Specialized Recreation 

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Brittany Hargrave
Therapeutic Recreation Director
(336) 222-5028| Email

The Burlington Recreation & Parks Department offers several programs for persons with developmental disabilities. Our goal is to try to incorporate and mainstream individuals in our programs in order to prepare them socially for their future in the workforce and other leisure activities. All of our facilities and existing programs are open to all of those with special needs.

Special Populations Dance
Tuesdays 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Ages 16 and older
Admission: Free
Thataways Youth Center Dances are designed to offer a dance night for persons with developmental disabilities in Alamance County. Come out and enjoy music from the 70s, 80s, and 90s, including all-time dance favorites, from the Cha-Cha Slide to the Mississippi Mudslide. This is a great time to meet new people, as well as to get an awesome workout! Please call (336) 222-5134 for more information.

BINGO Night for Special Populations
Wednesdays 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
All Ages
Admission: Free Thataways Youth Center
We will be offering Bingo to any age person with developmental disabilities. We’ll also have billiards, foosball and video arcade games, as well as four televisions for watching pleasure. Concessions are also available, so come out for a fun time and get to know others. Please call (336) 222-5134 for more information.

Fun Fridays  
Fun Fridays are held monthly from September through May for those with special needs. One Friday a month, we take a trip to various attractions across the Piedmont and surrounding areas such as the Duke Lemur Center, Richard Childress Racing, Aloha Safari Zoo, Lazy Five Ranch and Old Salem. Come join us for a fun day out! For more information, please call (336) 222-5028. To register, please click the links below. *Participants must have a parent/guardian attend*

Converge
Definition: "Several people coming together from different directions to eventually meet." One Friday a month we host a day program at various locations across the Burlington area to volunteer in the community or meet for a fun, engaging activity. Locations and costs vary. For more information, please call (336) 222-5028. To register, please click the links below. *Participants must have a parent/guardian attend* 

Dinner Club
Dinner Club is held monthly from September through May, on Wednesday nights, for those with special needs and their parents/guardians or caregivers. Once a month, we travel to different restaurants in the Burlington area to socialize with other participants and families. *Participants must have a parent/guardian attend* 

INCREDI-BOWLS Bowling League
Bowling League for Special Needs is a 8-week bowling league for persons with developmental disabilities ages 5 and up. League play takes place on Tuesdays from 4-5:30pm during the months of February through March. The League will take place at Buffaloe Bowl in Mebane. The cost is $60 per bowler which includes 2 games and shoe rentals each Tuesday. Also included is a league t-shirt, pizza party and trophy. Come join us for 8-weeks of fun and learn a new skill! 

2023 League registration has ended. We hope to see you for the 2024 season! 

Special Olympics - Spring Games
Alamance / Burlington Special Olympics Spring Games will take place on the campus of Elon University at Rhodes Stadium. Elon is the original site of the first Special Olympics in Alamance County. Join in the festivities this year with over 250 athletes from Alamance County. For more information or to volunteer call (336) 570-6760.

Camp Green Leaves
Camp Green Leaves is a summer day camp coordinated by the City of Burlington Recreation & Parks Department for children and adults with developmental disabilities. The camp schedule includes activity rotations in the outdoors, including swimming, arts and crafts, music, sports and games, and supervised free time. The camp also features daily active field trips on buses/vans to local parks and recreation facilities, as well as trips around the Piedmont area.

Participants are grouped by age. All participants must be independent with mobility, feeding, toileting and all self-care needs. Participants should participate in group activities and must be able to stay with the group. Participants who are not self-sufficient will be required to have a one-on-one personal assistant, which the parent/guardian must provide. Participants must have manageable behaviors and healthcare needs. They must be exempt from any extreme healthcare conditions or needs. Camp Green Leaves is not able to accommodate participants needing assistance with ambulation due to uneven and rugged terrain. The staff to participant ratio is 1:2. For more information, please call (336) 222-5028 or email bhargrave@burlingtonnc.gov.