With trips to Alstede Farms, Wild West City, and Lake Hopatcong, The Arc of Essex County’s recreation participants enjoyed a variety of community inclusion trips that took them on adventures throughout New Jersey.

Nine Community Inclusion participants enjoyed a day at the Strawberry Festival at Alstede Farms in Chester on Sunday, June 5. They had fun petting the animals, listening to live music, and shopping in the gift shop. Everyone took home a quart of strawberries from the farm, and at the end of the day enjoyed dinner at Wendy’s, where they discussed the good times they had enjoyed.

The following weekend, a group explored Wild West City in Stanhope, where the sun came out long enough for everyone to enjoy a Western City experience. The park replicates Dodge City in Kansas in the 1800, and featured interactive adventures with historical characters, dramatizations, and demonstrations by period craftsmen. The Wild West City staff were accommodating and inclusive, and everyone had a fantastic time.

On June 26, a group of Community Inclusion participants visited Lake Hopatcong, enjoying lunch at the lakefront Windlass restaurant and a round of miniature golf overlooking the main lake at the Lake Hopatcong Golf Club on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. Arc staff raved about the service and said the participants can’t wait to return.

If your loved one with intellectual or developmental disabilities is interested in educational programming, community experiences, seasonally themed events, or weekend group respite programs, the offerings for individuals 18 and older can be viewed in our Community Inclusion, Recreation, & Respite Calendar. For any questions, contact Manager of Community Supports Services Dacia King-Sarkodie at (973) 535-1181 ext 1272 or dking@arcessex.org.

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