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NISRA offers a wide range of recreation programs throughout the year, for all ability levels and ages, from early childhood through seniors.
Adult Transition Program Survey NISRA is working to identify areas of need for an adult day service that other service providers within the NISRA service region are currently not able to provide. It is not the intent of NISRA to duplicate an existing service. The hope is to provide a service that may complement existing services or provide for an underserved group of residents. An online survey was conducted and we are compiling the results.
Early Childhood/Young Children: Parent/child classes, sensory/motor development classes, and mini-camps stimulate the sensory development, social skills, and learning of young children. Parents enjoy getting acquainted with other parents.
Youth: A wide array of activities for children get them moving, exploring, and making friends. Sports such as swimming, bowling, baseball, soccer, tennis, golf, karate, learn to ride a bike, ice skating, fishing, and horseback riding offer opportunities to develop skills and learn the rules of the sport in a nurturing environment. Cultural arts such as; private music lessons, pet play, art classes, dance, and outings to live performances introduce young people to creativity and culture.
Teens/Young Adults/Adults: Sports, adapted sports, cultural arts, cooking, social clubs, fitness, and outdoor adventure activities challenge teens and adults to try new activities and make choices for the ones they will enjoy for a lifetime.
 One day outings to local and regional sites offer fun on holidays, school days off, and other days throughout the year. NISRA staff and participants explore many of Chicagoland's newest recreation attractions.
Trips to destinations throughout the Midwest and the U.S. expose groups of teens and adults to places they may never have visited, sights & scenery, and history. Trips range from tent camping to hotel getaways, even cruises.
Summer day camps give children and teens a chance to make new friends, try new activities and enjoy the summer season. Full day camps are offered, along with half day camps in conjunction with some summer school programs. 
NISRA provides Special Olympics training programs in numerous sports for children and adults with developmental disabilities. Individual athletes and teams compete locally, and in Special Olympics Illinois competition at the Area, District, and State levels.
Click here to watch the Northwest Herald's video of the Special Olympics Alpine Skiing Qualifier on Wednesday, January 6, 2010.
NISRA joins with other agencies to host clinics and competition for youth and adults experiencing physical limitations. A number of wheelchair sports and adapted sports for ambulatory athletes are offered.
NISRA staff assists residents with disabilities in the Association's 13 member communities with inclusion into their home park district or recreation department programs. Types of assistance may include provision of adapted equipment, securing and training additional staff or sign language assistance, program modification plans and training member district staff in various accommodations.
NISRA cooperates with McHenry County Mental Health Board and McHenry County Court Services to provide a range of programs for youth and teens with severe behavioral and emotional disorders, and individuals who are court-involved or are at-risk for out of home or school placements. These programs emphasize challenge and cooperation activities, along with a leisure education component. 
A cooperative effort between NISRA, the Special Education District of McHenry County and several other local school districts, the Leisure Education Program introduces students to many local recreation outlets. The goal is to develop lifelong recreation interests through awareness and skill-building, so that students may later return to enjoy the activities with family, friends or on their own. Teambuilding activities in the classroom are also a popular Leisure Education activity. |
