We’ve been havin a blast in After Opps as usual so far in Winter Session 2! Check out the action!
Mondays
Gala Crafts
The Warriors have been busy learning how to refinish furniture, while working on a variety of chairs that will be donated to the O.K. Gala and Golf Outing Auctions! They began week #1 by sanding, using both electric and hand sanders! Once this was done, they primed the chairs, getting them ready for painting. Rebecca and Patrick won the awards for their awesome teamwork!
Week #2 they selected different paint colors to used, and then began to paint the chairs, using stencils and techniques such as “sponging and taping off ” certain areas to create different patterns. The creative juices were definitely flowing! The awards were given to Joe and Nick S. for their hard work! “It was great, painting the chairs,” said Nick. “I have never painted a chair before. It is fun!”
Martial Arts
During the first week of Martial Arts, we enjoyed a heart pumping Tae Bo video, and during the second week, we hit the fitness room and practices different punches with the new oh nothing bad equipment! “It was great,” said Nick. “It was fun. We watched a video about martial arts and learned how to do the moves.”
Just Dance
During our first week of Just Dance, we learned and practiced popular wedding songs like the Electric Slide, Shout, the Macarena, and the Dougie. Matt Cox showed off his killer dance moves and taught the group how to do the running man! For week 2, we had a special guest visit Just Dance. Sarah Dolan, from Maiden Street Irish Dance Academy, came in and taught the group traditional Irish dance steps and we even learned a short routine! “I like dancing with other people and learning new dances,” said Matt. “Even ballet and Irish Dance.
Team-Building
Warriors have been bonding and working hard on their teamwork and communication skills as they work together to complete challenges and puzzles. Team-Building activities in the first two weeks have included an egg drop relay game, blindfolded minefield, and a pass the hoolah hoop game without letting go of each others hands.
“I liked team-building,” said Matt. “I liked interacting with other people. I liked carrying the egg with all the people behind me cheering me on.”
Wednesdays
I <3 the 90’s
Oh snap!! In I <3 the 90s, Warriors have been chillin out, maxin, relaxin all cool as we celebrate and learn about one of the flyest decades ever. In Week 1, we recreated and played the classic 90’s game Guess Who with our own homemade phat boards with 90’s Celebs and OK fam. It was mad cool. Then Week 2 we got jiggy with it as we remixed the Fresh Prince Theme Song. These Fresh Princes and Princesses of OK were bout it bout it and made some dope songs! Maddy Gancer, Karisa Reyna, and Kassica Huff were all that and a bag of potato chips and won Warrior Code awards for their tight attitudes and leadership during the first two weeks. Aiiiight, peace out yo! “It was fun to wear all the 90’s stuff,” said Maddy about picking out her Fresh Princess outfit in Week 2. Nick Sawyer added that “It was fun playing the game and learning about people in the 90’s” during Week 1.
Random Acts of Kindness (RAK)
You’ve been RAK’d!! Our Random Acts of Kindness group has been RAK-ing the community center, local organizations, and friends of OK with positive posters to brighten their day! We have been learning about how small acts of kindness can bring out BIG results – open the door for someone, write a letter to a friend, volunteer your time, pay it forward any way you can!! Rebecca M. and Katrina J. both earned the respect award for their acts of kindness!
Weather Science
In this program, Warriors have been using everyday household items to create chemical reactions that produce different elements of the Weather including tornadoes, volcanoes, and snow! Week one, we got right into science, taking about vortexes. We then created out own tornadoes in water bottles to understand this concept. For te second week, we talked about volcanoes and has pressure. We then created out very old volcano, watching what happened when baking soda and vinegar are combined!
Gala Project
During the first two weeks, the Warriors were coming up with ideas of what they want to do for the “Warrior Spotlight Moment” at the OK Gala. They came up with song ideas and why Opportunity Knocks makes them happy. At the end, they had to answer questions about OK and being a Warrior for a Spoken Word style performance that will take center stage next month.
Fridays
DJ Hero
Awww yeahh! Warriors have been learning the art of electronic DJing with the help of peer-leader Matt Cox aka DJ Pink. Warriors have learned a background and history of DJing, have had DJ battles using iPads and the DubPad/ HipHopPad applications, and have been using the web application PartyCloud.fm to create and record their own original remixes to some of their favorite songs. We are looking forward to visiting Val’s Halla Record Store in Week 3 and being visited by professional Chicago turntablist DJ Intel in Week 4! “We have been turning tables,” said Matt Cox. “We have been learning how to upload and remix songs. I liked helping people pick their DJ names. I love helping lead this program. I am an introduction DJ. I like to follow other DJs like DJ Intel. I am excited for him to come in and to learn from him and follow his lead. He is one of the best. This was DJ Pink’s idea for a program and he taught all his techniques.”
Community Opps
During the first two weeks in Comm Opps, we continued to work on projects for the OK Gala Auction. We did some more sanding and we also stained some wood for a fun nail art project we should be getting to in the next week.
Last week, we spent most of programs watercoloring. The Warriors seemed to enjoy this activity, as it gave them a chance to relax and be creative. The watercolors will be used as a background on a window table, one of our larger Gala projects.
Shoes
The wonderful world of shoes as seen through the eyes of the Warrior! The participants are partnering up with Peter Mullin of OPC Kicks. They learned the process of restoring shoes back to life. They learned about the art of turning old shoes back into new shoes through the eyes of expert Peter Mullin aka “the Shoe doctor”. Participants also had the opportunity to explore his website and see all of the cool designs and shoes that he has created over the years. The participants also got to participate and see the process of how a shoe is restored back to life.
Week 2: The Warriors started off the program by looking up different funky shoe designs that they wanted for their very own pair of shoes. Each participant was given a pair of shoes (blank canvas) to design for themselves. The participants mixed up their colors and off we went. These shoes will definitely be a piece of art. Prepare to be amazed!
Fast Food Makeover
The theme of our cooking program this session is “Fast Food Makeovers.” We are taking some of our favorite fast foods and learning how to make them nutritious and still delicious! For the first week, we made baked chicken nuggets and a creamy coleslaw. Warriors had fun dipping and breading the chicken and getting their hands messy! For the second week, we made baked turkey corn dogs with baked sweet potato fries and warriors had fun mixing the batter and then swirling the turkey dogs in it!
