What’s Cookin’ at the Kroc this summer?
Soccer Camp, Safety Town, RJ’s Spray Park Open Hours & Summer Food Service Program are all on the menu!
ASHLAND, Ohio – Whether you are looking for a place that offers spiritual enrichment and encouragement, a clean, family-friendly place to get physically fit, where your kids can grow their soccer, safety and swimming skills; or you just need a local spot to cool off, The Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Center of Ashland has all of that and MORE!
“In keeping with the mission of The Salvation Army, and the wishes of benefactor Joan Kroc for the Kroc Center facilities to focus on recreation, education and the arts, The Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center in Ashland provides opportunities that bridge the gap between potential and opportunity for children and adults,” explains says Dan Lawson, PhD, Director of Community Relations and Development. “Our programs and services are focused on a holistic approach to caring for individuals, strengthening families, and enriching the lives of seniors.”
To deliver on that commitment, The Ashland Kroc Center programming and recreation teams collaborate with local instructors and coaches to provide a variety of classes and events. A small sampling of some of the new and upcoming classes is outlined below. All activities are open to both members and nonmembers alike; however, individuals and families with a Kroc Center membership do receive a discount, and all the drop-in fitness classes are included with the membership fees.
For adults and youth:
- Open Batting Cages: Tuesdays and Thursdays through June 6, from 5 to 7 p.m.:
- Youth must be at least 5 years old to utilize the batting cages for coach-pitching, at least 7 years old to hit from pitching machine, and adult supervision is required. Members are welcome to join us for free, and non-members are just $5 per person!
- For separate rentals for your entire baseball team, please give us a ring at (419) 281-8001.
- Drop-in Fitness Classes: Our summer sessions include Aqua Aerobics, Praise Craze, X-Treme Hip Hop Step Aerobics, Zumba, multiple variations of Spinning and Yoga, and more! All drop-in classes are FREE to members of the Kroc Center and are just $7 per person for non-members.
For those with kiddos:
- Swim Lessons start May 7 – now includes evening times!
- RJ’s Spray Park opens on June 1 and will be free to the public Monday – Saturday, from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Now enrolling for Summer Day Camp: June 10 - August 9, for kids age 6-15 years
- Weekdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Includes STEAM activities, field trips, time in the waterpark and splash pad
- No registration fee if enrolled by May 15
- Summer Food Service Program begins on June 10 and runs through August 9
- Monday – Friday; free to all children 0-17 years, 12 –12:45 p.m.
- Wednesdays to include special events/activities
- Sponsored by the Greater Cleveland Foodbank
- New program through partnership with Ashland Public Library: Music & Movement for Littles: Tuesdays. June 18 – July 23, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Cost: Free | Ages: 0-5 (with a parent/guardian) Instructor: Charlene Tolbert from the Ashland Library
- This class offers an inclusive, sensory-rich environment that enhances bonding and boosts early brain development, all while helping to fuel your child’s sense of independence, curiosity, and creativity, through sound exploration and movement. Join us at the Salvation Army Kroc Center with your babies and/or toddlers for a time of fun in our Music and Movement program.
- Youth Soccer Skills Camp with Michele Lahmers and the Mapleton High School Girls Varsity Soccer Team: Monday, June 10 – Thursday, June 13:
- Session I (Ages 5-8): Monday – Thursday, 8:30-10:30 p.m.
- Session II (Ages 9-12): Monday – Thursday, 10:30-12:30 p.m.
- Cost: $65 per child (includes Soccer Camp T-Shirt!)
- This fun and fast-paced camp will focus on foot skills, agility, control, team play, speed, and more. Whether you are a seasoned player or just starting out, these drills will fine-tune your footwork for greater on-field success! Registration is limited.
- Safety Town - July 22-24:
- Children entering Kindergarten in Fall 2024
- Two time slots available: 3:30-5 p.m. and 5:30-7 p.m.
- Each participant will receive a bike helmet, certificate of completion, as well as learn valuable community safety basics over a 3-day period, including: fire safety, bus safety, bike safety, and more. | Cost: $30 per child | Ages: Children entering Kindergarten in Fall 2024
- Vacation Bible School - July 15-18, 5 to 7 p.m.:
- For Kindergarten – 6th grade
- Theme: Scuba - Diving into friendship with God
- Bible lessons, science experiments, games, snacks, and exclusive waterpark party on July 21!
- Registration link: https://forms.office.com/r/UfcNnNVtvs
Opportunities to get involved:
- Now hiring: Learning Zone/Day Camp Teacher and Facilities Associate – see Indeed.com for more details (search for Ashland Kroc Center)
- Volunteers for the food pantry needed: Help is needed with stocking shelves, packing groceries, putting away food as it is delivered, and sharing the love of Christ with all who are in need.
- Skills needed are being able to do lightweight lifting, stand on your feet for certain long periods, and be a team player.
- Our food pantry is open Mondays from 11am – 2pm and Tuesdays – Fridays from 10am-2pm. Our biggest needs are on Monday and Wednesday mornings and every third Thursday of each month.
- Questions? Please contact Melissa Lawson, Volunteer Coordinator, at (419) 281-8001.
To see the full offering of classes and activities at the Ashland Kroc Center now through August, please go to the Program section of the Ashland Kroc Center’s website and download a digital version, or stop by one of the Welcome Desks during regular business hours and pick up a hardcopy.
Online registration and membership information is available at: https://krocsales.usaeast.org/#/ashland.
If you have any questions or would like to register for a class over the phone, please feel free to call the Ashland Kroc Center at (419) 281-8001.
To stay up-to-date on the latest classes and events, please follow Ashland Kroc Center on Facebook or @AshlandKroc on Instagram.