Events of Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Jackson YMCA Outdoor Exercise Classes.  Join the outdoor group exercise classes at the downtown Jackson YMCA.  Free for members, $5 for most classes for non-members.  Bring a mat, water bottle and towel.  Complete schedule at jacksonymca.org

LifeWays Community Support Group.  2 PM.  Join us for our Community Support Group!  Free to the public.  Clinician hosted, Community led.  The Stay Home, Stay Safe order has many people facing challenges they’ve never experienced before. LifeWays is offering a community support group to help cope with those feelings of isolation, stress, and anxiety. Groups are hosted by master’s level clinicians.   Wednesdays at 2 pm.  Click here for Zoom link.

Jackson Art Teachers Virtual Art Show.  Jackson Art Teachers have come together during this unprecedented time to present a Virtual Art Show to celebrate the achievements of their student Pre-K through 12th grade artists!  Check out this amazing compilation of artwork created by Jackson County students at https://www.jxnartteachers.org/

Jackson YMCA Summer Camp Registration.  Summer Vibe 2020.  Get ready for a fun, safe summer day camp for ages 6-11.  Camp begins June 22,  Hours are 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM.  Cost is $135/week for members, $175/week for community.  To register or for more information, call 517-782-0537 or visit jacksonYMCA.org.  Sign up day, space is limited!

Explore The Trail System in Jackson.  Trails walking, hiking and biking are only a few of the ways you can make use of Jackson’s abundance of trails. Jackson’s trails give you a hundred great excuses to get out and experience nature in its purest form.

 Falling Waters Trail, an integral part of the statewide proposed Iron-Belle and Great Lake to Lake Trails. Placed where Michigan Central Railroad once stood, the Falling Waters Trail is a 10.6-mile linear park connecting the Village of Concord to the City of Jackson.  Next, the Falling Waters Trail continues for 3.4 miles as the Martin Luther King Equality Trail, formerly the Inter-City Trail, from Jackson’s Weatherwax Drive to Morrell Street. And finally, the Grand River Arts Walk leads walkers, joggers and cyclists from Downtown Jackson through the Arts District and onto Monroe Street.

Waterloo Recreation Area, the largest state park in the lower peninsula, contains enough trails to last a lifetime. 47 miles of hiking trails,12 miles of interpretive nature trails, and another 12 miles of equestrian trails are all nestled within 20,000 acres of protected forest.

The MacCready Reserve, south of town, includes 6.5 miles of dog-friendly trails among 400 acres of lush forest environment.

The Dahlem provides five miles of diverse trails. Walk among forests, fields, marshes and ponds, including a ⅜-mile trail for those with limited mobility, called the “The Nature For All Trail”. Trails are open year-round

Red Cross Blood Drives. To support social distancing, appointments are now required. With thousands of blood drives cancelled during the COVID-19 pandemic, we are working hard to open new donation sites. The need for blood is constant – patients need your help.The American Red Cross has an ongoing critical need for blood and platelet donations amidst coronavirus uncertainties.  You can make an appointment to give blood or platelets at redcrossblood.org

Tuesday, June 30, 2020 First Presbyterian Church, 743 West Michigan, Jackson.  10:00 AM – 03:45 PM