Get Creative! Weekend Fun Isn’t Just for Kids
To me, the arrival of the weekend is like savoring a piece of rich, dark chocolate after a day of drinking green smoothies and eating salmon and vegetables. It’s a treat, a reward for all the hard work we adults do at our professional and parenting jobs during the week.
We celebrate our weekend time in a variety of ways. We watch movies, meet friends for dinner, go on trail runs or, conversely, sit on our bums and scroll through Facebook for hours. All of these ways to unwind from the workweek have merit, but we often find ourselves repeating the same activities over and over again.
Then we get in a rut. And somehow the weekend is just not that rewarding anymore.
That’s when it’s time to try something new, something that challenges us and enables us to discover skills and talents that we didn’t know we had. That’s when it’s time to learn.
There are many area organizations that offer weekend programs for adults in art, history, gardening, nature, yoga, and more. Look over this list and see if something stirs your soul to learn, create, and move.
LEARN
George Washington Carver National Monument, 646 Carver Road, Diamond, MO
Just a 20-minute drive south of Joplin, this national park celebrates the life of George Washington Carver, a former slave who became an accomplished scientist, teacher, and philanthropist. The visitor center here offers programs which honor Carver’s passion for nature and learning. Channel your inner scientist at a lab demonstration (I made peanut milk at the one I went to), attend a special program such as Wonders of the Night Sky or the Plant-Based Cooking Workshop, or listen and learn at special presentations such as Women in Carver’s Life or Encouraging the Next Generation. Click here for upcoming programs.
Joplin Greenhouse & Garden Center,2820 East 32nd Street, Joplin
More than just a great place to buy healthy plants (it’s where I buy mine every spring), Joplin Greenhouse is also a learning center, offering workshops such as Beginning Beekeeping and Hipster Houseplants. Click here for upcoming programs.
Shoal Creek Conservation Education Center, 201 Riviera Drive, Joplin
Surrounded by some of the area’s most scenic hiking trails, this center (formerly known as Wildcat Glades Conservation & Audubon Center) contains a nature discovery area and classrooms for special programming. Learn about local nature at Discover Winter Birds or Ozark Chinquapin: A Lost Treasure. The center also offers skills sessions for hunter education. Click here for upcoming programs.
CREATE
Create N Sip Studios,223 Third Street, Joplin
Here’s another studio where you can create and socialize. Also, at Create N Sip you can imbibe in your favorite drink as you create (bring your own, or purchase one at the studio’s bar). Create N Sip offers a variety of class themes. I’ve been to one where my friends and I painted designs on wine glasses, one where I painted a portrait of my dog, and a Date Night class where my husband and I each painted a panel that, when put next to the other, made a complete picture called a diptych. Click here for upcoming classes.
Firehouse Pottery, 112 South Main Street, Joplin
This paint-your-own pottery studio makes it easy to individualize a piece of art. Drop in during studio hours, select an unfinished piece of pottery and paint colors, then personalize your creation. The staff at Firehouse will guide you along the way. Bring your special someone for Friday night Date Night, or your BFF for Girls’ Night (which is on Tuesdays, but I’m including this so you can plan a weekday escape, too! Click here to see what it’s like.). Click here for upcoming programs.
Joplin Greenhouse & Garden Center,2820 East 32nd Street, Joplin
Yes, Joplin Greenhouse makes the list again! This time, it’s for hands-on workshops where you can create things like Fairy Gardens, Macramé Hangers, and Christmas Wreaths. Click here for upcoming programs.
Spiva Center for the Arts, located inside the Harry M. Cornell Arts and Entertainment Complex, 212 West Seventh Street, Joplin
Since 1947, Spiva has served as the art hub of the Four States, thanks to the many classes and programs its offers the community. Try Basic Drawing, Fun & Funky Upcycled Hats, Pysanky Egg Decorating, or the Fused Glass Tray class. Click here for upcoming programs.
MOVE
4 States Yoga and Restoration Center, 2615 North Range Line Road, Joplin
In addition to a weekend Vinyasa Yoga class, 4 States Yoga offers Barre and Tai Chi classes, as well as special workshops, like Aerial Yoga and Self-Defense. Click here for classes and programs.
Soar Trampoline Park,1502 South Madison Street, Webb City, MO
Get a cardio workout while jumping on trampolines! Soar’s 45-minute Saturday morning ExSOARcise class includes jumping and floor exercises, and is open to all experience levels. Click here for more information.
If you’re content with your current weekend plans, kudos to you. But if you ever find yourself in a rut, come back to this list. There’s sure to be something at one of these locations that will beckon you to learn, create, or move.
WANT MORE?
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This article was commissioned by the Joplin CVB, however the opinions expressed are purely my own. The purpose of Joplin MO Life is to highlight all the best that our area has to offer, and when an article is written about a restaurant, business, attraction, or event, it is because I have had an enjoyable experience and want to share it with others.
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Living Life to The Fullest!
I love seeking out new experiences and finding places off the beaten path. I started Joplin MO Life in August 2013 as a way to share my discoveries with others in the Joplin community so that they can learn about the resources that exist right in their own backyards.I have worked in education and event planning, and have always loved to write. I hold a master's degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma and a bachelor's degree in marketing from Tulane University.
