Sample Assisted Living Activity Calendar

August 2018 Assisted Living Activity Calendar

For each day, find creative activities that you can easily add to your current senior activity calendar for your nursing home or assisted living.

TIP: Click on the links in the calendar box below to see more information about each activity.

Fun Assisted Living Activity Ideas for August
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
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TIP: Use the following monthly themes as inspiration for activity ideas.

August is ...

TIP: Click on the following days of the month to see activity ideas for that specific day.

TIP: Click on the highlighted links below to get more information (instructions, recipes, or pictures) to assist with completing the activity.

1

Clown School: Juggling

During this first week of International Clown Week, host a week-long clown school for residents, in which you demonstrate different clown talents like juggling. Start off the lesson with bean bags, and only use balls for your more advanced residents.

Map It!

Have fun with residents as they map where the states are on this day that map-user and explorer William Clark (of the Lewis and Clark expedition team) was born. Give a blank map of the United States to each resident, along with a marker or pen. Say the name of a state and encourage residents to mark on the map where they think the state is located. Give a prize to the winner.

Leos and Virgos

On this first day of the month, host a special birthday party for your residents who were born in the month of August. Pass out birthday hats, birthday cards, and play a fun game of Pass the Parcel (like Musical Chairs but with everyone remaining seated) as you celebrate your residents. (On the game website, scroll down to the second game to view the playing instructions.)

Camp Fire Social

For this American Adventures Month, hand out granola as you gather residents around a "campfire" in your Activity Room. Encourage residents to tell funny stories about camping as kids.

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2

Crafts: Summer Dragonflies

Assist residents with making summer dragonflies using wooden clothespins, paint, glitter, glue, pony beads, and tulle.

Clown School: Balloon Twisting

For this second day of International Clown Week, show residents how to twist balloons to make animals.

Poker Game

On this day that the greatest gunfighter of the Wild West, "Wild Bill" Hickok, was killed, host a fun western poker game night. Teach residents how to play Texas Hold 'Em Poker.

Name That Monument Social

Quiz your residents on the different national monuments in Washington, D.C. on this day that the designer of the city plan, Pierre Charles L'Enfant, was born. Serve peanuts as a snack.

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3

Clown School: Magic Tricks

For this third day of International Clown Week, teach residents how to perform a few easy magic tricks using playing cards.

Basketball Challenge

To commemorate this day that the NBA was formed, encourage residents to play in a basketball challenge. Set up an indoor hoop (trashcan), and divide residents into teams to play. Gradually move the basket farther away to make it more difficult. Give the winning team a prize.

65 and Over Social

Celebrate all of your residents that are over 65 on this birthday of Maggie Kuhn, who fought age discrimination after being forced to retire at age 65. Talk to residents about the age at which they retired and if any of them faced age discrimination at work. Serve watermelon as a snack on this National Watermelon Day.

Beer & Nuts Nightcap

Serve a variety of beer and nuts on this International Beer Day while sharing some fun facts about beer.

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4

Clown School: Miming

On this fourth day of International Clown Week, host a miming class for residents. Show residents how to pull on an imaginary rope or act like they are in a box.

Summer Road Trip

Invite residents to go on a fun summer road trip to go sight-seeing. While on the bus, play fun road games with residents like Road Trip Bingo.

Guess That Country Song Social

To commemorate this day that country musician Jimmie Rodgers recorded for the first time, invite residents to guess the titles of the country songs that are played from a country CD. Consider borrowing popular country CDs from your local library. Serve warm cookies and juice.

Back Patio Bowling

Use plastic bottles and a foam ball for a fun back patio bowling game for your residents as the sun sets.

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5

Crafts: Tape-Resist Surf Boards

For this last day of the International Surf Festival in Manhattan Beach, California, assist residents with making tape-resist surf boards. Encourage residents to add their own style to their surf boards.

Clown School: Telling Jokes

On this fifth day of International Clown Week, swap funny jokes with residents, helping them with their punchline delivery.

Summer Cocktails

Host a fun bartending class to teach residents how to make nonalcoholic summer drinks for the season.

Circus Is in Town Social

During this International Clown Week, host a fun indoor circus with games like ring toss, plastic horseshoes, magnetic darts, and bowling. Invite those residents who attended Clown School this week to show off their recently learned skills. Consider renting a cotton candy machine or snow-cone machine from your local equipment vendor.

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6

Clown School: Slapstick

On this sixth day of International Clown Week, teach a fun class of slapstick. Show residents how to exaggerate their movements as you give several tips on how to perform physical comedy.

Baking Club: Sugar Cookies

Encourage residents to bake delicious sugar cookies for this afternoon's social.

Drawing Class

Organize a drawing class for your residents where you teach them how to quickly draw a clown during this International Clown Week using paper and markers.

Hollywood Gossip Social

Quiz residents about some of the leading Old Hollywood scandals during the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s on this birthday of Louella Parsons, legendary Hollywood gossip columnist. Ask residents what gossip stories they remember from back then. Serve the sugar cookies that were made earlier by the Baking Club as a snack.

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7

Clown School: Telling Stories

On this last day of International Clown Week, share several tips with your resident about how to tell stories that engage their listeners.

Black-Out Bingo

For this National Night Out, host a fun black-out bingo party for residents for them to try to cover all the squares on their bingo cards.

Secret Spy Social

Check for spies among your facility on this day that the female spy Mata Hari was born. Give willing participants a fingerprint card to record their fingerprints. Once done, find out what their fingerprints really mean. Serve tea and cookies as a snack.

Fun Night Out

In recognizing this National Night Out, invite residents to enjoy the cooler weather outdoors after dinner (once the temperature goes down). Host a nightcap social outdoors on your back patio with juice and a snack.

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8

Seashell Paintings

Provide residents with seashells for residents to paint with colorful bright colors. Place the finished seashells in clear vases and use as decoration throughout your facility for the summer.

Balloon Bopping

Make simple balloon boppers using large sponges and paint stirrers for residents to use to hit balloons back and forth in your Activity Room.

Humidity-Relief Social

Invite residents to stay cool during this humid, hot summer by serving ice cream cones as a fun snack.

Rockette Auditions

On this birthday of dance choreographer Russell Markert, introduce a few leg-kicking exercises in your daily Exercise Class. Line the chairs in a row and teach seated residents how to do the Rockettes kick line.

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9

Crafts: Americana Art

Encourage residents to paint Americana pictures during this American Artist Appreciation Month. If needed, provide Americana coloring pages for residents to paint. Display the paintings in your facility's "art gallery."

Sunhat Tea Party

Invite residents to wear their sunhats and visors for a fun sunhat tea party in your Activity Room. Serve a variety of hot tea and summer citrus cookies.

Which Presidents Had Pets?

In recognition of this day that President Richard Nixon became the only president to resign from office, quiz residents with fun presidential trivia.

Politically Correct Social

In remembrance of President Nixon's official resignation on this day, ask residents to finish the sentence "If I were president, I would..." Discuss the changes that they would make and why. Serve small pieces of apple pie for a snack.

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10

Armchair Travel: Mount Rushmore

Take interested residents on a trip to visit Mount Rushmore in your Activity Room on this day that the American landmark was dedicated.

S'mores Social

Make easy microwavable s'mores for your afternoon social on this National S'mores Day.

Manicures & Make-up

Invite a local make-up consultant to your facility to get your ladies ready for tonight's big ball. Encourage your facility's staff to give manicures to the residents.

Seersucker Ball

Have fun this summer by hosting a special ball. Encourage residents to get dressed up (men in their seersucker suits with hats). Invite an entertainer to perform for the residents.

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11

Nature Trip

During this American Adventures Month, take residents for an outdoor adventure at a local park.

Escape From Alcatraz

On this day that the federal government's most dangerous prisoners first arrived at Alcatraz, show the documentary The Real Story: Escape from Alcatraz (2009). Borrow the DVD from your local library or stream online.

Literary Tea Social

Recognize this day that novelist Alex Haley was born by hosting a literary tea party. Serve hot tea and cookies to residents as you discuss classic novels.

Dog Days

For this last official dog day of summer, host a fun hot dog dinner for residents to enjoy. Set up a fun hot dog bar for residents to build their own hot dogs.

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12

Crafts: String Art Graffiti

Invite residents to make their own string art graffiti in the backyard using canvases, string, tape, and any spray paints that can be borrowed from your facility's Maintenance Coordinator. For the project, use tape to secure yarn to the canvas before wrapping the yarn several times around the canvas. Then use the spray paints to paint the canvas. After the canvas has dried, cut the string off the canvas and hang.

Visiting the Grand Canyon

During this American Adventures Month, take residents on a trip to the Grand Canyon by showing the documentary Grand Canyon: The World's Great Natural Wonder (2001). Borrow the documentary from your local library or stream online.

Movie Matinee: Dr. No

On this day that James Bond creator Ian Fleming died, show the first James Bond movie, Dr. No. (1962), featuring Sean Connery.

T-Rex Social

In recognition of this day that a T-Rex skeleton was found, have a fun discussion about science fiction and whether residents believe dinosaurs ruled the earth. Serve BBQ wings as a snack.

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13

Left-Handed Paintings

In recognition of this International Left-Handers Day, encourage residents to try their skills with their left hand by painting a picture while using only their left hand. Supply residents with paint and paper and plenty of paper towels.

Women of the American West

On this day that Annie Oakley was born, share interesting facts about her and other women of the American West like Calamity Jane.

Geography Bee Social

Host a quick geography bee on this day that Berlin was divided into two parts. Serve warm cookies as a snack.

Left-Center-Right Night

In honor of this International Left-Handers Day, teach residents how to play the Left-Center-Right (LCR) dice game. If you do not have the LCR dice game, use regular dice and poker chips instead.

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14

Health Lecture

During this National Immunization Awareness Month, invite your facility's nurse to speak to residents about necessary immunization for seniors.

Social Security Chat

On this day that FDR signed the Social Security Act, ask residents about their feelings on social security.

Earn Your Wings

In honor of this V-J Day, encourage residents to watch the documentary The U.S. Air Force Story (2008) to learn and reminisce about the early days of the Air Force. Borrow the DVD from your local library or stream online. Serve popcorn to residents as they watch the documentary.

Oyster Social

Recruit a few residents to assist you with assembling beachy desserts on this summer day. Use vanilla wafers, icing, piping bags, and white candies to assemble the adorable oyster pearl cookies. (For the pearls, instead of using hard pearl candies, use white chocolate M&M's.)

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15

Food Council

In honor of this birthday of famous American chef Julia Child, start a separate Food Council meeting for your residents to discuss food-related issues with your facility's kitchen staff, instead of bogging down your traditional Resident Council meeting with food-preference questions. Host the event after breakfast in your Dining Room.

Cooking Demo

Celebrate famed cookbook author Julia Child's birthday today by having a member of Dining Services conduct a fun cooking demonstration for residents.

Summer Beach Bags

Encourage residents to create colorful summer beach bags using duct tape and trash bags.

Hippie Happy Hour Social

Before dinner, host a fun happy hour with nonalcoholic drinks in recognition of Woodstock beginning on this day. Ask residents if any of their kids participated in this "freeing" event. Ask residents about the "Woodstock" event of their generation, or if they remember going against the norm and doing something fun and in the moment.

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16

Crafts: Summer Coloring

Pass out blank coloring pages for residents to color with vibrant colored markers. Frame the finished summer pages for residents to hang in their rooms for the season.

Coffee Chat

Reminisce with residents over coffee about their best and worst summer jobs as kids.

Let's Play Baseball

In remembering baseball great Babe Ruth, who died on this day, set up a batting practice on your back patio. Invite residents to sit in chairs, all in a row. When it's their turn at bat, give each resident a Nerf (foam) bat to hit the Nerf (foam) ball that you throw towards them. See who can hit the ball the farthest, before serving popcorn and Cracker Jack.

Elvis Social

Play fun Elvis tunes on this day that the King passed away. In honor of Elvis, serve his favorite snack of mini peanut butter and banana sandwiches.

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17

Granita Cool Down

Cool down your residents with a tasty treat by inviting them to make a tasty watermelon granita.

Summer Rose Bushes

Guide residents outdoors to cut a few summer roses from your facility's rose bushes or flower garden. Use the flowers to make table centerpieces with the vases in your facility.

Davy Crockett Social

On this birthday of Davy Crockett, play bluegrass music for residents to enjoy. Serve "possum" (chicken) tenders and (ginger) ale as a snack.

Summer Nights Concert

Enjoy the cool summer evening with residents as you set up a CD player outdoors to play a few tunes from Frank Sinatra. Invite a few residents to dance on your back patio.

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18

Baking Club: Rhubarb Pie

Encourage residents to make a delicious summer rhubarb pie, or any other fruit pie, to be eaten at this afternoon's social.

Poetry Journals

Invite residents to make poetry journals (using white paper, a hole punch, brads, and scrapbook paper for the cover) to write their own poems on this Bad Poetry Day. For the poems, residents can always begin with "Roses are red, Violets are blue..."

Learn a New Language: Spanish

Teach basic words in Spanish to residents on this birthday of Puerto Rican-born Baseball Hall of Fame player Roberto Clemente.

Summer Yachting Social

Ask residents to wear their nautical attire for a fun afternoon social in your Activity Room. Pass around photos of mega yachts as you ask residents where they would like to travel if they owned a yacht. Serve the rhubarb pie that was made earlier by the Baking Club.

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19

Crafts: Hawaiian Leis

Invite residents to make Hawaiian leis to wear for the Hawaiian Lunch and Luau Social on August 21. Use colorful crepe paper and string for the craft.

Up, Up and Away

For this National Aviation Day, invite residents to discuss what it was like on their first plane ride. Pass out typical airplane food (peanuts and soda) for a snack.

Sports Cars

During this Motorsports Awareness Month, host an intergenerational activity for residents and their grandkids to make fun balloon cars. Encourage the kids to compete to see whose car is the fastest.

I Scream for Ice Cream Social

Cool your residents down with a delicious ice cream social. Serve nuts, whipped cream, and chopped fruit as toppings.

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20

Musical Notes

On this birthday of country music star Jim Reeves, encourage residents to make their own musical instruments to use during the upcoming Band Class activity.

American Antiques

Invite a local antiques dealer to come by and display some old-fashioned equipment, like oil lamps and camping gear, for this American Adventures Month. Ask residents to share their knowledge about the equipment.

Band Class

Play fun music from the radio or a CD, and invite residents to use the musical instruments that were made earlier.

Folksy Social

Share interesting and folksy, light-hearted poems from poet Edgar Guest on this day that he was born. Serve the warm cookies as a snack.

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21

Hawaiian Lunch

To commemorate Hawaii becoming a state on this day, coordinate with Dining Services to serve residents a delicious Hawaiian lunch, like pork with pineapples.

Winnie the Pooh Tea Party

On this birthday of Christopher Robin Milne, author A.A. Milne's son and the inspiration of the Winnie the Pooh character Christopher Robin, invite a local mom's group to bring their kids by for a fun afternoon tea party with the residents. Ask kids to bring their favorite stuffed animal for the tea and cookie party. After the tea, invite residents and kids to alternate reading a Winnie the Pooh book.

Spam Tasting

For this day that Hawaii became the 50th state, host a tasty Spam tasting for residents to sample, like Spam fries.

Luau Social

Play fun Hawaiian music as you celebrate Hawaii becoming a state on this day. Serve tropical non-alcoholic drinks, like nonalcoholic piña coladas.

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22

Trip to Art Museum

Celebrate this American Artist Appreciation Month by taking residents to a local art museum.

Misting Break

Keep your residents cool on this hot summer day by providing cooling face mists for them to use. Ahead of time, steep a variety of different herbs like lavender or peppermint in hot water to create a tea. After allowing the different teas to cool, pour them into mini spray bottles for residents to use.

Dance Competition

Encourage residents to dance off their lunch in a friendly dance competition on this day that dancers Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers graced the cover of Life magazine. Pair residents together and have fun!

Healthy Eyes Social

During this National Eye Exam Month, serve foods that are good for eye health, like veggies. Consider inviting an optometrist to come in and fit residents for glasses.

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23

Crafts: Cardboard Birdhouses

Assist residents with crafting cardboard birdhouses to decorate your Activity Room using cereal box cardboard, a birdhouse template, patterned paper, colored foam sheets, craft sticks, Washi tape, and hot glue.

Hand-Eye Coordination

Help improve residents' hand-eye coordination during this National Eye Exam Month by inviting them to play ping pong or balloon volleyball.

Name That First Lady

To honor First Lady Dolley Madison for saving a White House portrait from the British on this day, invite the residents to guess which first lady was married to each of the American Presidents that you name.

What's Your Sign? Social

For this first day of the zodiac sign of Virgo, use a local newspaper to read the horoscopes of residents. Serve peanuts and ginger ale as a snack.

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24

Belgian Waffle Breakfast

For this National Waffle Day, coordinate with Dining Services to serve delicious Belgian waffles for breakfast.

Name That Fairy Tale

On this birthday of Argentinean author of fiction Jorge Luis Borges, quiz residents on their knowledge of fairy tales.

Italian Social

Play bocce ball (Italian bowling) with residents on this day of Italy's Mt. Vesuvius's volcanic eruption. Serve Italian ice as a snack.

Summer Hat Happy Hour

Host a summer hat happy hour for residents, and encourage everyone to wear a summer hat. Invite an entertainer to play music for the residents.

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25

Coffee Klatch

Serve a variety of coffees as you encourage residents to reminisce about World War II on this day that Paris was freed from German control.

Red Hat Ladies' Volunteer Project

In recognition of Paris being liberated from German military control on this day, invite your Red Hatters to set up a flea market in your facility to raise money for troops overseas. Sell donated items from staff and residents, and use the proceeds to purchase care package items (e.g., toothpaste and deodorant) to send to soldiers overseas.

Cool as Ice Social

Assist the residents with staying cool this summer by serving popsicles. Ask residents if they think that the summer weather will extend longer this year.

Movie Night: The Wizard of Oz

Invite residents to watch the iconic movie The Wizard of Oz (1939) on this day that it premiered. Borrow the movie from your local library or stream online.

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26

Crafts: Fly Paper

During this hot month of August, encourage residents to help you get rid of some of those annoying flies. Encourage residents to make fly paper traps to hang up. Afterwards, ask residents to notice if the fly paper catches as many flies as when they used it in their homes in the 1930s and 1940s.

Dog Tricks

For this National Dog Day, invite a friendly pooch to your facility to do fun dog tricks for the residents. Consider recruiting one of the residents' family members' pets.

Equality Social

On this Women's Equality Day, host a social discussing gender equality in the present, as compared to the early 1900s. Serve juice and pastries as a snack.

Sturgeon Moon Nightcap

Set up a telescope for residents to view the Sturgeon (Full) Moon tonight, so named because of the bounty of sturgeon fish at this time of the year. Serve juice and moon pies for a nightcap.

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27

Special Cool Treat

Recruit residents to assist you with making a cool dessert like a strawberry trifle for residents to enjoy on this hot, summer day.

Movie Matinee: Roman Holiday

Show the classic movie Roman Holiday (1953) featuring Audrey Hepburn on this day that it premiered in New York City. Borrow the movie from your local library or stream online.

Memories & Tea Social

Recognize this National Immunization Awareness Month by serving tea and butter cookies to residents as you reminisce about immunizations that they had as children, as well as some of the more popular ailments and diseases during that time.

U.S.O. Dance

On this birthday of Martha Raye, an entertainer who performed for American servicemen overseas, host a fun U.S.O. dance. Encourage residents to dress up and have fun at the dance. Ask the men to wear their military insignias.

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28

Beach Blanket Bingo

Have a fun summertime bingo party for residents. Serve tropical, fruity drinks as residents play bingo.

Men in the Kitchen

Invite your facility's men to whip up a fun afternoon snack for the upcoming social. Supply the men with cookies and ice cream and have them make ice cream sandwiches. Once done, place the ice cream sandwiches in the freezer until the afternoon social.

Spiritual Retreat

In honor of this birthday of the first American-born saint, Elizabeth Ann Seton, set up your Activity Room as a spiritual retreat. Have religious music playing in the background and read to residents from a daily devotional book.

This Day in History Social

To commemorate the March on Washington that happened on this day, start a discussion about the civil rights movement of the 1960s and how race relations are today. Serve the ice cream sandwiches that were made by the men earlier.

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29

Watermelon Piñata

During this watermelon season, encourage residents to make a watermelon piñata. Once completed, use it for your next intergenerational party with children.

Sharing Stories

For this What Will Be Your Legacy Month, invite residents to share interesting stories about their lives, like unique places that they lived or whether they were class clowns or nerds in high school.

Guess That Famous Blonde

To celebrate actress Ingrid Bergman's birthday today, invite residents to guess which famous blonde you are describing.

Herbal Snack Social

Encourage residents to help you fix a delicious herbed feta dip on this More Herbs, Less Salt Day. Provide residents with low-salt chips to dip.

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30

Crafts: Legacy Books

During this What Will Be Your Legacy Month, encourage residents to make legacy books that they can give to their loved ones. (Before the activity, invite volunteers to assist residents by asking them several legacy questions, typing up the answers, and then printing them onto pretty stationery.) Invite residents during the activity to bind their pages together by using a hole puncher for the pages and brads to fasten together.

Ice Cream Truck

Share ice cream treats with residents on this hot day in August.

Scary Stories

In recognition of this birthday of Frankenstein's author Mary Shelley, invite residents to give you nouns and verbs to place in a scary fill-in story. Once completed, read the scary (comical) story aloud.

Scales of Justice Social

Talk with residents about famous Supreme Court cases on this day that Thurgood Marshall was confirmed to be the first African-American Supreme Court Justice. Serve tea and butter cookies as a snack.

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31

Baking Club: Strawberry Pie

Encourage residents to make a delicious strawberry pie for this afternoon's Pie Tasting.

Lemonade Stand

On this hot day, invite residents to stop by your lemonade stand for a refreshing glass of lemonade. Pass out fun crossword puzzles for residents to work on as they sip lemonade.

Pie Tasting

Invite residents to taste-test several summer fruit pies. Serve three different pies for residents to sample: the strawberry pie made earlier today by the Baking Club, a fruit pie made by Dining Services, and a fruit pie bought at a local grocery store.

Tropical Happy Hour Social

Enjoy this last day of August with a fun tropical social. Play tropical music and serve strawberry daiquiris.

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