Dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in our community, Johnson County Park and Recreation District offers year-round program, activities, and special events for all ages!

For more information or to register online for the programs listed here, visit JCPRD.com/Register and complete a search for any of the activity numbers listed below. To register by phone, call 913-831-3359.

A reminder that while JCPRD’s 50 Plus programs are primarily for people who are age 50 or older, interested parties who have not yet reached that magic age may still be able to attend. Persons 18 and older who are interested in a 50 Plus class are invited to call the 50 Plus Department at 913-826-2975 for space availability.

Here’s a sampling of programs JCPRD has coming up for the week of July 7-13:

June 28 registration deadline, for separate July 12 and 13 events - Pickleball: 50 Plus - Summer Slam Tournament (Ages 50 and Older)

• Lenexa Community Center, 13420 Oak St., Lenexa, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, $31 per person - Take a break from the summer’s heat and dive into some friendly competition at the Summer Slam Tournament at the Lenexa Community Center. Friday tournament includes gender and mixed doubles players with ratings 3.0 and under. Saturday tournament includes gender and mixed doubles players with rating 3.5. Awards will be presented to first, second, and third place in each division of gender and mixed ratings. All players must be 50 years of age by Dec. 31. For Friday event for players rated 3.0 and under, activity number 39174. For Saturday event for players rated 3.5 and under, activity number 39581. 

July 8 - Group Swim Lessons (Ages 6 Months and Older)

• Shawnee Mission School District Aquatic Center, 17251 W. 87th St., Lenexa, day and beginning times vary, 27 classes in eight levels, beginning times vary, 8 30-min. sessions, $65 per child, $72 nonresidents - Morning and evening classes available. Lesson levels include: Baby & Me, Tot & Me, Preschool A, Preschool B, Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 and Level 4. Most levels are assigned based on skill level rather than age. Find descriptions of swim levels, or use our Swim Level Assessment Form. Registration opens June 24.

July 8-11 - Art: Pencil Drawings & More (Ages 8-12)

• Mill Creek Activity Center, 6518 Vista Dr., Shawnee, 10 a.m. to noon, 4 sessions, $70 per person, $77 nonresidents - Join us for an immersive four-day adventure where young artists can unleash their imagination! Participants will learn fundamental drawing techniques, experiment with various drawing media, and create their own masterpieces. The instructor will guide them through fun activities, including inspiring outdoor sketching sessions. Let your child's creativity flourish in this supportive and vibrant camp! Activity number 39576.

July 8-12 - Amazing Adventures Camp (Ages 13 and 14)

• TimberRidge Adventure Center, 12300 S. Homestead Lane, Olathe, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., 5 sessions, $225 per person, $250 nonresidents - Survival skills, archery, BB guns, boating, climbing, fishing… it all sounds so good! No need to choose just one. At the Amazing Adventures Camp, you will do a little bit of everything! With an extra day, we’ve added extra fun, including a cookout every Friday! We are sure you will enjoy spending time this summer experiencing the many amazing camp activities TimberRidge Adventure Center has to offer. Camp drop-off and pick-up are at the Whispering Pines Shelter at TimberRidge Adventure Center, and campers will stay at TimberRidge Adventure Center during camp. There is no before and after care provided for this camp. Camp forms will be completed in ePACT and each participant will need a health and liability form signed by a parent or guardian. For more information call 913-826-2800. Activity number 34552.

July 9 - Boating: Sailing II (Ages 18 & Older)

• Shawnee Mission Park, 7900 Renner Road, Shawnee and Lenexa, July 9, 11, 13, 20 and 27, times vary, 2 - 2 hr. indoor sessions and 3 - 3 hr. outdoor sessions, $99 per person, $109 nonresidents - Experience the excitement of learning to sail a Sweet 16 sailboat. Class will cover weather observation, two-sail rigging, twin-hull nomenclature, safety, trailering and trailer maintenance. Class will be divided into two indoor lecture sessions and three water sessions. The indoor sessions will be held on July 9 and 11 at the Shawnee Mission Park Admin Building, Sunflower Room. The outdoor sessions will begin on Saturday, July 13 at Shawnee Mission Park Marina. Participants must have successfully completed either an American Red Cross or JCPRD Sailing I class prior to enrollment. If you have your own boat and wish to use it, please call Officer Seth Salmans at 913-826-3491. Basic swimming skills are required. Activity number 38870.

July 9 - Gardening: Creative Houseplants (Ages 18 and Older) 

• Virtual Program, 2 to 3 p.m., FREE - What is this plant? How do I grow or do this? What should I put in my garden? So many questions and no one to ask until now. Join the K-State Extension Office on a variety of gardening topics and be free to discuss your gardening questions with a Master Gardener. This session will be about Creative Houseplants: Planting for Usefulness. Activity number 38997.

July 9, 11 (2 separate programs) - Open Water Swim Training (Ages 18 and Older)

• Shawnee Mission Park Beach, 7900 Renner Road, Shawnee & Lenexa, 5:30 to 6:15 p.m., $10 per person, $12 nonresidents - Looking to train for an upcoming triathlon or to change up your swim workout? JCPRD offers open water swim training on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Shawnee Mission Park Beach. All swimmers should be able to swim 500 meters freestyle and have endurance to swim in open water conditions and must bring and wear their tow buoy float at all times while in the water. Lifeguard will be on duty. All participants must be pre-registered by 10 a.m. on the day of the training. A minimum number of participants must be registered or the practice will be canceled. If a participant is registered for a canceled practice date, a full refund will be given. July 9 session activity number 35166 and July 11 session activity number 35167. 

July 9-11 - Multi-Sport Skill Building Clinics (Grades K-3 or 4-8)

• Okun Fieldhouse at Mid-America West Sports Complex, 20200 Johnson Dr., Shawnee, Tuesday through Thursday, times vary, 3 sessions, $63 per person, $70 nonresidents - Don't know which sport to sign up for this summer? Why not try them all? This clinic allows your child test out three different sports, basketball, soccer, and flag football, to see what they like best. Participants will play a two-hour session of a different sport each day. The first half of each day will put your kids through various skill building drills and ending with a scrimmage. Session for grades K-3, 10 a.m. to noon, activity number 38924; and session for grades 4-8, noon to 2 p.m., activity number 38926. 

July 10 - Alzheimer's: Effective Communication Strategies (Ages 50 and Older)

• Virtual Program, 2 to 3 p.m., FREE - Explore how communication takes place when someone has Alzheimer’s, learn to decode the verbal and behavioral messages and identify strategies to connect and communicate. Participants will learn how to recognize common signs of Alzheimer's and dementia; how to approach someone about memory concerns; importance of early detection and benefits of diagnosis. Presentations by the Alzheimer's Association. Activity number 39008.

July 10 - Museum: Retro Storytime - "The Telephone Book" (All Ages) 

• Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center, 8788 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, 10 to 10:45 a.m., $2 per person, free for museum members - Preschoolers love stories from long ago, read by a special guest from the 1950s All-Electric House! In this session, participants will learn about the household tools and technology people used a long time ago? Published in 1974, "The Telephone Book” shows children what common items like a telephone and camera looked like in the past. Participants can number and color a phone of their own, and then try dialing a rotary phone as they play in the All-Electric House after the program ends! Activity number 35145. 

July 10 - Early Learning: Cooks and Books (Ages 2-5 with an Adult)

• Meadowbrook Park Clubhouse, 9101 Nall Ave, Prairie Village, 10:30 to 11:15 a.m., $4 per person, $5 nonresidents - Enjoy the reading of a favorite children’s book then make a tasty treat! Program includes snack. Activity number 39218.

July 11 - Cards: Bridge Workshops - Rule of 8 (Ages 50 and Older) 

• Matt Ross Community Center, 8101 Marty St., Overland Park, 9 to 11 a.m., $13 per person, $14 nonresidents - Become an in-demand partner. Fun and easy classes help you master a new subject each week. Purchase each workshop individually or take them all! Handouts included. In this session, learn how the Rule of Eight is used in the defense of no trump hands. The opponents have bid no trump... do you bid against them? Or do you defend? Activity number 39021.

July 12 - Family Fun: Ice Cream Bingo (All Ages)

• Roeland Park Community Center, 4850 Rosewood Dr., 5 to 7 p.m., $12 per person, $13 nonresidents, and 20% discount for 3 or more participants - NEW! Get ready for a sweet and entertaining adventure with Ice Cream Bingo! This classic game of bingo is perfect for all ages, making it an ideal choice for family fun! So, grab a seat, a bingo card, and let the family-friendly competition begin! Includes a hotdog and chip dinner with ice cream and all the top ‘ins. Cost of admission covers snacks and staff time to administer the bingo program. No additional charge for bingo. Activity number 39012. 

July 12 - Preschool: Wilderness Wonders Party (Ages 2-5 with an Adult)

• Meadowbrook Park Clubhouse, 9101 Nall Ave., Prairie Village, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., $8 per person, $9 nonresidents - NEW! Embark on a thrilling expedition. Join us for excitement and discovery as we journey into the heart of the wild. Little explorers will be immersed in the spirit of adventure with jungle crafts and a roaring good time. A themed snack and craft will be provided. Activity number 39096.

July 12 - Friday Amphitheater Program - Owls, Eyes of the Night (All Ages) 

• Ernie Miller Nature Center, 909 N. Kansas 7 Highway, Olathe, 7 to 7:45 p.m., $4 per person - 3rd of four - The squeak of a mouse delights the owl on the hunt. See live owls and discover their adaptations that make them excellent hunters. Bring the family to the outdoor amphitheater at Ernie Miller Park on two Friday evenings each month for June and July this summer for entertaining and educational experiences. Each program is approximately 45 minutes to one hour in length and begins at 7 p.m. In case of inclement weather, including extreme heat, program will be held indoors. Advanced online registration closes at 4 p.m. before each program. Onsite registration is cash only if space is available. Children ages two and under are free. Activity number 38889. For more information, call 913-826-2800.

July 12-14 and 17-20 - “Hello Dolly!” at Theatre in the Park (Rated PG)

• 7710 Renner Road, Shawnee, 8:30 p.m., Tickets are $10 (plus tax) for general admission, $7 (plus tax) for youth (Ages 4-10), Children 3 & under are FREE (but require a ticket.) - This musical adaptation of Thornton Wilder's hit play “The Matchmaker” bursts with humor, romance, energetic dance, and some of the greatest songs in musical theatre history. The romantic and comic exploits of Dolly Gallagher-Levi, turn-of-the-century matchmaker and "woman who arranges things," are certain to thrill and entertain audiences again and again. “Hello, Dolly!” runs approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes with one 15-minute intermission. The box office opens at 7 p.m., gates open at 7:30 p.m., show begins at 8:30 p.m. Buy tickets onsite or online. Visit theatreinthepark.org for more details and the complete 2024 season. 

July 13 - Lanesfield Historic Site - Open Hours (All Ages)

• 18745 S. Dillie Road, Edgerton, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the second Saturday of each month, FREE - The limestone schoolhouse, the last remaining structure in the former town of Lanesfield, is the oldest operating schoolhouse in Johnson County. Students attended from 1869 - 1963 when the school closed. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. The site today includes the original schoolhouse, four outbuildings, and a modern visitors center that houses the exhibit One-Room Schools in Kansas, a museum store, and restrooms. For questions, call 913-715-2570.

July 13 (2 separate programs) - Beginner Kayak Lesson (Ages 10 and Older with an Adult)

• Shawnee Mission Park Lake, 7900 Renner Road, Shawnee and Lenexa, 9 to 10:30 a.m. or 11 to 12:30 p.m., $27 per person, $30 nonresidents - Learn the basics of flatwater kayaking in this introductory class featuring a combination of lecture and hands-on experience. The class is designed for beginners. Course topics include safety, equipment and stroke techniques. For participants under 18 years old, both parent/guardian and child must each register and will participate in individual kayaks and wear life jackets. Basic swimming skills and advance registration required. For more information call 913-826-2800. For 9 a.m. session, activity number is 38874; 11 a.m. session is 38875.

July 13-21 - Arts & Culture: Walk & Read at Ernie Miller Park (All Ages)

• Ernie Miller Nature Center, 909 N. Kansas 7 Highway, Olathe, open dawn to dusk, FREE - NEW! Family and friends of all ages are invited to join Johnson County Library for a walk in a park! Walk and Read creates a reading opportunity for all in various parks throughout Johnson County. Those who participate will read the book “Kitty” by Rebecca Jordan-Glum posted around a path. The path is paved, allowing for all to join in the fun! Dates are subject to adjustment due to inclement weather conditions. Look for updated information at jocolibrary.org. Activity number 38954.