Nickelodeon Days Recap

Are you ready to get slimed? Our participants for Nickelodeon Days certainly were! We made our own Nickelodeon slime, take home Dora brownies, and Dora microphones.

We took a field trip to Golfland where we put our mini golf skills to the test and we also enjoyed the arcade and water park.

We went on a hike around Campus to find things using Spanish words that Dora taught us, and we also made our own iCarly videos. We had a Power Rangers competition, played some Spongebob games, and we ran through a Double Dare obstacle course.

We also learned with iPads, had a visit from some creepy crawlers, and partied it up at the Via West Choice Awards. To see more pictures from this week, please visit our Facebook page.

Superheroes Week Recap

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's Via West Superparticipants! Superheroes Week has concluded and we learned a lot about what it takes to be a real hero. We made signs illustrating superhero core values, learned the importance of healthy eating by making Incredible Hulk green smoothies, and we put our strength to the test in the Superhero Training Village.

We felt the exhilaration of flying during our field trip to the Sky High Sports Trampoline Park, and we made superhero capes to keep us aerodynamic.

 

We relaxed with a Saturday morning cartoon marathon in our jammies, and we also created superhero flip books, cakes, and decoupage comics frames.

 

We also learned with iPads, rode horses at the Via West corral, and spent some quality time in the Via West pool. To see more pictures from this session, please visit our Facebook page.

All I Want for Christmas Recap

Snow in California? You bet! With some help from the Rotary Club of Cupertino, the Via West Campus was transformed this past weekend into a glistening winter wonderland. We kicked off the weekend with some caroling at our opening campfire.

On Saturday, we spent time making ornaments, dreidels, menorahs, and various other holiday crafts to take home. We read Christmas stories, played music, and learned some new iPad apps.

 

After some down time in the lodges, we came outside to see that winter had arrived! We went sledding, made snowmen, had an epic snowball battle, and then we warmed up inside with cookies and hot chocolate.Everyone learned the importance of giving back to the community by decorating and stuffing stockings to donate to Next Door's domestic violence shelter.

We finished up the weekend with a festive dinner, Yule Ball, and a meet and greet with Santa where everyone was able to receive their holiday presents!

To see more pictures from this weekend, please visist our Facebook page.

Via West Thanksgiving Recap

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us here at Via West! We just spent a fantastic holiday weekend at Via West full of football, friends, and food! We went shopping at the Via West Market to select ingredients to make stuffing and pumpkin pie for our Thanksgiving feast.

We decorated masks to be sold at this year's Via Ball since the theme is Mardis Gras Masquerade.

 We made journals and photo albums, and we practiced our football skills. We then stuffed all of our Thanksgiving turkeys with our homemade stuffing.

We made vases to use as centerpieces for Thanksgiving, and we put our football skills to good the test with a campus wide scrimmage.

Everyone then dressed up to sit down to our wonderful homemade feast (thanks to Deli Dave and the kitchen staff!), and we shared what we are most thankful for this year. We finished the night off by dancing away all of our calories at the Turkey Trot!

To see more pictures from this weekend, please visit our Facebook page.

Last Days of Summer Recap

We just kicked off the 2012-2013 weekend season with The Last Days of Summer! We had a blast celebrating the last of the warm weather. We learned how to make seed balls to plant in the ground and we made suncatchers and pinwheels as well. We rooted through the Via West garden and dug up some delicious vegetables that we then cooked for our summer bbq extravaganza!

We splashed around in the pool, learned on iPads, showcased our talent at the talent show, and had a fun-filled dance under the stars. 

We had an epic showdown of men versus women in the Via West baseball game. While the men made an amazing comeback, the defensive skills of the women allowed them to prevail!

To see more photos from this weekend, please visit our Facebook page. To register for a private pay weekend program, please click here.

Creative You Recap

Summer 2012 at Via West is officially in the books! We just wrapped up our final session of the summer - Creative You. It was a jam packed weekend filled with maracas, yogurt pops, and cookies. We made bookmarks and flower vases and we played a rousing game of Jeopardy.

We twisted and conga lined at Friday night's dance, and we spent a little time lounging in the pool.

The highlight of the weekend was the talent show which was full of some top notch acts.

Thank you so much for sharing your summer with us, and we will miss you all....until we see you again in the fall for weekend programs, that is!!!

To see more pictures from this weekend, please visit our Facebook page.

Let's Explore the Seven Seas Recap

Ahoy Mateys! Via West set sail last week to explore the seven seas, and explore we did! We made sea creatures, jello fish bowls, 3D aquariums, Japanese fish mobiles, and a super scrumptious "under the sea" cake.

We went on a treasure hunt, danced with Ariel at our "Little Mermaid" dance, and we had a blast eating popcorn and playing games at the "Poseidon" carnival on the sports court.

We spent a day fishing at Lake Elizabeth, and we got up close and personal with some sea creatures at the Santa Cruz Seymour Center. We had a water cannon fight outside in the sun, and we bubbled to the surface for the talent show.

To see more pictures from this session, please visit our Facebook page.

Creative You Recap

Creative You had a little something for everyone this week! Participants made flower vases, frozen pops, maracas, cookies, terrariums, and bookmarks!

 

We had some major fun in the sun with a water balloon fight, time spent at the pool, and a carnival, complete with a bouncy house, of course.

We really got in touch with our creative side when we visited the Children's Discovery Museum for a fun and learning filled field trip.

Creativity went through the roof as everyone showcased their talents at the talent show.

To see more pictures from the week, please visit our Facebook page.

CSI Week (Kids) Recap

Something fishy is going on at Via West! Mr. Fluffy McFluff Fluff has met his untimely demise, and our CSI detectives must now track down the culprit!

Participants had a fantastic time last week working the Via West crime scene investigation, outlining bodies, and playing a live clue game. We made high protein smoothies to energize us for the manhunt through campus, rode horses, and took a much needed break to relax by the pool.

We took two amazing field trips to the Sheriff's Department and the Fire Station.

We danced one of the nights away and everyone showcased their abilities at an incredible talent show.

To see more pictures from this week, please visit our Facebook page.

Party in the USA Recap

Happy Birthday America! Via West celebrated Independence Day in style with a square dance, a cookout, and America's favorite past time - BASEBALL!

Participants had some fun in the pool, learned about Betsy Ross and the American Flag, made hamburgers and potato salad, sang patriotic songs, and played a Jeopardy game comprised of questions all about our great country.

Everyone had a fantastic time at the San Jose Giants baseball game, and it was so much fun to "oooh" and "aaah" over the fireworks display at the end.

Another highlight of the week was horseback riding in the corral on campus, and who could forget the talent show?

Career Week Recap

Career Week is officially in the books, and what a spectacular session it was! Participants worked with cameras, helped out in the kitchen with Deli Dave, competed in a friendly Jeopardy game, and learned all about money.

Volunteers from World We Dream came and aided Via West staff with helping participants practice job interviews. Everyone had a ball at the dance and quite a few people brought down the house at the talent show!

 

Groups took turns attending a field trip to the Intel Museum where they learned all sorts of interesting facts about technology.

From Intel, it was on to Mariani's restaurant where participants were treated to a luxurious buffet lunch. It was a wonderful time spent enjoying delicious food and time with friends.

For more pictures, please visit us on Facebook.

Cheer and Sports Recap

Via West just held its first children's weekend of the summer, and participants had a blast! After checking in on Friday morning, participants split up to learn cheer routines and to practice shooting hoops for the big tournament on Sunday. Everyone worked super hard and was then treated to a movie night on campus to relax and hang out with friends.

On Saturday, we practiced, practiced, practiced, and we ended the day by tearing it up on the dance floor with the "Athlete's Ball." Sunday was the culmination of everyone's hard work with the Cheer & Sports Tournament. The cheerleaders performed 3 flawless routines and were given pom poms to take home. 15 teams played 3 on 3 basketball games and were given souvenir basketballs. Everyone was awarded a ribbon and went home tired but happy!

CSI Week Recap

Via West kicked off the summer with CSI week from June 4-10th. After a rain filled check in day, the skies cleared and our participants had a blast soaking up some sun and lounging by the pool. Last week was not all rest and relaxation, however. Our participants were put to work learning all of the finer points of crime solving! We took fantastic field trips to the Monte Vista fire station and the West Valley Sheriff's Department, where local firefighters and police officers allowed participants to sit in and on the fire engines and police cars!



The energy soared throughout the week as each group rotated to different activities particular to the day. Two of the biggest highlights were the "Good Guys and Bad Guys" dance on the sports court and the Live Clue game where participants and staff traipsed through the 13 acre Via West Campus searching for clues and solving crimes.



On Friday, we were joined by 9 participants eager to join in on the weekend fun of CSI week. We learned how to make protein rich smoothies, how to outline bodies with chalk, and how to cast footprints like the professionals. Saturday night was the all important talent show where everyone was able to get up and show off their singing and dancing skills.

Sessions 1 and 2 are in the books and now it is time to Cruise Away with Sessions 3 and 4!

Via West Summer Officially Under Way

Nurse interns arrived at Via West Campus eager to begin training on May 29^th.  Nursing students will complete an eleven week community health nursing curriculum at Via West this summer. Adding an extra layer of care for participants with medical issues, the internship also increases the pool of nurses who are comfortable and competent meeting the special needs of children, teens, and adults with developmental and physical disabilities.

 Nurse Interns

75 other counselors, volunteers, unit directors, program staff, and health care staff arrived on May 31^st for general staff training. Led primarily by Director Leslie Davis and Associate Director and Health Care Manager Sandy Keefe, the training will lasted four days and encompassed everything from behavior management to special diets and independent living skills. There was a parent panel where the staff had the opportunity to meet with current Via West participants and their parents and learn firsthand the type of expectations our families have when they come to our programs.

All Staff

The first Via West session begins today, June 4^th, and the excitement of the staff is high. “Our staff is amazing – so flexible – so loving – but above all really smart,” says Via West Director Leslie Davis. “We are very lucky!”