SPecially Adapted Resource Centers - SPARC

01/15/2025

🌟 Yesterday SPARC ~ Reston was all about science and motor skills! Participants had so much fun shaking and pouring Epsom salt into bags and then into their very own “geodes.” 🧪✨

Using everyday materials like Epsom salt, glue, egg cartons (yay for recycling! 🌍), and food coloring, everyone got to create unique patterns and designs. These DIY geodes showed us how beauty can come from the simplest things—just like real geodes in nature, with their stunning crystals hidden inside ordinary rocks. 💎

We also had a special visit from program director Kat Rader 💕 Maddie especially loved their “phone call” chat—it was the sweetest moment. 📞😊

01/15/2025

SPARC ~ Sterling is excited to welcome our newest participant! We had a great day engaged in skill building and playing basketball!

Quote of the day: We are so happy to get out of the house! When we moved here there was no suitable day program!

01/14/2025

🌟 Today at SPARC ~ Arlington, we held a Life Skills program that focused on an important everyday task: folding socks and shirts! 🧦👕

This hands-on session not only helped participants work on Occupational Therapy (OT) skills but also fostered independence in daily living. 💪✨

Victoria shared her enthusiasm, saying:
🗣️ "Yes, we need to learn to fold our clothes to be more independent. This was good!"

Sandy, one of our visually impaired participants, reminded us of the importance of perseverance:
🗣️ "Be patient while I learn this!"

We're so proud of everyone for their effort and determination today! 🌈 Together, we're building confidence, independence, and life skills—one fold at a time. ❤️

01/13/2025

Our friends at SPARC ~ Herndon are studying poetry and they wrote this about their day program:

“A Place We Love to Grow” by David Kim,
At SPARC, a place so bright,
Where every day is filled with light,
A happy space, both warm and true,
Where dreams are big and skies are blue.

With art that paints the world with grace,
And brain games that keep up the pace,
Laughter echoes, voices ring,
As friendship blooms and hearts take wing.

Socializing with others here,
A positive vibe, year after year,
Independence grows with each new day,
Creating community in every way.

A safe place where all can thrive,
A welcoming home where we feel alive,
Aspiring ability in every heart,
Inclusion's the key, we're all a part.

Engaging moments, moments to share,
A program of love, beyond compare,
Where every soul finds space to grow,
At SPARC, the seeds of friendship sow.

- SPARC~Herndon “

01/13/2025

🌏🍲 Celebrate Culture Through Food at SPARC! 🍲🌏

Today, we were treated to a special feast by Mr. Quy, a friend of one of our participants at SPARC ~ Alexandria. His wife prepared an incredible spread of rice, sour soup, and grilled chicken wings that left us all feeling nourished and connected. 🥰

Food has a beautiful way of bringing people together and sharing pieces of our culture. We'd love for you to join us in this journey! If you have a favorite dish that represents your heritage, consider bringing it to share with our SPARC community. Let’s celebrate diversity, learn about each other, and enjoy some amazing flavors together!

Tag a friend who loves to cook or would love to join us in sharing a meal. 🍽️💖

01/11/2025

It was so good to be back to in person activities at SPARC! Painting glasses was so much fun!

01/11/2025

Friday at SPARC~Alexandria we made pizza dip, hand painted wine glasses and made our own party poppers. Our focus was on fine motor skills, artistic expression, and socialization with a celebration focus!

01/08/2025

Thanks to Zoom, we can still be connected when the centers are closed!

Katherine summed it up:

Having the opportunity to have SPARC as an online option when it snows is awesome! We still get to see each other, be social and learn new things! It’s an asset although not the same as being in person!

Are you still meeting virtually?

01/07/2025

SPARC Centers will be online again on Wednesday. While roads are clear we are receiving reports of snow blocking curb cuts and other transportation challenges. See you online!

01/07/2025

The Centers are closed again today but we have another great day planned online! Stay safe and warm!

01/06/2025

How are you enjoying your snow day? We are online and having a blast! Shared about our favorite places to visit locally and afar. Hawaii, Italy, Switerland, Costa Rica and DC were on the list! What’s your favorite destination?

Now we are playing Who wants to be a millionaire?

01/06/2025

SPARC Centers are closed but we are meeting online! Stay safe and warm today!

01/04/2025

SPARC ~ Alexandria welcomed Le Pha’s sensei for a visit. He brought a special treat - he taught us how to cook pho! Participants helped get the ingredients ready and enjoyed the food with him. We also had a rigorous work out with SPIRIT Club! Later we worked on journal prompts and read the first chapter of our book of the month. At the end of the day, we celebrated Elijah’s birthday.

Fine motor skills were our focus today as well as social skills and direction following.

01/03/2025

Had a wonderful morning with the members of the Rotary Club of Dulles International Airport! Thank you for the invitation and to Todd Goldian for recommending SPARC! Happy New Year!

What a great first meeting of 2025. We heard about the wonderful work SPecially Adapted Resource Centers - SPARC is doing in our community from Executive Director Debi Alexander. Join us at our next in-person meeting on Jan 24 to find ways to give back to your community through our club and our partners.

01/03/2025

Today, we created a New Year’s Snowman! It was an incredible craft with full participation! We had a discussion about Monday’s possible snowfall that fueled the competition for the best Snowman!

Which is your favorite?

01/02/2025

Today at SPARC ~ Vienna we engaged in an advocacy lesson and learned how to write letters in support of SPARC. We took some time discussed what we did with our holiday break. Later we created origami animals and created winter themed crafts such as reindeer and yarn trees. In the afternoon, we made sugar cookies and then decorated them. In the video Tom is breaking down and excavating a Dino fossil.

Tom: “SPARC is a space where I can be myself and not worried about the public eye.”

01/02/2025

The Tysons/Falls Church/Vienna Social Collective is having a fun event at Settle Down Easy Brewery in Falls Church on January 7 from 5:30 - 7. Bring a children's book to donate to Butterfly Books, a non-profit run by teens to support children, and hang out with our fabulous SoCo friends!

Sign up here:

01/02/2025

What are you looking forward to the most today??