NORWICH — The City of Norwich Youth Bureau is offering several winter programs this year, including junior wrestling, pre-season softball and baseball, winter cheerleading, bowling, and a Winter Fun Club.

"We've got our programs in place that we're hoping to offer," said Youth Bureau Director Anthony Testani. "We've got instructors set up and volunteers to man these. So I think we're good to go right now."

All the offered programs are free of charge, and open to residents of several municipalities.

"All our programs are free. Our programs are offered to all city residents. City of Norwich, and then we contract with the Town of Norwich, North Norwich, Plymouth and Preston, and Pharsalia," said Testani. "We won't turn kids away. If anybody's in the outlying towns that want to participate in one of the programs, it's available to them."

While the Youth Bureau offers winter programs every year, Testani said some of the programs offered this year are new.

"The Winter Fun Club is new, it'll be the first year we're offering that," he said. "Winter Fun Club is going to be similar to what we did in the summer. We're going to have an after school program, and hopefully for kids K through sixth grade. It'll be just kind of like arts and crafts type of activity."

He added that the winter cheerleading is new to the winter programs as well, and that soccer is being brought back after a several year hiatus.

To register, parents can find sign-up forms on the Youth Bureau website, pick up a physical copy of the form right at the Youth Bureau office in City Hall, or attend a registration night on December 1. Completed forms can be dropped off at City Hall at any time.

"They can go online to the Youth Bureau website on the city web page, and download an application and registration form there. They fill it out and drop it off at the city offices. Or they can swing by the city offices, I have registration forms right outside my door," Testani explained. "We'll have registration December 1 at 6:30 [p.m.] here at City Hall, or the city offices."

All programs will also be subject to current COVID guidelines, according to Testani.

"We're going to follow all the standard guidelines that are in place at the schools. So, you know, wrestling is going on right now, the schools are requiring masks in the common areas of the school. So all our wrestlers will need to be wearing masks as they come and go from the school," he said. "If we're using the school facilities, we're gonna be following the school guidelines as far as restrictions go."

In addition to the winter programs, Testani said the Youth Bureau is hoping to get the ice skating rink on Borden Avenue up and running this winter.

"We're also going to be offering skating at the ice skating facility this year. So when the weather turns cold enough, we can start making ice," he said. "That's open to the public free of charge. Ice skating rentals are free of charge."

Once the rink has been iced over and is open for business, hours will be Monday through Friday, from 4 to 9 p.m., and Saturdays from noon to 9 p.m.

Beyond that, the Youth Bureau is also hoping to hold their annual movie screening at the Colonia Theater, as well as a possible winter trip. Stay tuned on the City of Norwich Youth Bureau Facebook page, where more information on these events will be posted as it becomes available.

Testani took over as Youth Bureau Director in August of this year. With just over two months under his belt, he said he's been enjoying his time as Director.

"I like it a lot. It's different from what I was doing, and it's nice to get out there and be involved with the community, getting to meet people, working with youth again," said Testani. "I was a volunteer coach for 15 years, and so I stopped doing that about four years ago. But now it's fun to get back with the youth. Makes you feel young."

2021 Youth Bureau winter programs

Softball: Norwich Soccer Center, Maple St, Norwich
Mondays and Wednesdays, Grades 3 through 6, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Starts January 3

Winter Fun Club: Guernsey Memorial Library, Court Street, Norwich
Mondays, Grades K through 6, 3:30 to 5 p.m.
Starts January 3

Soccer: Norwich Soccer Center, Maple Street, Norwich
Tuesdays and Thursdays, Grades 3 through 6, 7 to 8 p.m.
Starts January 4

Cheerleading: Perry Browne Intermediate School
Tuesdays and Thursdays, Grades 2 through 6, 6 to 7 p.m.
Starts January 4

Baseball: Norwich Soccer Center, Maple Street, Norwich
Tuesdays, Grades 2 and 3, 6 to 7 p.m.
Thursdays, Grades 4 through 6, 6 to 7 p.m.
Starts January 4

Bowling: Norwich Elks Lodge BPOE #1222, 14 East Main Street, Norwich
Saturdays, Grades 3 through 6, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Starts January 8