Adult Day Program goes Maple Sugaring
Spring is almost here and Maple Sugaring is happening all around Wisconsin.
The weather has warmed up enough that we are getting back into gear with outdoor outings for our adult day program participants who are all adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities.
We pride ourselves on the fact that our Adult Day Program gets participants out into the community twice a day (weather permitting).
Balance’s Adult Day Program is a community-based day program that runs M-F from 8 am-3 pm in Grafton, Wisconsin. Our participants go out into the community (Ozaukee County) once to twice a day to attend local activities and classes, shop at local businesses, volunteer with other organizations and enjoy social time with their Balance friends.
With 66 adult participants Balance breaks up participants into small groups and each group goes out on different activities that tend to rotate and repeat in some fashion. While our participants love routine with some scheduled activities it can be fun to go to new places and learn new things.
This week we were able to visit Riveredge Nature Center to learn about the centuries-old tradition of making syrup from the sap of maple trees. After departing from the Balance headquarters in Grafton, Wisconsin, our group of 4 participants and 1 DSP (direct support professional) hopped in a Balance van and drove 20 minutes to the Sugarbush House at the Riveredge Nature Center where they met up with their Riveredge guide, Alina.
Our group then walked around in the woods learning about Maple trees, the history of maple sugaring, how to tap a maple tree, what fresh sap tastes like, and how many gallons of sap it takes to make one gallon of Maple Syrup. (it takes about 40-42 gallons of sap to make just one gallon of syrup).
These community outings are crucial to fulfilling our mission to increase the quality of life for our participants. Many of our participants do not have social outlets outside of Balance and rely on our programs to get them out of their houses and into the community.
Jon tries his hand at drilling a hole in the Maple tree that will be fitted with a spile.
The group learns about photosynthesis.
Jon listening to the Riveredge guide.
Angela gets an up-close look at an antler.
The group rests for a moment while listening to the Riveredge guide tell a Menominee folktale about maple syrup.
Gabby tries using a hand drill.
