AN ANTON MEDIA GROUP SPECIAL
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School’s Out, Camp’s In Virtual summer camps and educational programs for kids BY CYNDI ZAWESKI
czaweski@antonmediagroup.com
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t this point in May, parents are typically planning graduation parties and researching summer camp that will enrich their children over break. The current state of the COVID-19 pandemic has thrown those plans for a loop—to say the least. While the NY on PAUSE stay-athome mandates are ever slowly lifting, it remains unclear (as of the date of this publication) if summer camps will physically open in 2020. Nassau County Executive Laura Curran’s office stated that local officials are waiting on guidance from New York State before making a decision about opening summer camps. Local camp operators remain optimistic that there will be some return to normalcy. But just in case, there are several programs offering online summer programs that are both fun
see SCHOOL’S OUT on page 22
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School’s Out, Camp’s In from page 21 and educational. Here are a few to consider. Camp Tech Revolution at NYIT Long Island This Old Westbury-based Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) camp is going online for summer 2020. An award-winning program, Camp Tech Revolution is designed by a team of leaders educated at top-ranked universities, such as Columbia University, Cornell University and the Harvard Graduate School of Education. The curricula can accommodate campers who are beginners, intermediates and advanced. With small class sizes, this Long Island tech camp offers experiences for campers ages 6 to 14. Due to the pandemic, the summer camps at NYIT have moved to Camp Tech Revolution Online, powered by Lavner Camps, which features more than 35 virtual tech and STEM Camps from June 1 through August 21. These camps are taught topnotch instructors in a live and collaborative group setting. The tuition is $299 per camp, including $100 off per session for a limited time. Visit www.lavnercampsandprograms.com/location/long-island-nysummer-camp-nyit to learn more.
as magic tricks to more traditional sports-based tutorials on how to master your basketball dribble. All the options are fun and encouraging for campers of any age and skill level. Happy Camper Live also streams interactive classes to promote being social while social distancing. Learn more by visiting, www.happycamperlive.com.
The Coder School This Long Island-based, tech-forward camp is going fully digital for summer 2020. Using Zoom, students will connect with instructors to work on week-long coding projects and challenges, plus tech talks and interactive games. The courses are designed to introduce campers to a new language or technology, have them build and create an application with that knowledge and demo it with a project by the end of the week to their fellow campers. These camps Happy Camper Live will run from 9:30 Whether your child is into cooking, a.m. to 2:30 p.m. gymnastics, water sports, dance, art Monday through Friday and crafts or all of the aforemenwith a one-hour lunch break at home tioned, Happy Camper Live has from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Visit something to keep them engaged www.thecoderschool.com to learn all year long. It is a unique digital more about the digital programs platform that supplies informational being offered. (and entertaining) video guides on hundreds of activities. Its mission is Varsity Tutors Virtual to provide an inspiring environment Summer Camps with comprehensive and inclusive Varsity Tutors specializes in storytelling, which sparks discovery providing digital educational instrucand builds confidence. tion for students of all ages. It offers The how-to guides include noteverything from one-on-one tutoring so-common camp activities, such to individualize test prep throughout
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the year. This summer, it’s hosting several week-long online camps for free. Geared for children from K-12, the courses are designed to help kids make the most of their break with interactive camps taught by expert instructors. Each camp consists of five sessions, starting on Monday and ending on Friday. Camp courses include subjects, such as “Make Your Own LEGO Movie, “Fun Fairytales” and “Brain Games. Sign up for one camp, or all of them. The platform adds new camps every day so check back often. Space is limited. Visit www.varsitytutors.com/virtual-summer-camp to enroll. Spirit’s Promise Rescue Continues Virtual Classroom Spirit’s Promise Equine Rescue
in Riverhead is continuing its popular Farm Animal and Nature Virtual Classroom via Zoom every Wednesday from noon to 12:30 p.m. through the month of August. The Farm Animal and Nature Virtual Classroom allows children to visit the farm animals and learn about their traits and care. The programs are free and feature horses, donkeys, pigs, goats, chickens, and more. Spirit’s Promise Equine Rescue is a non-profit with a mission to rescue horses who have been abused, neglected or unwanted. The children’s program is hosted by the farm’s owner and founder, Equus Life Coach, Marisa Striano. The program is supported by Spirit’s Promise Equine Rescue’s Equine for All Initiative, which funds free and reduced equine-related programs, services and events on Long Island. Those interested may register by visiting https://bit.ly/2yb4fn8.
DO YOU HAVE A HOMETOWN HERO?
Anton Media Group is looking to celebrate extraordinary Long Islanders who are doing good during these uncertain times. Email editorial@antonmediagroup.com to share your Hometown Hero with us.
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Self-Care During COVID-19
How parents can manage stress during the pandemic
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n the age of COVID-19, parents have more responsibilities and stress than ever before. Many are expected to parent full time, work full time and teach full time—all at the same time. This does not leave much leftover time, or energy, for self-care. However, more than ever, this is the time to make a conscious effort to practice self-care.
Here are some tips:
Realistic Expectations: This is the time to challenge your perfectionism and self-criticism. Anxiety is high, the future is uncertain, and the many tasks and roles parents are forced to balance leave everyone exhausted. Be kind to yourself if you do not cross off every item on your to do list, or if you do not complete a project in the exact way you envisioned. You’re doing the best you can right now, and the best you can is good enough. Media Diet: The news can make us feel anxious and overwhelmed. Set boundaries around how much news you will consume. Decide how often you will tune into current events.
Badminton Basketball Cross Country/ Track & Field Field Hockey Lacrosse
PARENTING MATTERS Graziella Simonetti Consider one daily update from a trusted public health official or a set number of times per week you will watch the news. Be mindful of how you feel when you peruse social media. Comparing ourselves to how others are doing (or how they project that they are doing) makes us feel depressed and stressed. Regardless of whether or not others inflate how well they are handling home-schooling or their relationships during lockdown, we may assume others have it all together while we are struggling to keep our heads above water. This makes us feel inadequate by comparison and leads to increased depression and anxiety. Limiting social media use can lead to
greater happiness. Time Alone: Your old routine may have allowed for an opportunity to recharge through some alone time. Whether via a commute, a night out, your children being at school or even running an errand, those moments do not exist during this time. We need to be more intentional and purposeful in creating space for ourselves. Find small opportunities, such as taking a warm bath, reading a book when the children go to sleep or a solo walk when the children are in the safe care of another adult. Parents have no healthy time apart from their children, and creating these small moments can help us refuel. Make healthy choices when possible: Workout outside when safe. Use online videos to try new forms of exercise. Healthy choices include emotional choices, as well. Set boundaries with people who make your anxiety rise with their own worried feelings and worst case scenarios. Meditate and practice mindfulness. Use Technology: Fill your cup up
through social interactions using technology. Organize virtual calls with friends. Virtual game nights are a fun way to connect with others. Consider joining a book club over video chat or connect with spiritual/ religious groups that meet virtually. Self-care will not only help calm you during this destabilizing time, it can also help you find the physical and emotional energy needed to best support your family. When you feel tapped out, it can feel nearly impossible to give others any attention or energy. When you practice self-care, it won’t just help you feel better, your whole family will feel better, too. Graziella Simonetti is a parenting coach with Parenting Pals (yourparentingpals@gmail.com) and works as an early childhood social worker for the New York City Department of Education. She holds an advanced certificate in parent education from Adelphi University and is a NYSPEP credentialed Parenting Educator. Simonetti is a former kindergarten teacher and the mother of a toddler.
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Looking Ahead
Colleges plan for the fall semester BY CYNDI ZAWESKI
czaweski@antonmediagroup.com
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ess than four months out from the start of the fall semester, Long Island colleges are weighing all options to accommodate their students safely. Back in March, St. Joseph’s College (SJC) and Molloy College complied with New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s order to practice virtual distance learning through the remainder of the academic year. This remote learning protocol will remain in place through the summer sessions, as administrators await specific guidance from the governor’s office about the higher education aspects of ending NY on Pause. “Every school is waiting for additional guidance, but we already have information on things we have to do, such as social distancing and wearing a face covering,” Molloy’s Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Janine Biscari said. “We have a plan to have signage on
campus to inform people how to do things safely once they are back on campus.” In the meantime, Molloy and SJC have taken action to outline the fall semester. Donald Boomgaarten, president of St. Joseph’s College, established a special Fall Task Force several weeks ago. Comprised of faculty, staff and administrators, the Task Force is charged with presenting Boomgaarten with a set of options for moving the college forward with instruction and operations for the 2020-21 academic year. The task force is currently examining three possible contingency plans: a return to on-ground education, continuing with remote education or a hybrid option, which would be a combination of in-person and online classes. “We need to make a decision by June about what we are going to do in the fall,” Boomgaarten said. “We need time to plan out the fall course schedules. There are a lot of details involved. All schools will have
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to make a decision by mid-June, the latest.” Similarly, Molloy’s COVID Task Force, comprised of senior administration representing multiple departments, is preparing its plan for fall, which will be presented to incoming college president Dr. James Lentini by the end of May. Lentini and the school’s board of trustees are also on track to make an announcement about their fall semester plans in June. “We are looking to do as much face-to-face learning as is possible and safe,” Biscari said. “The safety of our community is our number one goal. Our other goal is to keep our students on track to graduate on time. We are prepared to go fully remote. The common option for most schools is going to be a combination, a hybrid model of some face-to-face and some online.” Prior to the crisis, SJC offered 27 fully online courses. The way Boomgaarten views it, SJC as three
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campuses: its Brooklyn campus, it’s Patchogue campus and its virtual campus. While Boomgaarten said that in-person education can not be replaced entirely, the school is embracing the increased use of technology to educate students. “If it is possible to open onground, we certainly will, if not, we will be ready with an alternative,” Boomgaarten said. “The courses that we are offering online will have special aspects to them that will make them more robust than a typical online course.” Should the colleges be forced to
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Molloy College
St. Joseph’s College’s virtual campus
(Photo courtesy of Molloy College)
(Photo courtesy of St. Joseph’s College)
remain remote, one challenge would be adapting curricula that require students to complete lab work. With safety and student experience in mind, the SJC’s Task Force members are surveying input from students, faculty and staff to gather more information about possible future steps. “We have to get creative with that and it is one of the things that the task force is working on,” Boomgaarten said. “There has been a conversation about opening up some on-ground facilities while maintaining social distancing. For example, studio classes for students of the arts. I am
not sure if you can fully replace those experiences online.” Another aspect of these college’s COVID-19 contingency plans is on-going financial support. Most higher education instituted received aid through the CARES Act. Molloy has set aside emergency funding for students affected by COVID-19, while SJC instituted a school-wide tuition freeze for all current and incoming students. The freeze locks-in tuition at this year’s current rates. Along with the tuition freeze, SJC recently created a COVID-19 Student Emergency Assistance Fund,
as well as the general SJC Student Emergency Fund. “We recognize that this step is a serious one, as costs incurred by the institution to prepare and support these various modes of learning— including the purchase of new technologies, expenditures for staff and faculty training, and additional labor by all—will be quite high, Boomgaarten wrote in a statement on the college’s website. “We must consider the gravity of the crisis for our entire region when making decisions about the future.” In addition to providing financial
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assistance, both schools are currently offering virtual assistance through its career and counseling centers. Molloy counselors have even obtained out-of-state licenses to help their out-of-state students cope. “We encourage students to think about the future and not to let the virus affect their goals for higher education,” Boomgaarten said. “In many ways, the crisis has helped us see what is really important. Living out your dreams and moving forward in life is significant, and students should not give up on their education.”
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