April 2026 Best of All

April is always a busy month with spring programs and running full steam ahead with our annual 5K, 1 Mile Walk, and Kids Dash planning. It was also Volunteer Appreciation Month, and we were excited to celebrate with our annual appreciation event. Below are just a few #bestofall moments from April 2026.

Participant & Program Best of All

This month, we’re highlighting our Art Explosion program. The GiGi’s Art Explosion program provides hands-on experience with multiple art media and provides an outlet for individuals with Down syndrome to express themselves, build confidence, and socialize with peers.

Ms. Sarah has recently taken on leading the Art Explosion program. Many of you may know Ms. Sarah as Jack’s mom. In April, they worked on air-dry clay projects. Working with clay isn’t just creative, it offers a range of therapeutic benefits for both kids and adults:

• Emotional regulation & stress relief
  The repetitive motions of kneading, rolling, and shaping clay can be very calming. It helps reduce anxiety and gives people a healthy outlet to express emotions.
• Sensory stimulation
  Clay engages the sense of touch in a rich, hands-on way. This is especially beneficial for individuals with sensory processing differences, as it can be both grounding and regulating.
• Fine motor skill development
  Pinching, molding, and sculpting strengthen hand muscles and improve coordination—skills that support everyday tasks like writing, buttoning, and using utensils.
• Creativity & self-expression
  Clay is open-ended, allowing individuals to create freely without “right or wrong.” This can build confidence and provide a nonverbal way to communicate thoughts and feelings.
• Focus & mindfulness
  Working with clay encourages being present in the moment. It can improve attention span and promote a sense of mindfulness.
• Confidence & accomplishment
  Turning a lump of clay into something meaningful gives a strong sense of achievement, boosting self-esteem.
• Social connection
  In group settings, clay activities encourage interaction, collaboration, and shared experiences.

It’s a simple material, but it can have a powerful impact, physically, emotionally, and socially. We loved seeing all the artistic visions come to life last month and look forward to our next Art Explosion session. Check the website calendar for details.

Volunteer Spotlight

For several years, Augustana College’s Club Ed has planned and coordinated a carnival just for our families. They welcome us into the PepsiCo Center on campus, which is an experience in itself. Thank you to Club Ed members for volunteering their time and talents. This club is for future educators, and we love knowing they will go into the educational world knowing more about individuals with Down syndrome and can share that knowledge with others.

#BestofAll

“It was great to see participants of all ages interacting with Augie’s Club Ed volunteers! The stations they set up had a great range of topics and experiences and allowed our participants to find something that connected with them. It also gave an opportunity for participants and parents alike to interact with each other. One of my favorite moments was when three of the youngest participants were all at center court on the Augie Viking logo crawling and walking around playing with each other!” Nathan Bates, Executive Director

Playhouse Inspiration

Our Quad Cities community is incredibly fortunate to be home to organizations that share a common goal: empowering local families and creating a more inclusive world. This month, we are thrilled to highlight our inspiring partnership with Mississippi Bend Trykes, an organization that exemplifies the spirit of collaboration.

Over the past few years, we have had the privilege of working alongside them in a variety of meaningful ways. From connecting families to their life-changing services to having our own board members roll up their sleeves to help build a custom tryke, every interaction has strengthened our shared mission. We’ve even had the joy of assisting in the handoff of recycled bikes, ensuring that more children in our community have the opportunity to experience the freedom of movement.

One of the most rewarding aspects of this partnership is how it allows us to provide comprehensive support to our families. A wonderful example of this began last year when we collaborated with Mississippi Bend Trykes to advocate for a family seeking a custom cycle for their son, Caleb. Since then, we’ve continued to walk alongside them, even welcoming a dedicated volunteer, Laura, who helps to translate through language barriers, to support the family during Caleb’s program participation.

The culmination of this teamwork happened this past April when Caleb finally received his very own tryke! Ms. Ann and Laura were there to witness the magic of that moment. It was a beautiful reminder that while our backgrounds and methods may differ, joy is a universal language. When Caleb saw his new tryke, no words were necessary—his smile truly said it all.

YOU can submit your Best of All stories and moments too!

Staff typically choose these stories, but we’d love to hear from you, too! If you see or hear something worth highlighting, please let us know!

Did you know you can easily share photos from programs with us by uploading them here? There are also flyers with a QR Code hanging around the playhouse.

309-762-7529 or email [email protected]

#bestofall