The school bell rings and students are quick to park in front of their TV, iPad or video game, but not if we can help it! Findlay Area Parent is giving you ideas to keep their minds and bodies moving, growing and learning. You’ll find a perfect activity for your family on our list of local after school programs!
Y-Guides through the Findlay Family YMCA
Open House at Camp Mosshart, McComb
Brent Cassata, Y-Guides leader: 419-560-0632
findlayymca.org/our-focus/youth-development/ymca-y-guides
Y-Guides is a program designed for daughters or sons ages 5 to 11 to make lasting memories with their dads. Activities are usually monthly and include fall, winter and spring campouts, ice skating, pinewood derby, laser tag, swimming and more. Cost is $20 per person for YMCA members and $25 per person for non-members, for the whole year, running from September to June. Check out Y-Guides during their free open house Sept.19 from 2-6pm at Camp Mosshart, where dads and kids can play capture the flag, check out hiking trails and try their hand at fishing and canoeing.
Sign up at the YMCA, the website (www.findlayymca.com), or in person at the upcoming open house. Financial assistance is available.
Music Together
208 Broadway St., across from the library in downtown Findlay
Director Amanda Sprague: 419-957-4868
musictogetherfindlay.com
A Music Together class is a group of children, with their parent or caregiver, learning, exploring and actively making live music. Children learn to sing in tune and to keep rhythm by singing songs and chants, each song accompanied by a finger-play, small or large motor movement, or by a rhythm instrument such as egg shakers, rhythm sticks, hand drums, wrist bells, and tambourines. Class times are Monday and Tuesday evenings at 6:30pm, and Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings at 10am.
Tuition is $125 for a 10-week session of 45 minute classes, an illustrated songbook and two copies of the CD.
The Mazza Museum
1000 N. Main St., Findlay
419-434-4560 | mazzamuseum.org
Sunday Funday at Mazza Museum is a day of fun, art and literature, all for free! Once a month, families can enjoy arts and crafts, face painting, storytelling, snacks, shopping and more. Funday Sunday is from 1:30-3pm at Mazza Museum located on the campus of The University of Findlay.
See the schedule of events online.
Findlay Family YMCA
Downtown Branch:
300 E. Lincoln St., Findlay
East Branch:
1400 Manor Hill Rd., Findlay
419-422-4424 | findlayymca.org
The YMCA offers programming for children of all ages. Some of the classes offered this fall, which are open to members and non-members, include: swimming, dance, cheerleading, tumbling, gymnastics, racquetball, tennis, judo, art, gym for homeschoolers, a basketball league, and a flag football league.
Fall session #1 programs begin the week of September. 8. Registration for flag football ends September 4.
Hancock Park District
1424 E. Main Cross St., Findlay
419-425-7275 | hancockparks.com
The Hancock Park District has much to offer kids and families of all ages. Hayrides, horseback riding, self-guided float trips, along with numerous free programs will be offered in the Hancock Parks this fall. You won’t want to miss our 17th Annual Enchanted Forest and Harvest The Past events this October!
Contact us at 419-425-7275 or visit HancockParks.com for more information.
XT Fitness
2725 N. Main St., Findlay
419-420-7586 | jimsteffenfitness.com
American Ninja Warrior Kids Open Gym for kids ages 10 and up, Thursdays 3:30-4:45pm, $15 per child. Come try the obstacles from the hit show on NBC. XT Fitness – making fitness fun for our kids!
The Arts Partnership Youtheatre
618 S. Main St., Findlay
419-422-3412 | artspartnership.com
Youtheatre is offering theatre classes from 10am to 12 pm on Saturdays, beginning September 12. The workshops offer area youth in grades 1 through 6 theatrical instruction and include a sharing showcase for family and friends on the final Saturday, October 17, at 12:15pm. Sessions and the presentation will be held at St. Andrews United Methodist Church, 120 W. Sandusky St. Registrations are due September 2 at The Arts Partnership office.
Cost for the classes is $150, $135 for each additional family member.
Snapology
15037 Flag City Dr.
Facebook: Snapology of Findlay, LLC | 419-701-9529
Findlay First Lego® League meets one time a week for eight weeks starting in
September. The team comes up with a solution to a global problem (theme this year is trash) builds a robot and practices missions based on this global problem, works together as a team putting together a presentation and gets ready to compete at a tournament in Toledo. Teams (ages 9-14) are forming now. Cost is $225 which covers the eight weeks, all tournaments and a t-shirt. Beginning September 18, Snapology will also offer Kid’s Night Out, a great chance for parents to get a night out too.
The cost is $10 per child and runs from 6-8pm.
Rolling Thunder Skating & Family Fun Center
2225 Keith Parkway, Findlay
419-422-7227 | rollingthunder-findlay.com
At Rolling Thunder Skating & Family Fun Center, family fun is what we’re all about! From skating, to our arcade, and from our skate sales to our snack bar and high energy light show, we are confident that we can more than satisfy your family’s recreational needs. Let’s not forget about the area’s greatest birthday parties right here at Rolling Thunder, which have been attended by nearly 8,000 children!
Watch our web site at rollingthunder-findlay.com or our Facebook page as our hours increase September 1.
Awakening Minds Art
515 S. Main St., Findlay
awakeningmindsart.org | 419-302-3892
Awakening minds art is a nonprofit organization that offers therapeutic and educational art to students of any age and ability. Fall programming begins in September and runs through November. Classes are: Mondays painting class (all ages) 5:30-6:30pm; Wednesdays 2D Mixed Media (ages 4th grade-adult) 5:30-6:30pm; Fridays Drop and Date Open Studio (ages 4 and up) 6-8pm; Saturdays painting class (all ages) 10-11am, and on the second Saturday of each month, My Grown-up and Me Luncheon and Painting (all ages).
Camp Fire Northwest Ohio
305 W. Hardin St., Findlay
CampFireNWOhio.com | 419-422-5415
Camp Fire’s clubs connect youth with caring, trained adults in a small group atmosphere. Clubs meet regularly and include a variety of fun, educational activities and projects. Club levels are available for kids ages 3-5, kindergarten-2nd grade, 3rd-5th grade, 6th-8th grade, and 9th-12th grade. To learn more, stop by during Camp Fire’s kick-off event at Rolling Thunder Skating & Family Fun Center, 2225 Keith Parkway, from 5:30-7:30pm on Sept. 3. There will be free skating with an adult.
Findlay Martial Arts Academy
1740 Lima Ave., Findlay
findlaymartialarts.com | 567-250-2767
Findlay Martial Arts Academy provides late afternoon/evening classes for students of all ages. Classes for 6-year-olds and up are available that teach traditional karate and jujitsu. Little Ninjas is a game format class for 4-to 6-year-olds where kids learn skills such as balance and teamwork. The children exercise while learning self-defense, therefore building self-confidence. It’s a great activity in a non-team environment.
Becky’s School of Dance
15440 US-224, Findlay
419-423-7423 | www.beckysschoolofdance.com
Becky’s is the home of the Findlay Academy of Ballet. We have classes in Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Ballet and Hip Hop. Our dancers have gone on to perform on cruise ships, at Disney World, at the Grand Ole’ Opry and take classes in New York City. Register now…before classes are closed! At Becky’s you’ll take…a “Step” in the right direction.
