NAVIGATION

Bass Pro Shops Partners with May Institute to Provide Sensitive Santa Event

11/19/15

 
    


SPRINGFIELD, Mo—Bass Pro Shops believes every child should have the opportunity to experience the wonder and joy of Christmas and all the magic the season offers.  The company’s popular Santa’s Wonderland event gives families the chance to enjoy this special time with free games, crafts, and activities in a magical Christmas village.  Plus, free photos with Santa help create lasting memories. 

But, for families of children with sensory processing disorders, the excitement of the season can be overwhelming.  This year, Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World in Foxborough, Massachusetts, is honored to partner with May Institute to offer an alternative experience so these children can enjoy one of childhood’s favorite traditions.  Bass Pro Shops annual Santa’s Wonderland will be partially modified to decrease the likelihood that a child will feel overstimulated.  Children, pre-registered with May Institute, will be able to have a special visit with Santa before the store is open to the public, and won’t have to worry about a long wait in line. 

“Almost every child longs for that magical moment during Christmas when he or she gets to visit with Santa,” said Katie Mitchell Bass Pro Shops communications manager. “Bass Pro Shops remains committed to helping families enjoy time together and make memories to last a lifetime—especially during the holiday season.   We are proud to partner with May Institute to provide this unique opportunity for some amazing families.”

During the special Sensitive Santa events, families and children can expect the following:
  • Be greeted by a patient Santa, who has experience with children and young adults with unique needs.
  • Participate in sensory-friendly crafts and activities.
  • Leave with a complimentary photo of your child with Santa.

The Sensitive Santa events will be held, weather permitting, Sunday, November 22 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.; Saturday, December 5, from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.; and Saturday, December 12, from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World located at 1 Bass Pro Drive in Foxborough, Mass.  

“We are excited to team up with Bass Pro Shops to offer this wonderful holiday event,” said Megan Robinson Joy, Ph.D., Regional Director of Eastern Massachusetts Home and School Consultation for May Institute. “Families of children with special needs often restrict their activities in the community because their son or daughter has difficulty participating.  I am happy that these families will have a positive, pleasant experience participating in a fun holiday ritual.”

Volunteers and professionals trained in special education and applied behavior analysis (ABA) will be available at the event to assist families.
 
About May Institute
May Institute is an award-winning nonprofit organization with 60 years of experience in serving children and adults with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities, brain injury, and behavioral health needs. The organization provides educational, rehabilitative, and behavioral healthcare services to individuals, as well as training and consultation services to professionals, organizations, and public school systems. At more than 150 service locations across the country, highly trained staff work to create new and more effective ways to meet the special needs of individuals and families across the lifespan. For more information, call 800.778.7601 or visit www.mayinstitute.org. 

About Bass Pro Shops®
Bass Pro Shops®, which specializes in outdoor fun, operates 98 stores and Tracker Marine Centers across America and Canada that are visited by more than 120 million people every year. Bass Pro Shops stores, many of which feature restaurants, offer hunting, fishing, camping and other outdoor gear while their catalogs and website serve shoppers throughout the world. The company’s Tracker Marine Group®, a leading brand of fishing boats for more than 37 years, manufactures and sells a variety of boats for fishing and cruising. Family fun is on tap at Bass Pro Shops resort Big Cedar Lodge®, voted by Travel + Leisure as one of the top 50 Best Hotels for Families in the U.S. For more information, visit http://www.basspro.com.  To request a free catalog, call 1-800-BASS PRO.  Follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/bassproshops.

Bass Pro Shops Base Camp contact: Katie Mitchell, 417-873-5618, kamitchell@basspro.com
Bass Pro Shops Foxborough store contact:  Jeff Moschella, 419-891-3900, jsmoschella@basspro.com
May Institute contact: Julia A. Burgess, 781-437-1348, jburgess@mayinstitute.org
 

 

  • 41 Pacella Park Drive
  • Randolph, MA 02368
  • USA
  • Phone 800.778.7601
  • TTY 781.440.0461

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May Institute does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, sex/gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, military status, veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, marital status, socioeconomic status, homelessness, or any other category protected under applicable law in treatment or employment at the Institute, admission or access to the Institute, or any other aspect of the educational programs and activities that the Institute operates. The Institute is required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX), the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (Age Act), and their respective implementing regulations at 34 C.F.R. Parts 100, 104, 106 and 110, not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national origin (Title VI); disability (Section 504); sex (Title IX); or age (Age Act). Inquiries concerning the application of each of these statutes and their implementing regulations to the Institute may be referred to the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, at (617) 289-0111 or 5 Post Office Square, 8th Floor, Boston, MA 02109-3921, or to Pamela Raymond, Title IX Coordinator at 1.800.437.1200  ext.1252 or compliance@mayinstitute.org or May Institute 14 Pacella Park Drive, Randolph, MA 02368.

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