Swampscott rec dept. to offer winter programs

SWAMPSCOTT – The Recreation Department did not offer any winter recreation programs five years ago, but this year more than 400 people are expected to participate in the winter recreational offerings.Recreation Director Danielle Strauss said registration for winter programs got under way this week.”We have a lot of programs designed to appeal to everyone,” she said.The Recreation Department has more than a dozen offerings that run the gamut from skiing to basketball and jewelry-making for adults.”We have a wicked cool Legos program,” Strauss said. “Engineering with Legos starts in January and is open to students in first and second grade. This is an opportunity to bring some science into the recreation programs.”Strauss said the department is offering ice skating for the first time this year and she expects a good response to the program, which starts in January at Connery Rink in Lynn.”We really have some exciting new programs,” she said. “This is a wonderful opportunity for residents to try something new.”Strauss said she is also focusing on adding more programs for adults.”Our over-40 basketball program has been very popular and grown over the last few years,” she said. “I’d really like to expand on those types of programs.”Anyone interested in additional information on available winter programs could view the course offerings online at www.swampscottrec.com, pick up a brochure in Town Hall or call 781-596-8854. Strauss said residents can sign up for programs online or in person.”We just added a feature to our Web site that allows us to accept credit cards for program fees,” Strauss said. “It makes it much easier for people to sign up for programs.”