Sandpoint sets winter activities
SANDPOINT — Looking for something fun to do this winter?
Sandpoint Parks, Recreation, and Open Spaces is offering a lengthy list of winter programs and activities, featuring both new offerings and returning community favorites.
The department will kick off the season with its signature event, the 17th annual Turkey Trot, organized in partnership with Litehouse YMCA. Held Thanksgiving morning, Nov. 28, at 9 a.m., this family-friendly event at Travers Park aims to collect 1,000 pounds of nonperishable food for the Bonner Community Food Bank. Participants can walk, trot or run any distance, with a prize for the best costume.
Upcoming events include a new non-student day camp program designed for children in kindergarten through fifth grade. The program, hosted at Sandpoint Community Hall, provides organized games, arts and crafts, and physical activities from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The cost is $40 per child per day, with scholarships available.
The popular Kids Night Out program returns with monthly events Nov. 15, Dec. 20, Jan. 17 and Feb. 21. Children in kindergarten through sixth grade can enjoy board games, crafts, movies and pizza while parents take the evening off. Each session costs $35, with registration for the November event closing Nov. 8.
Community dance enthusiasts can participate in monthly contra dances featuring live music at the Sandpoint Community Hall, 204 S. First Ave. The dances, scheduled for Nov. 8 and Dec. 13 from 7-10 p.m., welcome participants of all skill levels with beginner instruction at the start of each event. A $5 donation is suggested.
For those seeking first aid and CPR certification, Parks & Recreation offers CPR/AED training with an optional first aid class. Sessions are planned for Nov. 18 and Dec. 16. The American Heart Association-aligned courses run from 4-6 p.m. for CPR/AED and 6-8 p.m. for first aid at the City Hall council chambers.
Sports programming includes adult coed volleyball leagues running from January through March 2025 at the Bonner County Fairgrounds. Teams can register for $350, with a $20 nonrefundable deposit required. The youth basketball season begins Feb. 1, offering programs for grades 3-6, while the Little Dribblers program introduces first and second graders to basketball fundamentals through Wednesday sessions at Kootenai Elementary.
The department continues to support community access through its youth scholarship program, offering $250 per child annually for city-sponsored activities. Additionally, volunteer coaches for youth programs receive waived registration fees, with no prior basketball experience required.
Information: sandpointidaho.gov/parksrecreation