Community Day in the Village: November

Thousands of students explore Elkus Life Village every year. Now it’s your family’s turn. One school-break morning, the whole town. Picture two kids at the village bank, each holding a brand-new wallet. One has been counting down to this all week. The other isn’t sure about the noise yet. By the café, they’re comparing what they ordered. By the next stop, one is reading the sign out loud while the other leads the way. And by the time the wallets go back to the bank, nobody’s keeping track of who needed help with what. They’re just two kids who had a really good morning together. That’s Community Day. On school-break mornings, families explore the Philip and Estelle Elkus Life Village, a realistic, kid-sized town inside Friendship Circle’s LifeTown. Kids with special needs and their neurotypical peers bank, shop, order, and make choices side by side, discovering what they can do on their own and what’s even better together. Every kid figures things out a little differently. Here, every way counts. And you’re right there for all of it, watching your child try something new, make a choice, and maybe make a friend. Bring a sibling, or invite a classmate’s family to join you. The best way to learn belonging is to live it. Who it’s for: Kids and young adults with special needs, ages 7–26, and neurotypical kids ages 7–13, each with a parent or caregiver. The morning: 10:00 – Check in at the front desk, then a quick welcome 10:15 – Explore Elkus Life Village together 11:50 – Return wallets and any unspent money to the bank Bring your own lunch to enjoy at our tables, then play in the park until 1:00pm Tickets: $9 per child. Parents and caregivers are free. Space is limited to 25 children per date, so please register each child attending. Good to know: Community Day is a family-attended morning, so parents and caregivers stay with their child the whole time and manage any medical, sensory, or behavioral needs. Need a break? Head to the park, step outside, or ask a staff member to walk you to our quiet room. Our staff and volunteers are there to guide the activities, not to provide one-on-one supervision. We can’t wait to explore with you. Can’t make it the day before Thanksgiving? Join us on Tuesday, February 16 or Tuesday, March 30.