August Adventures: Colours, Dances, Popcorn & Sunshine!
As summer begins to soften into September, we’ve been looking back on all the bright, busy, and joyfully messy moments of August. It’s safe to say we packed plenty of fun into these warm weeks, and if there’s a theme to be found, it’s this: we celebrated colour, senses, and friendship in every shape and form!
We began with colours – and lots of them! Paintbrushes swished, sponges dabbed, and hands (and maybe a few noses!) ended up just as decorated as the paper. We experimented with herb-scented paints, which added a whole new twist to our masterpieces. Who knew basil and rosemary could inspire brushstrokes and giggles at the same time? The paint pots may have smelt more like a kitchen garden than an art studio, but it made for an unforgettable sensory splash.
Speaking of senses, our summer senses week had us tasting, touching, and picking the very best of what August has to offer. Plums and blackberries were ripe for the picking, and baskets quickly filled with juicy treasures. Some berries, of course, never made it to the basket at all – but that’s part of the fun! Sticky fingers, purple lips, and big smiles were the order of the day.
Next, we stretched our legs (and tested our rhythm!) with line dancing, what a sight it was: a field full of boots, twirls, and laughter as we learnt the steps together. We were joined by Vickie’s dog friends and were easily distracted, the dogs were delighted to join too, adding their own joyful spins and wiggles to the music. It wasn’t about getting every move right, but about the fun of dancing under the open sky with friends – both two-legged and four.
Then came film week, and what better choice than Inside Out to remind us of all the wonderful feelings we’ve shared this summer? There was popcorn galore – popped, crunched, and even explored in our sensory bin. The smell of butter and salt filled the room, and hands dug happily through the kernels, proving that popcorn isn’t just for munching, it’s also for exploring! We explored the theme brought to us by Inside Out and worked on all aspects of mental health in a playful way.
We rounded off August with a burst of energy at our inter-location sports day. Races were run, cheers rang out, and the spirit of teamwork was everywhere. The highlight? The Ice cream van, who can resist?
Other memories from August include a special visit from nursery children, the last one before they graduate to Primary school, we can’t wait to meet the next cohort who will come and spend time with us once a month. They always bring their boundless enthusiasm and joined in with our activities.
We ran a couple of inter-location competitions, one was Bake off, our entry combined one of our member’s birthdays and their love of Thomas The Tank Engine we think Mary Berry would be proud of us.
Next was the photography competition where members were encouraged to bring in their favourite photos or take them while they were with us, we held a presentation of the winners, each received a sweet treat and a new frame to display their entry.
Looking back, August has been a celebration of creativity, senses, movement, and togetherness. From the colours of our paintings to the sweetness of fresh fruit, from dancing in fields to sharing popcorn with friends, every week brought something new and memorable.
As we step into September, we’re carrying with us not just the memories, but also the smiles, laughter, and maybe a berry stain or two on our clothes! Here’s to more adventures, more discoveries, and more reasons to dance, paint, and pick blackberries together.
