OUR PLATFORM OF ON-SITE & VIRTUAL PROGRAMS

OK PROGRAMS
SPRING 1 & 2

SESSION THEME | As the snow begins to fall, we enter on the newest theme: “Expression”. This theme is all about our emotions, ideas and thoughts flowing from inside ourselves to outside. We will be expressing ourselves through all facets of programs; art, friendship, living, learning and sharing.

From Next Phase to Now

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

IMPORTANT NOTE

For this set of Spring Sessions, both are available to sign-up for, as there will be no break between the two. Make sure to sign up for both Spring 1 and Spring 2 as they are separate forms! If you have any questions, please reach out to use by sending an email or hitting the “Submit Inquiry” button to the right, thank you!

GENERAL PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

We believe in a dynamic, person-centered and community-based approach to programming that engages the voice of all Warriors, thrives on interdependent connections, encourages exploration, centers on holistic wellness and fostering healthy relationships. This program, like all of our programs, is built on the same principles.

We are excited to announce that Spring 1 of OK Programs will begin on January 3rd. We will continue offering both onsite and virtual options during this session.

PROGRAM SCHEDULE & TRANSITIONS

Please note Session Changes as they are listed below in red, thank you!

ON-SITE PROGRAMS (8 Weeks)

This program is offered in 3-hour blocks, with 2 blocks available on each program day. With the addition of the new Extended Day block available on Wednesdays and Thursdays. We are currently offering In-Person OK Programs 4 days per week.

3 hours per session

2 sessions per day

4 days per week

AM BLOCK | TUESDAYS & FRIDAYS

– AM SESSION | 9:00 am-12:00

EXTENDED DAY BLOCK | WEDNESDAYS & THURSDAYS

– EXTENDED DAY SESSION | 9 am – 2:30 pm

PM BLOCK | TUES. WED. THURS. & FRI.

– PM SESSION | 3 pm – 6 pm

VIRTUAL PROGRAMS (7 Weeks)

This program is offered in 1-hour blocks, with 4 blocks available on each program day. We are currently offering Zoom Online OK Programs 1 day per week.

1 hour per session

4 sessions per day

1 day per week

Monday

10 am – 11 am  |  12 pm – 1 pm

2 pm – 3 pm  |  4 pm – 5 pm

WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY “EXTENDED-DAY” BREAKDOWN

Beginning January 2023, Opportunity Knocks is offering extended day options for Wednesday and Thursday from 9:00 AM – 2:30 PM. If a Warrior registers for the extended day option and the pm session (3:00 PM – 6:00 PM), they will be permitted to stay on-site from 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM. Lunch will be provided in the extended day option.
Please contact Kim@opportunityknocksnow.org for inquiries regarding the extended day option.

Onsite Transition Period  |  12:00pm-3:00 pm

  • All Warriors will be required to leave the program sites between sessions
  • Staff will clean and disinfect program space according to our Cleaning & Disinfecting Plan
  • Staff will also then make preparations for the next group coming to their designated location

IMPORTANT DATES

REGISTRATION OPENS (BOTH SPRING SESSIONS)
Wednesday, December 7th at 3:00 PM

REGISTRATION CLOSES (SPRING 1)
Wednesday, December 14th at 5:00 PM

REGISTRATION CLOSES (SPRING 2)
Friday, February 24th at 5:00 PM

FINAL REGISTRATION PLAN TO BE COMMUNICATED NO LATER THAN
SPRING 1 | Wednesday, January 3rd
SPRING 2 | Friday, April 21st

FIRST DAY OF ON-SITE PROGRAMS (Spring 1)
Tuesday January 3rd

FIRST DAY OF VIRTUAL PROGRAMS (Spring 1)
Monday, January 9th

FIRST DAY OF ON-SITE PROGRAMS (Spring 2)
Monday, March 6th

FIRST DAY OF VIRTUAL PROGRAMS (Spring 2)
Monday, March 6th

HOLIDAY DAYS OFF
Spring 1: New Years (1/2) & Martin Luther King Day (1/16)
Spring 2: Good Friday (4/7)
— No Programs These Dates —
EVENTS
Spring 1: NA
Spring 2: OK GALA (4/29)

Questions

Please Contact

Michael Carmody
Executive Director
mike@opportunityknocksnow.org
Or Click Below to Send a Question…

OK Health & Safety Guidelines (UPDATED as of Jan - 22)

Better Together

PROGRAM GROUPS

GENERAL GUIDELINES

  • The registration process will accept requests for all sessions but please bear in mind that not all requests are guaranteed given the health and safety restrictions of this model
  • Warriors will have three separate 45-minute activities within their group at the same location
  • Warriors can sign up for more than one group but will have to leave between 12:00 PM- 3:00 PM for cleaning & sanitation

Activity Group Model

  • Warriors can sign up for more than one group per day, but will need to leave OK between 12:00 PM-3:00 PM for cleaning and sanitation.
  • Based on results of registration, OK’s Program Team will work to group participants in an activity group model that will aim to keep the same groups together on the same days and sessions.
  • Sessions will be grouped according to the activity group model to ensure the highest measure of safety, as well as an equal access to programs
  • The drawback to this approach is that it may be the case that we can not honor all registration requests. We ask for your patience and understanding in this endeavor.

Sensible & Safe

PROGRAM SITE & PARTICIPATION GUIDELINE

Primary Sites

  • RFCC: KG Room/OK Computer lab & CITE space
  • RFCC: 202/206 & Life Shop Rooms
  • Knockout Farm & The Grove

Site Requirements

  • 100 sq. ft per person
  • Isolated pre-program health screen area
  • Bathroom & handwashing on site
  • Isolation/Quarantine zone on site

Staffing

  • Participant to staff ratio will be 1 to 4
  • Program Director serving as Site Supervisor
  • Program Leaders and Program Staff also assigned
  • One-to-One staffing will be considered on a case-by-case basis depending on enrollment and the ability to accommodate social distancing needs

On-Site & Virtual Platform

Activities

Onsite Programs

Each of the two activity sessions will draw from a menu of activity options that focus on 8 areas of choice. The content of these onsite activities will evolve from session to session and follow a theme, which will be guided by a collaboration between OK Staff and OK Warriors.

Wellness

VOCATION

Life Skills

Leadership-Peer Led Planning

RECREATION

COMMUNITY COMMUNICATION

Self Exploration

Social Skills

Virtual Programs

MONDAY

  • Morning Welcome (10-11am)

Warriors will get together to start off their Mornings with friends. During this time, Warriors will start the session with a quick one minute mindful activity followed by a movement icebreaker where Warriors will introduce themselves and lead an exercise. Each day Warriors will be assigned one of eight roles. The roles are as follows: Way of the Warrior, joke of the day, question of the day, weather report, sports report, newscast report, picture of the day, and song of the day. We usually end the ZOOM meet with a song of the day where the assigned Warriors provides a song and we sing and dance to it.

  • ZOOM Lunch (12-1pm)

During our ZOOM Lunch, Warriors will get together to chat and eat lunch from their own homes. We go around and share what everyone is having for lunch. On these days we also focused on introducing and connecting Warriors to community members or like we like to call it celebrity guests. ZOOM Lunch is more focused on socializing with our peers.

  • ZOOM exercise/Yoga/Meditation (2-3pm)

It’s time to get your body moving. In this zoom session warriors will participate in an interactive physical activity with their peers and the instructor. This is our movement ZOOM so expect to exercise, dance, jump, and get your bodies moving. These ZOOM can also occasionally bring in one of our community partners to lead a class. These classes can be anything from exercise to yoga.

  • Life Skills lesson (4-5pm) [4 Weeks]

Provide fun and engaging activities that explore important life skills. Practice using their voice through making decisions and choices. Foster interdependent relationships and a supportive community while practicing these skills. Ultimately leading to enhanced confidence and self-efficacy while performing specific life skills.

  • Arts & Crafts (4-5pm) [3 Weeks]

All about Arts and Craft – In this session, Warriors will follow a tutorial video or a guide from staff and come up with some fascinating art/drawings and other creations!

OK Outlook

MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER

It has been already been a year since the Pandemic shocked the world as we know it. In that time we have worked tirelessly to bring back a bit of normal life here at OK through proper safety protocols and getting vaccinated.

Total # of Onsite Program Sessions since July 2020

Total # of Program Service Hours Delivered

Total # of COVID Transmissions at OK Activity

%

Percent of Staff who are Fully Vaccinated

Health & Safety

PROTECT YOURSELF-PROTECT OTHERS PACT

This Pact was created to outline our expectations of all participants and staff in maintaining the safest environment for programs.  The following expectations are required of ALL humans participating in OK activities.

Stay home if you are sick

R

Follow the pre-program health screen protocols

Wear a face covering that covers nose and mouth

Maintain a safe social distance of 6 feet at all times

Follow the isolation procedures and reporting requirements when illness onset is on-site

v

Communicate all suspected or confirmed COVID illness if recent contact with programs

 

 

Health & Safety Cont.

OTHER SAFETY MEASURES

Opportunity Knocks will be committed to the following in compliance with the CDC and Illinois Department of Public Health and local public health agencies:

STAFF PROTOCOLS

We will continue to develop our staff protocols for health, safety, and response. Our protocols have been in place since mid-March and continue to evolve based on public health guidance. All of our team members are required to perform a daily health screen. Training and review of our protocols will continue to be a high priority.

CLEANING & DISINFECTING PLAN

All program spaces will be routinely cleaned and disinfected before, during, and after sessions

CONTACT TRACING

If there is a suspected illness onsite or offsite, OK will execute a contact tracing protocol that will reach all staff, participants, and community members that may have been exposed. We will follow the CDC guidelines on this protocol

SITE SAFETY & HYGIENE SUPPLY

OK will ensure that all program sites are sufficiently supplied with ample space per person, PPE for cases of potential exposure, handwashing & hand sanitizer We will provide break areas for Warriors needing sensory breaks throughout the day

LIMITED SITE-PROGRAM ACCESS

We will be limiting access to our programs as it relates to guests, volunteers, partners, etc. Programs hosted at the RFCC will be subject to RFCC building entry restrictions. We will be using alternative entry and exit points at the RFCC and families will be asked to adhere to our curbside pickup and drop off protocol.

Our Blog

MEET THE OK RUNNERS: MEGAN RATTERMAN

MEET THE OK RUNNERS: MEGAN RATTERMAN

Opportunity Knocks is an official charity partner of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon!! Runners will be fundraising for Opportunity Knocks as they train to run 26.2 miles on October 7, 2018. We are excited to introduce you to Meg, one of our dedicated team...

The 2019 Bank of America Chicago Marathon

The 2019 Bank of America Chicago Marathon

JOIN OUR TEAM! Guarantee your spot in the 2019 Bank of America Chicago Marathon by running in support of the Opportunity Knocks Warriors. Runners who register with an Opportunity Knocks guaranteed entry will be responsible for fundraising a minimum of $1,250 (your...

BIG THANKS to Legends Farm of Windy City Harvest!

BIG THANKS to Legends Farm of Windy City Harvest!

Life Shop Warriors ventured down south to visit Legends Farm - a farm affiliated with Windy City Harvest of the Chicago Botanic Gardens. Windy City Harvest’s largest farm is a 2-plus acre site that serves as an incubator for small farm businesses...

MEET THE OK RUNNERS: Jenny Chavez

MEET THE OK RUNNERS: Jenny Chavez

Opportunity Knocks is an official charity partner of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon!! Runners will be fundraising for Opportunity Knocks as they train to run 26.2 miles on October 7, 2018. We are excited to introduce you to Jenny, one of our dedicated team...

After Opps Registration: Fall 2018

After Opps Registration: Fall 2018

(Click Image to view and download full version of brochure) Registration for the OK After Opps Fall Season, Sessions 1 & 2 is now open! See descriptions of activities being offered below. Please use the form on this page to register for either or both...

After Opps – 2018 Summer 1 Recap

After Opps – 2018 Summer 1 Recap

Warriors had another fun-filled After Opps session in Summer 1! Check it out! Mondays: The Swimming group had some summer fun enjoying the pool, water-slides, structured activities, and sunshine at the Forest Park Aquatic Center. Cartoon Club explored the...

Farm Updates Galore!

Farm Updates Galore!

Things have been busy at the OK Farm. Life Shop and After Opps Warriors have been picking, planting, and pruning vegetables that are used in our Life Shop and After Opps programs, as well as Warrior Catering Company events. In...

After Opps – 2018 Spring 2 Recap

After Opps – 2018 Spring 2 Recap

Warriors had another fun-filled After Opps session in Spring 2! Check it out! Mondays: The Preserving group learned how to preserve produce through fermentation. They also prepared and sampled a variety of pickled foods including Knock-Out Pickles, pickled...