16 TIMES • JUNE 23, 2016 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com kids & education Chancellor checks out Ridgewood’s ‘Extreme Kids’ Meet the Marine who is co-leader of his daughter’s Girl Scout troop in Maspeth BY ANTHONY GIUDICE agiudice@ridgewoodtimes.com @A_GiudiceReport This father proves that Girl Scouts aren’t just for girls. James Knapp, a Marine, answered the call of duty to lead his daughter Shayla’s Girl Scout troop at St. Stanislaus in Maspeth this year when the previous leader moved away. Since taking over as co-leader — with Jessica D. Antonio and Jennifer Johnson — of his daughter’s Junior Girl Scout Troop #4732 (along with the younger Brownie Troop #4123, which was also in the need of a troop leader), Knapp has instilled in his troops traits that he learned during his time as a Marine, Former Marine James Knapp is now the co-leader of his daughter’s Girl Scout troop in Maspeth. including reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and participating in local memorial ceremonies. “Some of the things I’ve taught the girls is that you don’t give up on what we’re doing,” Knapp said. “Family is very important to me, and I tell the girls to be proud of who you are. These girls are proud and really dynamic, and they are learning that you can accomplish anything when you set your mind to it.” Under Knapp’s leadership the troops are earning many badges for group projects as well as individual achievements. The group even worked together and compromised to create the troop crest, Knapp said. “It’s all about cohesiveness. Everything blends together so well,” he added. “There are team things they can do as a group, but there are also things they can do on their own to get their badges. These are strongminded little girls, who I like to see and grow and prosper. They could be the leaders of our country one day.” Although Knapp is having fun coleading the troops and helping the girls learn new things and earn their badges, it has been a learning experience for him as well. “It’s tough. I’m not going to sugarcoat it, it’s really tough,” Knapp said. “We work really hard with these girls. It’s good to see that we can muster it up as co-leaders because together we have more experience and can see where our strengths and weaknesses are, and work to our strengths and address our weaknesses. The girls can’t wait until next year already.” Knapp encourages other fathers to participate in their daughters’ Girl Photos courtesy of James Knapp Scout troops if they have the time. “I would personally recommend if a dad can do it, to do it because it’s a good experience to get to know your daughter’s interests and what they are learning about,” Knapp said. “It’s great to see how much these girls learn and grow. It makes me a better person and a better parent. I get to see my daughter grow and all the other girls grow at the same time. Knapp plans to continue leading both Girl Scout troops for the foreseeable future, teaching young girls to believe in themselves and to go after the things they want in life. BY ANTHONY GIUDICE agiudice@ridgewoodtimes.com @A_GiudiceReport The Ridgewood Space, Extreme Kids & Crew’s fi rst Queens location, had several special guests come for a tour of the facility on Monday, June 20. Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña was joined by Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley, Assemblywoman Cathy Nolan, Community Superintendent Madelene Chan, and several others to visit P.S. 71 in Ridgewood to get a fi rsthand look at the school’s sensory gym for children with a wide range of physical and intellectual disabilities and their families. The Ridgewood Space was created for children and their families to connect, learn, play and grow in a safe and fun environment. Fariña believes the Ridgewood Place is very important to providing children with special needs a full experience socializing with parents and peers. “The reality is that it does change the nature of conversations of parents with kids with disabilities because we can do the best job possible — and I think we do pretty well in terms of the academics — but these kids are also social beings,” Fariña said. “And if we don’t fi ll their social-emotional needs, then we’re really not doing the whole thing.” Being centrally located in Ridgewood allows for parents from all around the area, not just members of P.S. 71, to come and use the space during the Ridgewood Space’s “Open Play” weekend hours. “That’s what schools should be,” Fariña said. “They should be community hubs. They should be places where people come together and they are not isolated.” The Ridgewood Space is separated into two rooms, a creative room and a sensory gym. The creative room has toys and art supplies, and is a quiet place for children to decompress. The sensory gym allows kids to burn off some energy and comes equipped with a trampoline, removable rock climbing wall, platform swing and monkey bars. “Everything we do, and what was wanted by the chancellor as well, is that this is open to the entire community, not just the school,” said Caitlin Cassaro, executive director of Extreme Kids & Crew. “We’re thrilled. This is our fi rst time coming into Queens. We’ve been hoping to do this for a year and we’ve been nothing but welcomed and loved since we got here, and now it’s on us to get to know people here and see what’s going to work for them and make sure we can accommodate that.” For more information on Extreme Kids & Crew and the Ridgewood Space at P.S. 71, visit the Extreme Kids & Crew website. RIDGEWOOD TIMES/Photo by Anthony Giudice School Chancellor Carmen Fariña with local elected of cials, members of P.S. 71 and Extreme Kids & Crew in the Ridgewood Space at P.S. 71.
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