Milwaukee

Valentine's Dance
On February 10, we welcomed 150 people to our state office in West Allis to celebrate Valentine's Day! Families enjoyed a homemade meal of pasta and salad, kids danced the night away to awesome music, the DJ led Valentine's-themed games, and volunteers helped kiddos create heart shaped crafts and get temporary tattoos. We always love seeing you at our parties!! Join us in celebrating World Down Syndrome Day next month!

Milwaukee Wave Game
Thanks to the generosity of PCI, our families attended a Milwaukee Wave soccer game on February 17! We enjoyed delicious food, free t-shirts, meeting the players and getting autographs, kicking out the game ball, and high fiving the players as they came out of the tunnel. What a fun night!! Thank you PCI!

Young Leaders Bootcamp
The theme for February's Bootcamp was board games! We created and decorated life size versions of Jenga, Connect Four, and Kerplunk. We also had time to play regular sized board games, too. Next month's Bootcamp will focus on an important topic: self-advocacy and finding your voice. March's Bootcamp will prepare us for a visit with med students in April, where we'll talk about how to advocate for ourselves at the doctor.

Bootcamp meets on Tuesday nights at 6pm. Join us in March!

Cooking with the Kiddos
We had an exciting month at Cooking with the Kiddos! On February 7, Fox 6 News came to cover the program and to interview families about the importance of the new Gerber Baby who has Down syndrome! We showed them how to cut chicken and prepare mashed potato bowls. At our second session, we made a classic meal of spaghetti and meatballs! Cooking meets on the first and third Wednesday of the month at our state office in West Allis. To cook with us on March 7, sign up here.

Motor Skills Playgroup
Our Motor Skills Playgroup meets every second and fourth Tuesday morning! This group is a fun chance for children to learn occupational therapy skills in a free environment, while parents enjoy coffee and each other's company. Come play with us in March!

Young Leaders Academy
Our Young Leaders Academy meets every second and fourth Thursday of the month. This month we started off with kickball to get our energy up, and we ended with an hour of employment-readiness curriculum. Self-Advocates are invited to join our class anytime. Join us for Young Leaders Academy in March.

Tween Club
This month we were unable to host Tween Club because it was a SNOW DAY! Next month's Tween Club will be on Friday, March 9. Drop your 10+ year old off for a night of games, snacks, activities, and more. Sign up here!

Parent's Night Out
Each month, DSAW parents, grandparents, and caregivers get together at Club Paragon for a night of casual conversation and free appetizers. We meet every second Friday of the month! Drop your child off at Tween Club on March 9 and swing by our Parent's Night Out.

Family Movie Night
Every fourth Friday of the month, we invite families to a movie night at our office in West Allis! We watch a family-friendly movie on our big projector screen. Parents are invited to stay with their kids, or drop them off for a night of respite. We even have snacks! This month we watched Beauty and the Beast. Come watch Coco with us next month!

La Crosse

All Abilities Pool Party
We started off the month with an All Abilities Pool Party in partnership with the La Crosse Area Autism Foundation and the YMCA! Families joined us for dinner and for an evening of swimming at the YMCA.

Self-Advocate Painting Event
Self-advocates joined us on February 17 for a painting class! An instructor led us through the steps to create our own masterpieces of a tree in a snowstorm. We had a wonderful time with our self-advocates and are looking forward to more events in the future!

Parent's Night Out
Parents, grandparents, and caregivers of a loved one with Down syndrome joined us in Caledonia, MN at The Wired Rooster for an evening of casual conversation and free food! We always love getting together with other DSAW adults. Join us on March 24 at Creekside Grill & Pub in La Crosse.

Central Wisconsin

Stevens Point Playdate
This month, DSAW-Central WI hosted their first ever event in Stevens Point!! We met new families at the Central WI Children's Museum, and the press even covered our event! If you live in Stevens Point and want to get more DSAW events going in your area, contact Rachel at rachel@dsaw.org.

Mom's Coffee Date
We had a Mom's Coffee Date at Vino Latte on February 21! Moms, grandmas, aunts, and female caregivers who have a loved one with Down syndrome are all invited to attend for a morning of casual conversation and coffee. Sign up to join us next month on World Down Syndrome Day!

Fox Cities

SkyZone Events
DSAW-Fox Cities hosted a teen and a toddler jump event at SkyZone this month! We loved jumping on the trampolines and playing in the foam pit!

Valentine's Dance
On February 17, families joined us for an afternoon of food, games, crafts, dancing, and Valentine's activities. They could get their photos taken too!

New Parent Support Group
In February we hosted a support group for new parents. Being a new parent to a child with Down syndrome can raise a mix of emotions. The diagnosis can leave you feeling shocked, overwhelmed, and even lonely. You are not alone in this, and we'd love to help, even if it's just to talk and listen to one another.

This group is currently for parents with children around age 3 and under who are fairly new in their journey. If there is interest from different age groups, we will look into adding more support groups in the future, as each age brings its own challenges.

Green Bay

Snow Tubing Event
On Saturday, February 24 families joined us in Kewaunee for a snow tubing event! We got to enjoy the outdoors while flying down slippery hills on inner tubes. Both the parents and the kiddos had a ton of fun zooming down the hills in their tubes. What a fun morning!

Mom's Night Out
We hosted February's Mom's Night Out at Nakashima of Japan. Moms, grandmas, aunts, and female caregivers joined us for a casual evening of conversation and free food! We hold Mom's Nights Out every fourth Sunday of the month. Join us on March 25 at Titletown Brewing Company!

Sheboygan

Field Trip to Above & Beyond Children's Museum
DSAW families took a field trip to Above & Beyond Children's Museum in Sheboygan to enjoy their special needs night! Exhibits were adapted to reduce loud noises, and the museum was closed to the general public. We had a blast exploring and playing with other families!

Parent's Night Out
DSAW-Sheboygan hosted a Parent's Night Out for parents, grandparents, adult siblings, and caregivers of a loved one with Down syndrome. We met at the Coliseum Bar & Grill in Fond du Lac for a casual evening of conversation and free food! Join us on Friday, March 9 for a Parent's Night Out in Plymouth!

St. Croix River Valley

Resource Night
On February 28, DSAW families in the St. Croix River Valley came together for a Resource Night. Local therapy providers and other disability resources talked about the services that they offer for individuals with Down syndrome, and families had the opportunity to network and connect with local resources.

Kenosha/Racine/Walworth

Mom's Lunch
We had a lovely time on February 24 meeting with other moms at Cafe 213 in Watertown! We had a chance to talk about upcoming events in the area and to find out more about what DSAW can offer! Join us for a FREE Family Bowling Event on April 14!