Blind Community Center of San Diego

Programs

The Blind Community Center has several programs designed to further the goal of providing the blind and visually impaired with social and recreational activities to enrich their lives.

Blindness Support Group

This is an informal weekly get-together to exchange information, ideas, and experiences related to the challenges of blindness and visual impairment.

Bowling

Members visit Parkway Bowl, at 1280 Fletcher Parkway in El Cajon. This full-service family bowling center has bowling balls available in all sizes, as well as shoes for rent.

Chollas Lake Experience/Lake Murray Fishing

When City of San Diego Park Ranger Allison Palmer was transferred from Mission Bay Park to become the Chollas Lake ranger, she wanted to provide recreational opportunities to the blind community. She now hosts a monthly outing, usually at Chollas Lake or Lake Murray. The lake visits might be fishing, or a nature walk, or bird feeding. Ranger Allison has also hosted members at the Botanical Building in Balboa Park, providing plants to touch and smell.

Cooking with Christie

Christie Greene conducts a cooking party on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. The recipes are delicious and relatively easy to prepare.

Craft class

Each Monday and Tuesday, San Diego Community College District presents a craft class. Members learn bead crafts, ceramics, knitting and other yarn projects, and much more. Class is not conducted on SDCCD holidays.

Exercise Class

Jake Holmes of Pilates United, private fitness studios in San Diego and La Jolla, leads exercise classes each Wednesday. Over the past 18 years Jake and his staff have successfully trained thousands of clients from teenage Olympic hopefuls and professional NFL players to housewives and stroke victims. Classes will focus on weight-bearing exercises balance work.

Night Walks

Weather permitting, BCC members have the opportunity to take a guided night walk on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. Art Durson of the BCC and Bruce Herns of Walkabout International are the organizers of this activity, which has been going on for more than 30 years.

Walkabout International volunteers have guided BCC members in walks all around the county, including beaches, neighborhoods, and university campuses. During the summer, the walks often include a stop at the Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park for an outdoor concert.

For information and to sign up, contact Art Durson at 619-283-0879.

Self-defense Class

Mario Schapp of Satori Arts teaches the Korean martial art of soo bahk do every Saturday at the BCC. Mario is a third degree black belt who teaches at two area martial arts studios. To visit Mario's Web page about his work with the blind community, click here.