fair

3rd Annual Spring Festival Fundraiser Plans at Church of St. John & St. Mary, June 1-3

May 30, 2018 by Inside Press

Chappaqua, NY— Starting this Friday night and lasting through Sunday, June 1-3, the Church of Saint John and Saint Mary at 15 St Johns Place, will be holding their third annual Spring Festival Fundraiser. This family fun occasion offers a wide variety of activities for all ages, including 10 carnival games (with prizes), three huge inflatable rides, favorite ‘New York City eats and treats’ such as fried Oreos and funnel cakes, a beer/wine garden, music and more. Everybody is welcome and admission is free, providing a great opportunity to meet your neighbors, have fun and support a great cause.

All money raised from the event goes towards the church and helps fund their many community outreach programs, which assist those in need and makes Chappaqua a better place for all of its residents. As Fortune Aurora, organizer of the event, states: “Fundraising and helping the community go hand in hand, they’re equally important.” Many, many volunteers are donating their time to help the cause and make this sizable event run smoothly, rain or shine.

The hours of the event are as follows: Friday 6-10 p.m. Saturday 2-10 p.m. and Sunday 1-6 p.m. Two professional bands will be playing the fundraiser, “The 495’s” from 7 to 8:30 p.m on Friday, and the “Station Agents” from 7 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, as well as a local band made up of middle schoolers called “Alien Paradox” from 2 to 2:30 on Sunday. At the end of the day, “Seeing everybody have fun makes it worthwhile,” states Aurora, so if you’re looking for something to do this weekend take a stop at the Spring Festival! — Derek Rosen

Family Fun Plans for Armonk Lion’s Club Fol-de-Rol and Country Fair

May 27, 2018 by Inside Press

Feeling nostalgic for the good old days? Come to the 44th annual Armonk Lion’s Club Fol-de-Rol and Country Fair, June 7-10, and give your family an experience to remember! Enjoy a pie eating contest, face painting, pig races, carnival rides and midway games! Visit food and craft vendors and check out musical entertainment. The fair is held in Wampus Brook Park, Armonk and starts Thursday night, June 7^th with a DJ, rides and food from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Rides continue Friday night from 6 pm to 10 pm. On the weekend, there will be craft vendors in addition to rides, live music and lots of other entertainment for the whole family.

The Armonk Lions Club is a volunteer service organization that runs the fair as its only fundraiser. All money raised is used to support local community organizations and projects, and to help people in need by donating to organizations like Guiding Eyes for the Blind and Meals on Wheels. The club also sponsors a scholarship for two deserving seniors from Byram Hills High School. This year we are also sponsoring Puppies Behind Bars, training service dogs as companions for returning US Veterans.

Admission is free! Tickets or a bracelet are sold for the rides. We also sell raffle tickets to support our service work, with prizes of cash, a TV, sports tickets, etc. Raffles may be purchased through our website or in person at the fair.

Come for the food, come for the fun and come to support the Armonk Lions Club. Hours are 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., June 7^th and June 8^th; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. June 9^th (rides open at Noon), and Noon to 5 p.m. on June 10^th. The Fol de Rol is located in Wampus Brook Park, at Maple Avenue and Bedford Road in Armonk, NY. Visit ww.armonklions.org or go the Armonk Lions Fol de Rol and crafts festival facebook page for more information.

2018 Westchester & Putnam – 600 Student Science Fair (WESEF)

March 9, 2018 by The Inside Press

SCIENCE RESEARCH (STEM) PROJECTS OF MORE THAN 600 WESTCHESTER AND PUTNAM HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS SHOWCASED AT REGENERON WESEF SCIENCE & ENGINEERING FAIR

Saturday, March 17, 2018 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Sleepy Hollow High School (inside the gymnasium)

More than 600 students from 40 Westchester and Putnam county high schools will showcase their multi-year science research projects in a competitive venue at the 18Annual Regeneron – Westchester Science and Engineering Fair (WESEF) at Sleepy Hollow High School.

Participants, mostly seniors and juniors involved in their high school Science Research programs, will showcase individual and team poster presentations, which will be judged by local experts in the fields of life science, physical science, environmental studies, psychology and engineering.

Fifteen top projects will win spots at the International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF), which is largest, international science fair in the world). ISEF will be held this May in Pittsburgh and will bring together more than 1,700 science fair winners from over 70 countries.

Nine additional projects will win a spot at the International Genius Olympiad where more than 500 students from over 60 countries whose projects have focused on sustainability in the areas of energy, environment, engineering and global health.

Sleepy Hollow High School, gymnasium: 210 North Broadway, Sleepy Hollow, NY

The Regeneron – Westchester Science and Engineering Fair, is made possible by the generous contributions of local corporations including Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Acorda Therapeutics, Entergy & Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation. Additional sponsors include IBM, Westchester Academy of Medicine, Carl Zeiss Microscopy, College Admission Central, Momentive Performance Materials and others. In total, the sponsors have donated over $140,000 for this year’s event, enabling WESEF to award nearly 60 percent of all students with some form of recognition.

For more information and schedules, visit www.wesef.org.

After the Camp Fair too… A Vital Check List!

March 8, 2018 by Shauna Levy

Despite the low temperatures, many parents’ minds are on the summer months that lay beyond the snow. Much consideration goes into the camp selection process. As the American Camp Association notes, “camp presents a tremendous opportunity for your child to widen horizons, make new and lasting friends, and discover new strengths.” But, with all the options ranging from day camps to sleep away camps in addition to specialties such as dance, art and sports, pinpointing the right one can be downright daunting.

The Li Family of Greenwich checks out various camp options at a recent camp fair
PHOTO BY ROBERT FLEISHER

Local camp fairs feature an array of highly curated prospects that parents can become acquainted with in just one afternoon. Since many attend these events with a laundry list of questions and children in tow, arriving with a strategy is instrumental to reaping the benefits.

Why A Camp Fair?

There is a plethora of information about each camp online and in glossy brochures, but camp fairs give parents the unique occasion to meet the individuals who set the tone of a camp in person. Tables are typically manned by two representatives including the camp director or high ranking camp personnel. “Many camps offer similar activities and amenities, but it is the director and staff who infuse their distinct philosophy into the program that sets them apart,” according to Renee Flax, director of camper placement at the American Camp Association of NY and NJ. “These face-to-face opportunities give families the chance to see if there is a true connection between them and a camp,” she says.

Jean Sheff, editor and co-publisher of Westchester Family, says, “This is your chance to read between the lines and get to know a camp’s nuances.” Sheff knows more than a thing or two about the topic as the publication recently hosted two “Westchester Family Camp Fairs” in both southern and northern Westchester. She enthusiastically describes the events as “not massive, noisy functions, but intimate, personal gatherings of approximately 30 thoroughly vetted camps.”

“Camp fairs are ideal for those who are truly starting from scratch,” according to Flax. “These events offer a wide array of camps spanning all philosophies and price ranges.” For all of those multi-tasking loving parents, Sheff also points out that camp fairs offer efficiencies, for example “visiting with a sleep away camp for one child and a day camp for another.”

Not all camp fairs, however, are created equally. Flax recommends looking at the list of camps that will be exhibiting and advises “if the programs do not stand out to you, don’t waste your time!” An added benefit of these events is that they are often attended by impartial experts in the camp arena such as representatives from the American Camp Association or the organization hosting the event. Therefore, it’s important to identify who the organizer is and whether they are legitimate and responsive. Sheff counsels, “Camp fairs should be free to the public as the camps pay to attend. Any fair charging an admission fee is a red flag!”

Set yourself up for success. Attend a camp fair on a convenient day that’s close to home, particularly if you are visiting with day camps as they tend to promote at local events. Consider whether it makes sense to bring your children as some may be bored or present as distractions, while others enjoy the fun activities exhibitors offer. For older children especially, it presents a chance to be involved in the decision making process and get them excited for what the summer has in store. “The beauty of a camp fair,” Renee explains, “is that it can be eye-opening to see what excites your child. Their enthusiasm can be instrumental in guiding your final selection.”

Mission Possible

“Investing a little bit of time to narrow your options in advance can be so helpful,” Flax points out, saying, “Identify factors important to your family. Don’t simply think of your children as they exist today, but look at camps that could work for them in the long-term.” Sheff adds to that, “Know what you are looking for, know your family, know your child. There are camps for everyone.” She advises against, “becoming dazzled by a camp’s vast offerings if they are not right for your child.”

Visit the camp fair website in advance and familiarize yourself with the exhibitors if the information is available. Assess your family’s needs and narrow down the options by identifying some of these differentiating factors:

ages the camp serves
day camp vs. overnight camp
availability/location of busing
session camps vs. full summer camps
availability of early hours/aftercare
food offerings, i.e., allergies
indoor vs. outdoor focused programming
special needs services

Seek a map of the event space upon your arrival to locate the camps you found appealing. Flax warns against roaming aimlessly and highly recommends arriving with time to spare before the event closes. Additionally, be patient if the camp representatives are engaged for a short time upon your arrival.

What Matters Most

Prepare your questions in advance and bring a notebook. “It’s not about the right number of questions, but more importantly, the specific issues that are your family’s top priorities,” says Sheff. Curate your questions using the sample list below. Good questions will result in a strong sense of the camp’s culture and enable you to learn which simply do not work for your family.

1. Does a camp provide your child with your definition of safety, i.e., lifeguards, supervision, during field trips, etc.?

2. What does the camp strive to achieve, i.e., what’s considered a successful summer?

3. What activities does the camp focus on, i.e., frequency of swimming program, etc.

4. How is staff selected and trained?

5. What is the counselor-to-camper ratio and is it higher for younger campers?

6. What is the staff retention rate?

7. How are disciplinary problems handled?

8. How do you deal with child specific issues including homesickness, bedwetting, food allergies?

9. Do you offer busing and if so, who provides the service, where does it pick your child up and who is monitoring the children?

10. What do the children do on rainy days?

For overnight camps, how is bunk placement determined and how do they incorporate new children into existing bunks?

Follow-Up

While undeniably informative, camp fairs can result in information overload. Review your notes, taking into account the intrinsic connection you may have had with camp personnel. Following this exercise, one to three camps should emerge. Contact those camps to schedule off-season tours and use that opportunity to meet with the director and ask any questions you didn’t ask during the fair. Flax recommends requesting references from parents who have children in the same group that your child would be placed in to get an insider’s perspective on the camp experience.

Once you make your selection, feel confident that you have truly done your research and prepare your children for a wonderful experience. Flax provides peace of mind, asserting, “People who do their homework thoroughly and make a decision based on their family’s needs don’t tend to make mistakes.”