A Day at the Park for the Insiders

Though summer isn't over just yet, we are getting closer and closer to fall, meaning some cooler weather is just around the corner. Before it gets too cold to do anything outside, the Aspie Insiders decided to meet up at a nearby park for recreation and some time to hang out together. Of course, we also went on a couple of biking trips recently, so rest assured that the Insiders are making use of the warm weather!

For the most part, we played Bocce Ball, a game very similar to Petanque. If you're unfamiliar with these types of games, you can find out more about it here. In short, it's much like horseshoes with balls instead of, well, horseshoes. It's an outdoor bowling game that requires precision, unique strategy, and a bit of creativity. Aside from this, we also threw the Frisbee for awhile.

As you can tell, it was a very relaxed day at the park for the Aspie Insiders. Though we talked briefly about plans for September, today was a chance to practice some of that social recreation we've talked about in the past. The weather was nice and much fun was had!


WHAT ARE YOUR LAST-MINUTE PLANS BEFORE THE END OF THE SUMMER? OR, IF YOU'RE READY FOR FALL, LET US KNOW THE BEST PART OF YOUR SUMMER BREAK! TELL US BELOW IN THE COMMENTS SECTION!

The Insiders Go Biking!

With the warmth and sunshine that summer gives us, the Aspie Insiders thought it would be a good idea to go on a biking trip together, and so we did! In preparing for the event, we found a nearby biking path that suited us well — it had wonderful scenery, was a preferable distance, and was also shaded for the most part. We also made sure to bring with us helmets, water, and sunscreen just in case.

Going fast!

Having recently talked about social recreation, the point was made that getting together like we did to go biking serves many purposes. First, it's an excellent way to get some exercise. Though some of our members were tired by the end of the venture, they were still happy with the experience and said they may start biking more because of it. Second, it serves as another positive way to be social. The whole point of social recreation is to do something enjoyable and build relationships (or make new ones) in the process. Traveling along the path together, we felt like a team. And last, it's something that can be done with more than just friends. One of our members said that the last time he went bike-riding was with his father. When suggested that he should go biking with his father again, our member thought it was a great idea! Something like this can be done with friends, family members, or even on a date with someone special!

As mentioned before, there were some considerations we made in planning this trip that might help anyone planning a similar venture. These can be found below:

• We decided to go early in the morning to avoid the heat. Starting out at 9:00 AM, we finished just by the time it started to get hot. Starting out early is also a good way to avoid crowds. Just make sure to respect the park/trail hours!
• Take plenty of water and snacks! Exposure to the sun can really be a hassle, especially if the bike ride will take more than an hour or two. While we were biking, one of our members slipped and ended up with some scratches. Having water on hand was also helpful here, as it helped us to clean up the mess.
• Always be safe! It's a bad idea to go biking without the proper gear (and in many cases is illegal).  Helmets and other safety gear will help in the event someone takes a fall. It's also important to bike on a trail for which you are prepared. Many trails out there can get rough, and if you're not an experienced biker it can present some unsafe scenarios. Fortunately, doing a Google search on many trails will offer reviews, difficulty level, and even videos in many cases!
• Another important safety tip: be sure to take a first-aid kit with you! Even minor cuts and bruises can be cleaned and managed better with some basic first-aid supplies.
• Don't forget that not all bikes are the same. Some are best suited for the road, while others will do fine on a rough trail. If you don't have the right bike for the occasion, consider asking a friend if they have a bike you can borrow.
• Take breaks as needed. Even if you're an expert biker, you may have others in your group who need to catch their breath every now and then. If you have a large group of people with you, it's also a good idea to stay together. Whoever is in front can alert people on the trail when the group passes by.

Overall, our biking experience was extremely enjoyable and confirms our idea that social recreation is not only fun, it's very much needed in order to be a socially mature individual. We had a great time and plan to do it again very soon!

WHAT ARE YOU DOING DURING THE SUMMER? COMMENT BELOW AND LET US KNOW!