Couve Scoop February 2025

Love Serving Autism at Vancouver Tennis Center

Vancouver Tennis Center (VTC) recently partnered with national organization, Love Serving Autism, to add new programming to empower individuals with autism and other developmental abilities through the game of tennis. The program provides specialized therapeutic racquet sports interventions to support developmental needs, promote inclusion, enhance physical health and communication and foster emotional well-being. VTC is managed by nonprofit, United States Tennis Association Pacific Northwest (USTA PNW), which relies on community and donor support to deliver Love Serving Autism and other programs, such as Blind and Low Vision and Wheelchair Tennis.

The Love Serving Autism classes are designed to teach children and adults with autism and unique abilities communication and life skills, fostering functional independence both on and off the courts. Through progressive lesson plans, participants engage in hand-eye coordination activities to improve motor coordination, stroke-production drills to enhance gross motor skills, and social interaction activities to build communication and life skills. 

Founder Lisa Pugliese-LaCroix, a former collegiate and professional tennis player turned speech therapist, launched Love Serving Autism in 2017 as an after-school program in South Florida. Today, the program serves approximately 750 participants across 50 locations nationwide. Sanja Lemes, director of tennis and delivery for USTA PNW, connected with Pugliese-LaCroix in late 2023 and worked with her team to integrate the program into the 2024 class schedules at VTC. “The Pacific Northwest is full of amazing athletes who deserve access to the social, mental, emotional and physical benefits of tennis,” said Lemes. 

The social component of the programming, in particular, has proved to be beneficial, according to Pugliese-LaCroix. With approximately 40 percent of participants being non-speaking or non-verbal, the class setting promotes meaningful interactions and the development of expressive language skills. “Just having this opportunity to engage with others and not feel like they are socially isolated is critical for their development,” said Pugliese-LaCroix. 

Registration for Love Serving Autism is open and the cost per class is $15, with scholarships also available. Learn more and register at pnwtenniscenters.com/vancouver.

Parenting and Play Community at St. Andrew Nature Preschool

Families now have a new place to go to find fellow parents in a similar phase of life, and to learn new parenting skills from local professionals including an elementary school principal, a family therapist, a librarian and a pediatrician. St. Andrew Nature Preschool in Vancouver recently started a free “Parenting and Play Community” held at their preschool the second and fourth Fridays of each month from 10-11:30 am. On the second Fridays, parents can gather with their kids for a casual playgroup in St. Andrew’s indoor space with room to climb and run and even play outside on the grounds as weather permits. On the fourth Friday of each month, at the same time, same place, parents can learn about important parenting topics from local experts while free childcare for ages 12 months-5 years is provided (with RSVP). Monthly class themes include Parenting for Social Justice, Early Childhood Literacy and more, and will focus on early childhood, from age 2 through second grade, but could be relevant for other ages and stages as well. “The idea [for creating the group] came out of staff brainstorming in response to wanting to build community and support families,” says preschool director, Kara Landry. “We wanted to create a space for parents to come together to learn and discuss relevant topics, and to feel more connected with other families in their parenting journey. While parenting can be fun and joyful, it can also be complicated or lonely and make you feel like you have no idea what you are doing! We hope these free, community events will provide families with connections and open new understandings as we come together to play, learn and grow.” All classes and playgroup sessions are drop-in and do not require registration or attending prior classes. Childcare does require an RSVP so St. Andrew can staff accordingly. St. Andrew Nature Preschool is located within St. Andrew Lutheran Church, at 5607 NE Gher Rd., Vancouver. Learn more and RSVP for childcare at preschoolstandrew.org/resources.

50 Years of Stitching: QuiltFest NW to Display 300+ Quilts and Honor Veterans

Clark County Quilters recently celebrated 50 years since their founding, and the guild’s annual QuiltFest NW in March will reflect the history, creativity and humanitarian work of the roughly 250 members who make up the group. In addition to 300 quilts on display, including the Vancouver Tapestry, QuiltFest will honor members of our nation’s military by presenting a Quilt of Valor each day of the three-day event to deserving active or retired veterans. The guild’s charitable arm, Comfort Quilts, will also have a special display at the event, symbolizing the huge number of quilts and other items that are made by Clark County Quilters each year using personal and donated fabrics and materials, and gifted to various nonprofits and human services agencies throughout the county. 

“Quilters have spent many hours designing, fabric shopping, sewing by machine and by hand to produce masterpieces from small pieces of fabric,” said Karmen Ray, QuiltFest NW co-chair. “These quilts are made to be used and loved or displayed as beautiful works of art.”

QuiltFest NW will happen March 13-15, 2025 at Clark County Event Center, 10 am-4 pm each day. Admission is $10 per day, free for children under age 12, and special discounts for military veterans. Parking is $6. For more details, visit quiltfestnw.org or clarkcountyquilters.com.

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