For Immediate Release
Date – 7.22.2024
Minute Man Arc Opens Second TimberNook Site in Dracut, MA
Minute Man Arc for Human Services, Inc., the Concord-based agency supporting more than 1,400 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, recently opened a second TimberNook site at Ogonowski Memorial Field in Dracut, Massachusetts. This outdoor nature program for children of all abilities will run from September 9, 2024 – June 11, 2025.
TimberNook is not your typical nature program. The activities intricately weave the therapeutic benefits of being outdoors with a thorough understanding of child development and alternative education. The result is a sensory play experience that supports every aspect of the growing child. It is done by skillfully using the environment as inspiration for creative play opportunities.
“Our developmentally appropriate TimberNook programs reach children’s mind, body and spirit,” says Sherry Kenin, Director of TimberNook. “Through outdoor child-led play, children develop their social skills, sensory motor skills, imagination, and cognition. Children once again find joy in childhood while learning the most important life lessons: resilience, perseverance, team work, conflict resolution, friendship, competence, independence, self-reliance and much more.”
Parents also speak highly about the unique programming that includes all children.
A mother of a four-year-old wrote, “My daughter participated in TimberNook last summer. Prior to that, she was enrolled in Early Intervention services for gross motor delays. She had a wonderful experience and was able to grow, play alongside peers, and take age-appropriate risks. My son will likely be enrolled this summer when he is old enough to participate. He is currently enrolled with Minuteman ARC Early Intervention, and will continue needing special support services for several years to come. I look forward to him being able to participate in TimberNook, as it is appropriate for ALL children, even those who don’t ‘appear’ different.”
After her son developed friendships for the first time at TimberNook, another parent said: “Thank you so much! This is a first. We literally have happy tears in our eyes. No one’s ever reached out to us to ask for a playdate/have contact with our son! Thank you so much for being part of such a phenomenal program that has embraced our son as he is with so much love and compassion, and helped to give him more access and connection to people. You really don’t know how much this means to all of us.”
TimberNook Middlesex County now has 2 sites: The new site at Ogonowski Memorial Field, Dracut and our original site at 1 Nobscot Rd, Sudbury with 452 acres of exploration and free play. For more information about both TimberNook programs, please contact Sherry Kenin, Director of TimberNook, at [email protected] or 978.287.7878.
Minute Man Arc: Improving the lives of children and adults with disabilities by increasing lifelong independence, personal choice, and self-advocacy.