Ellis Recreation

Ellis Rec NCAA Bracket Challenge:

Welcome to Ellis Rec NCAA Bracket Challenge

This is a FREE event and there will be prizes for the Top 3 places. Only one entry per person.

Members pick all 63 games of the NCAA Tournament.
Each participant is limited to a single entry in the contest.
Points are awarded for each correct pick.
Points values increase as the tournament progresses, as follows:
The pool does not use a seed point bonus. Correct picks will be awarded the points assigned for each round.
The tiebreaker is the combined number of points scored in the Championship game. Each member must enter a tie-break value when they make their picks.
The winner is the entry with the most points at the end of the NCAA Tournament.

Adult Division- Click on this link and login or create an account: Join Now

1.Login or create an account at https://www.poolhost.com
2.Go to the 'Pool Tools' menu and choose 'Join a Private Pool'.
3.To Join the pool you need to enter the Pool ID and Pool Password.
For the Pool ID # type: 80059
For the Pool Password type: Ellisrec
4.'Confirm' to join the pool 'Ellis Rec NCAA Bracket Challenge '

Youth Division- Click on this link and login or create an account: Join Now

1.Login or create an account at https://www.poolhost.com
2.Go to the 'Pool Tools' menu and choose 'Join a Private Pool'.
3.To Join the pool you need to enter the Pool ID and Pool Password.
For the Pool ID # type: 80061
For the Pool Password type: Ellisrec
4.'Confirm' to join the pool 'Ellis Rec NCAA Bracket Challenge Youth'

A brief reminder: Get your bracket(s) in before the pick deadline and make sure to review the pool settings. Only the main 64 teams that make up a standard bracket are included (i.e. the play-in games, or 'first four', are NOT included). Good luck to everyone. If you have any questions, please contact me at ellisrec@gbta.net.

Selection Sunday: March 15

First Four: March 17-18 (Not included in Pool)

First round (round of 64): March 19-20

Second round (round of 32): March 21-22

Sweet 16 (regional semifinals): March 26-27

Elite Eight (regional finals): March 28-29

Final Four (national semifinals and national championship): April 4 (6 p.m. ET & 8:30 p.m. ET TBS) and April 6 (8:30 p.m. ET, TBS)

Round Weighting
Wins in each round are worth these point values:

Round of 64:	1
Round of 32:	2
Sweet 16:	4
Elite 8:	6
Final 4:	8
Championship:	10

Seed Bonus

Seed Bonuses are not used in any round.

Underdog Bonus

Underdog Bonuses are not used in any round.

Championship Game Tie-Break

Besides making your picks, at the bottom of the Final Four Region pick page, you must guess the Championship game total score to decide any tie-breaks.

Registration Deadline: Before the first game is played.

Fee: FREE!!!

Divisions: Youth and Adult

Sponsored By: Arthur's Pizza & Mexican Food Inc & Ellis Recreation Commission

***Winners please pick up your prize within 2 weeks of winning***

Congratulations!!

Thank you to our amazing sponsor Arthur’s Pizza & Mexican Food for the prizes! We had so many participants this year, great job everyone! Congratulations to our top three winners in each division! Please contact the ERC office to pick up your prizes!

Top 3 winners are:

Adult Division

1st-

2nd-

3rd-

Youth Division

1st-

2nd-

3rd-

100-Mile Challenge:

Come join the fun with Ellis Rec in the 100-Mile Challenge! You will have approximately six weeks to complete the challenge earn a FREE shirt at 100 miles! Put on your tennis shoes and start tracking those miles! There will be printable tracking sheets available online or in the office.

Fee: FREE!!

Dates: April 1st through May 18th

Walk With Ease - Arthritis Foundation Program:

Join Cottonwood Extension District for this 8-week program designed to help you improve your overall health and well-being through walking. Benefits include reduced pain and stiffness, increased energy, balance, and enhanced mental health. The program includes an educational book that covers various topics about walking and arthritis management.

Pre-Registration is Required!

Registration Deadline: April 22, 2026

Date: Every Tuesday and Thursday beginning May 5^th until June 25^th

Time: 9:30am-10:30am

Fee: Free

Location: North Campus Gym

To register call the ERC office at 785-726-3718 or by emailing ellisrecoffice@gbta.net

Easter Coloring Contest:

Let us decorate the Ellis Recreation office! Coloring pages will be provided for each grade level. Bring your decorated picture to the ERC Office by Wednesday, March 25th. Please be sure to color your grade division's picture and put your Name/School on the back. There is a limit of one picture per participant.

Return to the ERC office by March 25th!

Fee: Free

Age Division: Pre-school, Kindergarten - 6th Grade

Coloring Pages:

Haunt Your House Contest Addresses:

Show off your HALLOWEEN Decorating skills on your home or business and compete to win a prize. Individuals must complete an entry form and return it to the ERC office.

Registration Deadline: September 24, 2025

Fee: Free

Location: One-mile radius of Ellis City limits

Haunt Your House Registration Form

Vote for your favorite house by texting their assigned

voting # to 785-639-7669.

Text Voting will be open from October 1^st to October 31st. The winner will be announced on November 3^rd.

*Vote once per day, EVERY DAY!!

Address: Voting Number:

2105 Walnut #1

2000 Walnut #2

1910 Walnut #3

1303 Madison St. #4

209 E.13^th Street #5

103 W. 9^th Street #6

1300 Walnut #7

Congratulations!

The votes are in and here are our Top 3 Winners! Thank you to

everyone who participated in the ERC’s Haunt Your House Contest.

We look forward to seeing everyone's displays next year.

TOP 3:

209 E. 13th Street - 1st place

1300 Walnut - 2nd place

2105 Walnut - 3rd place

Please contact the ERC office to pick up your prize, 785-726-3718

NFL Pick'em:

How well do you know NFL football? Here is your chance to show off your knowledge. Go to the link below to fill out your picks. Your prediction for the final score of the Monday Night Football game will be used as a tiebreaker if two or more participants pick the same number of games correctly. The person closest to the overall score of the game is the winner. Weekly results will be posted to the ERC website. Weekly prizes are given, and a grand prize is awarded to the TOP finisher overall.

***Winners please pick up your prize within 2 weeks of winning***

Join 'Ellis Rec NFL Pick'em:'.

In order to join, you must click on this link and login or create an account: https://www.poolhost.com/joinpool/ProFootball/105020/Ellisrec2006

Pool Deadline: Before the start of the first game each week, First Game This Week is:

Fee: Free

Sponsored by:

Congratulations!!

Week 18 Winner: Britny Cox

GRAND PRIZE WINNER: Lisa Cox

Please contact the ERC office at 785-726-3718, to pick up the weekly prize.

POOL RULES

The pool starts with Week 1 and runs through the NFL regular season only.

This is a standard Pick'em pool where members attempt to pick the winning team.

Members are awarded 1 point for correctly picked games.

Point spreads are not used, so members will just pick the team they think will win outright.

Members pick all the games.

As a tie breaker, members guess the combined total points for the last game of the week (as indicated on the pick sheet).

If a member does not enter picks for a specific week, no automatic picks will be made.

If a game is canceled, postponed to a future week, or otherwise not played (e.g., forfeited), it will be removed from the current schedule, along with all picks for that game.

* If there are no 1pm ET games on Sunday, the final pick deadline will be the start of the first game on Sunday after 1pm ET. This is usually only applicable during the playoffs.

Holiday Coloring Page Contest: Let us decorate the walls of Ellis Rec during Polar Express! Coloring pages will be provided for each grade level. Bring your decorated picture into the ERC Office by November 25^th. Please be sure to color your grade division’s picture and fill out the Name/School box. There is a limit of one picture per participant. Coloring pages will be sent home from Washington Grade School & St. Mary's School for Pre-K through 6th. Junior High to Adult pages can be printed.

Coloring pages:

CONTEST RULES

1. Entries must be received no later than November 25, 2025.

2. Be sure to color your grade division picture and fill out the Name box.

3. Entries will be judged on originality and neatness. Decisions of the judges are final.

4. Each grade is judged separately: Preschool, K-6th, Jr High, High School/Adult

5. It must be the work of the person submitting entry, no helping the participant.

6. Judging takes place before the first night of Polar Express. (Late entries will not be judged!)

7. Entries will be displayed in the Library Community Room during the POLAR EXRESS - December 5th-7th

8. Return completed coloring pages to: Drop boxes located at each grade school & ERC Office OR

9. Mail entries to Ellis Recreation Commission, 1204 Washington, Ellis, KS 67637

Christmas Decorating Contest:

It's that time of year to brighten the outside of your home for the holidays and show off your Christmas decorating skills. This year, we are partnering with Nex-Tech Wireless to provide text voting so the whole community can be a part of the fun. Look for the sign in the yard for the number to text. Text voting begins Dec. 1st and will continue through Dec. 18th.

To enter, complete an entry form found at www.ellisrec.org and return it to the ERC Office. The ERC will drop a voting sign in your yard. Winners will be notified December on 19th.

Registration Deadline: November 26th

Fee: Free

Location: One-Mile Radius of Ellis City Limits

Division: Individual Residence or Business

Christmas Decorating Contest Addresses

Vote for your favorite house by texting their assigned

voting # to 785-639-SNOW (7669).

Text Voting will be open from December 1^st to December 19^th. The winner will be announced on December 22^nd.

*Vote once per day, EVERY DAY!!

Address: Voting Number:

2105 Walnut #1

1901 Maple #2

308 E. 15th Street #3

1201 Spruce (Spruce Villa Gazebo) #4

308 E. 12th Street #5

209 E. 13th Street #6

502 Dorrance #7

Congratulations!

The votes are in and here are our Top 3 Winners! Thank you to

everyone who participated in the ERC’s Christmas Decorating Contest

We look forward to seeing everyone's displays next year.

Merry Christmas!

TOP 3:

1901 Maple

209 E. 13th Street

308 E. 12th Street

Letters from Santa:

Watch your child’s face fill with excitement as they open a letter from Santa. The Rec has made arrangements with Santa to write letters. For more information, contact Santa’s special helpers at the Ellis Rec Office.

Registration Deadline: December 3rd

Fee: Free

Letter from Santa 2025

Candy Cane Hunt:

It is rumored that Santa hides hundreds of holiday candies around the Twilight Field, behind the library, for all the good girls and boys. Bags are provided for candy collection.

Date: December 7^th

Fees: Free

Time: 5:30pm (Be early, it will start on time…and finish fast!)

Location: Twilight Field