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Breezemont

Surviving and Thriving in a Hamlet’s Pandemic: How Breezemont Rose to the Occasion

August 25, 2022 by Johnny Cozza

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the world entirely. Across the globe, we saw people take initiative and ensure the safety of others with the use of masks, social distancing, and other protocols when the pandemic was still young. However, as time had passed and quarantine mandates began to lighten, there was a call to action for a safer sense of normalcy. Armonk, just like the rest of the world, faced the pandemic head on. Restaurants were only dining out, stores had limited space for consumers, and (almost) everyone wore masks. In a time of uncertainty, our town managed to come together and place the health and well-being of Armonkians above all else. 

In particular, the extraordinary initiatives put in place by places like the Byram Hills School District (which has been reported on here in a previous issue), and at Breezemont Day Camp (the focus of this article) were perfect examples of how any institution could take strides to help manage in a pandemic, even thrive, and help others thrive.  In the fall of 2020, the pandemic was at one of its many peaks.

With more people falling ill, there was a push for things to return as they once were…

Schools began to teach in person again, but the risk of exposure was high. As a way of making ends meet, Breezemont set up  up day care for children of teachers within our district! Within this facility, there were rooms students could take online classes, a playground for recess, and various other utilities that allowed these children to have a good time even if the world felt bleak. Although it might not seem like much, this opportunity allowed for those children to return to a sense of normalcy for the time being. Amongst the chaos of this pandemic, it was a trying time to be alive. Though options were slim and everyone had been waiting for a vaccination, these children could experience somewhat of a regular classroom experience. Within the nurturing walls of Breezemont, these children grew, experienced a once and a lifetime pandemic, and made friends with others they wouldn’t have met otherwise. 

Working amongst these children during this time was extremely valuable, personally. Seeing how the pandemic had affected people from ages 10 to 12 allowed me to step back and look at this pandemic from a different perspective. Most notably, I saw how their relationships developed with one another; most of them came into this program not knowing the other kids who were involved. Some had siblings, but others didn’t. Watching them adapt to their environment and create friendships with strangers was not only endearing to watch, but provided an escape from the daily dread that resulted from the  pandemic.

I remember when I was working with one of the children, it had been their first day, and it was scary. Being placed in an environment where you know no one can be intimidating, so being able to provide a sense of comfort to those kids made it all worthwhile.

As a community, Armonk came together and that type of unity is what got us through the pandemic. Without each other, who knows what would have happened.

Filed Under: Cover Stories Tagged With: Armonk, Breezemont, community, Coping with Covid, Johnny Cozza, Mask Up

The All Important Focus on Togetherness During the Holiday Season

November 29, 2021 by Alexa Troob

Gordon Josey, owner/director of Breezemont Day Camp in Armonk, NY, was asked to share parenting advice to guide us through the holidays. He focused on the social and emotional side of things and advised parents to make sure their kids “focus on togetherness and gratitude in addition to the material things”. After all, “like camp, the success of the holidays are the social interactions more than the material gifts- kindness, listening, understanding, and acceptance will make for a wonderful holiday for all of us,” said Gordon Josey. This includes taking the time to give to others by donating or volunteering. The all knowing camp director also emphasized the importance of active listening and remaining open to different points of view as we gather with our families throughout this holiday season. 
 

Filed Under: Health and Wellness with our Sponsors Tagged With: Breezemont, Camp Director, Day Camp, Gordon Josey, holiday season, togetherness

My Journey of Transition

February 18, 2021 by Marnie Levy-Smith

“This spring, make a promise to yourself to get outside, breathe in the fresh air, take a nice walk with someone you love–and make a list of your hopes and dreams.”
– Marnie Levy

Do you ever think about what your life really means? Do you observe your friends, neighbors, celebrities and people in the media and wonder what got them to where they are today? The truth is: we all have a story. Our stories are made up of the days and events of our lives and the interpretations of those memories. My story is quite simple. I grew up in Bayside, Queens as an only child. My parents divorced when I was six and I was raised primarily by my visually impaired mother and maternal grandmother. My father was in and out of my life as a child as he struggled with addiction, finally getting sober when I entered college. Despite the challenges, my optimism was a superpower from early on. I loved my friends, my extended family, my summer camp experiences, my teachers and on a whole, I enjoyed my childhood. I was content and I followed the path that was laid out for me to graduate high school, attend college, get a job, get married and have children. It wasn’t until I became an adult and tragedy struck my life that I realized I had been living by default.

When I was 36 years old, a suburban wife and the mother of a 7-year-old boy and 3-year-old girl, my entire world was turned upside down. I received a phone call that my husband had died and from that point on, nothing would ever be the same. When death is unexpected you do not grieve right away. For me, my initial reaction was to protect and shelter my children. I kept us busy and distracted all the while honoring and keeping Eric with us. My journey of transition from a former teacher turned stay at home mom turned widow happened in a flash. My next journey–to transition myself into a career woman who could financially, physically and mentally care for myself and my children–well, that took time and a lot of hard work. The rebirth and renewal that I experienced over the next few years was a choice. I chose to not let Eric’s passing define me or my children. I made a promise to my children and myself to live and love as best as I could despite our loss. 

Today, almost seven years after we lost Eric, I can proudly say that I have once again found love. I have a partner that loves my children like he is their biological father. Because of Mark, I have two intelligent and beautiful bonus children that my kids and I adore. For the last five years I have been a part of the Breezemont Day Camp Leadership team as one of the directors, and this year, I fulfilled my dream of becoming a certified life coach specializing in helping people get unstuck, feel less overwhelmed and deal with life transitions, as I did myself.

Life is full of twists and turns. I believe that the past is gone, the future is unknown, and the present is our gift. This spring, make a promise to yourself to get outside, breathe in the fresh air, take a nice walk with someone you love, and make a list of your hopes and dreams. The next step is to make small, achievable goals and ask for help when you want accountability and insight. Remember life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you deal with it. Every day you have the chance to take back control and create a life that you love. 

Happy Spring!

Marnie Levy and her family in Armonk

Marnie Levy’s Self Care Advice

Self care is a term that is used so often, but can also be a source of frustration and confusion. Friends have told me that to them, self care is merely brushing your teeth and combing your hair and they have questioned the reason why this seems to be such a buzzword. Others believe that true self care needs to cost an arm and a leg and will take too much time. The reality is that you can’t open a magazine or scroll through Instagram without hearing about self care. Everyone has an opinion about what to do to take more care of yourself. All of this can be overwhelming so human nature often tells us to just forget all about it.

The definition of self care from the Oxford dictionary is: The practice of taking action to preserve or improve one’s own health. The practice of taking an active role in protecting one’s own well-being and happiness, in particular during periods of stress.

If self care has ever felt unattainable, costly or time consuming, the good news is it doesn’t have to be any of those things. Here are four (and even no cost!) ways to take care of yourself which can make you happier, calmer and give you more energy. 

#1 SET HEALTHY BOUNADRIES

 Are you a yes person? If you have a hard time saying no, you might have a hard time with boundaries. Often times, the more we say yes to other people, commitments and responsibilities, the more we are saying no to ourselves. This can be especially hard when it comes to loved ones, friends and employers. The problem is when some of these asks drain you of time and energy you end up being exhausted and unfulfilled. The shift here can be to choose wisely. Take some time before you commit to others. Think things through and decide if your choice will serve you or hurt you. Some things are mandatory when it comes to work or family but make sure that what you are saying yes to can be accomplished in a fair and realistic time frame. Have patience and foresight to decide before you commit to others.

#2 YOU DO NOT HAVE TO DO IT ALONE

A key to taking care of yourself is understanding when you need help. For some people, asking for help is a sign of weakness or vulnerability so we avoid it. The problem with this is that it can lead to burnout, stressing out and failure. It is human to need support. I often say that life coaching is like having a personal trainer for your brain. Personal training is the same for your body. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness; it’s a sign of self preservation. Most of the time other people can give us a new perspective and motivation we might not gain on our own.

#3 TAKE A TECH BREAK

You might not realize how much time you spend on your devices. The endless scrolling on social media, electronic games, computers, television can consume most of your day. Have you ever figured out how many hours you spend in front of a screen? Are there other activities that you can do without a screen in front of your face? Constant screen time can negatively affect your eyes, your posture, your wrists and hands and your brain. Can you commit to less screen time? Perhaps first thing in the morning or before bed? Choosing other activities, like maybe getting some fresh air, can help us in many ways. This is especially important in the winter months when we are stuck inside.  Along with the calming effects of the outdoors on your body, you can also get natural vitamin D, physical movement and a better connection with nature.

#4 GET SOME REST

 Giving yourself the gift of sleep is the best thing that you can do to set yourself up for a good day ahead. When we sleep, our body has time to repair and recover. The easiest thing to do is think about the time you would realistically like to go to bed and the time you end up turning in and find a middle ground. Slowly create a sleep routine that will help your mind and body prepare for a restful night. Getting a good night sleep can have great benefits for your life.

Hopefully the self care strategies in this article can help you to begin caring for your mind, body and soul. There is no better time to start than now. – Marnie Levy

Filed Under: Cover Stories Tagged With: Breezemont, journey, Life Coach, Marnie Levy, Self Care

Oct. 29: Open House for Breezemont Day Camp in Armonk

October 21, 2016 by Inside Press

A HALLOWEEN-THEMED EXTRAVAGANZA Planned!

Saturday October 29th from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Breezemont Day Camp (located in Armonk on the Greenwich/Armonk border) will be hosting its annual Fall Open House! A Halloween themed extravaganza, there will be a haunted house, hay rides, pumpkin and face painting and much more.  First time families are welcomed to attend! Snacks will be provided. This is a great way to see our beautiful 18-acre facility only minutes from Greenwich. During our eight-week summer program, we provide door to door transportation throughout Greenwich. To learn more about Breezemont please visit www.BreezemontDayCamp.com, email Matt@Breezemont.com or call 914-367-1936.breezemon-16open-house

Filed Under: Sponsor News! Tagged With: Armonk, Breezemont, Breezemont Day Camp, Open House

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