Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2008 | 2:42 p.m.
More info
Forest Hours:
November 22 - December 30
- Sunday – Thursday 5:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
- Friday and Saturday 5:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Ticket Prices:
- General Admission – Child (age 3 to 11) $7.50
- General Admission – Adult (age 12 and up) $9.50
- Passport Child - $14.00
- Passport Adult - $16.00
Tickets and Passports can be purchased at any area CVS/pharmacy location.
To learn more about the great work of Opportunity Village, go to MagicalForest.org.
It has been almost 20 years since I first heard the call go out to our congregation to find our "inner elf" by helping others.
Those probably were not the exact words impassionedly shared with us that morning, but the meaning and message that they conveyed still resonates with me to this day. Reach out, help another, and through the process you will experience the magic of the season.
A chill was in the air that evening in November as I joined with other young adult group members to carpool over to the Magical Forest at Opportunity Village. Little did I know how inspirational that evening would become for my life.
Years later, my wife and I, understanding the importance of sharing philanthropy as a lifelong value, shared with our own children the wonders of the Magical Forest and the life-changing experience of helping others.
I wanted to see what was new at the Magical Forest this year, so I rang up Holly Spore, director of resource development at Opportunity Village. For those of you unfamiliar with Opportunity Village, the Henderson-based group provides employment and other support services for special needs individuals.
"Individuals and families have made a visit to the Magical Forest an annual holiday tradition over the years," she said. "Even if you have come to visit the Magical Forest before, each year we offer many new and wonderful experiences."
New features include the Storytime Theatre, Santa's Workshop, and a junior Alpine Slide for toddlers. The theater is sponsored by the Penta Building Group.
Also new this year is a partnership with Shell Oil and Green Valley Grocery. Visitors to the Magical Forest this year will receive a $5 gas gift card as well as a chance to enter a raffle for a $500 gift card.
"The Magical Forest is the largest annual benefit for Opportunity Village, raising nearly $1 million, of which 100 percent of the money stays right here in Las Vegas," Spore said.
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