By: Laura J. Bauer, MPA, Director

The Relative Caregivers Program is based on a multi-service, interdisciplinary home-based intervention model designed to provide comprehensive family support and family preservation services in Sumter, Schley, Macon and Dooly Counties.

Beautiful butterflies, a delicious picnic and the thrill of the circus live on in the memories of 16 families participating in the GSW Relative Caregivers Program day of fun and excitement at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia, July 25, 2006.

The first surprise of the day was when the families pulled up at GSW the morning of the trip and found that instead of small University vans, they were going to be transported in a beautiful new charter bus, complete with DVD screens and on-board restroom.

Upon reaching their destination, a picnic lunch was set out for the families to enjoy. Everyone got their fill of fried chicken, potato chips and soft drinks served on picnic tables located underneath tall, beautiful shade trees. After lunch, everyone boarded the bus for the short trip up the hill to the Day Butterfly Center. The children were given a brief lecture before entering about the need to be gentle with any butterflies that might land on them, and to be careful not to injure any of them.

Grandparents and grandchildren alike were thrilled with the hundreds of beautiful butterflies that greeted them inside! Waterfalls and gorgeous tropical birds like a blue & gold macaw, African grey parrot, and umbrella cockatoo kept everyone enthralled. Some of the children even ran to tell on other children who were not part of our group who were touring the center with their parents and who were not treating the butterflies respectfully. Grandparents rushed around trying to catch the perfect shot of a butterfly with their cameras, and several of the children were lucky enough to have one land on them.

After the Butterfly Center visit, it was back on the bus again for the trip around the grounds to Robin Lake Beach, the location of the giant circus tent. None of the grandparents or grandchildren had ever seen a circus before, and they were very excited to see the daredevil acts put on by the FSU Flying High Circus. Grandparents and grandchildren alike clapped, squealed, and screamed with delight during the show. Many topped off their visit with cotton candy and frozen lemonade treats.