Recreation

Columbus offers a wide variety of recreational activities. The base can accommodate almost any interest with professional instruction and topnotch facilities and equipment. Combine this with an unlimited number of local points of interest, attractions and outdoor fun just a short drive away, and you've got everything it takes to make your assignment here an enjoyable and memorable experience.

FITNESS AND SPORTS CENTER
The center is equipped with modern workout equipment including complete Cybex strength training equipment, stationary bicycles, elliptical trainers and treadmills, cross trainers, free weights and stair climbers. The center also features saunas, two racquetball courts and a multipurpose court. Other facilities include an all-weather track and outdoor fitness circuit, lighted tennis and outdoor basketball courts, two lighted regulation softball fields and a soccer and flag football field. Intramural sports programs include basketball, volleyball, softball, flag football, golf and bowling. Special events and runs are held throughout the year. The center's ongoing fitness programs include group exercise classes, fitness incentive programs and Fitness 101 instructional classes. Aerobics and self-defense classes are also available. The center is located at 829 Simler Blvd. The phone number is (662) 434-2772.

BOWLING CENTER
The modern 10 lane AMF bowling center features computerized scoring machines, a pro shop and lockers. Qubica automatic scorers are used and Bowling is offered seven days a week. Lanes are sanctioned by the United States Bowling Congress. Intramural, open and league bowling and tournaments are offered year round. A youth league is also available. The Bowling Center is open seven days a week except holidays, Monday through Thursday, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The bowling center is located at 575 Harpe Blvd., Building 736. The phone number is (662) 434-3426.

GOLF COURSE
Whispering Pines Golf Course features a challenging nine-hole course, putting green, pro shop with snack bar, covered patio, cart and club rentals and professional golf instruction. The golf pro shop is open April through October, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to dusk, and November through March, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to dusk. The golf course is located at the intersection of Bradt and Imes Streets. The phone number is (662) 434-7932.

OUTDOOR RECREATION, EQUIPMENT RENTAL
Outdoor recreation offers a year-round schedule of activities including backpacking, canoeing, white-water rafting, skiing, rappelling, camping, water and wilderness education and a wide variety of recreation and home maintenance equipment is available for rent. Camping gear, tents, pop-up campers, fishing boats, canoes and pontoons, and Jon boats are some of the items available. Lawn and gas garden equipment, canopies, trailers and hitches, and tow and appliance dollies can also be rented.

Spaces are available for storing boats, trailers and recreational vehicles in a fenced and locked area to which owners have access 24 hours a day. Boats and recreational vehicles cannot be stored in base housing. Outdoor recreation and equipment rental are located in Building 152 along with the Information, Tickets and Travel (ITT) office. The phone number is (662) 434-2507.

SHORT TRIPS, VACATION PLANNING AND OUTINGS
The ITT office sells a variety of tickets to various tourist attractions from Six Flags in Georgia to Walt Disney World in Florida to Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Sporting events from the local colleges, such as Mississippi State football, are also available. Discounts are available to several hotels in surrounding states. ITT will also custom build a tour for groups, organizations or units. ITT conducts local, out-of-town and out-of-state tours. Tours costs are based on location, length of time, lodging, if required, per diem and gas. A 27-passenger tour bus is available for tours. A 15-passenger van is also available for tours. Daily tours require a 72-hour notification; overnight tours require two weeks. Planning your personal and vacation travel has never been easier. Stop by the ITT office to book airlines, hotels, rental cars and tours if you want person-to-person interaction or visit http://www.aftravelonline.com to customize the trip of your dreams. Plus, you'll find outstanding values on cruises, tours, vacations and entertainment. Call (662) 434-2507 for more information or visit http://www.cafbservices.com.

SWIMMING POOL
Independence Pool is located next to the Columbus Club on Independence Drive. It features a diving board, a wading pool, a sun deck, locker rooms and a concession area. It is open daily Memorial Day through Labor Day. Lifeguards are on duty at all times. The pool may be booked for parties. Season passes are available at the outdoor recreation center and at Independence Pool. Swimming lessons are available through the outdoor recreation department. For more information, call at (662) 434-2507.

STABLES
The stables have stalls for 15 horses and a wash rack, hay barn, tack room and four pastures. Most stalls have a fenced run. To reach the stables, enter Perimeter Road behind the 14th Security Forces Squadron and follow the road to the southeastern corner of the base. For information, call outdoor recreation at (662) 434-2507.

LIBRARY
The library is responsive to the needs of Columbus AFB's patrons.
Children's Section—Our children's section has its own separate room with bright colors, child-sized chairs and a wide selection of exciting books to inspire life-long interest in reading in our youngest patrons.
Free Internet Access—Just because you don't have a computer doesn't mean you can't affordably keep in touch with relatives back home. We have 10 workstations with Internet access provided by Cable One to let you use the Internet for e-mail and research.
Fiction—All the latest best sellers, in addition to the classics, are available.
Nonfiction—The library has a nonfiction section that's in touch with your needs. Whether its preparation for the SAT, GRE or LSAT, information on repairing a pesky automotive problem or researching medical conditions, the library will be of great assistance.
Military Reading—The Chief of Staff of the Air Force's reading list is available for the professional military education of our civilians, officers and enlisted personnel.
Copying and Facsimile Service—If you need to make copies or send a fax, you don't need to drive all the way into town. The library is the convenient, affordable place to take care of your information needs. Photocopies are 10 cents per page. Sending a fax costs $1 per page and receiving a fax costs only 10 cents per page. The library is at the corner of Harris Street and 7th Street. The phone number is (662) 434-2934.

ARTS AND CRAFTS
Arts and Crafts offers a variety of self-help and service activities and classes. The center is located at 143 B Place. The frame shop features both a do-it-yourself picture framing and a complete customized shop. They frame anything from signed and numbered prints and T-shirts to guns and retirement shadow boxes. The frame shop carries metal and wood frames, paper and rag mats and regular and non-glare glass. It offers a wide variety of aircraft prints and can order other prints for other types of enthusiasts. Dry mounting is available for your posters or other prints. Decorative corners and cuts are also available. The phone number is (662) 434 7856. Do you need a special gift for someone? Stop by Designer's Choice to see the customized gift shop. Designer's Choice features customized T-shirts, mugs, aprons, totes, tiles, license plates, stickers and more. Engraving services, regular or laser, for customized plaques, desk sets, paperweights, award acrylics, pens and more are available. We even have pet tags for your favorite cat or dog. The phone number is (662) 434-7836.

A variety of craft classes are available for children and adults. They include cake decorating, wood shop, frame shop, seasonal crafts, mosaic and more. Stop by and see our display. Classes change monthly. The phone number is (662) 434 7836. Sharpen your skills as you build something special for your home, yard or as a gift at the wood hobby shop. Equipment in the wood hobby shop includes small and large table saws, planning tools, joiner, radial arm saws, belt and disc sanders, band saw and a wide variety of hand-operated power tools. The phone number is (662) 434-7837.

AUTO HOBBY SHOP
The auto hobby shop is equipped for all types of do-it-yourself maintenance. Qualified mechanics are on duty to assist and advise you on everything from minor tune-ups to major overhauls. The center also offers car maintenance and repair, auto detailing and air-conditioner servicing and is a Mississippi safety inspection station. The center also operates a resale lot where you can sell your car, truck, boat or camper shell. The phone number is (662) 434-7842.

COPY CUT-UPS
Copy Cut-Ups is a full-service print shop that designs and prints flyers, business cards, notepads, invitations, banners and posters. Copy Cut-Ups is located in the Arts and Crafts Center in Building 335. The phone number is (662) 434-2337.

THE COLUMBUS CLUB
The Columbus Club is an all-ranks membership club serving lunch Monday through Friday, brunch on select Sundays and specials throughout each month. The club caters parties, receptions and banquets. Enlisted membership is open to all active-duty and retired enlisted people and civilians in grades WG-1-4 and GS-1-6. Officer membership is open to active-duty and retired officers and civilians in grades GS-7 and above. Membership includes reduced meal rates or five percent off many items at most services facilities on base. The Columbus Club is located at 508 Independence Drive. The phone number is (662) 434-2490/2471.

THE LANDING LOUNGE
The Landing Lounge is located in the Columbus Club. It is open Friday evenings and for special events. The phone number is (662) 434-2489.

TIMBERLANE NATURE TRAIL, SAC LAKE
The Timberlane Nature Trail near SAC Lake features three self-guided footpaths. Wild turkeys, rabbits, deer and a variety of birds and small animals are common along the trail. Picnic tables, grills and pavilions are located near the lake. Fishing at SAC Lake requires a Mississippi fishing license validated at the accounting and finance cashier's cage. Children 16 and younger do not need fishing licenses. No hunting is allowed at SAC Lake or in the nature trail area. The nature trails and lake are located at the north end of the base. Follow Independence Drive toward the SAC alert facility. Directional signs begin shortly before the road ends. The nature trail entrance is about 1,000 feet south of the SAC Lake picnic grounds. Columbus AFB has three pavilions that may be rented for $15 for a half-day and $25 for a whole day.

FISHING, HUNTING
Columbus has excellent hunting and fishing opportunities on and off base. A resident state hunting and fishing license is required annually for everyone who wishes to hunt or fish on base. Hunting is permitted in marked areas on base. To hunt on base, you must first pay a fee of $20 for hunting and/or $5 for fishing at the accounting and finance cashier's cage. Then bring your receipt and Mississippi hunting license to one of the base game wardens and receive a mandatory hunter's safety briefing. For more information, call the Natural Resources Manager at (662) 434-7958.

FUN ON THE TENNESSEE-TOMBIGBEE WATERWAY
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers provides numerous opportunities for outdoor recreation along the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, which passes right by the base. The Corps of Engineers manages seven Class A campgrounds, numerous boat ramps and picnic areas and thousands of acres of hunting lands. The Waterway includes Columbus Lake, which is an 8,900-acre lake located near Columbus AFB. Two campgrounds (Dewayne Hayes and Town Creek), three picnic areas (DeWayne Hayes, Waverly, and Stennis Lock East Bank) and four boat ramps are all located within a few minutes of Columbus AFB. Hunting regulations, permits and maps are posted at bulletin boards located at all of the Corps of Engineers' boat ramps. Permits and maps can also be downloaded from their website at http://tenntom.sam.usace.army.mil. For more information, call the Corps of Engineers at (662) 327-2142.