June, 2025

Social Time

Spending time with friends is something we all enjoy—and our members are no different! Each day includes a self-directed social hour where members can connect in ways that feel most comfortable to them. Whether chatting, playing a game, or simply sharing space, this unstructured time encourages appropriate interactions and supports social engagement. It may look different for everyone, but the goal is the same: building a sense of belonging within a supportive community.

Daily Cooking

Each day, our members prepare a recipe together—a fun and purposeful activity designed to build confidence and teach new skills. Working in small groups, one member takes the lead in guiding the others through the steps. All our recipes are developed by The Next Stop and vary from simple to more complex. But with the support of our volunteers, everyone rises to the challenge! Beyond cooking, this experience fosters teamwork, patience, and the ability to take turns—important life skills that are practiced each day!

Today's recipe: Asparagus Pasta Salad

Recreation

Physical activity is part of our daily routine at The Next Stop. Because adults with special needs often lead more sedentary lives, we make it a priority to get everyone up and moving. Whether it’s playing team games like kickball, ladder ball, or floor hockey—or building skills through basketball drills, balance stations, or volleyball—there’s always something active and engaging. We also mix in personal fitness favorites like line dancing and yoga or a walk on the trail when the weather is good!! Our recreation today gave our arms a good workout!

Today's rec: Parachute activities

Snack Time

This part of the day is probably the highlight! After recreation, members get to enjoy the recipe they prepared earlier. While most dig in happily, some prefer to bring their own snacks. Just like any social gathering around food, the room fills with chatter and laughter—truly music to our ears. It’s also the perfect time to celebrate birthdays with our signature song and a round of fun “hot seat” questions to make the birthday member or volunteer feel extra special.

Enrichment

(shh, don't tell our members!)

In the final hour of the day, our members are having such a great time, they don’t even notice they’re giving their brains a workout! At The Next Stop, we model curiosity and celebrate discovery through engaging enrichment activities. Whether it is a game, science experiment, an art project, or learning something new, this time is designed to stimulate thinking and creativity. Activities are always adapted to ensure everyone can participate successfully. And of course, our amazing volunteers play a key role in making sure that happens. Today's game: Guess Who!