Welcome to the Ridge Activities Blog!

Welcome to the first ever addition of the Peppermint Ridge Activities Department Blog! What a blessing it is for me to work for an organization that realizes the importance of the WHOLE person! My goal in the Activities department is for people to hear about what we do and think to themselves, "They do more than I do! I want to live there!"

We are very fortunate to partner with the disabilities ministry at Crossroads Church. One of the disabilities ministers, Jennifer, comes to the Ridge every Sunday to conduct our chapel services. She did about a month and a half of lessons on baptisms, and as a result, four of our residents chose to be baptized at Crossroads church on July 22nd. It was really exciting.

We will once again be sailing with George Saidah and Heart of Sailing (www.heartofsailing.org). Our first sail was back in April, where we were delighted to see sea lions and dolphins. Our second trip is scheduled for August 4th, and it looks like about 30 residents will be going!

In August, we begin a brand new partnership with Common Ground, an Interfaith Spiritual Center (www.embracehumanity.com). Common Ground will be throwing monthly birthday parties for all the residents that have a birthday in that month. Our first party is scheduled for Friday, August 17th.

Our horseback riding team consists of 10 residents now, and I hope that will grow to 15 in the next few months. We are slated to compete on September 30th at the Tri-Valley Special Olympics Horse Show in Lake View Terrace, CA. As we have (in my opinion) the BEST trainer & the BEST horses in the state, I think we are going to do quite well at this show. Most importantly, we are going to have FUN!

Every Monday, we offer a simple yoga class, chair routines, to our residents. This past Monday we had the biggest turnout EVER. It is so exciting to see our residents stretching, strengthening, relaxing and having a good time while they are at it!

Well, it is time for our Boy Scouts meeting, so I better sign off for now!