File photo by Frank Speziale

NORWICH – The City of Norwich Youth Bureau has announced several winter recreation program opportunities for local youth to take part in, free of charge.

The registration night for Norwich Youth Bureau’s winter recreation programs will be from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, December 6 in Norwich City Hall.

Winter programs offered by Norwich Youth Bureau include junior wrestling, junior and regular bowling, ‘Get Creative’ art class, volleyball, baseball, softball, introduction to dance, and tumbling. It also offers access to the Borden Avenue skating facility when ice conditions permit, for which no registration is required.

The programs are free for residents of the city and town of Norwich, North Norwich, Plymouth, Preston, and Pharsalia. Residents from other areas will also be accepted but may be charged a fee.

City of Norwich Youth Bureau Director Bob Mason noted some of the programs – including Get Creative, introduction to dance, and tumbling – have limited space.

“What we encourage is to get the kids out of the house and get some exercise and do something in the winter other than tunneling in like the groundhog,” said Mason.

Of the programs, Mason said the tumbling program is new this year, making a return after being cancelled years ago after Norwich schools cancelled its gymnastics program. Tumbling is open to children aged five to 10 and offers basic gymnastic instruction, and Mason said depending how this year goes, it may be expanded in the future.