02-16-2023 Howard Mag - Flipbook - Page 59
Johns Hopkins University and the University
of Maryland are national powers in lacrosse,
while Maryland and the U.S. Naval Academy
play top-rated football schedules. Maryland also
consistently hosts ranked men’s and women’s
basketball teams.
Howard Community College fields teams at
the National Junior College Athletic Association
Division III level in several sports.
Meanwhile, Howard County public high
school teams often win state championships.
Active kids
Football, soccer, swimming — the area’s
youth leagues encourage activity, competition
and improving skills. Clubs and organizations
throughout the county offer baseball, tennis,
softball, basketball, gymnastics, wrestling, rugby,
cross country, ice hockey, figure skating, track
and field, volleyball, football, cheerleading and
lacrosse.
Other youth organizations offer group fitness
classes or gym facilities for kids.
Atholton Youth Recreation Association
(baseball and softball)
877-297-2421, ayra.com
Clippers Swim Team
teamunify.com/Home.jsp?team=mdcaa
Columbia Neighborhood Swim League
columbiaassociation.org/classes-schedules/
pools/cnsl
Elkridge Youth Organization (basketball,
soccer, baseball and softball)
eyosports.org
Howard County Lacrosse Program
hclacrosse.com
Howard County Recreation & Parks
410-313-4700, howardcountymd.gov/rap
Howard County Youth Program (basketball,
baseball and softball)
410-461-7694, hcyp.org
Kangaroo Kids Precision Jump Rope Team
301-490-4995, kangarookids.org
Savage Boys and Girls Club (basketball,
baseball and softball)
savagebgc.org
Soccer Association of Columbia/Howard
County
410-203-9590, sackick.com
Western Howard County Soccer
whcsoccer.org
Western Howard County Youth Baseball &
Softball League
whcsports.com
The Y of Central Maryland in Ellicott City
Dancel Family Center
410-465-4334, ymaryland.org
Adult leagues
For adults, the competition can be as serious
as the athlete, and the variety of league sports
Following some time in the water, 5-year-old Theodore Wu dries off on a lounge chair on a hot
Saturday afternoon at the Roger Carter Community Center splash pad and pool in Ellicott City.
PHOTO BY DOUG KAPUSTIN
— many sponsored by the county’s Department
of Recreation and Parks (howardcountymd.gov/
rap) — includes golf, tennis, bowling, basketball, softball, kickball, badminton, cricket and
ultimate disc.
fishing, camping, canoeing and horseback riding
trails. (Patapsco Valley State Park, 8020 Baltimore National Pike, Ellicott City, 410-461-5005;
Patuxent River State Park, 11950 Clopper Road,
Gaithersburg, 301-924-2127).
For people with disabilities
Pools
The Special Olympics of Howard County involves around 800 athletes with intellectual and
related developmental disabilities who compete
in 20 sports, including soccer, tennis, swimming,
golf, power lifting and bocce. 410-740-0500 or
somdhc.org.
Therapeutic Recreation and Inclusion
Services offers integrated sports and arts programs, social groups, summer support camps
and community outings for those with mental or
physical disabilities. 410-313-4628 or howardcountymd.gov/therapeutic-rec.
Many of the Columbia Association’s facilities
are ADA accessible (columbiaassociation.org/
ada).
The Columbia Association offers 23 outdoor
pools, two mini-water parks and indoor pools at
five locations: Columbia Athletic Club (410-7306744), Columbia Gym (410-531-0800), Columbia
Swim Center (410-730-7000), Haven on the
Lake (410-715-3020) and Supreme Sports Club
(410-381-5355). A number of private gyms and
clubs also offer pools.
Columbia Association Pools
columbiaassociation.org/classes-schedules/
pools/
Roger Carter Community Center
410-313-2764, howardcountymd.gov/rccc
Parks
The Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks maintains more than 40 regional and neighborhood parks with trails, courts,
sports fields, pavilions, and areas for fishing and
boating. Visit howardcountymd.gov/rap for a
park directory, or call 410-313-4700.
Maryland Park Service (877-620-8367 or dnr.
maryland.gov) operates two state parks with
portions in Howard County. Both offer hiking,
Walking paths
A 95-mile pathway system honeycombs
Columbia, and there are miles of hiking trails
in Patapsco Valley State Park and in Patuxent
River State Park. It’s 1.9 miles around Lake
Elkhorn, 1.4 miles around Wilde Lake, 2.6 miles
around Centennial Lake and 1.5 miles around
Lake Kittamaqundi. The county’s Department of
Recreation and Parks also maintains dozens of
regional and neighborhood parks with trails.
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