Virtual Recreation

Special Events 

Virtual SPD Women's Personal Safety Class 3/18/21

Learn how to be proactive and enhance your personal safety, how to avoid dangerous situations and decrease the odds of becoming a victim. Presented to you by female Seattle police officers and female employees; this is not a self-defense class. For questions please email Vicki at PKS_Virtual_Programs@seattle.gov. Prior to event, a link will be sent to join through Webex. Register for the Virtual SPD Women's Personal Safety Class here.

Recreation to Go Kits

This February we are developing more fun Recreation Go kits. Please check back in April for an Earth Day kit!

Free Classes

Civil Conversation in an Angry Age

At what point does a conversation become a battle? Why do some opinions inflame our emotions, leading to anger, fights, and even the end of relationships with family and friends?Philosopher David E. Smith takes a deep look at those moments when civility breaks down. Learn more about this class here.

Let it Not Happen Again: Lesson of the Japanese American Exclusion - Intended for age 35+

In March of 1942, 227 Japanese Americans were forcibly removed from their homes on Bainbridge Island by the US Army. Starting with this small community, a national strategy began, with more than 120,000 Japanese American men, women, and children forcibly removed and incarcerated during World War II. Clarence Moriwaki shares the story of Bainbridge Island-the origin point of the Japanese American exclusion-to provide a human, historical account of this national tragedy, and to ask the question: Are there parallels to what's happening in America now? Moriwaki uses historical images, including historical and current propaganda, to explore the fear, racism, and failure of political leadership that led to these unconstitutional actions during World War II, and why we must not let it happen again. Sign up here.

Programming Overview

Through Virtual Recreation you can explore new opportunities to learn and engage from the safety of your own home. Visit the Seattle Parks and Recreation YouTube channel, where you can explore casual recreation, environmental education, children's story-time and other videos created by Seattle Parks and Recreation staff. We are also expanding our structured virtual programs, which you can browse and register for classes here. It's a selection of community center favorites including Adult & Senior Fitness Classes, Chess, Cooking, Creative Dance, Group Piano Lessons, and Video Game Design, along with a variety of Specialized Population Programs.

Seattle Parks and Recreation's mission is to provide welcoming and safe opportunities to play, learn, contemplate, and build community, and promote responsible stewardship of the land. For any questions about the Virtual Programs on this page, please email PKS_Virtual_Programs@seattle.gov.

Free Virtual Recreation Videos

Arts and Crafts

Being creative allows us to open our minds to the possibilities. Here are some ways to stay creative while being stuck at home.

Suitable for Families and Specialized Programs participants: 

Art with Sav

woman making stamp art on table at home


Come get creative by doing simple arts and crafts with Savannah. Using items from your home we will make art for those of all ages and abilities. Let's have some fun!

Adult, Family, Teens, Youth:

Crafting with Chuck

Join Chuck in some fun art and crafts, using supplies that you can find around the house. These projects are good for the whole family!

Environmental learning:

 Seattle Parks and Recreation naturalist Jeanie sings us the Decomposition Song.

Jeanie from our Environmental Education Unit explains the meaning behind those chirps we hear at dawn.

Keep Learning

We all know that learning never ends. During this unprecedented time at home, take advantage of the opportunity to learn something new with our engaging recreation staff.

An older boy is playing chess with 2 younger boys and one onlooker who is smiling at the camera.

Aquatics, Environmental Learning, Athletics, Lifelong, Recreation, Specialized Programs:

Ranger Rose from the Environmental Learning program shows young folks an easy technique to find insects and gently study them. For your back yard or in a park near you!

Earthworms love rainy weather!  Lan Lum, a naturalist from Seattle Parks and Recreation, is here to share why earthworms emerge after the rain and other interesting facts about this important nature friend.

Giovannina from our Environmental Education Unit explains fun ways to identify plants in your garden and neighborhood.


ASL with Kat
Learn some basic signs in American Sign Language with Kat. Follow along with the video as she shows and explains how to sign common and useful words and terms in ASL.

Nature, Outdoors & Food

Explore the beauty of Seattle from the safety of your own home ... or explore new recipes. Here you will find a variety of entertainment and engagement.

Aquatics & Environmental Learning: 

Athletics, Lifelong Recreation, Specialized Programs:

Camp Song Sing-a-Longs and Flashback Videos

Specialized Programs staff missed being at camp and seeing everyone this year, so we thought we'd bring a little bit of camp to you with fun Camp Flashback Videos and Camp Song Sing-a-Longs! Join our staff as we visit pictures from summer's past and sing silly tunes.  

Hannah's Kitchen

A boy and girl are cutting strawberries while two other girls are conversing in the background

Learn how to cook enjoyable and easy recipes with Hannah S. in her kitchen. She will demonstrate basic kitchen skills, teach the importance of different foods, and give us a glimpse of her back yard garden! 

Anne from Lifelong Recreation shows us her meringue kisses recipe.

Performing Arts

Explore the world of performing arts with these opportunities that teach you to express yourself creatively through dance and movement.  

Athletics, Lifelong, Recreation, Specialized Programs, Adult, Family, Teens, Youth, Tot:

a teacher and young girls practicing ballet steps

Movement Breaks

Movement Breaks are activities that remind us to stay physically active! Each week features different ways of moving, such as aerobics, strength exercises, and stretching. Some weeks feature adaptive content for people with physical limitations or disability. Try it out and take a Movement Break today! 

Group Collaborative Videos  

Check out some happy moments from Specialized Programs staff! Recreation is more than just play - it's the way we learn, grow, stay healthy, and build our community. We like to have fun at Specialized Programs so watch these videos and ... come play with us!

Sports & Fitness

Now more than ever, health and well-being are a priority for our community. We hope this inspires you to stay active in a safe and engaging way.

Aquatics, Environmental Leaning, Athletics, Lifelong, Recreation, Specialized Programs: 

Movement Breaks

Woman doing yoga, stretched face down lifting their body by their hands and one foot, with the other foot lifted into the air.

Movement Breaks are activities that remind us to stay physically active! Each week features different ways of moving, such as aerobics, strength exercises, and stretching. Some weeks feature adaptive content for people with physical limitations or disability. Try it out and take a Movement Break today!