The stormy March has come at last,
With wind, and cloud, and changing skies:
I hear the rushing of the blast
That through the snowy valley flies.

William Cullen Bryant

Size: Up to 10 per helper

Equipment: Shamrocks- to write clues on; Treasure-Gold candy coins, necklaces etc.; Treats- rainbow sherbet; Treasure chest (I make mine out of cardboard); cutout rainbow

Objective: group socialization, team work, reorientation to facility and staff, trivia

Description: Make clues that lead to different areas of facility, put them on back of shamrocks.

Example: When your head is hurting bad, and your stomach is even worse, to get relief from all your pains, you need to talk to our friendly______. Of course this would lead the group to the nurse.

You involve as much as the staff as possible in order for your groups to meet and greet throughout the facility. I hide the "treasure" behind something that is located directly below a rainbow that has been used since the beginning of the month as a decoration. After the treasure is found, everyone is invited to the dining room for rainbow sherbet. I do this as a sequential activity. The higher functioning residents help make the clues and hide them, the middle functioning residents find the clues, and the entire facility shares in the bounty and the treats.

Spring Fling submitted by kristi of VAMC-Denver

Size: 10-100

Equipment: Large Fridge Box W/ head sized hole cut in center. Paint the box in fun colors, paper plates and whip cream. You will also need staff, family members or anyone you can find willing to get a pie in their face.

Objective: Increased socialization, stress relief (laughter is the best medicine.)

Description: Have pts. take aim and try to hit the person in the pie toss booth. It's a hoot!!!!

St. Patrick's Day Casino Night submitted by Jan M. Talkish of Friendship Center, Columbia, SC

Size of Group: 20 - 50

Equipment:

• Several decks of cards
• Play money
• Spinning wheel
• Bingo items
• Lots of prizes, and prize chips.

Objective: Social interaction.

Description: Set up several stations of Blackjack. Bingo, Roulette and Poker. Give your participants a set amount of "play $" to "gamble" with. A prize table will be set up away from the game area to trade their chips they receive each time they win a game. One chip denotes one prize. The prizes are usually toiletry items. Once the participant runs out of money then they can no longer play. It is a good idea to serve refreshments during the event. Have fun!!

Note from the editor: Some participants/administration may object to the nature of this activity (gambling or the fact that such activity may reinforce gambling). You may want to consult with administration regarding this activity before implementing it.