2024 PROGRAMS CONTINUE TO ATTRACT NEW PARTICIPANTS
In 2024, HCSL offered 14 Day Programs at its property in Jacona and at the Santa Fe Public School’s Keeping Independent Visions Alive (KIVA) classroom. Unfortunately, HCSL had to cancel three of its 17 originally scheduled programs due to instructor illnesses and a severe storm event that knocked down several trees on its property in Jacona. Nevertheless, HCSL’s 2024 programs were very well attended by 89 participants, including 44 adults with an intellectual disability and 45 caregivers. Average attendance increased to 20 participants per program from 15 participants per program in 2023. In addition, 73% of the participants attended more than one program, demonstrating how much they enjoyed what HCSL offered in 2024 — a 12% increase over 2023.
The participants in HCSL’s 2024 arts Day Programs made needle felted flags that were strung together to make a colorful banner; played a variety of percussion instruments and experimented with singing different notes and sounds; used clay tiles to create nature prints; had an outdoor dance party; carved apple heads and made fall votive vases, among other activities
In May and June, the cooking programs spotlighted recipes with spring vegetables including carrots, spinach and asparagus. In August, the participants picked basil from the garden to make fresh pesto sauce that they mixed with home-made noodles for a summer pasta party. The cooking program in September marked the transition to fall with a harvest soup using potatoes, carrots, onion and squash from HCSL’s gardens.
HCSL also continued its partnership with the KIVA classroom. KIVA is the SFPS’s life skills and transition to work program for students with learning differences and special needs. 2024 is the fourth year HCSL has brought vegetables to KIVA for sessions that highlight the importance of eating fresh food.
As in 2023, clients from All Individuals First in Los Alamos, as well as Santa Fe-based agencies Rainbow Road Therapies, Rise Speech and Language Therapy and Visions Case Management attended 2024 programs along with friends from the Special Olympics program of the Taos Winter Sports Team and other Special Olympics teams.