Local Events

Rob Knight’s Swim America opened in June 1992 with just 14 customers. Now, after 30 years, we have taught thousands of children how to swim. We have recently moved to Four Seasons 1 and taken over their swim lesson program. We are now offering the Swim America Learn to Swim Program and have a staff of over 18 professionally trained instructors, all CPR and First Aid certified. Our program is designed to teach all the skills your child needs to be safe in and around the water for a lifetime, from floating and kicking, to the four competitive strokes, safety skills and the ability to swim a minimum of 300 yards of freestyle. We put safety first and ensure our high standards are upheld. Contact us today to join our swim lesson program!

At our preschool, we believe that kids should have fun while learning and exploring. Through our gymnastics program, we aim to provide a safe, padded environment for children to develop their physical and social skills. This includes helping them learn to follow instructions, move around a circuit, and interact with other children and adults. We want to ensure that our gym kids are prepared for school by building their confidence and teaching them locomotor movements. We understand that children develop at different rates, so our ages listed for each program are just guidelines. We will make sure that each child is placed in the right program. Our preschool gym is designed to provide an enjoyable and energized environment for our little ones to grow and thrive. We strive to create an atmosphere that allows kids to learn and explore, while feeling secure and having lots of fun.

At the Y, we are working to ensure that everyone has access to the resources that they need to live healthier, more fulfilling lives. We are dedicated to providing programs for youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility, which will help our community members to develop essential skills, make healthy choices and give back to our community. We understand that we are stronger as a community when we work together, which is why we are proud to provide opportunities for individuals of all ages, incomes and backgrounds to learn, grow and thrive. We strive to create a lasting impact on the lives of our members and our community. Through our commitment to our core values, we are helping to empower our community and promote lasting personal and social change. We are proud to be a safe, welcoming and inclusive space for everyone in McLean County. With our focus on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, the YMCA is the place where you can learn, grow and thrive.

At Kindermusik, we are dedicated to helping parents create meaningful moments for their children. We understand that investing in children is investing in our future world. That's why we are passionate about children and music and offer high quality music and movement education programs for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and big kids. In our Kindermusik classes, a unique and supportive approach in the classroom helps children develop physical, emotional, cognitive, and social skills. We also offer Studio Connect division classes and private music lessons to help children hone their musical craft. Our goal is to create a lifelong love of music within each child and to help them grow into their best self. At Kindermusik, we believe that music is an essential part of a child's development. Our team of professional educators and musicians is dedicated to helping parents create meaningful moments for their children, and we strive to make those moments both fun and educational. Through our high-quality music and movement education program, we hope to help children develop skills they will use for the rest of their lives.

At Artful Designs, we understand how important it is for parents to have creative outlets for their children. That is why we are the only paint your own pottery studio in Bloomington-Normal. Our wide selection of pottery ensures that everyone will find something they enjoy painting. We make it easy to create unique pieces by offering water-based and non-toxic paint. Leave your pottery with us and we'll glaze and fire it, and it will be ready for you to pick up a week from the day you painted it. Our studio fee is an additional cost to the price of your pottery. Adults pay $7.00 and children pay $6.00 for the studio fee. Be sure to check our calendar for weekly specials. We also have classes, events, bare-bisque pottery, and custom painting services available. At Artful Designs, we make it easy to explore your creative side and make something unique. Come visit us and start creating today!

Developing Melodies is a music therapy center located in Bloomington, IL that was established in 2006. Founded by Meryl Brown MM, MT-BC, DT, the Neurologic Music Therapist, the center offers music therapy, adapted music lessons, and music groups to clients. Developing Melodies believes in using music to help their clients reach their fullest potential and maximize their individual strengths. Every year, Developing Melodies serves over 500 individuals. At Developing Melodies, clients are able to find the help they need with a personalized approach. The center looks to use music to help induce changes to meet the needs of each individual. With the help of Meryl Brown MM, MT-BC, DT, the Neurologic Music Therapist, and the other staff at Developing Melodies, clients are able to get the assistance they need to reach their goals. To enrich the community, Developing Melodies uses music as its primary resource. By providing music therapy, adapted music lessons, and group music sessions, Developing Melodies is able to help individuals find success and reach their fullest potential. Every year, Developing Melodies provides services to over 500 people, and is proud to be a part of transforming lives through music.

At The Jump Spot in Bloomington, Illinois, we provide gymnastics instruction, physical education programs, and fitness classes for children. We understand the importance of physical activity for growing bodies. That’s why we offer P.E. classes that go into daycare facilities to ensure that your child is getting the necessary exercise to develop and grow. We also offer birthday parties, field trips, and fitness instruction where our staff can act as role models for children in the community. We strive to create an age-friendly environment where children feel safe to learn and grow. We are confident that you will be so pleased with our effective teaching methods that you will keep coming back!

State Farm Youth Classic (SFYC) is a competitive, professionally-conducted junior golf tournament for players ages three to 22. Since 2002, SFYC has been working to provide a positive and challenging environment for young golfers to develop and grow their skills. With the help of local businesses and leaders, SFYC has created an event that brings participants and their families from all over the world to the Bloomington-Normal area to create tourism and give a boost to the local economy. An impressive 25-member committee and the contributions of six public golf courses have made SFYC a popular annual event. To date, the tournament has attracted 4,800 golfers. Many of them have gone on to participate in the professional tour, become college golfers, or serve as golf professionals or coaches. The tournament is also conveniently held the week after the Pepsi Little People's Golf Championships in Quincy, Illinois, for those already travelling through the state.

In 1986, Bloomington resident Dennis Shira founded McLean County PONY Baseball. Through much dedication and hard work, the league has developed into a thriving nonprofit organization with a complex of six diamonds, a concession stand, and two storage buildings all constructed without taxpayer money. The complex was recently renamed in honor of the Shira family for their commitment to the league. McLean County PONY Baseball continues to provide children ages 8 to 14 an opportunity to learn, grow, and excel in the game of baseball, all while having fun. The season runs from April to July and concludes with a chance for teams to compete in the World Series. The league also offers instructional and recreational leagues for high school and adult players in the fall. McLean County PONY Baseball provides a great experience for everyone involved.

Paragraph 1: Soccer, volleyball, basketball, football, and a variety of outdoor games are just some of the physical education activities campers get to take part in during the day. They also have the opportunity to focus on their own personal fitness as well as participate in track events. Paragraph 2: In addition to their physical activities, campers also get to take part in one movie station during the day. This provides them with a chance to relax and enjoy some down time. Paragraph 3: Each day, campers also have free time in the morning and afternoon, giving them a chance to explore the outdoors or simply take a break from all the activities. With so many different activities to choose from, campers will never find themselves without something to do.

At our training and coaching facility, we’re dedicated to helping athletes reach their full potential. Our team is passionate about providing the highest quality of training and coaching, which is why we strive to create an environment that fosters confidence, discipline, and leadership skills. We believe that by combining scientific research with practical experience, athletes can achieve success in sports as well as in their overall well-being. With our commitment to excellence, we’ll provide you with the tools necessary to reach your goals.

In 2000, Victory Academy Lions opened its doors and became one of the first All Star cheer teams in the state of Illinois. With just two teams in the beginning, the program quickly grew in popularity and added more and more teams to meet the demand. After 13 successful seasons at Victory Academy, the organization moved to Gymnastics Etc. in Bloomington and the Lions Cheer Company name was born. In December 2017, Jen Nettleton, the program director for over 16 years, retired and Amanda Wait, a former athlete, took her place. The Lions Cheer Company continues to grow and provide quality All Star cheer teams and class programs to the Central Illinois community. After 20 years of service, the Lions Cheer Company is now the longest running All Star program in the entire state of Illinois.

At The Body Compound, your child is guaranteed to gain a well-rounded fitness experience. Our sport program includes the fundamentals of CrossFit, which are gymnastics, metabolic conditioning (cardio) and weightlifting. Each movement will be broken down, and athletes will receive instruction on proper form and technique. We'll tailor the exercises to the individual, scaling the weight or repetitions as needed until the athlete can show proper technique. Safety is of the utmost importance, and we want to make sure every athlete is able to gain speed, strength, and intensity. The 10 components of CrossFit, including strength, speed, power, balance, accuracy, flexibility, coordination, cardio, stamina, and agility, are the focus of our programming. We'll work with each team or individual to cater the programming to their specific needs, but you can rest assured that each workout will be constantly varied, include high intensity, and involve functional movements. Our goal is for each athlete to discover improvement in these areas over the course of the session. At The Body Compound, we work hard to ensure your child gains a comprehensive fitness experience. Our sport program is based on the foundations of CrossFit, and we use the 10 components of CrossFit to create a program that is tailored to the individual or team. We provide instruction on proper form and technique, while scaling weight or repetitions as needed. Every workout is designed to be constantly varied, with high intensity and functional movements. We want every athlete to walk away feeling stronger, faster, and more agile.

Our pro's have experience in all areas of the game and can help you develop the skills to reach your next level.

Gymnastics Etc. is the perfect place for your child to explore the world of gymnastics. Our experienced coaches are dedicated to providing a safe and enjoyable learning experience for every child. We understand that children have different levels of ability, and our mission is to ensure that all kids have the chance to have fun while learning the basics and even more complex skills. At Gymnastics Etc., our coaches strive to help children gain self-worth and confidence through small successes. With over 150+ years of gym life and working with young children, our coaches are passionate about instilling a strong foundation of athleticism and positive reinforcement. We want every child to reach their potential and to feel proud of themselves as they work to exceed their personal goals. Your child’s safety and well-being is our top priority, and we strive to create a fun and welcoming environment that encourages growth and success. With the help of our coaches, your child can enjoy all the benefits of gymnastics and make lasting memories.