OpportunityKnocks

Summer Session #1, 2012

July 9, 2012 - August 9, 2012

WARRIORSThe Knocks

General InformationWhat is Opportunity Knocks?

Opportunity Knocks is a non-profit organization serving teens and young adults with developmental disabilities in Oak Park, River Forest, and Forest Park. Pro-gramming provides sports, recreation, fitness, hobbies and self-advocacy train-ing. Opportunity Knocks is staffed by dedicated professionals and volunteers who are committed to developing relevant, interesting and exciting activities and experiences for all of its’ participants.

MissionThe mission of Opportunity Knocks is to provide opportunities and resources for individuals with developmental disabilities so that they may pursue their educational, occupational and social interests.

VisionOpportunity Knocks envisions a community where individuals with develop-mental disabilities have an active and supported presence. The people we serve are true Warriors and it is our belief that their place in the community is valu-able and necessary.

OK’s socially interactive programming will place an emphasis on self-advocacy. It is our goal to enrich the life of the Warrior and in turn give the Warrior an opportunity to enrich the fabric of their community. We will create opportuni-ties for our participants to address such issues as health, safety, social interaction, recreation, education and community service.

Guiding PrincipleIndividuals with developmental disabilities have unique and exceptional abilities that diversify and strengthen their communities. We will be guided by the inter-ests of the individual and use self-advocacy as the foundation of our program.

Mike CarmodyExecutive Director

Kim MearesProgram Director

Desiree RivoCoordinator of Volunteers

Stephanie Budd

Katie McKay

Clay O’Brien

Jeni Pierce

Mike Phelan

Rick Short

Program Leaders

Spring Session 2012 Highlights

Little Bits Workshop “Craftivist Week”

“Gardening-On-the-Go” in River Forest

Spring Session 2012 Special Events

2012 “Shumpout” OK Basketball Camp

OK Chicago White Sox Outing

Catriona AirdHoney BadgerEleanor BannonSonali BargiTim CarontiChristina CookSteven CopherMegan CheneyColeman CorneliusJohn CurranMike EggumPam EggumJarvis HartShannon JarkaAlex JaskolkaMeghan Kennedy

Opportunity KnocksNews and Dates to Remember

THANK YOU FOR HELPING OK PURCHASE THEIR NEW VAN!

Everyone here at Opportunity Knocks would like to thank all the people who made it possible for

us to purchase our new O.K. Van. Words cannot express how grateful we are for your support &

sponsorship. Keep an eye out in the community for the OK van! Here we come!

-SAVE THE DATE-

The 5th Annual OK Classic Softball Tournament will take place on

Saturday, September, 22th

Team Registration opens on July 23rd at 7:00 PM

Summer Session #2, Four Weeks, M,W, FSeptember 5 (Wednesday)-September 28th

Fall Session #1, Five Weeks, M,W,FOctober 8th-November 9, 2012

Future OK Program Dates to

Remember

OK THANKS THEIR DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS & STAFF MEMBERS

Opportunity Knocks would like to thank volun-teer Yoga Instructor, Meghan Kennedy. Also thank you to all of our guest chefs, Eddie Lee, Tim Caronti, Sonali Bargi & Chanelle Moragne. We would also like to thank Liita Forsyth of the Little Bits Workshop who invited us to participate in her “Craftivist Week”. Finally, a very special thank you to volunteer & Photographer Chelsea Reeg at Glass Lilac Photography for taking the beautiful photos displayed on the cover page of the registration form.

Teegan McFeelyChanelle MoragneCaitlin MoranPatricia NeroGeorge NeumanBrian OmaraErik OxnevadMaria PrevolosChelsea ReegStephanie RivoKristine ScottNick StevicMike Tischauser

VOLUNTEERS OK STAFF

Coordinator of VolunteersDesiree Rivo

Program LeadersJon AdelmanStephanie BuddElizabeth CheneyClay O’BrienJoe OrdmanAmanda NeumanJeni PierceRick Short

Program StaffMark Keltey Jr.Katie McKayBrad OxnevadMike Phelan

Opportunity Knock’sWeekly Schedule of Activities

Programs Begin at 3:30 PM and End at 6:30 PMMONDAY

Recreation & Fitness

OK OLYMPICSWe are excited to offer for the first time ever, The First Annual OK Olym-

pics Summer Games. OK Olympics Summer Games will include two different types of activities where the OK Warriors will have fun competing in different challenges. First they will sweat it out and participate in a variety of Field Olympic games. Then they will cool down with the various games held in the Water Olympics compe-tition. Field Olympics will include a variety of games like softball, kick-ball, field obstacle courses and much more. Water Olympics will include activities that involve fun with water, such as, water balloon catapults ultimate target toss. Each week a new OK Olympic activity will take place at Washington Park.

Forest Park Pool Being only a few weeks into the sum-mer one sure thing is that it is H-O-T out-

side! That is why each week a group will leave OK and cool down at the Forest Park pool. OK staff members, volunteers, and Warriors will leave OK and have fun at the Forest Park Pool.

Bocce Ball! A new activity that we will be exploring this sum-mer is Bocce Ball. Every Monday the Warriors will

have a chance to test their skills at this old time favorite.

WEDNESDAYCommunity Opportunities

Community Opportunities Every Wednesday the Warriors plan & partici-pate in various projects

that focus on different ways in giving back to their local community. Last session Opportunity Knocks joined forces with the Little Bits Workshop and helped make Lake St. in River For-est beautiful by planting flowers. They were also involved in Little Bits Work-shop “Craftivist Week” and helped make beautiful banners carrying posi-tive messages on them. This session Warriors will select a charity and begin making items that will be sold at the Forest Park Farmers market in benefit of the selected charity.

Theater & Drama! Back by popular demand is Theater & Drama. Warriors will have fun selecting favorite scenes and acting them out

for each other. Scenes will be selected from a range of musicals and favorite TV shows. Actors will also participate in various improv activities & games.

Little Bits Work-shop!A small group will leave OK each week and visit Little Bits

Workshop in River Forest to make beautiful crafts from recycled materials.

THURSDAYHobbies

NEW HOBBY PROGRAM DESIGN!

OK is now offering four great hob-bies instead of three.

Fun on Trikes OK Cycling! NEW!Introducing the new hobby cycling. Navigating three-wheel bicycles, provided

by Greenline Wheels, this exciting new activity will promote biking safety and mobility in a safe and closed environment. OK bikers will leave OK and visit an off site location where they will practice safety in our specially designed safety obstacle courses.

Gardening Last session the OK Garden received a new name, the “OK Greencumbers”. The seeds have been planted and

the garden is now growing. This session the Warriors will add to the garden by planting more vegetables and by adding beautiful garden art.

“Skrine” Art OK Warriors will create original artwork that will help decorate the soon-

to-be-rebuilt, Skrine Chops Restaurant located in Forest Park. Skrine Chops has generously supported Opportunity Knocks from day one! We want to help them rebuild their beautiful restaurant by sharing our beautiful art work with them.

TennisThis summer OK will be offer-ing the hobby Tennis. Partici-pants will learn about tennis

by participating in a variety of different tennis drills.

Eligibility

Opportunity Knocks serves individuals with developmental disabilities ages 14.5 through 30. Participants must live in Oak Park, River Forest or Forest Park.

Registration Requirements

A completed “Annual Participant Information Form” and a “Waiver and Release of Claims/Hold Harmless Agreement” must be on file for all participants.

Program Fee

Opportunity Knocks will now run on alternating 5-week and 4-week cycles, with 3 program days per week. Programs will run for 3 hours each program day. Participants may register for 1 day per week, 2 days per week or 3 days per week (the full session).

For planning purposes when choosing the 1 or 2 day option, participants must choose the same day(s) of the week they will be attending for the en-tire session (i.e. all Mondays for 1-day/week or all Wednesdays and Fridays for 2-days/week).

Cost of 5- Week Session OptionsOption 1- “Full Session” all three days total of 15 days is $450

Option 2- “2-day Session” two days/week total of 10 days is $275Option 3- “1-day Session” one day/week total of 5 days is $135

Cost of 4-Week Session OptionsOption 1- “Full Session” all three days total of 12 days is $400

Option 2- “2-day Session” two days/week total of 8 days is $240Option 3- “1-day Session” one day/week total of 4 days is $120

*Fee of programs includes daily programs, daily snack and drink, plus one group outing.

Financial Assistance

Opportunity Knocks has developed a sliding pay scale that is adjusted based on family income. We have done this in order to include as many participants as possible. It is our goal to serve all participants who are eligible for these programs.

Fee-Based Membership Sliding Scale Fee Summary

Sponsorship Eligible <$35K annual house-hold income:5 Week Session- for 15 days/10 days/ 5 days the cost is $225/$135/$754 Week Session- for 12 days/8 days/ 4 days the cost is $200/$120/$60

Sponsorship Eligible <55,000 annual house-hold income:5 Week Session- for 15 days/10 days/5 days the cost is $340/$200/$1004 Week Session- for 12 days/8 days/4 days the cost is $300/$180/$90

Please contact Executive Director, Michael Carmody to schedule registra-tion appointments.

Email: mike@opportunityknocksnow.orgPhone: (708) 771-6159 x220

Safety Requirements

Your safety is important to us. To ensure safety of our participants, we ask for full cooperation with the following guidelines:

1. Opportunity Knock’s staff is responsible for the safety of pro-gram participants during designated program times. Please adhere to scheduled drop-off and pick-up times.

2. Participants enrolled in Opportunity Knock’s programs will not be released to anyone other than a parent, guardian or family member without prior written consent from the parent/guardian.

3. When arriving or departing from the program site, parents should check in with an O.K. staff member before leaving or taking a participant home.

4. A child or minor will be allowed to walk home from the pro-gram site only if written permission from the parent or guard-ian has been received.

5. If you will not be attending the program, please notify the Op-portunity Knock’s office. Please contact OK by phone (708) 771-6159 x220 or by sending an email to Mike Carmody at mike@opportunityknocksnow.org.

Opportunity Knock’s Code of Conduct

1. Show respect to fellow participants, staff, and volunteers.2. Refrain from using abusive or foul language.3. Refrain from causing or threatening bodily harm to self, fellow

participants, staff and volunteers.4. Show respect to equipment and facilities.5. Additional or individual behavior management plans may be

developed based on the input of parents, guardians, O.K. staff or other professionals.

Registration Information

Opportunity Knocks Registration FormRiver Forest Community Center

8020 Madison StreetRiver Forest, IL 60305

Phone- (708) 771-6159 x220 or Fax- (708) 771-8958Email: kim@opportunityknocksnow.org

Summer Session #1 begins on July 9, 2012 through August 9, 2012Registration for Summer Session #1 begins on Thursday, June 28, 2012

Please submit registration on or before Thursday, July 5th.

Participating 1 day per session: Mondays Wednesdays Thursdays Participating 2 days per session: Mondays Wednesdays Thursdays

Participating in full 5 week session (M,W,Th):

Participant’s Name: Parent/Guardian’s Name:

Participant’s Address: Parent/Guardian’s Phone:

In the space below, please list fee amount based on “Participant Fees Table”. Please note this session is a 5 week session, so base the amount on that rate.

Invoice Amount:

Opportunity Knocks will mail an invoice to families. Payment is due within 30 days of session beginning on July 9, 2012.

For Fridays please choose the hobby you would like to try.Please rate your favorite hobbies according to the legend below:

1= 2= 3= 4=Leave last choice blank please!

Hobbies:

Gardening Tennis Skrine Art Tricycling