Arctic Oasis offers family fun

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Wes Wright
  • JBER Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  With summer in full bloom, all of Alaska could be considered an oasis, but for JBER families and service members, the Arctic Oasis Community Center is a paradise that blooms year-round.

The Arctic Oasis, in Building 9497 on 20th St., provides a meeting place for a host of activities, including table tennis, foosball, video games, pool, darts, board games, micro golf, an indoor archery range, an indoor skate park, indoor playgrounds for big and small children, full-swing golf, and two rock climbing walls.

Also, the center features Nautilus equipment, stair steppers, treadmills, and Lifecycles. The center also provides a location for Information, Tickets and Travel, the Paradise Café, and Paradise Cuts.

"Our mission is to provide families and groups quality recreation and programs," said Karl Croft, 673d Force Support Squadron Artic Oasis community center director.

According to Croft, the rock-climbing walls are the most popular draw at the oasis.

"Kids are fearless," Croft said. "We have a 24-foot self-belaying climbing wall and a 30-foot horizontal boulder wall."

Patrons are required to check out a safety harness and receive instruction from staff prior to use. Children must be supervised by an adult.

The themes of family bonding and fitness are interwoven into the way the Aasis is laid out.

"Oftentimes, it can be difficult for a parent to make it to the gym," Croft said. "This is a parent-supervised facility, so we have our fitness equipment set up to where it directly faces the playground. Parents can get in a workout while their kids have fun in a safe environment."

In keeping with the family fun theme, the center has picnic benches set up around the facility and people are encouraged to bring lunches and "make a day of it," Croft said.

Families and military units are also encouraged to take advantage of birthday and celebration packages the center offers.

"We offer birthday and celebration packages at varying rates, depending on how big you want to go," Croft said. "We do all the setup: tables, balloons, streamers ... the works. We have a lot of birthdays and unit celebrations here."

As part of its party catering service, the oasis has a "Ballooney Bin," which stocks a large assortment of balloons: from standard happy birthday to extra-large cartoon character likenesses.

For anyone looking to start a new hobby or acquire a new skill, the Arctic Oasis offers three different martial arts classes: Ketsugen karate, taekwondo, and Tang Soo Do.

Additionally, ballet, tap and jazz dance classes are offered, as well as golf lessons on a golf simulator.

The Arctic Oasis also has a licensed massage therapist on-site for anyone looking to relax or receive deep tissue therapy.

"Another thing our young folks may not be aware of is that we handle the JBER Single Service member Program," Croft said.

We offer discounted rafting, zip line and fishing charter trips at a heavily discounted price to get service members out do things they might not otherwise be able to afford."

The program's mission is to provide force support squadron resources that foster a strong culture, mission, and sense of community for single service members.

Active duty military can like their Facebook page: JBER Single Airman Program to receive notifications of upcoming events. They can also sign up for an email distribution list at the Arctic Oasis front counter.

Finally, the center offers several computer terminals with internet access and a printer for whatever a patron's needs may be. Free Wi-Fi is also offered throughout the facility.  

For more information on the facility or programs offered, call 552-8529, or visit the 673d FSS website at www.elmendorf-richardson.com.