Fall 2017 Program Registration & Volunteer Opportunities

We are so excited for our upcoming semester of FREE purposeful programming at GiGi’s Playhouse – Nashville! We hope you will join us this fall!

At GiGi’s Playhouse Nashville, we make a lifetime commitment to support individuals with Down syndrome of ALL ages and help them achieve their “Best of All” by working diligently to offer a purposeful progression of high-quality therapeutic-based, educational, career development, and family connections programming. We provide visual supports, individualized tools, and family education to support participants’ growth and progress at GiGi’s, at home, at school, at work, and in the community. Together, we are changing the way the world sees Down syndrome!

Programs at GiGi’s are divided into three semesters per year: spring (January-April), summer (May-August), and fall (September-December). Each semester has a different program schedule and all programs are offered FREE of charge to families. Recommended age ranges are approximate and siblings are always welcome to attend programs unless otherwise specified.

Each program has a therapeutic-based, educational, career development, and/or family connections focus. Even if it appears that participants are just having fun, they are learning and experiencing therapy in disguise at the same time. Whether working on social skills, motor skills, speech and language, reading, math, computers, or just simple peer interaction, it is all purposeful fun!

#BestofAll Program Goals:
1.) Create opportunities for parent networking and provide educational tools.
2.) Instill high expectations for each participant to follow program routines and to fully participate in planned activities.
3.) Motivate the participants, parents, and volunteers to give their Best of All in each program session.
4.) Deliver purposeful programming tailored to individuals with Down syndrome that includes structured routines, purposeful activity planning, and an engaging, fun, and creative environment designed to foster development and encourage growth in individuals with Down syndrome.
5.) Provide specific therapeutic-based and/or educational learning opportunities to support the development of speech and language, social, and motor skills tailored to addressing the universal challenges of individuals with Down syndrome.
6.) Remove the barrier of cost for our participants by offering free programs.

We are SO grateful to our amazing, highly-qualified volunteer Program Leaders (often educators or therapists) and assistants who generously donate their expertise and quality time to plan lessons and prepare materials for programs. We honor that time and energy by requiring program registration and prioritizing regular attendance throughout each semester so that families and program teams can receive maximum benefits, track progress, and see growth in participants’ skills.

For Open Play/Family Night; Busy Bodies; and/or Friends, Fun, & Fitness (Yoga): Participants may sign up for any or all session(s) throughout the fall semester.

For all other programs: Our programs are often in high demand, so participants must register between 9/1-9/10/17 in order to secure a spot for the fall semester. Space is limited and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Registered participants are expected to attend all sessions unless proper notice is given. We understand that absences happen, but please sign up ONLY if your participant plans to attend a majority of fall semester sessions. Families are required to notify the Program Coordinator and/or Program Leader(s) of any absences as soon as possible but no less than 3 hours before a scheduled session. Please include dates of absence(s) in the comment section when you sign up.

For programs with waiting lists: Participants who miss 2 program sessions without proper notice will forfeit their slot to the waiting list for the remainder of the semester.

All registered families will receive a welcome email before the semester begins.

Thank you for your cooperation!

For program descriptions, schedules, and registration, please follow the links below:

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

One-on-One Literacy and/or Math Tutoring — ages: 3+: goo.gl/CcHRr1

FAMILY CONNECTIONS PROGRAMS

Open Play/Family Night — all ages: goo.gl/p86az9

Busy Bodies — recommended ages: approximately 0-5: goo.gl/Bv8bZJ

GROUP THERAPEUTIC-BASED PROGRAMS

LMNOP (Language, Music, N’ Our Peeps) — recommended ages: approximately 0-36 months: goo.gl/RjVQ2j

Leaps & Bounds — recommended ages: approximately 3-5: goo.gl/dxhJwc

Music in Motion (offered in partnership with Belmont University’s undergraduate music therapy program) — recommended ages: approximately 6-15: goo.gl/PGJZ96)

Cooking Club (funding generously provided by the Nashville Predators Foundation) — recommended ages: 8-12: goo.gl/tf6qJ5

Friends, Fun, & Fitness (Yoga) — recommended ages: 13+: goo.gl/zru9x1. Participants may register for Friends, Fun, & Fitness (Yoga) any time prior to the session(s).

Friends, Fun, & Fitness at CrossFit Pro Vita (offered in partnership with CrossFit Pro Vita) — recommended ages: 16+: goo.gl/TGFMM4

EPIC (Empowerment, Participation, Independence, & Community Involvement) — recommended ages: 18+: goo.gl/L8XdvJ

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Looking for a great way to give back this fall?! Sign up to be a tutor (ages 16+) or group program volunteer! Our programs are completely FREE to participants and families and often in very high demand. We are always working to expand our pool of trained tutors and program volunteers to meet the needs every program participant.

One-on-one tutors receive training and materials; group program volunteers provide assistance to program participants under the direction of a Program Leader and/or Program Coordinator. This is a great opportunity for middle, high school, college students, and beyond to gain experience, give back, and complete service hour requirements…all while having fun!

PLEASE NOTE: Tutor training is MANDATORY for new tutors and will meet at the Playhouse:
MATH: September 12 from 5:30-8:00pm
LITERACY: September 13 from 5:30-8:00pm

Tutor registration: goo.gl/CcHRr1
Group program volunteer registration: goo.gl/teh7h5

PLEASE NOTE: In the case of inclement weather, programs that meet at the Playhouse follow the lead of Williamson County Schools. Off-site programs that meet in Davidson County follow the lead of Metro Nashville Public Schools. On days that school is canceled or has late start or early dismissal due to weather conditions, then programs will also be canceled. Registered program participants and volunteers will be emailed regarding program cancellations and a notice will also be posted on GiGi’s Playhouse Nashville’s Facebook page.

While we make every effort to run our calendar as planned, please remember that our programs are volunteer-run and our schedule is occasionally subject to change regardless of weather. Should any changes occur, we will always communicate with registered program participants and volunteers via email and update our calendar and Facebook page as soon as possible. We thank you in advance for your flexibility and understanding, as well as your sincere effort to make program attendance a priority!

We are incredibly grateful to our volunteers, donors, and families who make our programs a reality. Thank you all for helping us continue our mission of changing the way the world sees Down syndrome!

Questions? Please contact 615-370-1500 or programsnashville@gigisplayhouse.org.

Thank you! We look forward to many #BestofAll moments this fall!