Getting Outside

Lighthouse Conversations
Written By Matt Juzenas, Director of Strategic Operations

Lighthouse meets every other Wednesday evening from 8:30-9:30 pm (CST). If you haven’t joined us before, we invite you to come and sit awhile with this beautiful group of parents. As a community, we gather to celebrate the highs and support each other through the challenges. This is a conversation with other parents who understand what you are experiencing. Grab your favorite beverage join us. This is a program for parents with students attending Islands of Brilliance programming. Register here.

As a group, the Lighthouse parents are finding some comfort and joy in getting outside. Whether it is exercise or enjoying a cup of coffee on the patio, the months of being cooped up in the house have given us the desire to be outside as much as possible! Working in the garden, enjoying the beauty of the world coming to life around us, and breathing in the fresh air is a great way to rejuvenate and restore.

Gardening is a great and healthy way to get in some outside time! One parent shared that it felt great to do something a little extra for ourselves, instead of the only essentials shopping we’ve been holding to. And there are many ways to do it safely! Milaeger’s in Racine has online shopping and curbside pickup! Surrounding ourselves with beautiful plants is a gift we can give to ourselves all season long! Not to mention a great activity you could do with the kids to get them away from a screen for a while! (Science lesson? Check! Physical activity? Check!)

As the summer approaches, we talked a bit about what this summer might look like. More and more events are being canceled (State Fair, Summerfest, and summer camps just to name a few). What activities can we plan that will still allow for a “normal feeling” summer? How can we navigate our own concerns of safety while we cannot control the level of precaution those around us practice? NPR provided some insight into the safety of some summer activities: From Camping To Dining Out: Here's How Experts Rate The Risks Of 14 Summer Activities.

While the big events are not an option, here are some summer activities we are looking forward to enjoying with our families:

  • Getting more exercise: biking and hiking

  • Visiting the library and reading more (maybe outside in the shade?)

  • Swimming at a family member’s pool

  • Sidewalk chalk art displays

  • Grilling and eating outside as much as possible

  • Fresh food from gardening and Farmer’s Markets

  • Outdoor movie night (projecting onto a sheet or gathering around a laptop/iPad)

  • Neighborhood scavenger hunts while going for a walk

  • Camping (the back yard counts too!)

  • Running through the sprinkler

  • Stargazing

  • S’mores around the bonfire

  • Yoga out in the yard

  • As much patio time as possible (meals…work…board games…whatever can be done while outside!)

What are you most looking forward to this summer? What are some summer meals that you can’t wait to enjoy? What are some outside activities we can do to involve the whole family?

I hope you have a beautiful week and enjoy some time out in the fresh air!

Peace and Love,
Matt and all of us at Islands of Brilliance

Banner Image by Rob Brown from Pixabay

Matt Juzenas, Director of Strategic Operations

With a background in both special education and graphic design, Matt blends these two disciplines creating unique, engaging learning opportunities for the participants at Islands of Brilliance. In his corporate marketing and agency days, Matt was a strategic and empowering Creative Director. Guiding with compassion and kindness, he formed and led high performing teams who brought their best selves to work. As an educator, Matt takes a similarly holistic approach to each of his students.

With a passion for learning and an ongoing commitment to self-improvement, Matt is an avid reader and explorer of process. An advocate for mental health awareness, he believes that by sharing our stories we find common ground and connection, creating communities of support and understanding. He enjoys spending time playing board games, crocheting, and cooking delicious meals for family and friends.

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