September kicked off a new season of activities for participants in The Arc of Essex County’s Adult Recreation programs, with plenty of opportunities to spend time with friends and get out in the community:

• The Bowling group launched its fall sessions at Bowlero Belleville on September 12, where participants enjoyed some friendly competition while practicing taking turns, keeping score, and cheering on their fellow bowlers. The group returned to the lanes on September 19 and 26 as well.

• Participants enjoyed a Farm-to-Table experience on September 13, which focused on nature, nutrition, and healthy living. The group used fresh fruits and vegetables to prepare a nutritious meal and fruit salad together while practicing teamwork and learning more about fresh foods.
• Weekly Tasty Treats classes returned, with healthy produce-based foods, including making a Mediterranean Salad with homemade dressing, stuffed peppers and eggplant, and more.
• Sunday Matinee and Mingle on September 20 gave participants a chance to catch Spiderman at AMC Mountainside together before heading out for a bite to eat at Panda Express in Springfield, where they could socialize and talk about their favorite moments from the film.
• Hotel Respite returned for its first weekend of the fall on September 25 to 27 at a new location, the DoubleTree by Hilton in Fairfield, which is also one of the community partners for The Arc’s Jobs Club. The weekend getaway offered participants a chance to enjoy activities and time with friends while providing caregivers with a well-deserved break. (Have some pictures if the new Hotel will share)
• Participants wrapped up the month with a fun afternoon at Opportunity Zone in Maplewood on September 27, after the nor’easter forced the closure of the Zimmerli Museum and staff created an alternate activity for the group. They enjoyed creating artwork and bingo together, among other games and activities.
• Throughout September, Saturday Group Respite and weekday After-Work programs also provided recurring opportunities for participants to socialize with peers while enjoying arts and crafts, games, cooking, community outings, and other activities.

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.