The tastes of the season loomed large for The Arc of Essex County Community Inclusion and Recreation participants, who held a “Last Days of Spring” Garden Party and visited a strawberry festival in June.

On June 18, the group gathered for a garden party at the Opportunity Zone in Maplewood, where they made their own garden terrariums and enjoyed a selection of fresh salads and other spring-forward seasonal ingredients.

On June 25, it was a celebration of the delightful taste of fresh strawberries at the Strawberry Harvest Festival at Alstede Farms in Chester. The group enjoyed strawberry-flavored foods, such as ice cream and baked goods, and took fresh strawberries home with them.

If your loved one with intellectual or developmental disabilities is interested in educational programming, community experiences, seasonally themed events, or weekend group respite programs, you can learn more about all of these activities at The Arc’s Recreation Services page, and view the Spring-Summer Recreation Catalog. For any questions, contact Assistant Director of Adult Services Dacia King-Sarkodie at (973) 535-1181 ext. 1272 or [email protected].