Recreation

An Update from our Summer Program Expo:

Lions Camp Tatiyee would like parents to know that they do take some children with autism, and in the future they plan to expand.  For more information contact the Executive Director of Camp Tatiyee, Pam Swanson, 480-380-4254.
 

Summer recreation program registration starts next week, and programs do fill up fast. If your child needs additional support from Adapted Recreation Services, be sure to contact Deanna Zuppan as soon as you’ve decided on the programs you’d like your child to attend. She will need this information to staff appropriately.  Deanna’s phone number is (480) 312-2204 and her email is DZuppan@scottsdaleaz.gov

THE SUMMER BROCHURES (for Scottsdale Recreation Classes & programs,) will be distributed by April 18th. If you do not receive one in the mail, you can e-mail konstott@scottsdaleaz.gov and ask that she send you one, or you can pick one up at your closest community center or library. The information on the brochure will be VIEWABLE on the internet, APRIL 6th: http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/sports/brochure.asp

REGISTRATION begins at 6am on THURSDAY APRIL 24th; FOR THE TOTAL RECREATION ENRICHMENT CLUBS. MANY AREAS will fill up QUICKLY. IF I was signing up my child, I would dial in or get on the internet early, and stay on there until my child was registered. (I would let my work know that I might be a little late that morning, so I could get my child registered for a summer program)

• TOUCH-TONE registration or E-CONNECT are the most convenient ways to register and offer immediate confirmation. CHECK your Recreation brochure, for exact dates of Touch-Tone registration for the classes and or programs you are interested in. **TOTAL RECREATION ENRICHMENT CLUBS registration starts THURSDAY, April 24th at 6am. For other program registration dates, check the first few pages of your brochure
• If you have not used the touch tone or the online registration systems, or misplaced your access code information, please call 480/312-7957 BY end of day (5pm,) on Tuesday, April 22nd. One of our staff will provide you with the numbers you need.

Terry Erickson-Eldorado Park /Parks & Recreation
Office phone: (480) 312-2771  

From Johanna Bookbinder at KEEN:

OPEN HOUSE – Come Play with Us

SUNDAY, MARCH 30, 2008 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.

WHAT: An Opportunity to Experience the unique aspects of KEEN Phoenix. Bring your athlete and let them enjoy an afternoon of exercise with our coaches. Learn more about becoming a coach for future KEEN events.

Registration for KEEN Phoenix is limited and is on a first come first serve basis!

WHO: Athletes, Parents, Caregivers, Agencies, Volunteers and anyone interested in
learning more about KEEN.

WHERE: Boys and Girls Club

Harry & Sandy Rosenzweig Branch
2242 W. Missouri Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85061

QUESTIONS: Contact our Program Director, Johanna Bookbinder at info@keenphoenix.org or call 602-508-3939. Or visit www.keenphoenix.org

Kids Enjoy Exercise Now (KEEN) is a non-profit, volunteer organization that provides free, one-to-one recreational opportunities for children and young adults with mental and physical disabilities in the United States and in England. The young people who participate in KEEN have disabilities such as autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and various developmental and intellectual disabilities. During our activity sessions, each athlete is paired with his or her own volunteer coach, allowing children with any disability to participate.

We are looking for eager participants, volunteers, parents and community organizations to join us!

Unlike other recreation programs for individuals with disabilities, KEEN provides an open, unstructured environment for young people with any type of disability, including those with significant needs. For some of the children and young adults who are unable to participate in other programs, KEEN may be their only recreational activity.

In its non-competitive environment, every child can enjoy every activity without the fear of losing or not being the best. Athletes gain confidence and self-esteem, and perhaps most important, a sense of social belonging.

And they have fun!

KEEN’s programs are offered entirely free of charge to families and caregivers.

Please join us this evening for the annual SEPACS summer program expo. 

Time: Tonight, March 19th, anytime between 6:30 and 8 p.m.

Location: Mohave Middle School Cafeteria, 5520 N. 86th Street. 
The gates will be open on the north side of the complex near the baseball field and our usual Kachina room so you can get to the cafeteria easily.

The following organizations have committed to being at the event: 

We will also have information avaailable from other organizations that were not able to join us for the evening.

Stop on by!

I just got the latest flyer from Daring Adventures, the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Program that provides outdoor adventures for teens and adults with disabilities.

Spring programs include:

• Adaptive Kayaking
• Sled Ice Skating and Hockey
• Cycling
• Backpacking

Space is limited.  For more info, contact TJ Penkoff at 502-495-5222 or at tj.penkoff@phoenix.gov.

Please mark your calendar for our annual summer program expo.  Our next meeting will be Wednesday, March 19th, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Mohave Middle School Cafeteria, 5520 N. 86th Street.  (Just around the corner from the Mohave District Complex where we’ve been meeting.)

Currently the following organizations have committed to being at our event:

Thanks to Lois Healey at SUSD for sharing this announcment. 

A free sports and recreation program for kids with disabilities is coming to the Valley.

To learn more, please join us!

TUESDAY, February 26, 2008

6:00 – 7:30 p.m.

What: A town hall meeting to learn about KEEN and how this unique program will soon be available to Kids with disabilities in the Phoenix area.

Who: Parents, volunteers, agencies, organizations and other interested parties.
Where: Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal, LLP
2398 E Camelback Road Suite 1100
Phoenix, AZ 85016

RSVP: If you plan to attend, or would like more information, please call us by Friday, February 22, 2008 at 602.508.3939 or email us at info@keenphoenix.org

Kids Enjoy Exercise Now (KEEN), is a nonprofit, volunteer-led organization that provides free one-to-one recreational opportunities for children and young adults with mental and physical disabilities. At each KEEN session, a participating athlete is paired with a volunteer coach for a variety of age-appropriate recreational opportunities. Since its inception in the United States in 1992, KEEN has served several hundred children and young adults with severe and profound disabilities who, because of their need for individualized attention, have experienced difficulty accessing existing programs. After establishing nine separate programs in the Washington, DC metropolitan community, KEEN received the seed funding to establish new programs in Chicago, Kansas City, Los Angeles, St. Louis, San Francisco and New York. KEEN is excited to announce the launch of KEEN Phoenix in March 2008.

For more information about KEEN Phoenix, please visit our website at www.keenphoenix.org

The following announcement is courtesy of Neal Hallihan at the City of Scottsdale’s Adapted Recreation Program.

Attached are two new opportunities for Special Olympics Arizona families and friends to support Special Olympics Arizona! We are working to continually provide exciting opportunities for the athletes and their families and friends, so please pass this information along to anyone who may be interested in participating.

1. Special Olympics Arizona night with the Phoenix Coyotes, Glendale, AZ
   The Phoenix Coyotes are hosting a Special Olympics night on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 as they take on the Calgary Flames. They are offering discounted tickets for Special Olympics Arizona families, friends, volunteers and fans. The attached order form can be filled out and mailed, emailed or faxed to Steve at the Coyotes (contact information on the form). I know many of you enjoyed the Phoenix Mercury games offered at discounted prices last year, and the Phoenix Coyotes are hoping you will take advantage of this opportunity as well. You may forward the order form on to any sports fans who may be interested in this offer, even if they have not been introduced to Special Olympics before. Special Olympics Arizona will have a Community Corner booth set up on game night and will be recognized on the big screen during the game. Come out and cheer on the Coyotes and show your support for Special Olympics!
2. Arcade Mania at Golfland, Mesa, AZ
   I am sure you’ve all heard of the upcoming Polar Plunge on February 16, 2008 at Sunsplash/Golfland in Mesa. Leading up to the big event, Golfland would like to extend an offer for Arcade Mania! For only $8.00, you can participate in unlimited video games on Saturdays, from 10:00 am-1:00 pm. Just bring in the attached Arcade Mania flyer and take advantage of this offer! $1.00 from every flyer brought in will be donated back to Special Olympics Arizona. This offer is extended to anyone who may be interested, regardless of whether or not they have been introduced to Special Olympics in the past. If you’re looking for a unique and fun weekend activity, gather up your family and friends and come out to Arcade Mania for an afternoon of video games…all while supporting Special Olympics!

Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you!

Janelle Tassart
Events Coordinator
Special Olympics Arizona
1850 N. Central Suite 900
Phoenix, Arizona, 85004
janellet@soaz.org
602-230-0081

Please pass this along to all of your Special Olympics and Little League athletes, and anyone else who may be interested.

Linda Woolley

Greetings All:

I got a call this morning from Steve Johnson, the area director of C.A.S.T. for Kids in Arizona. As most of you know, the C.A.S.T. organization offers free fishing clinics throughout the country for special needs and disadvantaged youths. http://www.castforkids.org/.

The Arizona Fish & Game Department is setting up a big fishing tank stocked with trout at the Cardinals Stadium Recreation Village as part of the activities leading up to the Super Bowl. The fishing is available to anyone from Thursday, January 31st through Sunday, February 3rd.

C.A.S.T. is looking for 40 special young fisherman to come and fish for FREE from 12:00pm to 2:00pm on Saturday, February 2nd. This tank will be exclusively theirs for this time. All gear will be provided (including t-shirts), and they are working on setting up free parking as well.

If your athlete, or someone you know would like to participate, please contact Steve Johnson at scjohnson@lc.usbr.gov  (preferred) or by phone at 623-773-6246.  Steve will get back to you on parking, etc.

In addition, if you would like to volunteer and help out with the fishing, either then or at any time that week, please let Steve know. It will be very welcome!