Remember ZigZag and KEEN Teens start up this Friday, and we have guests, SpecialEffect, visiting GrEAT on Monday!

I we to keen on Friday
I we ice skating
I enjoy see Nathan
I enjoy seen Roo
I enjoy see Dan

Friday 12^th October

I went to keen Today

I enjoy see Ed

It were fun today

I enjoy sort Today

I enjoy see Mat

I enjoy play football today with Ed

I enjoy parachute game

I enjoy did duck duck juice and I enjoy see Jessy

Saturday 13^th Oct 2012

I were to kee today

It were good

I were a good session today Nathan

I enjoy flapjacks

Friday 19^th October

I went to keen Today

It were good

I enjoy juggling

Friday 20^th October

I were to keen Today

At keen basketball

It were fun today

I enjoy did Hokey Cokey

I enjoy play football

I enjoy see ed

It were a good session Today Roo

Saturday 27^th October

I enjoy going to keen Today

I enjoy play musical chairs

I enjoy play musical

I enjoy see the band

Friday 3^rd November

I enjoy going to keen and bowling
It were fun today
I enjoy see Dan and I enjoy see Nathan
Friday 10^th November

I were to keen Today
I enjoy Mat session Today
I enjoy seen ed Today
I enjoy work with Dan today
I enjoy see Hannah
Saturday 17^th November

I went to keen Today

I enjoy see Dan

I enjoy see Hannah

I enjoy see Jesy

Friday 9^th November

I went to keen Today

I enjoy sport Today

I miss Roo and Ed

I enjoy see Mat

I enjoy see Jess

Saturday 10^th November

I enjoy going to keen

I enjoy sport

I enjoy hokey cokey

I enjoy parachute game

I enjoy duck-duck juice

It were a good session Ed and Hannah and Dan

I miss Roo Today

Saturday 3^rd November

I enjoy allsorts
Saturday 20^th October

I hope you have a brilliant time in the snow and make sure not to slip over!

Having held almost every role KEEN has to offer, from volunteer to co-ordinator, I found myself keen to share my knowledge and experience so becoming a KEEN trustee seemed like great idea.

The KEEN trustees meet a couple of times a term to guide and support the co-ordinator in running the charity, as well as helping to shape its future. The board of trustees is a diverse group, made up of members of the local community who give their time for free. It brings together parents and volunteers as well other local professionals; all of whom bring a variety of skills which aid the running of KEEN. Every year the trustees attend our end of year celebration, the KEEN Olympics, to witness firsthand all the fun KEEN brings to local children with special needs!

For me being a KEEN trustee gives me the opportunity to give back to an organisation that has given me so much and I’m proud to be a part of such an amazing charity.

For more information about becoming a KEEN trustee please contact the chair of KEEN Trustees at chairoftrustees@keenoxford.org.

Welcome to a new year at KEEN, to athletes, parents, volunteers and supporters. I cannot wait for sessions to start and am looking forward to a fantastic 25th anniversary year. Thank you to Dan for designing the shiny new KEEN website and if you have any questions please get in touch! Email keen@keenoxford.org

There’s lots of new things to check out. Don’t miss our photos or the volunteers’ and athletes’ blogs, and expect to see plenty more exciting content appearing this year!

To keep up to date with all the goings-on at KEEN in our 25th anniversary year, you can like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

Now that the dust has settled following an amazing 2011-2012 year of KEEN, concluded of course by the traditional KEEN Olympics, I’ve had time to look back and think of some of my favourite sessions. Here’s a rundown of some of my highlights during Chris Jones’ year as KEEN co-ordinator.

1. Dinosaurs at Zig-Zag

We travelled to Jurassic Park as part of our action movies theme at Zig Zag. The dinosaur costumes we had spent hours paper maché-ing and painting proved a big hit with our athletes and during the session we just managed to escape from the frightening T-rex!

2. Sherlock Holmes at KEEN Teens

At KEEN Teens we tried to think of lots of new and exciting sessions this year for our ever growing group. One of my favourites involved us helping Sherlock Holmes to solve an intricate murder mystery. We had to dust for fingerprints, interview the suspects and look for clues in order to find out whodunit!

3. The Lion King Treasure Hunt

On a very hot summer day we held our annual treasure hunt, this year it was themed around The Lion King. We searched for bugs and ran through an obstacle course with our villain Scar in hot pursuit with his water pistol.

4. Owls at GrEAT

One of the most exciting GrEAT sessions of the year was when we invited some impressive feathered friends along. As well as posing for photos with all our members the owls put on an impressive aerial display in St Clements Family Centre.

5. Science at KEEN Teens

KEEN teens went off with a bang (and lots of smoke) during our science night. After carrying out our own experiments the finale was to watch the explosion that ensued after adding Mentos to Coca Cola!

After so many original and exciting sessions last year we are going to have to work even harder to make this year’s KEEN even better. With only a few weeks to go until term starts again we are already putting our heads together to try and ensure KEEN celebrates its 25th birthday in style!

I had to get up very early at 5am!!!

We drove to London and went past the London Eye and the River Thames where they have the Fireworks for New Year.

When we got to the Car Park we had a Security Check where they used special mirrors. They looked under the bonnet and in the boot too.

We parked our car and walked to the Olympic Park. I had to show them my ticket

We had our own security Check and I had to go through a Special scanner in my wheelchair.

Then we walked over a Bridge into the Olympic park and saw the Stadium and the Orbit. We had a coffee and Tom had a Muffin.

We then went into the Olympic stadium. It was huge!

I left my wheelchair in a Special place and sat down in our seats 9 rows from the Front, by the long jump.

We saw the Olympic flame

We watched the long jump

Sometimes one of the jumpers got a red flag.

We also saw the discus. When the men had measured the throw they put the discus in a remote control model Mini car to take it back to the athlete. That was funny!

We saw the wheelchair races

We also saw David Weir race

Then we saw David Devine run from behind to win his heat – everyone waved, clapped and cheered him on, it was VERY loud but very exciting.

The crowd did lots of Mexican Waves – I joined in too!

We saw lots of Medal ceremonies including Oscar Pestori’s and David Weir’s.

Everyone sang God Save the Queen and I sang as well.

At the end we left the stadium and it all went quiet while they cleared up.

We had lunch by the River among the pretty flowers.

After lunch we walked along the river that goes through the Olympic Park and saw the Royal Rowing boat from the Jubilee that is moored there.

We then walked around the Olympic Park, it was very hot and very busy.

It was a good day, I would like to do it again in 2016 when the Olympics move to Brazil…

Love from Tom