Below are the event descriptions for upcoming Coffee & Chat programs and Outings/events listed towards the bottom.
Monday, July 3rd, 1-3:30 pm, Game Day: Join us to play Phase 10, a rummy-like card game, or Scrabble, a board game where words are spelled out on tiles that interlock like in a crossword puzzle. Space and tables available to play both games at once. Bring your suggestions for future Games Days.
Thursday July 6th 9-11:30 am, Bingo. A social game of chance, bingo, is growing in popularity and is enjoyed by people of all ages. Besides being great recreation, playing bingo can help older adults maintain hand-eye coordination, concentration, and short-term memory skills.
Monday, July 10th, 1-3:30 pm, “Don’t Leave Your Family at Risk” by Scott Shoemaker, an experienced estate planning attorney. He will address why you need an estate plan (a will, trust or other documents), even if you aren’t rich. And how it may be even more important for families of modest means. He will also inform you about POLST medical orders that can give individuals more control over their own care during a serious illness.
Thursday, July 13th, 9-11:30 am: Vision Enhancement and Your AARP Care Team. At 9am Vision Enhancements will provide a hands-on demonstration of tools to improve low-vision. Then stay to meet your Cedar Rapids AARP Care Team volunteers and learn about upcoming AARP Iowa events.
Monday, July 17th, 1-3:30 pm: Line Dancing with Kathie Mosley. Line dancing is a great way for older adults to engage in healthy physical activity. It is a perfect exercise for improving coordination and balance, increasing cardiovascular health and brain memory. This dance fitness experience can be enjoyed by people of all movement abilities. Newcomers welcomed anytime.
Thursday, July 20th, 9-11:30 am: The AARP HomeFit Guide presented by Lorraine Bowens, LiveWell Senior Living Solutions Resource Specialist. The AARP HomeFit Guide was created to help people stay independent in their current homes. It provides smart solutions for making homes comfortable, safe and a great lifelong fit.
Monday, July 24th, 1-3:30 pm: Tech Advice and Non-Fiction Book club. At 9am Meredith Crawford, Cedar Rapids Librarian, will discuss Smartphone and provide one-to-one assistance with your Android or iPhone questions and/or signing up for a library card. At 10 am join Joannie West to discuss starting a non-fiction book club.
Thursday, July 27th, 9-11:30 am: Movie Day – “Little Red Wagon.” This movie is based on the inspirational true story of Zach Bonner on his quest to help homeless children in the wake of Hurricane Charley by walking across American with his Little Red Wagon.
Monday, July 31st, 1-3:30 pm: Craft Day - Mandala Rock Painting.
Doni Gould will guide us in Mandala rock painting. Bring a smooth surface rock found in nature or at a garden center. Enjoy social time with others while creating a treasure for your yard or to hide in a park for others to find. Free.
Events/Outings
Registration for these outings/events is requested to confirm your planned attendance. Most events will occur if there is a minimum of one registrant. For some events, there will be a maximum number of participants. When an admission fee is charged by an event vendor, each person will be responsible for their own admission fee.
To register, respond on the Facebook Group “Cedar Rapids 55 Plus” or by leaving a voicemail message at #319-640-5357. For inclement weather check the Facebook group or call to confirm the event before heading out.
Nature Walks:
Sunday July16th 2pm, Nature Walk at Wickiup Hill, 10260 Morris Hills Road, Toddville Iowa.
Meet in the Learning Center at 2pm to view the Native American exhibit, including a Wickiup built by the Meskwaki, and the habitat exhibits. Then we will head out for our walk. The path is flat. This is an enjoyable way to get in “our steps.”
Wickiup Hill Learning Center is located at 10260 Morris Hills Road, just NW of the Cedar Rapids metropolitan area near Toddville. Head west on Blairs Ferry to Feather Ridge Road; right (north) on Feather Ridge to Morris Hills Road; left (west) on Morris Hills Road - follow to the end of the road, the Center will be on your right (north).
Hometown Tourist:
Tuesday July4th, Celebration of Freedom Fireworks Display. If you are interested in a group meet up to attend the fireworks and/or other 4th July event, contact Pat to discuss meet-up time/location. Event can be then posted to the Cedar Rapids 55 Plus Facebook group to invite others.
Sunday, July 30th 2pm, Tour Grant Wood Studio and Visitor Center, 5 Turner Alley, 810 Second Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids, adjacent to the History Museum. Admission and docent guided tour is free. Note, while the visitor center (ground floor) is handicap accessible, the studio, on the upper level of the late 19th century carriage house, is not. The building itself was heavily modified by Grant Wood to feature more living space and unexpected but useful design features.