Thursday, August 4, 2011

Roosevelt Island Youth Program Summer Day Camp Activities - Movies, Ripley's Believe It Or Not, Bowling, Swimming, Gardening, BBQ'ing and Animals Come A Calling - Plus It's All Free!!!


Received the following report from the Roosevelt Island Youth Program (RIYP) describing some of their activities so far this summer.


First report of the summer by the RIYP Camp to all our fans. The camp has over 200 registered members and a daily attendance of 165 campers. Mondays and Fridays are special events or trip days and we have already seen the movies Cars and Transformers, gone to Ripley’s Believe it or Not on 44th street to see their museum and had a scavenger hunt.

Each group has had a barbeque and on Monday the 1st, we will be visited by snakes, rabbits, frogs, birds and all kinds of interesting species as Nature Life Educational Group visits the program.

Next Friday August 5th, we will be going to Bowlmor Lanes on 44th street, to visit New York’s newest bowling center with over 100 lanes and other attractions. This will be the first time for many of our campers to experience the game of bowling and we have over 20 lanes set-aside for our use.

Remember all programs offered by the Roosevelt Island Youth Program are FREE and open to all. RIYP’s programs are funded by the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development and the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation.
Here's a review from RIYP on what happens when Animals Come A Calling to Roosevelt Island.

Last Monday the Roosevelt Island Youth Program (RIYP) kids received some special guest visitors from our friends at The Nature Company who brought snakes, lizards, frogs, birds and various insects for a hands-on workshop.



The Nature Company whose motto is "We Bring Nature to You" is a fun-filled hands-on, interactive learning experience for children of all ages presented by Anthony Cogswell the Nature Company's instructor. The themes for the workshop were Sounds Around the World, Neighborhood Nature, ABC Animals, Rocking Reptiles, Animals Around the World, Camouflaging Creatures, Discover Ecosystems, My Forrest and Awesome Adaptations.

 

RIYP Senior Counselor Anthony Simmons remarked that the kids response to the animals was wonderful and that "they really got into it and the instructor was great".  Many of the children commented that they can't wait until the animals come back again.

The camp is still averaging over 160 youth per day and the program instructors and staff are as good as it gets said several parents watching their children getting involved. The RIYP free Summer Camp is funded by the Department of Youth and Community Development and the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation.

Don't forget game nights from 6PM to 9PM at the Youth Center. For scheduled days call the Beacon at 212-527-2505 or the Youth Center at 212-935-3645. Dates vary due to the television show filming next door.
UPDATE 8/8 - More from the RIYP:

Youth Center Camp Knocks Down Pins!
On Friday the 5th, the Roosevelt Island Youth Program Camp went bowling at Bowlmor Lanes on 44th, St between 7th and 8th Avenues. Campers ages 6 to 14 bowled for over 2 hours. The staff and kids reported that they had a great time and were treated like Kings and Queens. The Campers had drinks, pizza and enjoyed bowling for over 2 and a half hours. This event was scheduled as part of the camp activities and was free for all thanks to funding by the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development and the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation.

6 comments :

Thomastomtom193 said...

My child loves it

jUDYB said...

Great, I always see the kids on the street. Glad to see we have such a great free program.

Guest said...

Glad the kids that can get into the program made it...it really needs to be expanded for our population of almost 14,000 people here on RI. My sister calls early every year and is told it is booked, no more room and ask can she get on a list...is it the same kids each year that get to enjoy this program? How do they decide what children get included?

It would also be good if Roosevelt Island had a nature and animal program hereon the island to teach the children to appreciate and love animals..it would teach them to be more gentle in nature and understanding as they grown up.

We have no wildlife department here on an Island which is odd. An island surrounded by water and such an astute leadership as RIOC should see what fantastic things a wildlife refuge or sanctuary would be for this place. We now have 2 new green spaces located here right in our back yard,  one at South Point Park, and the other FDR park, why in the planning was there no wildlife initiative planned? Ms. Tores always speaks of how Green RI is, and her Green Initiative? There are so many donations coming in to the new parks here, a few thousand set aside for the wildlife should not be a problem, if it is deemed important.

Having a animal and wildlife program right here for the residents and public would be a wonderful thing, plus children that grow up here would have more of a sense of pride in their Island...they could enjoy nature and wildlife in their own back yard. Any money from attendance or participation could go to a fund to help the childrens program here on the island. 

Rier said...

I think you have to address those questions to NYC's Department of Parks & Recreation. Did you try 311 and see what they say?

Charles DeFino said...

The program is open to everyone and I don't who told you we had no room but as the Executive Director I can tell you we did not turn anyone down. We started with a waiting list of youth because we are limited by budget and mandated by ratio's of staff (over 18 to youth) by the Health Department but everyone on the waiting list was called and told we had room for them. Sorry if misinformation was conveyed to you but in the future feel free to call my office at 506 Main St., 212-935-3645.

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