Children and Youth Services | Decatur Parks & Recreation Department

Glenda Lee….Children and Youth Services Employee Celebrates 30 Years of Service

January 30, 2013 by Greg White 1 Comment

Glenda Lee, Program Supervisor for Children and Youth Services was honored at the State of the City Address for 30 years of service. Glenda grew up in Decatur and attended Trinity High School. Glenda started working with the City of Decatur in 1983. Glenda has played a key role in shapping the lives of young people and served as a parent to many. Glenda is committed to providing a fun, safe and quality experience for young people in afterschool or summer camp. Glenda can be found visiting after school sites, swimming pools and various camps. Congratulations Glenda for a job well done.

Filed under City of Decatur, City of Decatur School System Tagged with Children and Youth Services, City of Decatur, Decatur Active Living

Find Peace with a Pen

January 30, 2013 by Greg White Leave a comment

Situations and events that are distressing for many might not bother you in the least. Or, you may be sensitive to even minor stressors. The first step in managing stress is identifying your triggers. Knowing when , where and why stress occurs, along with your stress symptoms and how you cope, can help you reduce exposure or come up with successful strategies to alleviate the issue.

This week, start a stress journal. At the end of the week reread your entries to identify common themes to your stress and then brainstorm some solutions.

Filed under City of Decatur, City of Decatur School System, Decatur Active Living Tagged with Children and Youth Services, City of Decatur, Decatur Active Living

We are Moving Back to the Recreation Center!!

December 28, 2012 by saraeholmes 1 Comment

Decatur Active Living and Children and Youth Services staff will begin moving back into the renovated Decatur Recreation Center next week. The building is almost complete and we are very excited. Please bear with us next week as there may be some telephone and internet outages as we transition back.

Animal Crackers and regular Active Living programming will continue at Beacon Hill Center through the end of January while the gym and multi-use studio floors are completed and the final touches are added to the building.

Programming will move back to Decatur Recreation Center beginning February 4th. However, the lobby area and front desk will be open during January to serve you. Drop by to register or pay for classes, or to pick up information.

We look forward to having the publci back in the building and will be holding an open house later this Winter.

Stay tuned for updates and have a very happy and safe New Year!

Filed under City of Decatur, Decatur Active Living Tagged with Children and Youth Services, Decatur Active Living, Decatur Recreation Center

Decatur Local Clarence Scott Inducted into the 2012 Cleveland Browns Legends

October 25, 2012 by Greg White Leave a comment

Decatur native, Clarence Scott was recently inducted into the Cleveland Browns Legends in recognition of his 13-year career with the Browns. Scott, 63 played fro the Browns from 1971 to 1983, appearing in 186 games (178 straight). He recorded 39 career interceptions, the third most in club history, and helped the Browns win two division titles. Scott, part of the last class at Decatur’s all black Trinity High School in 1967, went to Kansas State before the SEC integrated. Scott became an All- American at Kansas State in 1970.

The franchise created the Cleveland Browns Legends program in 2001 to honor former players who have made a major impact on the organization. Clarence Scott was inducted into the Decatur High School Wall of Fame in 2011.

Filed under City of Decatur, Decatur Active Living Tagged with Children and Youth Services, City Schools of Decatur, Decatur Youth Fund, Safe Routes to School

Ebster’s House of Horror ….IF YOU DARE

October 25, 2012 by Greg White Leave a comment

Come visit Zombie Land, Crystal Lake, The Mortuary and the Butcher Shop the Beacon Hill Center (430 W. Trinity Place)

Saturday, Oct. 27 and Sunday, Oct. 28

7:30-10:30pm each night

Cost: $2 per person/children under 11 must be accompanied by an adult

For more information call (404) 377-0494 or lee.williams@decaturga.com

Filed under City of Decatur School System, Decatur Active Living, Youth Sports Tagged with Children and Youth Services, City of Decatur, City Schools of Decatur, Decatur Active Living, Oakhurst Community Garden, Safe Routes to School

Olympic Tribute and Celebration On the Decatur Square- Dee Dee Trotter and Angelo Taylor

September 18, 2012 by Greg White Leave a comment

Thursday, September 20

6pm on the Decatur Square

Celebrate two remarkable DeKalb Olympians- Dee Dee Trotter, bronze winner in the 400m and Angelo Taylor, silver medal winner in the 4 x 400 relay. Both attend school in DeKalb County- Dee Dee Trotter (Cedar Grove) and Angelo Taylor (Southwest DeKalb). Angelo Taylor has been to four Olympics- 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012. DeKalb County Chief Executive Officer Burrell Ellis and the DeKalb County Commissioners invite everyone to a special “Olympic Celebration”.

Filed under City of Decatur, City of Decatur School System, Decatur Active Living Tagged with Children and Youth Services, City of Decatur, Decatur Youth Fund, Oakhurst Community Garden, Safe Routes to School, Team Decatur, Walk For Lunch; Decatur Active Living

Decatur to get New Lights for Playing Fields

September 10, 2012 by Greg White Leave a comment

The softball and baseball fields at Decatur’s McKoy and Oakhurst Parks will get new lighting systems, with construction expected to start Oct.1 and take about three months. Deputy City Manager Hugh Saxon said the new lights will be 15 percent more efficient and spread far less glare to surrounding neighborhoods. The system will be installed by Daveco Electrical of Boynton Beach, Florida, which constructed lights for the Florida Marlins stadium and the Boston Red Sox spring training facility. The current McKoy and Oakhurst lights are more than 50 years old.

Filed under City of Decatur, City of Decatur School System, Decatur Active Living, Youth Sports Tagged with Children and Youth Services, City of Decatur, Decatur Active Living, Decatur Youth Fund, Oakhurst Community Garden, Safe Routes to School, Team Decatur, Woodlands Garden

BBQ Blues & Bluegrass Festival- Saturday, August 18

August 13, 2012 by Greg White Leave a comment

Decatur’s 12th Annual Decatur Barbeque, Blues & Bluegrass Festival is brought to you by three non-profit groups the Community Center of South Decatur, the Oakhurst Neighborhood Association and Decatur Active Living. All proceeds of the festival will be invested directly into the Decatu community.Featured music- Mama’s Blue Dress, Dejablue Grass Band, Heather Luttrell, Roxy Watson and the Electromatics. For more information visit www.decaturbbqfesitval.com and purchase tickets at www.ticketalternative.com

Location: Harmony Park

Time: 4-10pm

Cost: $9 in advance, $10 day of the event

Kids11-20: $5

Kids 10 and under- Free

Filed under City of Decatur, Decatur Active Living Tagged with Children and Youth Services, City of Decatur, Decatur Active Living, Decatur Youth Fund, KP Corporate Run/Walk, Oakhurst Community Garden, Safe Routes to School, Walk For Lunch; Decatur Active Living

Summer Fun at Beacon Hill Center

July 19, 2012 by saraeholmes Leave a comment

Table Tennis Camp was a “hit”!

The children in summer camp at Beacon Hill Center have been having a GREAT summer! I wish I could have been in some of these camps; they looked like a lot of fun and had great activities.

Campers in Ms. Gussack’s Recycled Art Camp made earrings and many other fun arts projects out of “stuff” we usually recycle or throw away.

These aliens were excited to make movies in Acting and Movie Making Camps.

In the Cartoons, Comic Books and Comic Strips Camp, children made 3-D comic characters.

For information on camps and other summer activities in Decatur, click here.

Filed under City of Decatur, Decatur Active Living Tagged with Beacon Hill Center, Children and Youth Services, Decatur Active Living, Decatur Summer Camps

Postal Service’s Bicycling Stamps Promote Healthy Lifestyle

July 5, 2012 by Greg White Leave a comment

One of the nation’s most popular outdoor activities gets its stamp of approval from the U.S. Postal Service with the issuance of the Bicycling Forever stamps. The four stamps feature a young child just learning to ride with training wheels, a commuter pedaling to work, a road racer intent on the finish line and an airborne BMX rider.

Decatur is a bike friendly community so Decatur bikers obtain your bicycling stamp today. Please visit your local post office or the stamps can be purchased online at usps.com/shop.

Cycling Benefits

Bicycling is an efficient and affordable means of transportation.

Cycling reduces Obesity, Heart Disease, Improves Muscle Tone and Strength

Recent surveys indicate that Americans enjoy billions of bike rides a year