The recently completed Recreation Center will host plenty of events and options this winter geared towards both the body and the mind. This year, there will be programs that focus on arts and sciences to keep the mind engaged and offer alternative activities to socialize and beat the winter blues.

Full programming information will be available in December for winter programs at newulmmn.gov.

Registration for Winter and Spring activities will begin Jan. 5.

Swim lessons are always a popular program year-around offered by the Park and Rec department and the next session will be offered in January and they will continue to run throughout the year, along with the return of the swim club. Swim club offers an opportunity for those that have passed at least a Level 3 swim lesson to continue their skills and improve on their distance and strokes outside of traditional swim lessons.

Submitted photo The New Ulm Park and Recreation Department will have the Rock on Ice events on Fridays this winter for those ages 12-18 and it will go from 7-9 p.m.

Many other youth programs will return this winter as well. These will include Child/Adult Fit and Fun. There will also be new sports programs, camps and science programs available.

Adult basketball leagues will start in January and are played on Sunday nights through March. Registration for this will begin Dec. 6. Also, the Glow Day in the Park event will return in late January and the free event includes games and activities at Harman Park late afternoon and early evening as well as concession items available for sale and a bonfire in the parking lot.

This spring, archery programs will return at the Civic Center and will be offered for both youth and adults. Weightlifting programs for women and seniors will return this winter as well as programming geared for beginners.

The annual weight-loss challenge will be offered again in the Recreation Center this winter beginning in December. This 60-day challenge will start in mid-January and is a team competition this year.

Also, the Rock on Ice for ages 12-18 will be on Friday nights from 7-9 p.m. Open Broomball for adults will be most Wednesday nights at the Civic Center through the winter and Open Pickleball is played almost daily at the Rec Center (M-F, 12:30-2:30 p.m.; Saturdays 10:30-12 p.m.).

The New Ulm Park and Recreation Department will have arts and science classes to keep the mind engaged this winter.

Open swims occur weekly at the Rec Center Mondays and Wednesdays at the Rec Pool (4-6:30 p.m.). The entire pool is open Saturdays and Sundays from 11-5 p.m.

Adult open basketball will also be Tuesday and Saturday mornings and more than 30 fitness classes will be offered that accomodate a variety of fitness levels.

Archery classes will be offered by the New Ulm Park and Recreation Department this spring at the New Ulm Recreation Center.