Special Recreation Programs

2 Special Olympics athletes at a St Patrick's Day party. both wearing green and green hats.

Our Special Recreation program offers year-round clubs, monthly events and trips. The Special Recreation programs are for all ages and all abilities.

 

Parties

Fridays; May 29, June 26, August 28, 2026   |   5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
Black River Beach Neighborhood Center
Min: 20   |   Max: 100
Registration Fee: $7   |   **Registration Deadline: One week prior to party**
Grab a friend and get ready to party. There will be fun activities, games, trivia, and food!
May 29: Fiesta Party
June 26: Luau Dance
August 28: Camping Party 

A collage of images showing people enjoying various activities, including a group meal, dancing, crafting, and a costume event with someone dressed as a mummy.

Bingo

Thursdays; May 7, June 4, July 2, August 6, 2026
Black River Beach Neighborhood Center   |    6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. 
Min: 5   |   Max: 75
Registration Fee: FREE   |   **Registration Deadline: Monday prior to event**
Come and play bingo and win free prizes! 

A collage of images showing a group of people participating in a bingo game. One image shows a person holding bingo cards and markers. Another image shows a person holding a colorful artwork. Several images show groups of people sitting at tables, playing bingo. Two individuals are smiling at the camera in the foreground of one image.

Activity Nights

Thursdays; May 21, June 18, July 16, August 20, 2026
Black River Beach Neighborhood Center   |   6 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
Min: 5   |   Max: 75
Registration Fee: FREE   |   **Registration Deadline: Monday prior to event**
Come in for crafts, games, and more! There will be a variety of activities at different tables to enjoy. Bring a friend to have fun!

Get Fit with UWL Physical Therapy Students

Tuesdays & Thursdays; January 20-May 7, 2026
4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.   |   Black River Beach Neighborhood Center
Ages 16+   |   Min: 5  Max: 25
FREE   |  **Registration Deadline: Monday, January 5, 2026**
Get fit with UWL PT students as they lead a Health and Wellness program. No meetings on 4/7

Planting Day

Sunday, June 7, 2026
2 p.m.-3:30 p.m. | Black River Beach Neighborhood Center
Min: 5 Max: 20
Registration Fee: $5 | **Registration Deadline: Monday, June 1, 2026**
Come and get your hands dirty at this planting workshop! Take home a potted plant.

Picnic and Games

Saturday, July 18, 2026
12 p.m. noon-2 p.m. | Black River Beach Neighborhood Center
Min: 15 Max: 40
Registration Fee: $7 | **Registration Deadline: Friday, July 10, 2026***

Cornhole, bocce, and more outdoor games and a picnic with friends.

Nature Walks

Tuesdays; May 12 & 26, June 9 & 23, July 7 & 21, August 4 & 18, 2026
4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
FREE | Min: 5 Max: 25

See what La Crosse has to offer as we walk together around local parks. Please come dressed appropriately for the weather (including proper shoes) and bring a water bottle.

May: Myrick Park Gun Shelter
June: Riverside Friendship Garden China Entrance
July: Pettibone
August: Chad Erickson Park Pavillion

A collage of images showing groups of people on a nature walk or trail. Some images show individuals walking on a path, while others show groups posing for photos in wooded or park-like settings. One image includes a baby in a stroller.

Days at the Pool

Mondays; June 15 & 29, July 13 & 27, August 10, 2026
4:30 p.m.-6 p.m. | Erickson Pool
FREE | Min: 5 Max: 25
Enjoying the summer weather while swimming at the pool with friends! Don’t forget to check the hotline for cancellations (608) 791-0745.

A collage of people enjoying a swimming pool on a sunny day. The top section shows several individuals, including a woman in a patterned swimsuit smiling at the camera. The bottom section is split into three smaller images, featuring more people interacting in the water, one person floating on their back.

Day on the River

TBD 2026
10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. | Airport Beach
Min: 10 Max: 50
Registration Fee: $7 | **Registration Deadline: TBD**
Enjoy a day on the beach, picnicking, swimming, and boating!

A collage of three images showing people enjoying water activities and relaxing on the shore. The top image shows people on a MasterCraft boat. The bottom left image shows people tubing behind a boat. The bottom right image shows people sitting in chairs on a sandy beach.

Como Zoo

Saturday, August 15, 2026
8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. | 1225 Eastbrook Dr, Saint Paul, MN 55103
Min: 25 Max: 45
Registration Fee: $60 | **Registration Deadline: Friday, August 7, 2026**

Enjoy a picnic and then wander around the Como Zoo and Conservatory looking at all the plants and animals including lions, tigers, and polar bears. Bus leaves City Hall at 8:30am. Please arrive no later than 8:20am.

La Crosse Steam Game

Saturday, June 13, 2026
4 p.m.-End of Game (around 7:00pm) | Copeland Park
Min: 15 Max: 75
Registration Fee: $12 | **Registration Deadline: Friday, June 5, 2026**

Bring family and friends to this fun night as we cheer on our local team, the Steam! Don’t forget to bring money for concessions and souvenirs! *Note: Please make sure you arrive between 3:45 p.m. and 4 p.m. Staff will go into the game at 4 p.m. If you have not made prior arrangements, you may not be able to get your ticket.

La Crosse Loggers Game and Fireworks

Friday, July 31, 2026
5:30 p.m.-Fireworks (around 9:30 p.m.) | Copeland Park
Min: 15 Max: 75
Registration Fee: $12 | **Registration Deadline: Wednesday, July 22, 2026**

Bring family and friends to this fun night as we cheer on our local team, the Loggers! Half of price of tickets will go to La Crosse Special Olympics! Don’t forget to bring money for concessions and souvenirs! *Note: Please meet at the gate between 5:30 p.m.-5:45 p.m. Staff will go in at 5:45 p.m. If you have not made prior arrangements, you may not be able to get your ticket.

 

Night at the Races

Saturday, September 5, 2026
5:30 p.m.-9 p.m. | N4985 County Rd M, West Salem, WI 54669
Min: 5 Max: 50
Registration Fee: $12 | **Registration Deadline: Friday, August 28, 2026**

START YOUR ENGINES! Sign up for this evening of fun and entertainment! Enjoy the beautiful summer air while watching race cars zoom around the speedway. Concessions will be provided at the beginning of the race but bring money if you wish to purchase souvenirs. Meet the Special Rec staff at the entrance between 5:30 p.m.-5:45 p.m. Staff will go into the game at 5:45 p.m. If you have not made prior arrangements, you may not be able to get your ticket.

A collage of images showing people watching a car race at a stadium. The images show spectators in the stands, people seated at picnic tables, and race cars on the track. The sun is setting, casting a warm glow over the scene.

A collage of images showing a group of people participating in a bingo game. One image shows a person holding bingo cards and markers. Another image shows a person holding a colorful artwork. Several images show groups of people sitting at tables, playing bingo. Two individuals are smiling at the camera in the foreground of one image.

Bingo.jpg

(JPG, 2MB)
A collage of photos from a corn maze and farm stand. One photo shows a person holding a clue card in a corn maze. Another shows a group of people walking through a corn maze. The largest photo shows a farm stand with pumpkins and mums, a barn, and a silo under a cloudy sky.

Corn-Maze.jpg

(JPG, 2MB)
A collage of three images showing people enjoying water activities and relaxing on the shore. The top image shows people on a MasterCraft boat. The bottom left image shows people tubing behind a boat. The bottom right image shows people sitting in chairs on a sandy beach.

Day-in-the-River.jpg

(JPG, 1MB)
A collage of people enjoying a swimming pool on a sunny day. The top section shows several individuals, including a woman in a patterned swimsuit smiling at the camera. The bottom section is split into three smaller images, featuring more people interacting in the water, one person floating on their back.

Days-at-the-Pool.jpg

(JPG, 1MB)
A group of people, some in wheelchairs, pose for a photo outdoors with trees and foliage in the background.

Fishing-Club-1.jpg

(JPG, 640KB)
A collage of five images showing people fishing in a park-like setting. One image shows a person holding up a small fish, another shows two people fishing from a wooden pier, a third shows a person fishing from a bridge, a fourth shows a person reeling in a fish, and the fifth shows a person examining a small fish.

Fishing-Club-2.png

(PNG, 1MB)
A collage of images showing groups of people on a nature walk or trail. Some images show individuals walking on a path, while others show groups posing for photos in wooded or park-like settings. One image includes a baby in a stroller.

Nature-Walks.jpg

(JPG, 2MB)
A collage of images showing people watching a car race at a stadium. The images show spectators in the stands, people seated at picnic tables, and race cars on the track. The sun is setting, casting a warm glow over the scene.

Night-at-the-Races.jpg

(JPG, 2MB)
A collage of images showing people enjoying various activities, including a group meal, dancing, crafting, and a costume event with someone dressed as a mummy.

Parties.jpg

(JPG, 2MB)

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