JANUARY SCHOOL HOLIDAYS: BOOK NOW!
Holiday group/ friendship sessions: These sessions cater for and are inclusive of children and young adults of all abilities and diverse needs. Sessions are run by therapists who are specialists in catering for neurodivergent individuals. All sessions will incorporate the participants’ unique interests and will cater for their sensory requirements.
The groups will be run by Susan (Specialist Therapist), alongside specialist artists and teachers from the Blue Mountains. The participant costs of the group will be billed to NDIS (self or plan managed) or can be paid directly from the client. Participants are welcome to come with a support worker if they require 1:1 support in a group setting, otherwise the ratio of support will be 1:4 participants, with a maximum of 12 in each group.
Participants will be required to bring their own food and drink and anything individual that they require for their emotional and sensory regulation.
Contact Susan to book
January Holiday groups
Check out the calendar! Time change from 9am-11am to 10am-12pm for school readiness groups, to allow families to be a little more relaxed in the holidays…due to popular demand!
Dusk Bush Exploration Glowworms
Age: 5+ years - young adult, and Parents!
Susan, from Inclusive Student Support Services, loves exploring the walks, flora and fauna of the beautiful Blue Mountains. She loves to share this passion for nature, with the young people she is working with. This group will be exploring the local wonders of Birdwood Gully at Dusk, specifically seeking out the glowworm caves, and other interesting evening critters. There will be plenty of time to stop for a snack and to meander, being mindful to pause and enjoy! Susan’s First Aid certificate is current and she will carry a first aid pack with her in case of mishaps that can happen when we’re in nature.
Art Workshop - Jackson Pollock- cancelled
Age: 5+ years - young adult
Tala Ariadne is a Blue Mountains based artist who has completed a Diploma of Visual Arts, and is currently studying to become a Psychologist and Art Therapist. She has a passion for art history that she will share in this workshop by focusing on famous artist Jackson Pollock, who he was, what defined his style, and most importantly how we can take inspiration from him! Susan will be there to assist participants as required through the workshop.
We will walk away with one art piece (or more)that we have created, and a deeper understanding of Jackson Pollock, and how we can take inspiration from his masterpieces.
Feel free to browse some of Tala’s creations on her Instagram: @tala.ariadne.art
Tennis and Social Connections
Age: 5+ years - young adult
Susan, from Inclusive Student Support Services, has had a passion for leisurely tennis since she was 5, that she is looking forward to sharing with young ones of all skill levels. This group will be introduced to basic tennis skills that practice hand-eye-coordination, such as serving, aiming, and rallying; in a fun, playful, and encouraging environment. There will also be an opportunity for participants to explore the sport of pickleball, which combines elements of tennis with those of badminton and ping-pong.
Art Workshop - Pablo Picasso
Age: 5+ years - young adult
Tala Ariadne is a Blue Mountains based artist who has completed a Diploma of Visual Arts, and is currently studying to become a Psychologist and Art Therapist. She has a passion for art history that she will share in this workshop by focusing on famous artist Pablo Picasso, who he was, what defined his style, and most importantly how we can take inspiration from him! Susan will be there to assist participants as required through the workshop.
We will walk away with one art piece (or more)that we have created, and a deeper understanding of Pablo Picasso, and how we can take inspiration from his masterpieces.
Feel free to browse some of Tala’s creations on her Instagram: @tala.ariadne.art
Pottery Group
Age: approximately 7 years - young adult
Local artist Deb, has more than 30 years experience in creating beautiful pottery pieces. She pre-prepares the clay and then fires and glazes the pieces that the participants make. Participants will receive a lump of clay to create what they want. Deb will be doing a demonstration on the pottery wheel and all participants will get to have a go at creating a piece on the wheel! As working on the wheel will require Deb to share personal space, and possibly touch hands with participants, it is completely optional. Deb will be there to help everyone make their masterpiece come to life, whether on the wheel or hand building.
Some of the comments from those who attended in the January and April school holidays were:
“This has been the best day of my life”
“I’m so proud of what I made”.
You will be required to bring:
Apron
Small towel
Lazy Susan (if you have one)
Dusk Bush Exploration Glowworms- cancelled
Age: 5+ years - young adult, and Parents!
Susan, from Inclusive Student Support Services, loves exploring the walks, flora and fauna of the beautiful Blue Mountains. She loves to share this passion for nature, with the young people she is working with. This group will be exploring the local wonders of Birdwood Gully at Dusk, specifically seeking out the glowworm caves, and other interesting evening critters. There will be plenty of time to stop for a snack and to meander, being mindful to pause and enjoy! Susan’s First Aid certificate is current and she will carry a first aid pack with her in case of mishaps that can happen when we’re in nature.
Wheels and Social Connections
Age: 5+ years - young adult
This group will enjoy a BYO bikes, scooters, skateboards, roller-skates, and any other wheels, park adventure. There will be obstacle courses that we design and test together, to practice balancing skills and how we control our wheels. Don’t worry about skill level - we are here to have fun, learn together, and get creative with our wheels. Susan’s First Aid certificate is current and she will carry a first aid pack with her in case of mishaps that can happen on wheels!
Art Workshop - Frida Kahlo
Age: 5+ years - young adult
Tala Ariadne is a Blue Mountains based artist who has completed a Diploma of Visual Arts, and is currently studying to become a Psychologist and Art Therapist. She has a passion for art history that she will share in this workshop by focusing on famous artist Frida Kahlo; who was she, what defined her style, and most importantly how we can take inspiration from her! Susan will be there to assist participants as required through the workshop.
We will walk away with one art piece (or more)that we have created, and a deeper understanding about Frida Kahlo, and how we can take inspiration from her masterpieces.
Feel free to browse some of Tala’s creations on her Instagram: @tala.ariadne.art
Cooking Class and Food Exploration
Age: 5+ years - young adult
Susan, from Inclusive Student Support Services, will facilitate the exploring, making, cooking and smelling, tasting and eating of homemade pizzas and homemade fries/chips. Susan works 1:1 with clients in private practice and also supports children and young adults with food and related sensory sensitivities. There will be other support workers onsite to assist participants.
In some of our last holiday classes, participants made sushi, rocky road, tacos, and teddies in blankets. They loved being able to adjust it to their taste by adding or taking away ingredients. Some chose to put theirs in a takeaway container for their family, others consumed it on the spot! Many of the participants said that they made it the next week at home for their family, following the steps on the recipe that they had been provided with.
Bush Exploration- cancelled
Age: 5+ years - young adult
Susan, from Inclusive Student Support Services, loves exploring the walks, flora and fauna of the beautiful Blue Mountains. She loves to share this passion for nature with the young people she is working with. This group will be exploring one of the local bush walks, Birdwood Gully, and will take the time to explore the elements of the bush that different participants are interested in, for example: local lizards and birds, interesting plants, and fallen logs that are fun to balance on. There will be plenty of time to stop for a snack and to meander, being mindful to pause and enjoy! Susan’s First Aid certificate is current and she will carry a first aid pack with her in case of mishaps that can happen when we’re in nature.
Tennis and Social Connections
Age: 5+ years - young adult
Susan, from Inclusive Student Support Services, has had a passion for leisurely tennis since she was 5, that she is looking forward to sharing with young ones of all skill levels. This group will be introduced to basic tennis skills that practice hand-eye-coordination, such as serving, aiming, and rallying; in a fun, playful, and encouraging environment. There will also be an opportunity for participants to explore the sport of pickleball, which combines elements of tennis with those of badminton and ping-pong.