People - Activities for all ages


– Photo courtesy of Mobius Science Center.
The Spokane area is the gateway to the Inland Northwest, with attractions, recreation, and organizations for families, business professionals, and active seniors.

Something for everyone

Family life

Spokane is a great place for families. There is no shortage of activities for children, from sports to pools to museums. It also boasts many indoor facilities where families can have fun in cooler weather.

The Spokane-Coeur d'Alene area has a host of organizations where children can learn new skills, make friends, and build confidence and leadership, including Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, Campfire, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the YMCA, camps, arts groups, churches, and sports leagues.

Mobius Kids is the Spokane-area's premier children's museum with interactive exhibits like a mini city, a mock Filipino village, a theater where kids can dress up, an art studio, and more. In the fall of 2012, Mobius plans to open its new science center at 809 W. Main.

The Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture is the region's foremost museum, featuring rotating exhibits of work by regional and national artists, as well as American Indian artifacts. The adjacent historic Campbell House offers tours.

The library systems throughout Spokane County and North Idaho offer a variety of programs for children, from toddler story time to workshops to visiting artists. Bookstores like Aunties frequently have guest author readings. Each April downtown Spokane hosts Get Lit!, a literary festival of readings by well-known writers, workshops, and poetry slam competitions for youths and adults.

For wildlife viewing, visit Cat Tales Zoological Park in North Spokane; or Turnbull Wildlife Refuge near Cheney. In the spring and late fall, tundra swans can be seen on lakes in the area, and majestic eagles arrive at the eastern tip of Lake Coeur d'Alene in December.

First Night Spokane, one of the largest New Year's Eve celebrations in our region, presents Kids Night Out, a carnival of activities, crafts, and entertainment for children of all ages at the Spokane Convention Center.
The Spokane County and city of Spokane's parks departments offer classes, from sports to dance, and short trips, like hiking and biking, for children, adults, and families. In recent years, the agencies have added new pool facilities and aquatic parks.

Fee-based water parks include Splash Down, in Spokane Valley, and Silverwood Theme Park's Boulder Beach.

A number of facilities provide indoor aquatic fun year-round, including the three YMCAs; the Salvation Army's Ray & Joan Kroc Center, in Coeur d'Alene; Triple Play, in Hayden, Idaho; Silver Rapids, in Kellogg, Idaho; and many area hotels.

Spokane fans support several sports teams, including the American Football League's Spokane Shock, minor league baseball's Spokane Indians, or the Western Hockey League's Spokane Chiefs. Football, hockey, baseball, soccer, and basketball are popular sports among the area's youth. Each spring, the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena plays host to the state 2B basketball championships, a tournament that draws many of the teams' town residents. Gonzaga University's men's and women's basketball teams have consistently appeared at the NCAA championships.

Spokane is also home to the world's largest three-on-three basketball tournament, Hoopfest, which allows children and adults of all ages to compete.

In addition to government parks departments, a variety of organizations manage children's sports leagues, including the YMCA of the Inland Northwest, Spokane Youth Sports Association, Spokane Valley Baseball, Spokane Region Little League, Upward, Spokane Girls' Fastpitch Softball Association, Spokane Youth Hockey Association, and more.

Spokane-area colleges and organizations offer sports camps throughout the year. For example, NBC Camps, which held its first camp in 1971 in Cusick, Wash., has trained more than 200,000 student athletes in basketball, volleyball, football, and soccer throughout the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Italy.

The Spokane-Coeur d'Alene area also is home to award-winning theater troupes and dance companies. Spokane Civic Theatre, Spokane Children's Theatre, Theater Arts for Children, Lake City Playhouse, and Christian Youth Theatre are a few that offer entertainment as well as education.

The Holy Names Music Center, which makes its home on the picturesque Mukogowa-Fort George Wright campus, offers training in musical instruments and voice.

The Spokane Area Children's Chorus has kicked off its 25th season and features children between the ages of 7 and 18 who often perform with the Spokane Symphony and Chorale and at the Northwest Bach Festival.

Each year, Spokane Public Radio, KPBX, offers free concerts for children in Spokane and North Idaho. The Spokane Symphony also performs family and outdoor concerts.

To support families and children in need, the region has a multifaceted network in place that includes government agencies and nonprofit organizations like the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery, the Salvation Army, Shriners Hospitals for Children-Spokane, Operation Spokane Heroes, and many others.

Professionals

Businesspeople in nearly every industry can network, volunteer, and receive education through a variety of organizations in the Spokane region. Active groups include Greater Spokane Incorporated; Executive Women International; the Spokane Society of Young Professionals; National Association of Women Business Owners; African-American, Hispanic, Asian, Native American business association (AHANA); the Spokane Regional Marcom Association; Marketing Associates of Spokane; and more. LaunchPad Inland NW is a growing online network where people from all industries—from artists to executives—can connect.

Traditional organizations such as Rotary Clubs, Kiwanis, Elks, trade associations and industry groups, and others help round out the opportunities for professional engagement.

Seniors

With the Spokane region's quality of life, it is a beautiful and affordable place to retire. Whether you are seeking to join a senior hockey league or wish to volunteer your time, the region offers a variety of opportunities.

Senior community centers located conveniently in residential neighborhoods throughout the city provide a place for activities like Bingo, cards, dances, special events, and performances.

Municipal and county parks and recreation departments offer activities and therapeutic recreation tailored for the active senior.

Senior sports include the Spokane Dodgers, a chapter of the Men's Senior Baseball League, Old Timers Hockey League, and Inland Northwest Masters swimming. Dozens of uncrowded golf courses with stunning views are within an hour's drive of Spokane.

The Community Colleges of Spokane's Seniors Program offers a wide variety of noncredit enrichment courses for people of retirement age throughout the Spokane area. North Idaho College also offers a reduced-tuition schedule for students who are age 60 or over.

The YMCA of the Inland Northwest's Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) matches people age 55 and over to volunteer opportunities that will allow them to help the community.