Students from schools all across Chatham-Kent flocked to Wallaceburg District Secondary School today for the third annual Autumn Adventure.
Jodi Park, a teacher at WDSS, said the event is held for kids in life skills classes.
“We invite kids from Blenheim, from C-K, from John McGregor, from the Pines… this year we included a few groups who are in their last years in public education in the options program from St. Clair College, as well as people who are working for Goodwill Industries,” she said. “It’s all kids with developmental disabilities. They come here for the day with all of their support staff and their teachers and we bring them through a whole bunch of events. We have a very jam-packed day.”
Park said in the morning, there is two carnival events that run in the gymnasium.
“They also go in the music room where they see the black light sensory extravaganza and then they go to the drama room and they get to do an Egyptian-themed activity,” she said. “We go down to the cafeteria and have lunch as a group. We usually have our foods classes participating in that.”
Park added: “We end our day with a dance. During the dance we have a pumpkin judging contest and a costume contest. We have a great time. We have a lot of amazing volunteers who help out.”
Park said the event is as student-driven as they can possibly make it.
“My leads have to go and recruit volunteers for the event… and I think they recruited about 35 or 40 volunteers this year,” she said. “They’re responsible for making sure all of the volunteers know what they are doing in each of the areas.”
Park added: “The best part is for all of the kids in the life skills program, they are very small classes for the schools, but this is a chance for them to see their peers in a fun setting. You don’t get to see them very often because our schools are so far apart. It’s a good opportunity for everyone to socialize.”
The two student leads helping organize the event were Alyssa Bachus and Allie Verbeem, both in Grade 12.
Bachus said a lot of preparation went into the event.
“At the end of last year, Miss Park contacted us and we started from there,” she said. “In the summertime we started going out and getting donations and letting places know about it.”
Verbeem said it was a very rewarding experience.
“We gave a prize to one girl that was wearing a Dracula costume and her face just lit up when she heard she got the prize,” she said. “It brought tears to my eyes. It was an amazing feeling.”
Park said these events happen four times a year, as CKSS holds a Christmas-themed event and JMSS and UCC hold events in the spring.
Photo: Alyssa Bachus, Jodi Park and Allie Verbeem.
