The Homeschool Resource

Homeschool PE Class, led by EMU professor of Physical Education and Recreation Lester Zook (also a homeschool dad) at  EMU.  Two days a week for an hour for only $5 a semester.  Focus is on health fitness and movement skills for ages 6-10 and 11-15. Contact zooklr@emu.edu or (540) 432-4439.

WILD GUYde Adventures, led by EMU professor of Physical Education and Recreation Lester Zook, provides guided beginner level outdoor adventures and competent instruction in activity fundamentals.  They use various areas in the George Washington and Monongahela National Forests, and along Virginia’s Blue Ridge.  Also specifically designed for homschoolers and their parents are Adventure Classrooms in the Spring.  Interested families can e-mail zooklr@emu.edu.

Kinetic Kids is a gym/ studio for kids aged 6 months to 12 years.  Class choices include tumbling, music, dance, karate and open gym times.  There are also classes for parents and “parent recharge nights”.   Located just east of Harrisonburg.

The Harrisonburg Parks and Rec offers just about every kind of sport you can think of for kids to adults – whether classes or teams.  A great, economical option if you live in Harrisonburg.  Some of the options you will find on their website include:

• Swimming at Westover Pool  Lessons available as well as a summer swim league.
• Basketball: Clinic -Grades 1-2. Register in October, Midget – Grades 3-5, Junior – Grades 6-8 (contact Tommy Thomas at 433-9168) and Boys Senior – Grades 9-12 (contact Erik Dart for more information at 433-2474 or erikd@ci.harrisonburg.va.us).
• Football: Youth Flag Football 6-7, Pee Wee League, ages 8-10, Midget League 11-13,  Registration through first week of September.
• Cheerleaders: same as football
• Tennis classes, in partnership with Virginia Professional Tennis, LLC, begin at age 4.  After-school clinics for ages 6-10 and 11-15.
• Fall Archery ages 9-18. 5 Saturdays beginning September 25th at HHS.
• Fall Laser Tag League ages 7-18. 6 Thursdays beginning September 25.  Sept. 18th is a free trial day.
• Various clinics, camps and classes offered occasionally include options such as raquetball, skateboarding, youth disc golf, volleyball, fencing, mountain biking and basketball camps, wrestling, laser tag, gymnastics, archery, bowling and baseball!

Rockingham County Recreation Department also offers a large variety of activities and programs for all ages. Some specific athletic offerings include:

• Youth Baseball – ages 5-18 Locations: Keezletown, Mt. Crawford, Clover Hill, Elkton, Broadway, Bridgewater, Grottoes, West Rockingham. Register in February.
• Girl’s Softball: Ages 8-18  Locations: Bridgewater, Broadway, Elkton, and Grottoes.
• Midget Football: Ages 8-13, 425 participants, [B-league: 10 teams, A league: 6 teams) 1. Locations: Broadway, Fulks Run, Timberville, Linville, Dayton, Bridgewater, McGaheysville, and Elkton. Register end of July.
• Cheerleading: Ages 8-13, 250 participants Locations: Same as football. Reg. August.
• Youth Basketball: Ages 7-14, 1200 participants. Locations: Montevideo Middle School, Elkton Middle School, Wilbur S. Pence Middle School, J. Frank Hillyard Middle School, Spotswood High School, Broadway High School, Fulks Run Elementary School, Plains Elementary School, Pleasant Valley Elementary School, John Wayland Elementary School, John C. Myers Elementary School. Boys Register in December. Girls Register in October.
• Youth Soccer: Ages 7-14 Spring and fall program with 850 participants. Locations: Oakdale Park in Bridgewater, Wilbur S. Pence Middle School, Montevideo Middle School, John C. Myers Elementary School, J. Frank Hillyard Middle School, Monger Field in Mt Crawford. (This league is less formal and competitive than Shenandoah Valley United)  Fall registration in August/ Spring is in February
• Futsal (Indoor Soccer) for boys(register in October) and girls (register in December).  Grades 1st – 12th grade.
• Youth Volleyball. Grades 2nd – 8th. Register in January.
• Youth Wrestling: Grades 1st-7th, 150 participants.  Locations: Spotswood High School, Turner Ashby High School, Broadway High School, and J. Frank Hillyard Middle School.  Register in February
• Learn to Ski Program: Discount Ski Passes: Learn to Ski program for ages 7 & up, 200 participants (Friday or Sunday evenings, January – February). Locations: Massanutten Ski Resort.  Register end of November
• Aerobics /Physical Fitness: All ages. Locations: South River Elementary School, Mountain View Elementary School.
• Hershey Track Meet: Ages 9-14 Register in May

Elkton Community Center is for those who live in the eastern part of Rockingham County has a gym, but is particularly interesting for its gymastics program.  Taught by JMU gymnasts with sign-ups on a monthly basis and a very reasonable price, students can start and quit at anytime.  Students come from as far away as Broadway to this top-notch program.

Shenandoah Valley United provides the most top-notch soccer program for Harrisonburg and Rockingham County with a regular recreational league, travel league, academy and skills classes.

First Tee of Harrisonburg uses a combination of golf skills and life skills
to help strengthen character and leadership values in our youth between
the ages of 5 and 17 . Contact David Jones at 540-820-6462.

Valley Area Swim Team (VAST)  is a USS year round competitive swim team offering high quality professional coaching and technique instruction for all ages and abilities.  Check out your nearest, local swimming pool (eg. Westover, Massanutten, Broadway, East Rockingham, Spotswood Country Club, Bridgwater) for non-VAST summer swim team options beginning in late May.