Summer may be the best time to discover the Lynnwood Senior Center. A program of the city of Lynnwood, the center offers 50 classes, trips and activities per week on average during the season, including popular hiking, kayaking and golf programs.
“Summer is our big outdoor rec time,” said Mary-Anne Grafton, senior center supervisor. “We are going outside and doing outdoor stuff 12 times a month.”
For those who like to hit the trail, Lynnwood Senior Center’s hiking program offers moderate and challenging hikes throughout Western Washington. Several trips are planned this summer, including a gondola ride and hike up Crystal Mountain and a trip to Talapus and Olallie lakes. There will also be a kayaking trip to Cama Beach on Camano Island, a trip to Lopez Island, and an outing to learn how to ride Link Light Rail, which includes getting an Orca card and riding from downtown to Sea-Tac Airport.
But it’s not all about getting outdoors at Lynnwood Senior Center. The facility itself, less than a year old, is home to a wealth of weekly activities, from health and wellness classes to continuing education to opportunities to volunteer.
In addition to ongoing activities like bridge games and foreign language study groups, the center is offering several new programs in the coming months, including a balance class based on tai chi and a yoga class designed for adults age 62 and up that comes highly recommended for those who have gotten out of the habit of exercising. In September, a Zumba Gold class designed for older adults will be offered. The center also is holding two new discussion groups, “Our Choices, Our Lives,” which focuses on personal growth, and “My Journey,” which focuses on spiritual issues.
After being temporarily housed in a rental space off Highway 99, the remodeled Lynnwood Senior Center officially opened last year on July 7. The new building is approximately 4,400 square feet and includes a computer lab, kitchen space and two classrooms. It is located next door to the newly renovated Lynnwood Recreation Center, which provides an ideal venue for the senior center’s ongoing fitness programs.
“A number of new people are finding us here,” said Grafton, who reported that the center’s proximity to bus stops and the library make it easy to get to.
The senior center is staffed by two full-time and two part-time employees. There are also more than 80 volunteers who contributed in excess of 6,000 hours last year. The volunteers teach classes, run the front desk, and do service projects in the community.
“We couldn’t function without our volunteers,” said Grafton, explaining that they provide a crucial link between the senior center and the Lynnwood community. In fact, senior center volunteers and members recently donated more than 50 pounds of food to the Lynnwood Food Bank and 2,645 hats and scarves made by the Mile-a-Minute Knitters group. The center’s latest service project involved crafting May Day baskets for low-income seniors living in a nearby Lynnwood housing project.
“It’s very important that we stay engaged with the greater Lynnwood community. Our focus is not just here [in the center],” Grafton said.
Perhaps the best thing about the senior center is the fact that you don’t have to be a “senior” to join. Anyone of any age can be a member.
“We welcome membership, but it’s not required. The members receive discounts on activity fees and access to some events at no cost,” said Grafton, adding that younger adults who wants to accompany their older senior parent on outings often join.
The Lynnwood Senior Center is located at 19000 44th Ave. W. and is open from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.