Getting your child involved in group activities can be a positive way for them to have fun and learn important life skills, and youth sports can be one outlet that provides that experience. Here in East Orlando, there are several youth sports leagues that children and even their families can get involved in. For football lovers there is Flag Football 4 Fun, which houses leagues in Texas and across Central Florida, including in Waterford Lakes. The league is sponsored by the NFL and includes boys and girls ages 5-16. There are no tryouts for the league, so everyone who signs up will be placed... Read more

The Lake Nona community is synonymous with healthy living, which includes keeping fit and active. One way residents can maintain their physical health is through the Lake Nona Athletic Club, a group that participates in athletic activities like running and cycling. The club was formed in 2010 and is the brainchild of Club President Jim Roycroft and Lake Nona Vice President Richard Levey. Both men wanted to create something that would help Lake Nona residents get up and get active. Members of the Lake Nona Athletic Club training on Lake Nona Boulevard. “It started as a brainstorm. We wanted... Read more

Spending some time in the great outdoors can be a fun way to relax and escape the hustle and bustle of daily life. Although Central Florida is known for its theme parks, it also has quite a few public parks that can satisfy your family’s urge to experience our area’s natural wonders. In East Orlando, there are two large parks that welcome campers: Hal Scott Regional Preserve and Park, and Moss Park. For those who like to camp the old-fashioned way - in a tent underneath the stars - Hal Scott Preserve is the park to visit. Located near the Wedgefield subdivision, Hal Scott Preserve... Read more

When the sleek doors open to the Renaissance Senior Center at South Econ Community Park, an Orange County citizen walks into a diverse community entirely. There is a table of women gossiping in the lounge area. Men shoot pool in the room to the right. And everyone is proudly wearing a smile. The Renaissance Senior Center offers a little bit of everything, from yoga and zumba to step aerobics for citizens in the area. But it’s not just seniors who can utilize the programs offered there. The Renaissance Senior Center offers a sense of community and a chance to socialize for citizens, and... Read more

Back to Nature Wildlife Refuge & Education Center would be described as the best kept secret in Orlando by Bonnie Westereld, a volunteer there since 2005. The small nursery and various animal habitats are tucked neatly amidst the trees, and despite the quaint atmosphere of the space, it is quickly becoming too small a set up for the current intake of animals. “People who find injured or orphaned animals bring them to us and we take in about 2,500 to 3,000 every year,” says Carissa Kent, director of marketing for Back to Nature (BTN). Westereld notes, “The amount of animals... Read more