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Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation (CCPR) recently received the Inclusion Program of Excellence Award at the annual Indiana Park and Recreation Association (IPRA) conference.
This award recognizes a parks and recreation agency for its effort to provide inclusive opportunities and programming to their community. CCPR received the award for its adaptive Murder Mystery Social, a drama therapy-informed program series designed for individuals with disabilities.
“I am tremendously proud of my team and honored to receive this award,” CCPR Inclusion Program Supervisor Kelvin Solares said. “CCPR is dedicated to providing innovative and engaging programming for individuals of all abilities and we look forward to offering adaptive programs like Murder Mystery Social in the future.”
The one-of-a-kind series gives classic murder mystery dinner parties a personalized spin with drama therapy-informed activities, custom-built sets, and catered food.
Murder Mystery Social was created by drama therapist and CCPR staff member Deborah Fisher.
“Drama therapy uses theatre techniques to help participants work through their issues in a safe and meaningful way,” Fisher said. “Role-playing and improvisation provide participants with the freedom to explore and express emotions without fear of being judged, improving their well-being and interpersonal skills.”
Rather than purchase a pre-made murder mystery party kit, Fisher designs each program’s theme and characters herself. Since joining the team in 2019, she has developed close relationships with the CCPR adaptive community. That allowed her to tailor each mystery story to participants’ interests and strengths while also challenging them to get out of their comfort zones.
“Even if participants don’t want to play a character or feel too shy to role play, they can still have a fun night-out with their friends!” Fisher said.
To learn more about CCPR’s adaptive programs, visit CarmelClayParks.com/programs.