32 The Queens Courier • business • february 14, 2013 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com business Flushing Bank sponsored the NY Business Expo and Conference. Connect To Care program to provide career advice and counseling. Goodman, like many of the Y’s employees, got his introduction to the agency he’d later be running, working at the summer camp. With something for everyone, the Y offers day camp options for children ages two through 15, as well as an award winning sleep away camp, Camp Poyntelle Lewis Village. Summer Fun for Everyone The Junior Camp, for children ages 5 through 10, is centered at the Henry Kaufmann Campgrounds in beautiful Wheatley Heights, Long Island. Their action packed program provides a full outdoor experience and a daily swim, with professionally supervised American Red Cross instruction. The campgrounds also offer sports facilities which include basketball and beach volleyball courts, as well as six fields for soccer and softball, and their new 30-foot rock climbing wall and low ropes course. Campers also get to participate in supervised programs such as dance, arts and crafts, performing arts, archery, martial arts, pioneering and nature. In addition, the camp experience is highlighted with overnights under the stars, out of camp trips, and late-nights with cook-outs. “With the majority of the Y’s families coming from the Queens-Western Nassau area, it’s nice for the children to be able to get a break from the city life, and enter a literally wireless setting,” says Camp and Youth Services Director, Danielle Hersch, who also attended the Y’s programs as a child, and began her professional life as a counselor for the After School Day Care program. She continued, “it’s great watching our children grow from campers to counselors, especially the ones who first came through our doors as two year olds.” As children mature, the Samuel Field Y keeps pace with their needs with both Tween and Teen Travel Camp options. Campers experience exciting, stimulating and engaging trips and activities, as well as a social setting within which they can flourish. Tweens and Teens also have the luxury of improving their athletic skills and swimming at the Y’s award winning Bay Terrace Pool and Tennis Center, when they’re not on their week long trips out of state. The Samuel Field Y, a social service agency serving all of Queens, also offers opportunities for children with special needs, through outstanding summer camp and after school programs. A dedicated, highly professional staff welcomes children with autism, learning difficulties, and physical challenges within after school and camping programs designed to maximize community inclusion and meet each child’s needs. Did you know that the Y even offers day camps for children that are deaf and hearing impaired? Growing Up in a Nurturing Environment With Early Childhood programs at both the Y’s Little Neck and Bay Terrace sites, the Y offers award winning UPK, Childcare, Nursery, Not Quite Nursery, and Summer Camp options for children ages 2 through 5. Led by teachers who are licensed by the New York State Department of Education, as well as teacher’s assistants in each classroom, every child is offered a caring atmosphere that provides a fertile environment for them to develop and thrive intellectually, socially and emotionally. “Personally I feel like the director is running an intimate program,” said Theresa, whose son has been in the Not Quite Nursery classroom in the Little Neck Early Childhood Program for the past year, and has come a long way since first starting in the Y’s programs as a shy 2-year old. “The staff is amazing there. In the course of a year, he went from just a handful of words to a true conversationalist!” The Y’s Early Childhood programs are conducted in the same way that their other programs are run, with the goal of giving the children a home away from home as their number one priority. Whether you’re 2 or 102, the Samuel Field Y strives to create an environment where you feel connected to your community. Supporting Queens Local Businesses The Y’s community partnership is best exemplified by the Samuel Field Y Business Council, whose goal is to foster unity between the agency and local business leaders to be able to serve the Queens community better. With the motto of “the community is everybody’s business,” and over 20 businesses and community leaders on board, the Business Council serves as a place to network, create partnerships, to work together towards working more cooperatively and helping local businesses to thrive. For example, when the Samuel Field Y was overwhelmed with donated clothing, food, blankets, and other essential items collected to help some of the victims of Sandy, Business Council partner Minuteman Press of Bellerose engaged another partner, Men on the Move of Floral Park, to help the Y transport the donations to the Rockaways. It took a two-minute phone call to have three local organizations work together for the greater good of the community, which continues to be a primary mission of the Y. Teaching Young Adults the Importance of Community Another one of the Y’s newest initiatives has been the In School Youth program, which through a grant from the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development, offers high school students job training, work experience, and full academic assis- The marching band is one of the unique clubs offered at the Samuel Field Y’s Beacon Program at MS 172. (continued from cover) The Dance Club at the Y’s Junior Camp. Perfect form and fun diving into the camp’s beautiful swimming pool. The Tween Camp’s Travel Group on a fishing trip, making a great catch. (continued on page 34)
QC02142013
To see the actual publication please follow the link above