Staying active is a vital part of creating a healthy lifestyle, and at Strode Independent Living we strive to offer a variety of activities for the mind, body, and the soul. From daily afternoon social hours to exercise opportunities and creative outlets both indoors and outdoors, there’s a little something for everyone.
Fitness Rooms
Your ongoing wellbeing is an essential part of life at Strode, and we believe staying physically active is key to remaining healthy. Here you don’t need to join an expensive gym. You don’t even need to leave the building to exercise, not when there are two fitness spaces right within our walls.
The fitness room on the Main Level is home to our treadmills, recumbent bicycles, and a weight bench.
The Upper Level fitness room is an open space allowing for yoga or ball exercises. It is also equipped with a balance bar.
If you need help with any of the equipment, our wellness nurse is available to offer use and safety instructions.
Arts and Crafts Studio
Our Arts and Crafts Studio is located on the Upper Level. With bright northern light, this space is perfect for painting or sewing, we’ve even held a few Paint and Sip events here.
Game Room
Also located on the Upper Level, our Game Room is fitted with a ping pong table and supplies for games like Cribbage and Dominoes.
Theater Room
Outfitted with a large flat screen TV, our Theater Room is located on the Upper Level across from the Arts and Crafts Studio and Game Room. It hosts Friday Night Movie Nights featuring a film selected by our residents. We also use this room for smaller presentations and meetings.
Library
Our library, located on the Main Level, is a quiet, comfortable place to relax. Large windows flood the room with light and sweeping views of the mountains across the valley. Here you can snuggle on a couch or nestle into a chair with a good read or set up a puzzle at the small table tucked under the windows.
The shelves are lined with books covering a variety of genres, with a small sampling of books on loan from the Kimball Library. Our book collection fills the library space itself as well as some of the shelving in the lounge area.
Our Library Committee oversees our book collection from soliciting and gathering donations to purchasing new books.
The library is also home to a bulletin board with postings on upcoming events and offers direct access to our balcony.
Woodshop
The Spahn Woodshop offers woodworking enthusiasts the opportunity to embrace the independent living lifestyle while continuing the hobbies they love, all without the need to house a garage-full of tools.
The 360 sq. foot space located on the Lower Level is open to all residents. The shop is fitted with a table saw, drill press, bandsaw, lathe, sanders, an assortment of handheld tools, and a full dust collection system. And resident Arny Spahn, the driving force behind the space, is happy to teach others how to use the equipment.
Groups
We have several active resident-run groups meeting regularly within the community, including:
- Garden Group
- Library Committee
- Walking Group
- Writing and Book Groups
As our community grows we hope to create even more groups to offer additional activity and socialization opportunities.
Outdoor Activities
The activities we offer are not limited to the indoors. With 30 scenic acres in Randolph Center, our grounds offer residents numerous opportunities to enjoy Vermont’s great outdoors.
Running along the western side of the Strode Independent Living building are six raised flower and herb gardens. Tended by the residents, these beds offer spectacular flowers and greenery from spring through fall.
To the north of our building, we have a 50 x 50 foot fenced-in vegetable garden. Also tended to by our residents, this garden yields an abundant supply of yummy lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, carrots and more.
Past the garden is a meandering walking trail that takes you down to a seating area anchored by a flagpole and rock garden. It then continues on to our small pond before looping back up to the apple orchard and fenced-in garden. Many benches are available along the way.
Special Presentations
Gallery Artist Meet and Greets
Located in our main lobby, our gallery space provides a wonderful opportunity for local artists to display their work. Shows run for approximately five weeks and include a wine and cheese social for residents and priority depositors to get to know each of the artists and the stories behind the work they’re displaying.
Third Thursday Lectures
Held on the third Thursday of every month, this lecture series invites attendees to join us for talks by local subject-matter experts. These events are open to our residents and the general public.
Topics have covered a wide variety of interests from local hotspots like the Brookfield Floating Bridge to authors, hobbyists (beekeeping and apple cider making), and products made in Vermont like chocolates, cheese, and maple sugar.
Health Talks
As a way to help keep our community active and informed we hold monthly “Health Talks.” These events bring local health care and alternative medicine professionals in to our community for lectures and demonstrations. Speakers have covered a variety of topics, from osteoporosis and bone health, to balance issues and fall prevention, chronic pain and acupuncture, diabetes management, and even senior driving safety. These talks are open to both residents and the general public. Sign up for our newsletter to learn about upcoming Health Talk events.
