The Athens-Clarke County
Leisure Services Department's

E-Newsletter

50th Juried Exhibition -

Call for Artists

The Lyndon House Arts Center (LHAC) announces the online call for artwork submissions for the 50th Juried Exhibition. The show will be selected by Juror, Michael Rooks, Wieland Family Senior Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the High Museum in Atlanta.

Submissions for the 50th Juried Exhibition will be received online only at ArtCall.org. The call for art submissions will be live from January 7 at 7:00 a.m. – January 24, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. The opportunity to enter artworks for the exhibition will end on January 24 at 11:59 PM. Please visit the LHAC, call, or visit the LHAC on Instagram and Facebook for the live link.

Athens area visual artists, 18 years and older, are welcome to submit up to 3 entries for consideration. An entry fee of $35.00 is required. Athens area includes the following counties: Athens-Clarke, Banks, Barrow, Elbert, Franklin, Greene, Hall, Hart, Jackson, Madison, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Walton, and Wilkes Counties.

There will be an Application Clinic, for those who need in-person assistance with the online application process, from 12:00 – 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 18 in the Community Room at the LHAC. No appointment is necessary. Please bring all required materials with you in a digital format.

Juror selection will be completed by January 31, 2025. Delivery for works selected for the 50th Juried Exhibition to the LHAC will be on Friday, February 7 from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and Saturday, February 8 from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.. The 50th Juried Exhibition opens in the galleries on March 13. The exhibition will be on view through May 10.

For more information, please call 706-613-3623.

Can You Hear Me, Now?

Tech Talk for Beginners is a hands-on program designed for adults 50 and older to master the basics of using your cell phones.

Participants will learn essential skills like making calls, sending messages, taking photos, browsing the internet, managing apps, and more. Join us to boost your confidence and navigate today’s technology with ease! Online registration is underway

"Tech Talk for Beginners: Navigating Your Cell Phone with Confidence" has two sessions:

For more information, please call 706-613-3602.

"Cocoa and Crafts"

at Memorial Park

Join in for a cozy morning of making crafts, sipping hot cocoa, and playing in the “snow” at Memorial Park!

"Cocoa and Crafts" program is for ages six years and younger and is set for Wednesday, January 15 from 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. in the Memorial Park Recreation Hall.

Parents/chaperones are admitted free and must accompany children. This program is $3 for ACC residents and $5 for non-county residents. Online registration is underway.

For more information, please call 706-613-3580.

MLK Day Holiday Hours

Leisure Services Department park grounds will operate under reduced hours of 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. on MLK Day, Monday, January 20. Facilities will be closed.

Regular hours of operation for all parks and facilities will resume Tuesday, January 21, 2025.

For more information, please call 706-613-3800.

MLK Day of Service

Athenians are invited to honor Dr. King's legacy at the annual Athens-Clarke County Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service on Monday, January 20, 2025.

In 1994, Congress made the MLK Day federal holiday an official day of service. Athens-Clarke County is one of the thousands of cities across the country that decides to make the holiday "A Day On and Not a Day Off.”

This year’s kick-off celebration will take place from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the Lay Park Gymnasium at 297 Hoyt Street. The first 400 registered volunteers at the kick-off will receive a free t-shirt and light morning refreshments will be served.

Following the kick-off, more than 30 different community organizations, government agencies, cemeteries and schools will host volunteer service projects, including Acceptance Recovery Center, the Athens Community Council on Aging, Books for Keeps, historic Brooklyn Cemetery, the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia, Project Safe, Shoal Creek Sanctuary, and more.

Online volunteer registration will open in late December and close on Friday, January 17. Those interested in participating can find the registration link at www.accgov.com/mlkday. Limited day-of registration will be available at the kick-off event.

For more information, visit www.accgov.com/mlkday or email athensgamlkday@gmail.com

"Nerf Wars" at Lay Park

When it comes to Nerf Wars, anything goes!

Bring your best game face, your personal (single shot/non-auto) Nerf gun, and the whole family for a night of battling, challenge, and fun!

This special evening is set for Friday, January 31 with a fee of $5 for ACC residents and $7.50 for non-residents.

Session 1 (ages 5-8) takes place from 6:00 - 6:45 p.m.
Session 2 (ages 9-12) takes place from 7:00 - 7:45 p.m.

For more information, please call 706-613-3596.

Day off School Programs

in February

Plan ahead for the next Clarke County School District student holiday! Online registration is underway.

For more information, please call 706-613-3800.

Now! Renew Your ACCGov Leisure Services Scholarship

All 2024 Leisure Services scholarships have expired. It is time to renew your scholarship for 2025.

The scholarship program is for qualifying Athens-Clarke County residents under the age of 18.

Individuals with expired scholarships and new scholarship applicants must visit a Leisure Services Department facility office at least five business days prior to registering for a program. Those who wish to use the scholarship when registering for summer camp, must apply by February 28 to guarantee that the scholarship is applied to the account in time for camp registration in March.

Scholarships must be applied for in person. Scholarships are issued at 25%, 50%, and 75% levels. There is a $400 annual cap in scholarship funds per child.

Requirements for documentation include a recent utility bill (last 90 days), the most recent IRS Tax Form 1040 (with children listed), and a valid photo ID.

Those individuals who have not created an online registration account, may do so at www.accgov.com/myrec. This needs to be done prior to applying for the scholarship so that the scholarship can be credited to the account

For more information, please call 706-613-3800 or visit www.accgov.com/scholarship

Save the Date!

Spring 2025 Registration

The Leisure Services Department announces its spring program opportunities for 2025

A diverse selection highlighting the arts, environmental science, recreation, sports, and holiday events are planned for adults and children.

Online program registration for Athens-Clarke County residents will open at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 1. Non-residents may register online starting Monday, February 3 at noon. Registration will continue until programs are at full enrollment or they begin.

Individuals must establish a free online account at www.accgov.com/myrec Payment may be rendered using an American Express, debit card, Discover Card, MasterCard, Visa, or a MasterCard or Visa gift card.

Information regarding department scholarship opportunities, including required documentation, is available at www.accgov.com/scholarship.

For more information, call 706-613-3800.

ACCGov Leisure Services Online Registration

The Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services Department offers a diverse selection of activities highlighting the arts, environmental science, recreation, sports,
and holiday events for adults and children.

All registration takes place online at www.accgov.com/myrec .

ACCGov Leisure Services Scholarships

The Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services Department offers scholarship to qualifying Athens-Clarke County children.

Scholarships allow participants to pay less than the program fee.

For more information, including required documentation,
please visit www.accgov.com/scholarships

Georgia Recreation and Park Association

Agency of the Year

Populations: 80,000 - 150,000

2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2019, 2021, 2023

The Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services Department

205 Old Commerce Road, Athens, GA 30607

www.accgov.com/leisure

706-613-3800