High Demand for Pottery, Pickleball, and Aquatics at Madison School & Community Recreation
Title: High Demand for Pottery, Pickleball, and Aquatics Classes at Madison School & Community Recreation
Madison School & Community Recreation (MSCR) is experiencing a surge in popularity for its pottery, pickleball, and aquatics classes, with long wait lists forming for these high-demand offerings. According to operations manager Laura Whitmore, enrollment for winter classes recently opened, but limited space, scheduling constraints, and staffing challenges are making it difficult for everyone interested to secure a spot.
Whitmore highlighted the high-quality programming offered by MSCR throughout the year as a driving factor behind the increased demand. Classes such as pottery, youth aquatics, intermediate pickleball, and fitness classes like yoga and high-intensity interval training are filling up quickly, with wait lists reaching double digits.
Despite the long wait lists, Whitmore reassured potential participants that spots may open up as people often drop classes they have signed up for, creating opportunities for those on the wait list to join. However, finding available space remains a challenge, especially for swimming and youth recreation classes.
MSCR operates programs at three locations across Madison, but securing space for classes alongside school programming like clubs and athletics can be tricky. Whitmore mentioned negotiations with colleagues to determine available space and scheduling considerations to accommodate the high demand for indoor gyms.
In addition to space constraints, hiring more staff, particularly for swimming lessons, poses an additional challenge. To address this issue, MSCR offers classes for individuals to become certified swimming instructors. While most of MSCR’s youth swim lessons are at full capacity, there is still availability in one class for 5- to 14-year-olds.
Looking ahead, Whitmore mentioned collaboration with Madison school district leaders to plan new buildings funded by a recent facilities referendum. The upgrades from the $507 million referendum could potentially expand MSCR programming, particularly in gym spaces.
As demand for classes continues to grow, Whitmore emphasized the importance of MSCR’s offerings and expressed pride in the high demand for their programs. Readers interested in supporting education reporting in the Madison region can reach out to Kayla Huynh, the education reporter for the Cap Times, for story ideas and tips.
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