Virtual Recreation Center

Welcome to the City of Oak Ridge’s Virtual Recreation Center! You will find fun, education, recreation, and resources for all ages below. This page exists to create community and to enhance the quality of life for the citizens of Oak Ridge. This page will be updated periodically with new content. Please be advised that we do not receive funds to advertise, nor endorse any of the third party sites, programs, or services listed here. We hope you enjoy!

CHILDREN:

Cosmic Kids Yoga is great yoga videos for kids available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/CosmicKidsYoga

-25 Exercise Games and Indoor Activities for Kids at MommyPoppins.com:

https://mommypoppins.com/newyorkcitykids/25-exercise-games-indoor-activities-for-kids

-Education.com free Coding Games:

https://www.education.com/games/coding/

-Education.com free Math Games:

https://www.education.com/games/math/

-Education.com free Reading and Writing Games:

https://www.education.com/games/ela/

–Education.com free Typing games:

https://www.education.com/games/typing/

-Science Experiments at home:

https://www.sciencekids.co.nz/experiments.html

-NASA Science: Learn about our Solar System:

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/solar-system/our-solar-system/overview/

-Free Word Searches for kids:

https://thewordsearch.com/cat/kids-puzzles/

-Make a Pinecone Bird Feeder: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uVugH7eaUU

-Learn to Tie-Dye: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aiSIPSfkrc

-Make a Friendship Bracelet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5knLsLjlaE

–Printable Coloring Pages from Crayola: https://www.crayola.com/featured/free-coloring-pages/

–Make Sock Puppets: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yn_pzsdhAY

-Learn how to cook with the Nomster Chef: https://www.nomsterchef.com/nomster-recipe-library

GARDENING:

Gardening Tips for Beginners – https://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/gardening/outdoor/gardening-101

Garden Crops for Beginners – https://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/10-best-garden-crops-for-beginners

Best Garden Location – https://homeguides.sfgate.com/place-yard-plant-garden-26827.html

Fall Gardening Tips – https://www.gardendesign.com/autumn/tips.html

12 Things to do Late Summer for your Garden and Yard – https://www.thisoldhouse.com/landscaping/21017999/12-late-summer-yard-and-garden-upgrades

Late Season Crops – https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/gardening/a20707312/how-to-plant-fall-garden/

18 Fall Container Garden Ideas – https://www.thespruce.com/fall-container-garden-ideas-4121828

How to start an Organic Garden – https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/gardening/advice/g2104/organic-gardening-tips-460309/

DIY Mini-Succulent Garden – https://diyinspired.com/diy-mini-succulent-garden/

House Plant Tips – https://www.thegoodearthgarden.com/houseplant-tips-and-tricks/

Best Plants for Indoors – https://www.thespruce.com/outdoor-garden-plants-that-make-great-houseplants-1402009

Best Plants for your Windowsill – https://mykarmastream.com/15-small-windowsill-plants-that-will-impress-you/

FITNESS:

-Fitness Blender – Absolutely free videos, workout programs, and Meal plans.

https://www.fitnessblender.com/

-Tai Chi Tuning – Can offer beginning classes on website and links to zoom classes for free.

Tai Chi Foundation – free online video classes and zoom classes with permission.

https://www.taichifoundation.org/free-live-online-classes

-Yoga – Yoga classes for all skill levels and also for kids.

Do Yoga With Me – has free to view videos online that can be viewed easily from beginner to advanced.

https://www.doyogawithme.com/

-Kids Love Soccer – has both activities page, and lessons to improve soccer skills.

https://www.kidzlovesoccer.com/

-16 Strength-Training Exercises for Kids from Parents.com – These exercises use your own body weight to help build strength. They’re perfect for kids and the whole family to do together.

https://www.parents.com/fun/sports/exercise/strength-training-exercises-for-kids/

-Fresh Start Fitness for all ages – get fit music based videos for adults and their family

https://family.gonoodle.com/channels/fresh-start-fitness

-Go for a Walk, Bike, or Hike around Oak Ridge’s beautiful parks and greenways. Then post your pictures online #orrecparks/@orrecparks:

http://orrecparks.oakridgetn.gov/greenway-maps/

CREATIVE:

–Learn how to play an instrument:

Free Piano lessons since 1994 from beginner, intermediate, to advanced: https://pianonanny.com/

Free online Guitar lessons from beginner to advanced: https://www.justinguitar.com/

Free Harmonica lessons beginner to advanced: https://www.harmonica123.com/teaching/free-lessons/

–Check out and read a book virtually for free:

https://openlibrary.org/

-Visit the Oak Ridge University of Tennessee Arboretum – a research and educational arboretum operated by the University of Tennessee Agricultural Experiment Station. This 250 acre research and education facility has over 2,500 native and exotic woody plant specimens that represent 800 species, varieties, and cultivars. It is open to the public without charge.

http://utarboretum.tennessee.edu/arboretum.htm

Virtual Tours at:

http://utarboretum.tennessee.edu/photogallery.htm

-Play a daily crossword puzzle:

https://www.dictionary.com/e/crossword/

–Go Stargazing:

https://www.tpl.org/blog/7-tips-city-stargazing-chicago-park-astronomer?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIk7CD5pSn6AIVlshkCh0XyA55EAAYASAAEgLek_D_BwE

–Learn how to cook videos:

https://www.youtube.com/user/bgfilms/playlists

-Learn how to Crochet:

https://www.interweave.com/article/crochet/learn-how-to-crochet-with-a-free-ebook/

-Learn how to Knit: