National Council on Aging Honors Indian Head Senior Center for Innovative Create Art through Patience and Trust
Award Highlights Outstanding Program for Indian Head Seniors
Indian Head Senior Center in Indian Head, MD, was recognized by the National Council on Aging (NCOA), receiving the “Expressive & Creative Arts Award” for its highly successful, Create Art through Patience and Trust program. The award was presented as part of NCOA’s National Institute of Senior Centers 2014 Programs of Excellence.
Create Art through Patience and Trust is designed to help Indian Head’s older adults’ team up with a partner to create beautiful art through patience and trust. The program started by explaining the placement of paint colors, brushes and the water container to a blindfolded senior. Their partner, another senior, provided voice instruction only to guide the blindfolded senior how to proceed with the placement of color on the canvas. After 20 minutes, with some humor as sometimes the paint brush missed the canvas, the seniors reversed positions. As we age it is difficult to relinquish control and trust others for our well-being. This program takes the seniors from a stressful situation of finding the canvas and listening to their partner to relaxing and trusting their fellow senior to guide them through the process of creating a one-of-a-kind art piece.
Indian Head Senior Center is a member of the National Institute of Senior Centers (NISC), the nation’s only program committed to supporting and strengthening the country’s 11,000 senior centers. NISC is setting the standard for the future of senior centers by promoting cutting-edge research, promising practices, professional development, and advocacy. NISC also offers the nation’s only National Senior Center Accreditation Program.
“Senior centers act as an important gateway, connecting older adults to crucial services that help them stay active and engaged in their communities,” said James Firman, president and CEO of NCOA. “We congratulate the Indian Head Senior Center for its outstanding efforts to improve the lives of Charles County seniors and hope that Create Art through Patience and Trust can serve as a model for senior centers nationwide.”
Cynthia L. Simmons, Coordinator of the Indian Head Senior Center said, “The staff at the Indian Head Senior Center works hard to promote programs that will encourage the aging population of Charles County to be independent as long as possible, physically, mentally, socially and spiritually.”
For more information about the Indian Head Senior Center and its programs for older adults, please visit
www.charlescountymd.gov/cs/aging/senior-centers. For more information on the National Institute of Senior Centers, please visit
www.ncoa.org/NISC.
Summer Day Camp Programs Offer Fun and Friends
The Department of Community Services Recreation Division is offering camp programs to give kids and teens an adventurous, active, and healthy summer. Registration begins Wednesday, March 4. Register by Friday, April 17 and receive $5 off per week/per session. Online registration is available at
www.CharlesCountyParks.com.
The following camps are offered:
-- All Star Sports Camp (Age: 8–14)
-- Summer Camp (Age: 6–14)
-- Campnastics (Age: 6–14)
-- Junior Campnastics (Age: 4–6)
-- Tightline Basketball Camp (Age: 5–17)
-- Goal Keeping Academy (Age: 5–17)
-- Sensible Soccer Camp (Age: 5–13)
-- Mike Bozeman Co-Ed Basketball Academy (Age: 7–14)
-- Junior Lifeguard Camp (Age: 11–14)
-- Special Populations Camp Co-op (Age: 5–21; Developmental disabilities)
-- Lego's Camp (Age 5–12)
-- Radio Broadcasting Camp (Age: 10–14)
-- Camp Splash (Age: 8-13)
-- Theater Camp for Kids (Age: 7-14)
-- Counselor-In-Training Camp (Grades 9-12)
For information on other events offered by the Charles County Department of Community Services, visit
www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/CS, or call 301-934-9305 or 301-870-3388. Citizens with special needs may contact the Maryland Relay Service at 711, or Relay Service TDD: 866-269-9006.
Discover Local History at the Lincoln 150 Commemoration
History buffs, Abraham Lincoln fans, and local history lovers alike are encouraged to attend Charles County’s new Lincoln 150 Commemoration weekend, featuring the theme, “On the Trail of the Assassin.” From Friday, April 17 to Sunday, April 19, participants can visit various Charles County locations for the opportunity to learn more about the historic events surrounding the Civil War and the assassin’s escape. Events include Civil War re-enactments; guest speakers and authors; Civil War theater, music, and dance performances; public archeology activities; and walking tours. Admission costs, dates, and times vary by location.
The key Lincoln 150 Commemoration event will be held at the Dr. Samuel Mudd House (3725 Doctor Samuel Mudd Road, Waldorf). Participants can enjoy a Port Tobacco Players Theater production, living history group and suttlers, first person impressions, authors, music performances, guest speakers, and a Civil War dolls display.
Other featured programs of the commemoration weekend include:
-- An Evening of Civil War Music & Words (College of Southern Maryland, 8730 Mitchell Road, La Plata)
Listen to Civil War music and look at the daily lives of those involved in the assassination.
-- A Global View of the Escape (James E. Richmond Science Center, 5305 Piney Church Road, Waldorf)
Experience history through science, and find out what the heavens looked like on that fateful evening.
-- Conspiracy- The Talk of Port Tobacco (Port Tobacco Historic Village, 8430 Commerce Street, Port Tobacco)
Learn about a conspirator who lived and worked at the Port Tobacco Historic Village.
-- Villains, Rebels & Rogues (Rich Hill Farm, Rich Hill Farm Road, Bel Alton)
Experience archeology and preservation along the Booth Escape Trail.
For more information and a detailed schedule of the events, visit
www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/Lincoln150.
For additional information about the event, contact the Crain Memorial Welcome Center at 301-259-2500 or 800-766-3386, or by email at WelcomeCenter
[at] CharlesCountyMD.gov. Citizens with special needs, contact the Maryland Relay Service at 711, or Relay Service TDD: 800-735-2258.
Charles County Residents Recognized as “Good Sports” Award Recipients
The Mid-Atlantic Recreation and Parks’ Sports Alliance (MARPSA) recognized youth players, coaches and administrators throughout the Maryland and Virginia area at a special reception and awards ceremony in Annapolis on Monday, Feb. 2. Charles County recipients are: Craig Howell (Youth Sports Administrator), Dennis Stansbury (Youth Sports Official), Carlus Flowers (Youth Sports Athlete) and Darold Butler (Youth Sports Coach).
The Dennis Callahan Good Sports Awards is a MARPSA sponsored program providing an opportunity for member jurisdictions to recognize young athletes, coaches and administrators who have modeled Good Sports actions and behaviors in local athletics. The Good Sports Award is named after Dennis Callahan, co-founder of MARPSA and former Director of Anne Arundel County Parks and Recreation Department.
MARSPA is a consortium of Recreation and Parks Departments, sports officiating groups, and sport governing bodies in the region. The mission of the Alliance is to develop and communicate a consistent message that organizations and their players, coaches and spectators will be held accountable to a code of conduct that promotes Good Sports and keeps recreational competitive and non-competitive sporting activities in proper perspective.
Each of the recipients has made an impact on the community of Charles County and continues to do so every year.