Sometimes, a great day is simply a day spent together.
Recently, AACORN participants had the opportunity to visit Binder Park Zoo through the zoo’s Ticket to Adventure program.
Ticket to Adventure provides free zoo passes through partnerships with nonprofit health and human service organizations, helping make the zoo accessible to families and individuals who might not otherwise have the opportunity to visit.
AACORN is proud to be a Ticket to Adventure partner.
For our participants, community experiences like this are about more than simply getting off the farm for the day. They are opportunities to practice independence, build relationships, try new things, and be part of the wider community.
And this particular day was extra special because it brought together a larger group than usual. Several AACORN families and volunteers came along to help chaperone participants who wanted to attend but don’t typically attend AACORN on Fridays.
That meant participants had the chance to spend time with people they might not normally see during their AACORN day — and families, volunteers, and participants had opportunities to get to know one another in a completely different setting.
The day included plenty of fun. Participants enjoyed carousel rides, fed giraffes, and explored the zoo with friends, families, volunteers, and staff. There were opportunities to try something new, experience a different setting, and simply enjoy being together.
One of the most meaningful parts of the day was seeing participants support each other. Friends helped a participant using a wheelchair navigate the zoo, making sure everyone could take part in the experience together.
That is what community looks like.
At AACORN, we believe inclusion is not just about having a place to go. It is about having the opportunity to find purpose and build relationships.
A trip to the zoo might seem like a simple outing, but for our participants, it can be an important opportunity to experience their community alongside friends — and to discover that they can try new things and navigate new places.
We’re grateful to Binder Park Zoo for making this experience possible through the Ticket to Adventure program, and to the families and volunteers who joined us for the day.
Most of all, we’re grateful for days like this one: days filled with friendship, adventure, laughter, and the simple joy of experiencing something new together.
Because AACORN is more than a program. It’s a community.
