work with however many we get.” The trivia competition will take place at the Youth Services Building, which is housed in the former Eaton Johnson gym.
Winners will get to choose gift cards as prizes, she said.
The rec and parks department has hosted a similar trivia event before, but there’s a new event planned for April 6 that Jones said she hopes will fill a void in the social lives of middle- and high school-aged students.
It’s called the Spring Break Bash and the theme is a Hawaiian luau. The middle school luau will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and the luau for high schoolers is from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
To be admitted, each student must present his or her third quarter report card.
“We’re not worried about the grades,” Jones said, adding that the report card simply verifies that the person is enrolled in school. And it’s not just for Vance County students, she added. Anyone can attend, so long as they present their report card.
Rec and parks program planners had noticed a lack of school-sponsored parties and social gatherings (prom and athletic events notwithstanding), and Jones said this is one outlet for young people to come together in a safe environment to socialize.
Visit https://henderson.nc.gov/departments/recreation_and_parks/index.php for details on all the programs and events the HVRPD offers.
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