From the Director

Hello Shaker,

Recently I read that the Dog Days of Summer end on August 11 and judging by the recent weather, I would agree that the Dog Days are over. While summer is winding down and people are preparing for the school season we are in the midst of wrapping up summer camps and preparing for fall programs. Have any of you noticed our new recreation registration system? So far the feedback has been positive and we hope that you find the new product user friendly and easy to use. We have been pleased with the customer support and hope that those of you who chose to register online find it pleasing as well.

Registration for our fall programs started on August 10 and recreation catalogs were mailed to all households in the Shaker Heights City School District the first week of August. If you overlooked the catalog, we have an electronic copy available online and you can always pick up a copy at Thornton Park, the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Community Building, City Hall, the Shaker Heights Main Library, or the Bertram Woods branch. We hope you will take a look and test out our new registration system by signing up for a class or program. We look forward to seeing you this fall.

Be active. Stay healthy. Have fun.

Alex Nichols
Director

Recreation Programming

Shaker Recreation Concert Series and #ShakerPlays Open Art at the District

Shaker Recreation Concert Series
The Van Aken District
Wednesdays, August 17th and 24th | 7 - 8:30 pm

We have two more great concerts lined up to close out our Shaker Recreation Concert Series. Join us on Wednesday, August 17 for Mourning [A] BLKstar and Wednesday, August 24 for the Sam Hooper Group. These concerts are free and open to all ages. Performances will be held outdoors on the green space on Tuttle Road near the Van Aken District Market Hall. There is plenty of public seating available and you are welcome to bring your own as well! Music begins at 7 pm.

August 17 - Mourning [A] BLKstar
August 24 - Sam Hooper Group

#ShakerPlays Open Art at the District
The Van Aken District
Saturday, August 13th | 5 - 6:30 pm
Wednesdays, August 17th and 24th | 7 - 8:30 pm

Our free #ShakerPlays Open Art at the District program will be offered on Saturday, August 13 from 5 - 6:30 pm, and will also run concurrently with the final two concerts of the Shaker Recreation Concert Series. Artists of all levels are invited to join instructor Keith Nagy in the Living Room Park at the Van Aken District for free art and drawing sessions - art supplies provided. Drawings from this program will be on display at the Van Aken District Market Hall in September 2022.

Mourning [A] BLKstar

Sam Hooper Group

Open Art at the District

London Fulton
The Mvmnt is Real Founder

The Mvmnt is Real

We are excited to be offering a new youth enrichment program this fall in partnership with The Mvmnt is Real LLC. The Mvmnt is Real LLC is an enrichment and specialty organization founded in Cleveland in 2020 by London Fulton. London is a talented professional dance choreographer, dancer, performance artist, innovator, teacher and educator who was born and raised in Cleveland. London is a successful competitive dancer and has trained under the industry's best teachers in Ohio, Oklahoma, California, and Georgia in the disciplines of contemporary, jazz, hip-hop, ballet, performance, lyrical, modern and tap. After London received his certification from The International Dance Academy Hollywood in 2016, he returned to Ohio to continue pursuing his love for dancing and teaching. This dance camp will give participants the chance to learn the basic fundamentals of character: knowledge, creativity, perseverance, discipline, and leadership. Registration is open now for the fall session, which will meet twice a week on Mondays and Wednesdays from September 26 through November 23. A beginner level is available for ages 7-12 from 5 - 6:10 pm, and an intermediate level is available for ages 13-17 from 6:15 - 7:25 pm.

September Special Events

We have two highly anticipated special events on the schedule for September. Be sure to save the date for our annual Doggie Dip and Touch A Truck events. See below for additional details.

Doggie Dip
Thornton Park Pool
Saturday, September 10 | 10 am - 1 pm

Bring your pup to Thornton Park Pool, where they can swim in the unheated and unchlorinated water and enjoy the company of their canine friends. Well behaved dogs are welcome. A lifeguard will be on duty. Local pet businesses will be on site with their wares, and doggy-related prizes will be raffled off throughout the event. Only dogs will be allowed to swim during this event. The cost to participate is $5 per resident dog and $7 per non-resident dog.

Touch A Truck
Van Aken District
Saturday, September 24 | 9 am - 1 pm

Head on down to the Van Aken District for lots of fun at "Touch-A-Truck"! Kids can touch and explore a variety of city trucks & vehicles, from the Recreation, Public Works, Police & Fire Departments and more! There will also be a fleet of electric vehicles on display as part of "National Drive Electric Week". Additional vehicles and activities to be announced on our Facebook and Instagram. This is a free event.

Get to Know Shaker Recreation

Alexis Shull

Assistant Aquatics Programs Coordinator

Alexis joined the Shaker Recreation Department just before the start of this year's Thornton Park Pool season as our new Assistant Aquatics Programs Coordinator. Alexis is responsible for overseeing all group and private swim lessons, training swim instructors, and communicating with staff and participants in order to schedule classes.

What is your favorite season? Fall, because the weather is perfect for hoodies and shorts, pumpkin spice lattes are in season, and it is Halloween too.

What is your favorite hobby? Lifting weights and water tubing.

Have you met anyone famous? I have met country music singer Lee Brice.

What is the best concert you have been too? Korn and Rob Zombie.

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? More than anything, I wanted to own a mansion so that I could house all foster and homeless kids and give them a big family to love and care for them.

Connect with Us

Follow Shaker Recreation on Social Media

Shaker Heights Recreation Department is on Facebook and Instagram. Like and follow our page and stay up-to-date on programs, classes, and events.

To view a map of all the parks and playgrounds in Shaker Heights, click here.