Gloucester Parks, Recreation and Tourism is offering a pair of upcoming Best Years Trips.
On Thursday, March 26, there will be a Best Years Trip to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, a museum that contains one of the largest public collections of Faberge and Russian decorative arts in an American museum. The fee is $30 and the registration deadline is today, Thursday, March 12.
A trip to the Norfolk Botanical Garden is set for Wednesday, April 29. The fee is $50 and the deadline to register is April 22.
THE FULL HIKE: The Full Hike, an approximately nine-mile hike from one end of Beaverdam Park to the other, will be held on the third Saturdays of March, April and May. At 8:45 a.m., a shuttle bus will take participants from the park’s main entrance to the Fary’s Mill Road entrance, and they will hike the trail back. The registration fee is $5 and the deadline is one week before each hike.
SENIOR BINGO: Bingo for ages 50 and over will be held from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, March 25 at the Stewart Building. Winnings are prizes, no cash. The fee is $10 and the deadline to register is March 24.
CULINARY CLUB: A four-week mini session of International Cuisine Culinary Club for ages 16 and older will be held at 2-4 p.m. or 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, April 1-22 at the Stewart Building. Participants will explore international cuisine, characteristic cooking practices and traditions. German, French, Italian, Turkish, Indian, Thai and Mexican, to name a few. The fee is $55 and the deadline to register is March 25.
FREE FLOW YOGA: Free Flow Yoga classes will be held on Tuesdays in April from 5:30-6:45 p.m. at Whitcomb Lodge. The fee is $40 for the whole month or $9 per drop-in session. The deadline to register is March 31.
CAMP-IN-A-BAG 2026: Gloucester PRT is sponsoring Camp in a Bag this Spring Break. This self-guided “camp” is designed for children ages 6-11 and contains five days of self-guided, nature-themed activities. Supplies can be picked up at Beaverdam Park on April 6. The fee is $15 and the deadline to register is April 5.
FISHING WORKSHOP: A Kids’ Freshwater Fishing Workshop for ages 12-15 will be held on Saturday, April 11 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Beaverdam Park. The fee is $15 and the deadline to register is April 4.
FISHING TOURNAMENT: A Kids’ Spring Fishing Tournament for ages 5-15 on Sunday, April 12 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Beaverdam Park. Prizes will be awarded based on age divisions and shore/boat divisions. The fee is $15 and the deadline to register is April 5.
KIDS’ CRAFT MARKET: A Kids’ Craft Market will be held on Saturday, April 25 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the front lawns of County Buildings 1 and 2. Youth ages 18 and under rent a booth to sell their crafts/art. The fee for each 10’x10’ space is $25 and the deadline to register is April 13.
GLOW PADDLE: A GLOW Paddle event will be held at Beaverdam Park on Saturday, April 18 from 7:30-10 p.m. Paddle around Beaverdam Lake with glow sticks, face paint, black lights and more to light up the reservoir at night. The fees are $15 with rental equipment and $10 with your own equipment. The deadline to register is April 17.
KARATE: Karate for ages 4 and older will be held on Mondays or Thursdays at T.C. Walker from April 13-June 8 or April 16-June 11. Four classes are offered for students of all levels, including a family class where adults and youth work together to learn. Fees are $35-$45 and the deadline is April 20.
PLEIN AIR PAINTING: Plein Air painting will be held on Earth Day on Wednesday, April 22, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Beaverdam Park. This traditional approach to painting embraces natural beauty and helps artists get out of the studio. You’ll bring your easel, canvas, and paints. This program is free, but registration is required. Deadline is April 21.
For more information on these and other activities, call PRT at 804-693-2355, email prt@gloucesterva.info or stop by the office at 6382 Main Street. For online registration, visit https://gloucesterva.info/civicrec.