Registration for the OK After Opps Fall Semester, Sessions 1 & 2 is now open! See descriptions of activities being offered below. Please use the form on this page to register for either or both of these After Opps program sessions. Any questions or concerns may be directed to Oscar Montanez by email at oscar@opportunityknocksnow.org.
After Opps is an after school/after work program offering a wide variety of activities that are developed in collaboration with the Warrior participants. Program activities are embedded with a focus on peer leadership, health and wellness, social interaction and community connections.
For eligibility, registration requirements, session fees, daily structure, safety requirements or other information, see the After Opps homepage.
Click HERE to view some program highlights from the After Opps Blog.
FLOW THEME:
The theme for the 2019 Fall Semester, spanning one 7-wk and one 5-wk After Opps session, is “FLOW.” This semester, we will go with the flow – learning more about ourselves and how to calmly navigate the rivers of life. Programs are wide-ranging, but tie into “Flow” in some way.
SPECIAL DATES
- OK Classic Softball Tournament – 9/28/19
- Knockout Farm Volunteer Work Days – 10/1/19, 10/22/19
- RFCC Halloween Party – 10/25/19
- No Programs (Thanksgiving) – 11/29/19
- After Opps Fall Family Day – 12/20/19
- Click to view OK Event Calendar
MONDAYS
PEER-LED
Peer-led programming is an organization-wide philosophy that places our Warriors at the core of planning and development. With limited staff support, Warriors plan engaging activities of interest for their peers. Warriors plan for the first three weeks of the session and then lead for the following three weeks.
COMMUNITY OPPS
In this program, Warriors will serve various local non-profit organizations and establish their presence in our community through various community service projects. This session, warriors will support the Park District of Oak Park’s Frank Lloyd Wright race and invite Hepzibah to join us at the RFCC’s Halloween Party!
FALL BALL
In “Fall Ball,” Warriors will head to the park to learn and play a variety of fun fall sports. We will play some softball to get ready for the OK Classic and also get into some flag football, kickball, soccer, and more. *Warrior Wellness
WEDNESDAYS
GEOCACHING
Geocaching is an outdoor activity in which individuals utilize their navigation and critical thinking skills to find hide and seek containers, called “geocaches” or “caches”, at specific locations marked by coordinates all over the world. Warriors will explore our own communities in search of these hidden treasures.
IT’S FALL Y’ALL
Between decorating items for their homes, scarecrow making, and a possible pumpkin patch visit, the Warriors’ fall calendar is getting full. While we will spend plenty of time outdoors enjoying all the beautiful colors and crisp fall weather, the Warriors will also make time for creative indoor fall crafts!
SENSORY EXPLORATION
Warriors will get the chance to flow through all their senses, engaging in multiple activities that dive into the world of each sense. Weather it be sound, smell, touch, taste or sight we will surely experience some exciting new activities. *Warrior Wellness
FITNESS FLOW
“Flow” has been defined as “an optimal state of consciousness where we feel our best and perform our best.” Warriors will enter a state of flow this session with some fluid fitness fun including yoga, martial arts, indoor swimming, gymnastics, aerobics, and more. *Warrior Wellness
FRIDAYS
FARMING
We are excited to be wrapping up harvesting our summer crops and looking forward to new culinary delights for the fall season. Focusing on FLOW, we will study helpful processes on the farm from beginning to end starting with proper harvesting techniques and food safety and sanitation. *Warrior Wellness
BALLPARK FOODS
The cooking group will be putting a fresh and nutritious spin on classic ballpark foods as we get ready for the annual OK Classic softball tournament. Warriors will create new versions of such staples as nachos, pretzels, Chicago-style hot dogs, and more for our Friday group dinners. *Warrior Wellness
WELLNESS WARRIORS
We will FLOW through feelings and thoughts within our lives through a combination of mindfulness and physical fitness. We will continue to develop our mindfulness toolboxes and explore concepts such as visiting feelings big and small, self-compassion and accepting feelings. *Warrior Wellness
SOCIAL CLUB – GO WITH THE FLOW
Warriors will learn about the flow of conversation through a combination of classroom lessons and community practice. We will discuss proper ways to greet friends and other adults, how to start, maintain, and end a conversation, and key elements of a conversation, such as eye contact and voice volume.
MONDAYS
COMMUNITY OPPS
In this program, Warriors will serve various local non-profit organizations and establish their presence in our community through various community service projects. This session, warriors will select a new community organization and complete a major service project for them!
COMMUNITY FITNESS
From the Roos to Ferrara Pan Fitness to yoga at the RFCC and more, Warriors will be accessing different fitness facilities and environments around the community and learning new ways to flow through a workout. *Warrior Wellness
WARRIOR RESEARCH PROJECT
Warriors will research and create a poster board about personal growth and personal interests. Some concepts to explore include being more social, joining in on more activities, calming strategies, flexibility when things change, etc. Warriors will present poster boards for peers at the end of the session!
POTTERY
Warriors will channel their creative sides while creating art out of clay. They will learn how clay flows and how they can use their bodies to make art. They will have a beautiful pottery piece to take home at the end of the session!
WEDNESDAYS
COMMUNITY CURRENTS
In Community Currents, Warriors will learn about and meet local individuals and groups who keep our community flowing. Through outings and guest speakers, we will interact with public officials, first responders, nonprofit organizations, teachers, artists, and more community leaders.
DANCE FLOW
Warriors will get to experience multiple forms of dance, explore the flow of their own bodies, and express themselves through the art of dance. *Warrior Wellness
LIFE-SIZE BOARD GAMES
Have you ever wondered how to play Clue, Sorry, or the Game of Life… in real life? In this program, Warriors will be playing life-sized versions of their favorite board games!
ART FLOW
Warriors will explore and express our feelings through different modes of art, including painting, drawing, collaging, clay sculpting, photography, stamping, and more. At the end of the session, they will take home a box of all the projects they created!
FRIDAYS
VEGAN ADVENTURES
No meat? No cheese? No dairy? No problem! Warriors in this cooking session will learn the art of vegan cooking. We will learn about foods that can create the same textures and flavors of meat, cheese, and sour cream…without using any animal product. *Warrior Wellness
WELLNESS WARRIORS
We will FLOW through feelings and thoughts within our lives through a combination of mindfulness and physical fitness. We will continue to develop our mindfulness toolboxes and explore concepts such as visiting feelings big and small, self-compassion and accepting feelings. *Warrior Wellness
FAMILY DAY PLANNING
This group of Warriors will be in charge of planning for our next family day on December 20th. We will be focusing on our theme, Flow, as we decide on a live performance, game shows, and other fun ideas for a family holiday celebration.
SOCIAL CLUB – GO WITH THE FLOW
Warriors will learn about the flow of conversation through a combination of classroom lessons and community practice. We will discuss proper ways to greet friends and other adults, how to start, maintain, and end a conversation, and key elements of a conversation, such as eye contact and voice volume.
