Roberto Gil Jr., Esq. is the new Program Director-Blairstown Program. He joined PBC in July of 2013. Before coming to PBC, Roberto served as BELL’s Director of Field Operations for New York. BELL (Building Educated Leaders for Life). Prior to returning to New York City, he spent the last two years traveling on behalf of BELL, spending equal time in Augusta, GA and Detroit, MI. He began his BELL career in September 2005, serving as Site Manager for PS 112X, The Bronxwood School, where he was responsible for running an afterschool program serving 200 scholars. Before BELL, Roberto was a Program Director with the Madison Square Boys & Girls Club, serving the Brooklyn community at their Navy Yard Clubhouse. Prior to that, he worked at The Center for Alternative Sentencing and Employment Services (CASES) as Deputy Director of Court Operations. A major accomplishment in his time there was the successful launch of the Manhattan Family Court – Court Employment Project, an alternative-to-placement program for juvenile delinquents. Roberto earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in government from The University of Texas in Austin. After which, he moved to New York to attend law school at New York Law School, where he earned his Juris Doctorate.
East Side Charter School’s Appalachian Trail Expedition
by Tiffany Brown, PBC Facilitator and Former Participant It is the early morning of October. You can hear the sound of the wind rustling against the leaves on the autumn trees. Up ahead on the Appalachian Trail, the sounds of singing middle school students
East Side Charter School (in Wilmington, DE) handpicked fifteen students to be a part of the program at Blairstown to help build confidence and take them out of their comfort zones.
East Side Charter School
can be heard approaching the bus. As they load their backpacks onto the seats, they continue to sing. This group is referred to as Thunda; one half of the seventh and eighth grade class that attended PrincetonBlairstown Center for Expedition this year.
Appalachian Trail Expedition
While backpacking roughly twenty miles from Camp Road to Brink Road the students worked on their leadership and communication skills while taking on the outdoor experience. Each day the students were appointed different jobs that ranged from Navigator to Leader of The Day. Other jobs such as Bear Bag and Tarps/Tents allowed the students to set up and break down camp as well as demonstrate responsibility with group equipment and food. During the ride back to PBC the students shared their highlights and challenges on expedition. The majority of the students and some teachers shared a common fear of heights. All agreed that one of the biggest challenges they overcame was hiking on peaks like Rattlesnake Mountain, though the view from the top was considered to be a highlight. Throughout many of the obstacles faced during the fiveday adventure, the students of East Side Charter School learned to conquer their fears and demonstrate perseverance. Some seventh grade students who were nervous about being away from home for a long period of time, expressed excitement about the opportunity to attend Expedition next year. 3