Parks and Recreation and Youth and Family Resources gave updates on programming for all ages, including classes, leagues, trips and a new county youth initiative.

Parks and Recreation staff reported recent facility and program developments: a completed parking-area upgrade at the parks, active LIFT (lifelong integrated fitness together) strength classes and chair yoga taught by Stacy Hines, pickleball instruction (Mondays 10:30–11:30 a.m., $5 per class or a $35 10-class punch card), and a reintroduced adult softball league (10-week season with six teams and an August tournament). Staff also described summer-camp partnerships with Surry County Public Schools and a well-used 18-hole beginner-friendly disc-golf course listed on the uDisc app (free to play; course length just over a mile; playtime about 1 hour 20 minutes).

Parks staff said evening exercise classes (T21 fitness and cut-up-and-dance) are ongoing and that winter basketball registration runs through Nov. 21. The department confirmed a full bus for an upcoming free trip to the Virginia State Fair and noted volunteer chaperones will accompany the students.

Youth and Family Resources presented “Surry Youth Life,” a county youth initiative launched March 2025 that provides trips and enrichment for age groups from pre-K through older youth. Recent activities included a children’s museum outing, bowling and arcades, a “stay-cation” tour of Surry County historical sites (Smith’s Fort Plantation, Bacon’s Castle, Hampton Rose Winery), and the Keystone Trucks and Tractor Museum trip. The department announced upcoming youth events for winter 2026 including a “Charlie Brown” pre-K–4 event and a mother-son winter event with a queen-and-prince contest and essay component for the prince contest.

Board members praised staff for programming maintained with small teams and encouraged continued outreach. Staff requested RSVPs for posted events and provided a phone number for youth-program registration.