Summer was in full swing as participants in The Arc of Essex County’s Adult Recreation program embraced opportunities to explore the community, express their creativity, and spend quality time with friends, including:

• On July 11, participants laced up their bowling shoes for an afternoon at Bowlero Belleville, where friendly competition, teamwork, and plenty of cheering made for another exciting outing.
• On July 12, participants attended Maplewoodstock, the annual arts and music festival, where they enjoyed live performances, browsed vendor booths featuring artwork, crafts, and unique gifts, and shared lunch while taking in one of the area’s favorite summer traditions.
• Movie lovers gathered on July 19 for Sunday Matinee & Mingle, spending the afternoon together watching Moana before heading out to a restaurant for lunch and conversation about how the live-action version compared to the animated version of the movie.
• Participants stepped back in time on July 26, when they traveled to Wild West City in Stanhope, with live-action shows, interactive demonstrations, train and stagecoach rides, and plenty of western-themed fun with peers.
• Pajamas, Poetry & Puzzles took place on August 2, where participants relaxed in cozy attire while sharing poetry, completing puzzles, and enjoying each other’s company.
• Throughout the month, Saturday Respite continued to provide engaging weekends filled with arts and crafts, games, cooking, and community outings, while the After-Work program offered Tuesday and Thursday evening opportunities for participants to socialize, create, and build friendships after their day programs.

The Adult Recreation program is always looking for new ways to enrich the lives of its participants and provide them with enjoyable and meaningful experiences. 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 current Recreation Catalog. Activities include crafting at Studio Arc, day trips to local attractions, seasonal parties, and more. Contact Assistant Director of Creative Services in Adult Services Dacia King-Sarkodie at (973) 535-1181 ext. 1272 or dking@arcessex.org for more information.