Young children, mostly ages 0-5, and their Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Volunteers joined our team for our Picnic in the Park event at Emma Prusch Park on Saturday, April 8, 2022.
During the first hour of the event, the kids and their CASA Volunteers were accompanied by our partner, Veggielution, to visit the youth garden located within the park. While touring the Youth Garden, kids were encouraged to participate in age-appropriate gardening activities such as watering the plants, crafting acorn bird feeders, enjoying the scents of herbs and eating freshly picked oranges while becoming better stewards of the environment.
Following a fun-filled day at the garden, our kids received Otter the Potter activity bags that contained a water bottle, chalk, Play-Doh or bubbles and a child-friendly musical instrument. Additionally, there were New Parent Kits available for CASAs and/or caregivers to take home.
During mid-event, kids enjoyed playtime, where they were encouraged to participate in some arts and crafts, and play with hula hoops and balls at the group’s picnic area. Once the Kindermusik instructor arrived, younger children and their CASAs stepped away to jam out to a music class on the grass while the older youth continued to play. Then everyone enjoyed catered lunch at the picnic tables. The day then concluded with CASAs taking the children to the park playground for more fun.
Events, like our Picnic in the Park, create a supportive environment to let children explore and have fun through play while developing cognitive, physical, social, and emotional well-being. By the end of the event, our children had experiences that would nurture their development while combatting trauma.
If you have any questions or are interested in sponsoring a youth-related event, please contact our development department at development@childadvocatessv.org. Below are a few images of our Picnic in the Park event.