Activities

Camp Confidence

Many of our clients and their support staff look forward to a trip to Camp Confidence on East Gull Lake in Brainerd.  The camp takes a “people first, disability second” approach to serving our community so that campers can achieve self-confidence and self-esteem through active hands-on activities in a variety of experiences.  There is a long list of options from which to choose. Fishing is always a favorite activity—especially getting to drive the boat (with careful supervision of course).  Maybe you have a favorite memory of time away at camp with friends or family—roasting marshmallows, singing around the campfire, swimming, boating.  We always look forward to the pictures of our campers each year, and we are especially grateful to those who donate during our Made in the Shade campaign, as “a trip to camp” is often high on the wish list for our group homes.

French Club

Food, Fun, and France--French Club--a first of its kind 9 week residency for adults with developmental disabilities was offered in March of 2019 in collaboration with teachers from Alliance Francaise of Minneapolis St. Paul (www. afmsp.org)—a teaching organization that promotes French language and culture.  Alliance Francaise is the largest cultural network in the world. Clients learned about culture, customs, holidays, a few French greetings, learned songs in French, and we set up a French market and pastry shop one night to learn about food.  A French Chef helped us prepare a meal to enjoy on another night! Our showcase night for family and staff at the end of the series featured crepes and French food. We hope to do this residency again in the future.

Spoken Word and Poetry Club

In the Spring of 2019, a new initiative called “Rock the Mic” was formed to encourage self-expression through spoken word an poetry.  They therapeutic benefits of writing are well documented. What an excellent way for clients to explore feelings.  The first group will met on Tuesday nights at our Plato campus and worked with “Desdamona”-- an international award-winning artist; who has taken her distinct lyrics, sounds, and artistic stylings to audiences from Minnesota to Hawaii to Puerto Rico to Germany-- gracing some of Hip Hop and poetry’s most illustrious stages. She has won five Minnesota Music Awards for 'Best Spoken Word Artist' in the years 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006.  Spoken Word can also be demonstrated thru song.  In April 2019, Darolyn Gray wrote a song—Healing Waters- in support of several club members missing their loved ones.

Softball League

Summer softball league takes place, weather permitting, on Sunday afternoons at Sibley Park in Minneapolis.  Clients and staff of all abilities gather for fun, cheered on by enthusiastic fans.  What a great opportunity to participate in a sport.