PROGRAMS

We offer many diverse programs at our community inclusion program. Together, these programs are designed to offer opportunities for recreation, skill development, exercise, and community inclusion. In each of our programs we engage in assessment and tracking of participants skill levels. These reports are used to create action plans for how to support each individual in a way that supports and increases their independence.  Please see below for a brief description of some of our regular programs.

Animal Planet

This program offers participants the opportunity to interact with and learn about many different kinds of animals in a variety of settings, including: Beacon Hill Petting Zoo, pet stores, Victoria SPCA, and in their natural habitat. This program focuses on developing participants ability to identify, interact with, and gain increased comfort with animals.

Baking

 

Participants in this program are assisted in developing their baking and home living skills, including: kitchen safety, cleaning, measuring, pouring, stirring, decorating, and following recipes.

Nature Hike

This program is designed to promote person fitness and involvement with nature. On this program participants have the opportunity to explore many local trails and parks. Some of the favourite spots to visit are Goldstream Park, Witty’s Lagoon, and Thetis Lake.

Cooking

 

This program assists people in developing skills in many areas: kitchen safety, food preparation, teamwork, following recipes, and nutrition. This program runs every Wednesday morning and prepares a delicious hot lunch for the program’s participants each week.

Litter Crew

This program allows participants the opportunity to actively participate in, and give back to, our community while developing and practicing hand-eye coordination and dexterity. While on this program participants are also helped in developing traffic awareness and community safety skills.

 

Gardening

We at West Coast are so lucky to have a large and beautiful backyard garden! On this program participants learn and develop many gardening and maintenance related skills. The participants in this program greatly enjoy and take pride in their hard work in the garden. Participants of this program get the opportunity to plant, grow, and harvest crops for the cooking program to use. Other duties include watering, weeding, raking and more!

Work Crew

 

This program offers participants the opportunity to take part in the maintenance and upkeep of the West Coast facility. This opportunity is greatly valued by the program’s participants, who develop a real sense of pride and accomplishment in their work. While on this program participants develop many vocational and daily living skills, including: painting, lawn maintenance, woodwork and more.

Computers

 

On this program participants have the opportunity to develop their computer skills. The program focuses on assisting with the development and training of functional skills, such as: navigating the web, writing emails, and utilizing favourite programs.

Photography

The Photography program allows participants the opportunity to utilize and develop their creative and artistic capacities through photography. Throughout the semester individuals will work on mastering the skill of basic camera operation. Furthermore, this program functions to increase the attention and involvement participants have with their environment. Individuals take pride in their work, which they enjoy displaying at West Coast or taking home to share with family and friends.

 Art

The Art Program is designed to allow participants to explore their imaginations and get creative with various types of multi model art projects. Participants are encouraged to actively participate within a group setting and furthermore to come up with many of their own art ideas. Art projects are often based on the different seasons and holidays along with other craft ideas. Participants enjoy working on projects related to upcoming holidays, taking pride in their work and looking forward to taking their projects home to their friends and families for the holidays.

Swimming

The Swimming program visits the Juan de Fuca Rec Centre each week where participants work primarily on swimming laps. This program is greatly liked and looked forward to by its participants and is a great way for individuals with swimming ability to engage in enjoyable exercise. Each participant of this program is created an individualized swim plan that works on expanding their abilities. Staff support and train individuals on all aspects of the swimming experience (packing bag, changing, showering, and swimming) and encourage independence in this process.

Sports

The Sports program offers individuals with sports ability the opportunity to further develop their athleticism, engage in fun-team based exercises and some friendly competition. This program is designed to promote cooperation, fitness and healthy living in its participants. The program includes many sports and sports related activities, such as: soccer, hockey, basketball, or participating in a sports loop.

Community Exploration

Community Exploration is designed to promote community inclusion by allowing participants the opportunity to explore various parts of our community. Participants enjoy the flexibility of this program which allows them the opportunity to participate in planning the sessions. The program explores diverse areas of the community such as: shopping malls, local businesses, trails, parks, and the popular favorite Fort Rodd Hill. While on this program participants are helped in developing their traffic awareness, community knowledge and social etiquette.

Van Wash

The Van Wash program offers work experience and training on daily living skills to its participants. The program is responsible for ensuring that the van is kept clean and tidy, this includes: washing the exterior, washing mats, washing windows, vacuuming interior, as well tidying and sanitizing the interior. The programs participants are encouraged to complete these tasks independently however staff are available to supervise and assist when necessary to ensure a thorough job is done. This program promotes self-esteem in participants as they develop a sense of pride in their work and in assisting with the upkeep of the West Coast program.

Loopers

This work based program handles the generous returnable donations brought in by friends and family and local businesses. Through this program our clients create work contracts with several local businesses who donate their returnable bottles to our program. During the program participants visit local businesses to pick up their bottles, set up new work contracts, and return donations at various locations. The funds raised by this program are used to offer our clients with extra opportunities and special events. Thank you to everyone for the donations!

Treat Programs

There are three treat programs that occur on Treat Day: Treat Walk, Treat Drive and WC Treat. These programs are used as a reward for all the hard work that the client’s engage in at West Coast throughout the week. Furthermore, the programs offer the opportunity to interact with each other in a relaxed environment over a beverage or treat. Participants of all programs are encouraged to interact with each other and to use proper manners when ordering, receiving and enjoying their treat.

Langford Loop

The Langford Loop program allows participants to enjoy a leisure walk while exploring the Langford community. Participants become familiar with West Coast’s surroundings and the Langford community and are assisted in learning the important social and safety skills involved with exploring the community. These skills include: traffic awareness, crosswalk safety, geographic awareness, social etiquette and communicating with strangers.

Work Experience

This program assists its participants with all aspects of gaining a work experience position in the community. This is done by offering individuals support in discovering their unique skills and abilities, discovering what type of work they are interested in, creating a resume and cover letter, applying for a position, and lastly, by supporting the individuals in their work experience placement if attained. This program offers participants the ability to gain great vocational skills and experience and works to highly develop and promote self-esteem. In their work placement, participants are provided with close staff supervision and are given as much support as necessary for individuals to succeed at their position.

Grocery Shop

This program teaches its participants how to plan and execute a trip to the grocery store – being trained on all steps of the shopping process, including: creating a shopping list from a recipe, finding items in the store, and using the Self-Check Out or cashier to purchase these items. Throughout the semester participants are seen to make tremendous progress and take great pride in their independence.

West Coast Livin’

On this program participants are aided in developing various skills of daily living. Participants are involved in creating goals by targeting which specific skills they would like to improve. On this program we have worked on developing and improving various skills from making a cup of tea to doing laundry and setting the table. Participants thoroughly enjoy learning these tasks and show extreme pride in their newly developed and improved abilities.

Library

On this program participants walk to the local library where they are aided in browsing and reading books, checking out books to take back to the program, and developing and researching interests. Participants enjoy the quiet and relaxing environment and having the opportunity to take out new books each week.