Parks & Rec Announces Inaugural Class Offerings

The City of Maricopa Parks, Recreation and Library (PRL) Department announced the 18 programs and classes it is offering to Maricopa residents this fall. Registration for programs, which range from introductory Spanish to flag football, begins July 26 at City Hall.

All activities begin the week of September 13 and conclude the week of November 8. Registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. The PRL Department strongly encourages all residents to register sooner rather than later as programs can be cancelled due to lack of enrollment.

Class: Maricopa C.P.R.
Day: Multiple Saturday’s Throughout the Fall
Instructor: Richard Jackson, Paramedic and local Firefighter
Location: Maricopa Fire District
Time: 10:00 am to 11:00 am
Cost: $25
Overview: Become CPR certified with local paramedic and firefighter Richard Jackson. This one-day class will teach you about both Adult and Pediatric Infant and Child Chain of Survival and how to appropriately use CPR.

Class: Scrapbooking
Day: Wednesday
Instructor: Kim Bass
Location: Maricopa Elementary School, Room # TBD
Time: 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Cost: $60
Overview: Do you have a box of old photographs that you don’t know what do with? Turn those pictures into a scrapbook! Creative Memories Consultant Kim Bass will introduce you to an exciting world of scrapbooking adventures and ideas.

Class: Beginning Kenpo Karate
Day: Thursday
Instructor: Shannon Miller
Location: Maricopa Elementary School Cafeteria
Time: Session 1 (4-6 year olds) 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm Session 2 (7-12 year olds) 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Cost: $60 (Note: Additional testing fees apply)
Overview: This is an exciting introductory class that will increase discipline, focus, concentration, self-esteem and social skills while learning the art of American Kenpo Karate. Two sessions are available for different age groups.

Class: Women’s Self Defense
Day: Saturday
Instructor: Shannon Miller
Location: Maricopa Elementary School Cafe
Time: 9:00 am to 10:00 am
Cost: $30
Overview: This class is for women to train and share self-defense concepts and concerns. No special uniform or equipment is required. All participants will learn concepts such as how to position yourself when approached by a stranger as well as physical and non-physical defense tactics.

Sport: NFL Youth Flag Football
Day: Saturday Mornings at Maricopa High School
Instructor: Various
Location: Open Field north of the softball diamonds.
Time: 8:00 am to 1:00 pm (Depending on number of teams and games)
Cost: $35
Overview: NFL Flag provides a new and exciting recreational opportunity offering non-contact continuous action, using minimal equipment while emphasizing basic football skills such as passing, catching, defending, and running. Each participant will receive an NFL team identified jersey with their paid registration as well as preseason camp with a Cardinals player and the potential to receive a free ticket to the August 28 preseason game between the Arizona Cardinals and Oakland Raiders. For more information please visit: www.nflyouthfootball.com

Class: Pepsi Punt, Pass and Kick Contest
Day: Saturday, September 18, 2004
Instructor: Various
Location: Maricopa High School Football Field
Time: 8:00 am to 1:00 pm
Cost: FREE!! FREE!!
Overview: The NFL Pepsi PUNT, PASS & KICK is a FREE program will create a lively and engaging forum for boys and girls ages 8-15 to compete separately against their peers in punting, passing, and placekicking skills. The four age divisions are: 8/9, 10/11, 12/13, and 14/15 with boys and girls competing separately (age is determined as of December 31 of the current year). Depending on performance, finalists could ultimately advance to the final round of competition that would be held during halftime of the AFC Title Game next January. For more information please visit: www.nflyouthfootball.com

Class: Water Coloring
Day: Tuesday
Instructor: Bonnie Kellogg
Location: Maricopa Elementary School Art Room
Time: 6:15pm to 7:15pm
Cost: $40
Overview: All children are creative and this class will provide them training, sufficient leisure and an atmosphere conducive to artistic effort. All children will develop an appreciation of basic drawing skills and transforming their drawings into water color paintings.

Youth Dance Programs

We’re excited to introduce Elizabeth Fujimoto as our first Dance Instructor. Ms. Fujimoto comes to us from the Kimberly Lewis School of Dance in Ahwatukee. Ms. Fujimoto began her dance career in 1994 and has literally taught over 1,200 kids since then. She received her B.S. degree from the University of Utah after receiving a full scholarship to the No. 1 ranked ballet school in America.

The goal of establishing a community dance program is to bring an affordable means of learning and enjoying dance to students of all ages. A community dance program in Maricopa will also allow students to attend classes locally without traveling to Ahwatukee, Chandler, Mesa, Phoenix or Tempe to gain experience with dance. Students in this program will also gain a better knowledge of the arts and exercise through dance and have an exciting opportunity to perform for others.

The dance program will offer a variety of dance curriculum including tap, jazz, ballet, swing, ballroom and conditioning classes. Classes will range from five to thirty students and will be offered in eight week sessions throughout the year. Students will be required to have the proper dance attire to attend class.

Class: Tiny Tot Combo (Ages 3 to 5)
Day: Monday
Instructor: Elizabeth Fujimoto
Location: Maricopa Elementary School Cafeteria
Time: 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm
Cost: $45
Overview: This class explores tap and pre-ballet with creative and imaginative movement.

Class: Mini Princess Ballet (Ages 5 to 7)
Day: Monday
Instructor: Elizabeth Fujimoto
Location: Maricopa Elementary School Cafeteria
Time: 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Cost: $45
Overview: Students will learn basic technique and steps with classical and Disney princess music.

Class: Swingin Jazz (Ages 8 to 10)
Day: Monday
Instructor: Elizabeth Fujimoto
Location: Maricopa Elementary School Cafeteria
Time: 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Cost: $45
Overview: Students will learn basic jazz steps, core strength training, stretching and choreography.

Class: Tappin Around (Ages 9 to 12)
Day: Friday
Instructor: Elizabeth Fujimoto
Location: Maricopa Elementary School Cafeteria
Time: 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm
Cost: $45
Overview: Students learn basic steps, tap turns, combinations and have the opportunity to work as a group creating their own choreography.

Class: Creative Ballet II (Ages 10 to 12)
Day: Monday
Instructor: Elizabeth Fujimoto
Location: Maricopa Elementary School Cafeteria
Time: 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Cost: $45
Overview: Dancers in this class learn basic technique, musicality, and choreography. They will also have a chance to create their own ballet combinations.

Class: Spanish I (Ages 18 and older)
Day: Thursday
Instructor: Vanessa Bureas
Location: City Hall
Time: 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Cost: $30
Overview: Spanish I is a course designed for students wanting to learn basic Spanish. This course is for you if you’ve never taken a Spanish course before, or if you’ve taken Spanish in high school and need a refreshment course. The instructor is Vanessa Bueras, who earned her Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, at Arizona State University

Class: Creative Writing
Day: Thursday
Instructor: Susanna Glowacki
Location: Courthouse
Time: 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Cost: $30
Overview: This class will focus on teaching you fundamental principles such as plot, structure, character, voice, dialogue and description. The class is designed to encourage writers in their chosen genre, which would include: poetry, essays, short stories, plays, etc… This class will be conducted in a workshop format with all participants reading their works for critique and discussion following the Socratic Method.

Class: Journalism for Juniors
Day: Monday
Instructor: Betsy Rice Miller
Location: Maricopa Elementary School
Time: 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm
Cost: $35
Overview: Have you ever wanted to build your own newspaper? Become a sports editor? Now you can with a brand new and exciting program called Journalism for Juniors. Led by Betsy Rice Miller, the Editor for the Maricopa Monitor, children in grades 6-12 can see what goes on behind the scenes of organizing, producing and printing a newspaper. The program is designed to help students become better reporters, writers, editors, photographers, designers, desktop publishers, and advertising and business staffers. At the end of the course, students may have the opportunity to publish their own newspaper. Students may also have the opportunity to tour a working newspaper press.

Class: 1st Time Home Buyer Workshop
Day: Multiple Saturday’s (9/25, 10/9 and 10/23)
Instructor: Mark Spinks
Location: City Hall
Time: 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Cost: $10
Overview: Can’t seem to save enough money for your down payment? Worried about your credit score? Don’t what questions to ask? STOP! This class will teach you everything you need to know so you too can finally be a homeowner. This class will be taught by professional real estate agent Mark Spinks with Keller Williams Realty.

Class: 1st Time Real Estate Investor Workshop
Day: Multiple Saturday’s (9/25, 10/9 and 10/23)
Instructor: Mark Spinks
Location: City Hall
Time: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Cost: $10
Overview: Now’s the time to take advantage of the growth explosion in Maricopa! Take advantage of today’s market and learn to invest your money into Real Estate. Don’t take the chance of losing your hard earned money! This class walks you through the step-by-step process of investing in homes as well as the pro’s and con’s of renting. This class will be taught by professional real estate agent Mark Spinks with Keller Williams Realty.

Visit the City of Maricopa’s PRL web site to download The Activator!, also offering a complete course listing. Please call 568-9098 ext. 204 for more information.