Inclusion In Action | Digital Magazine | Vol. 6

DIGITAL MAGAZINE VOL. 6 AUGUST 2023

LUAU BY THE LAKE

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HAVE YOUR BIRTHDAY PARTY WITH US

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NEW PARK ATTRACTIONS COMING IN 2024!

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MORE DELIGHTFUL THAN FRIGHTFUL HALLOWEEN

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MORGAN'S WONDERLAND CAMP UPDATES

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WORKFORCE INCLUSION NETWORK

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SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT PARTNERSHIP

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MORGAN'S WONDERLAND SPORTS UPDATES

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SUPPORT OUR MISSION & THE BIG GIVE

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ANNUAL SNOWBALL 5K / 1K

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COMMUNITY OUTREACH

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Luau by the Lake It was a fun and fabulous gathering Hawaiin style. On August 4th, we had our annual Luau by the Lake. It was a festive evening with drinks, Hawaiian cuisine, Tahitian drums, fire dancers, and lei making, all happening in front of our picturesque lake!

Thanks to all who attended!

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Have Your Birthday Party with Us! Celebrate your next birthday at Morgan’s Wonderland!

Cool off at Main Street, or party on the deck at our Lakeside pavilion. We have incredible packages to make your celebration memorable and fun.

CLICK HERE TO

Book Your Party Today!

Exciting New Attractions Coming in 2024!

Exciting things are happening at Morgan’s Wonderland! We can’t wait to share it with you. A formal announcement is coming in October. Make sure and follow us on Facebook and Instagram to learn all about the new and exciting things planned for 2024.

In order to get the park ready for 2024 which includes maintenance, safety checks, and building new attractions, Morgan’s Wonderland and Morgan’s Inspiration Island will be closed starting in November and will resume operations March 2024.

Our last event of the year at Morgan’s Wonderland will be our popular More Delightful Than Frightful Halloween on October 31st. Make plans to be there on Halloween as we close out 2023 and get ready for all the exciting new things happening in 2024.

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More Delightful Than Frightful Halloween Don’t miss out on our last event of 2023, a More Delightful Than Frightful Halloween! Join us on October 31st as we scare up family fun for everyone at Morgan’s Wonderland. It is not only a safe and fun environment for people of all ages and all abilities, but it is also a fundraiser for San Antonio Food Bank. You can bring five cans of nonperishable food items in advance per person for a complimentary ticket, or pay $5 per person at the door.

It’s always a popular event, and our guests get really creative with their costumes!

You can enjoy trick-or-treating, games and activities, a DJ, and all the fun the park has to offer!

Our Hotel Partners If you are traveling to Wonderland to visit our Ultra- Accessible theme park, why not stay in a hotel that supports inclusion? We partner with several hotels that offer comfortable accommodations, and with every stay you also contribute to Morgan’s Wonderland. Check out our hotel partners on your next visit! morganswonderland.com/hotel-partners

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End of Summer That’s a wrap on summer 2023 at Morgan’s Wonderland Camp (MWC). This summer, at MWC, we welcomed over 1,600 guests from all around the U.S. and some from different countries. And you know what that means, over 1,600 ooey gooey delicious s’mores were served this summer!

Along with the delicious s’mores, our campers had a blast catching up with old camp friends, meeting new friends, hitting their first bullseye at archery, conquering their fear of heights on our zipline, hanging out with our cuddly (and slithery) animal friends at The Stockyard, and so much more.

We couldn’t have made this summer such a success without our amazing summer camp groups and our fantastic MWC staff team. Although it’s sad to end a great season, we are excited to start our fall season and welcome even more people to Morgan’s Wonderland Camp, and of course, we are excited to start planning summer 2024.

Family Camp Weekends Looking for a way to come to Morgan’s Wonderland Camp? MWC Family Camp Weekends are back this fall. Make sure to sign up for our mailing list to receive updates on dates and how to register. Sign up by visiting morganswonderlandcamp.com/family-weekends and click “join our mailing list” to be in the know!

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Workforce Inclusion Network (WIN) at The Multi-Assistance Center (MAC)

Meet our WIN Manager, Jana Henriquez Jana Henriquez has been recently hired as the Manager for the new Workforce Inclusion Network (WIN) at The Multi Assistance Center at Morgans Wonderland, scheduled to be open Q4 of 2023.

Jana was born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley. She was employed with Buckner Children Family Services and served in working in the community with vulnerable children and families. Her passion to serve the community led her to relocate to San Antonio, TX where she was hired as a vocational rehabilitation counselor with the State of Texas. Jana has a heart to impact the community and has a clear understanding of the importance of employment. Her strong belief in developing strong positive relationships both professionally and personally drives her to expand meaningful inclusive employment opportunities in today’s workforce.

The goal of the WIN is to increase sustainable inclusive employment and will assist individuals with disabilities and special need to achieve job readiness, pursue gainful employment and economic stability by addressing job training, placement, and coaching. We’re thrilled to have Jana with us to help lead this exciting new endeavor.

Welcome Jana!

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San Antonio Fire Department Partnership We are honored to have the San Antonio Fire Department as a formal, partner in supporting our mission of inclusion.

Fire Chief Charles Hood with the San Antonio Fire Department (SAFD), along with other department Chiefs and representatives, visited The MAC to receive a formal tour and visit with The MAC Leadership team. SAFD will work directly with our MAC Members in evaluating the safety of their homes, ensuring they have evacuation plans, operating smoke alarms, and fire extinguishers.

This partnership is critical in ensuring the safety and well-being of our community during emergencies.

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Texas Regional Games 2023 The Texas Regional games were held May 4th through 7th, and Morgan’s Wonderland Sports was a pivotal part of its success! The games served more than 200 athletes with physical disabilities and visual impairments. Morgan’s Wonderland and Morgan’s Wonderland Sports hosted eight sporting events, all coordinated and managed by our staff, in collaboration with Texas Regional Para Sports and Move United. Can’t wait to do it all again for the 2024 Texas Regional Games!

Power Soccer Season Power Soccer season starts in September as we prepare for our first competition in Houston in November. As a member of the United States Power Soccer Association, we compete across the country to qualify for nationals in June 2024.

Power Soccer is a sport for people with physical disabilities that utilizes a power chair to maneuver a soccer ball around to score a goal.

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Support Our Mission Give the Gift of Inclusion Since 2010, we have provided FREE admission and services to our friends with special needs and disabilities. Help us keep this promise by supporting our mission by: Donating today Become a Morgan’s Advocate Join our Giving Society Match gifts through your Employer Hosting a Third-Party Fundraiser Donating your Stock Planned Giving Visit InclusionStartsHere.com/donate to learn more or email us directly at Inclusion@MorgansWonderland.com. We would love to hear from you!

The Big Give 2023 Make a Difference with Your Donation!

Consider donating to Morgan’s Wonderland as part of the Big Give on Wednesday, September 20th at 6 pm through Thursday, September 21st at 6 pm.

The goal of the Big Give is to support local nonprofits that are committed to making South Central Texas a great place to live, work, and play.

Since 2010, Morgan’s Wonderland became the world’s first theme park designed with individuals with special needs in mind. Guided by our mission of inclusion, the park strives to bring together guests of all ages and all abilities through the power of inclusive play.

Follow us on social media to stay updated on the dates to participate!

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COMMUNITY COMMUNITY OUTREACH OUTREACH Summer and Spring Inclusion Training!

Our Program team has been busy this spring and summer with Inclusion Training for our incoming staff members! We added a new facilitator to the team this spring, Sage Hayes. Sage works in Guest Services at the Park and joins Ashley, Kurt, Ben, and Sharon to bring our unique introduction to Inclusion training to life.

Left: Ashely Rocha and Sage Hayes team facilitating Inclusion Training for Summer Camp Counselor Staff. Right: Kurt is always excited to share his experience and knowledge with new MACers during Inclusion Training.

Coffee & Conversation at Morgan’s Wonderland!

Join us for

Coffee and Conversation on the Wharf the first and third Fridays of every month!

Coffee and Conversation is an opportunity to meet friendly local parents for quality time on the Wharf. Enjoy complimentary coffee along with catch-and-release fishing and interactive activities for the whole family!

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Learn more at morganswonderland.com/coffeeandconversation

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Join Club Morgan Club Morgan is a group-based program for members to create social, recreational, and inclusive opportunities for individuals of all abilities who are 16 or older.

Members will form friendships while participating in a variety of activities including creative arts, culture, sports, outdoor recreation, and more.

Learn more and sign-up for our next event: morganswonderland.com/club-morgan

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