The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Summer Camp

Creating the Bethany Arts Community

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It’s all about “Community” for David Lyons, Executive Director and Founder of the Bethany Arts Community (BAC) in Ossining and he’s quick to correct anyone who calls “Bethany” an arts center.

“In 2015 I was introduced to the property with a vision of creating an art community. And when I say community, that umbrella is very large. We have 44,000 square feet on 25 acres to work with from performance art, gallery exhibitions to children’s camp and many things in between,” says Lyons who grew up in Westchester and lives in Sleepy Hollow. Maryknoll Foreign Mission Sisters of St. Dominic, who originally owned the property referred to it as the Bethany Rest House. For Lyons, “Bethany,” as he affectionately refers to BAC, is a canvas.

Inspired by Salem Artworks in Salem, New York, Lyons wanted to create a community of artists that not only interacts with each other but with the community as a whole, locally and globally. BAC is a place where all levels of artists can gather to help each other and each other’s art flourish, and to enrich the creative process.

BAC has been up and running since January 2018. Lyons says what makes BAC special is that they were able to take all the individual arts and bring them under one roof: theatre, gallery space, theatre space workshop and children’s theatre. They host Theater O quite often.  “We love working with them,” says Lyons. “We’ve expanded everything we’ve done two fold since last year. We ran after school workshops and work closely with Ossining School District.”

BAC has offered workshops in drawing, painting, mosaics, jewelry making and art history classes and hosted such talent as the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company, a prominent modern dance presence on New York City and global stages. Their summer camp programs were expanded by two additional weeks this year and BAC was able to offer 11 inner city children full summer camp scholarships.

In September, BAC launched their first signature residency program, a juried selection including 24 lead artists in residency.  There were 56 artists and collaborators onsite at BAC over six weeks.  The residency program is designed to attract artists at different stages of their careers from around the world.  “And there is always a community giveback—a performance, a reading, a demonstration,” says Lyons. “It is an important part and we weigh it heavily.” During their time on site, these artists will develop new works while engaging with local artists and the whole community. BAC attracted artists in residence from around the world–as far as Thailand–as well as hyper local. They received an Arts Westchester Grant to support the residency program

This fall they will host the Hudson River Potters Fall Showcase from November 8-10, have an exhibit in the gallery. They also plan to hold a Winter Solstice Concert.

One idea on Lyon’s plate: A “Seed to Belly” culinary education. “Everyone eats! I want the community to share a meal.” The property has a half-mile trail, replanted orchard, and hives.

A short-term goal is to solidify and shore up the foundations. BAC won a NYSCA grant for infrastructure and they are in the middle of that now. Lyons wants to take what they have and expand it. “Community to me is the world, we started in the local community, the Village of Ossining. We hope to expand to Briarcliff, to Chappaqua, Mount Kisco in a much broader sense, so our community will grow.”

While not an artist himself, Lyons passion for the arts is evident. “A lifetime of things got me started. My grandfather was a patron of the arts. Artists have always been very important to me for different reasons. Ultimately, the core of this and everything I do is for children.”

Lyons is optimistic about the future. “The scope in which we are able to offer in one place makes us unique. We had listening sessions. I said, ‘this is my vision, what do you need? There is plenty of art, plenty of artists and not enough space’.”

He wants to enhance the mission statement and their aim is to inspire sharing, connection and collaboration in a culture designed for the benefit of the local community and beyond. “We’re here, we’ve been growing organically, gaining notice in the world. My feeling is what can’t we do?”

Bethany Arts Community is holding its second annual fundraiser “ART IS COMMUNITY” on November 15 at 7 p.m.  Supporters will enjoy an evening of cocktails, food, performance, exhibit, silent auction and more.

For tickets go to bethanyarts.org/calendar/artiscommunity/.

Bethany Arts Community is located at 40 Somerstown Road, Ossining, NY.

For more information go to bethanyarts.org

Photos courtesy of the Bethany Arts Community

Camp Fairs, Camp Open Houses, Camp Consultants: Making Sense of it All

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By Heather Skolnick

Spring has sprung but for those who have not finalized camp selections for their children, now is the time. The camp selection process can be an arduous one. As a mom who recently enrolled her two youngest in their first real camp experience, I know first-hand how daunting this can be. Fortunately, our community has many ways to help parents navigate the complexity of camp selection. But how is one to know what a successful interaction between prospective camps and families looks like?

Photo Courtesy/Harvey Cavalier Camp
Photo Courtesy of Harvey Cavalier Camp

One popular option is to attend a camp fair. These fairs are a way for families to get exposed to multiple camps in one fell swoop. They also provide the ability to associate a face with the camp experience and speak in person with the directors of the facility. For camp directors, this type of interaction with families allows them to explain the points of differentiation of their camp.

Photos Courtesy/Breezemont Day Camp
Photo Courtesy of Breezemont Day Camp

Westchester Family hosts a couple local camp fairs, which have a great representation of our local camps. Editor Jean Sheff says, “A successful camp fair is one where parents and camp representatives get to interact in a meaningful way. Parents are looking to match their family’s needs with the right camp, and camps are looking for new campers. It’s a real win-win when the match is made.”

Westchester Parent hosts a similar camp fair; this year was their 34th annual event. Jacqueline Lachman, head of marketing, said “Our goal is to expose parents to a wide variety of camps and summer activities, so they can get a lot done in one place in a few hours. Additionally, we want to be sure that parents are able to see that all of their questions are answered and the kids have a little fun. There is often a mix of parents who are embarking on this decision for the first time, some returning for new options and those looking to make a change to accommodate each child during various life stages. We try to have each group represented. Camp fairs are best when there’s a mix of local day camp opportunities.” She added, “It also helps to have some sleepaway camps on-site, to let parents explore that option without having to drive all over the place, and maybe decide it is time to switch.”

The Camp Connection is another resource with Susan Pecker as the local expert. Pecker is an experienced camp consultant who covers camps across Westchester, Rockland, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. She can help ensure campers are well matched with camps. Pecker says that a good visit with the camp or camp director is critical. When working with Pecker, both parties already know about each other and what they are looking for so they have a solid starting point. She feels it’s important for the camp director and camper to have face-to-face interaction so that they can each determine if they are a match for each other. Pecker recommends looking at each camp individually. She finds that it may be difficult to have meaningful dialogue between prospective families and camps at large camp fairs. Pecker added, “Going to visit a camp is a great idea but going to see a camp this time of year doesn’t give a great representation of what it’s like. Go to see a camp when it’s active and in session–that is the best way to evaluate it.” Some parents may choose to visit a camp’s open house, allowing them and their children a chance to see first-hand what the camp has to offer.

“Some camps might think an open house is about bells and whistles, about putting on some awesome display to entice prospective families,” said Chris Del Campo, director of communications at Harvey Cavalier Camp. “But my 20-plus years as a camp director has shown me that moms and dads (and grandmas, too) want to meet face-to-face with the people who will be caring for their child in a safe and nurturing environment where kids will have fun doing the things they enjoy.”

“Open houses are a great way to bring prospective families to your camp to experience what makes your camp so special,” explained Matt Pritikin, the Associate Director of Breezemont Day Camp in Armonk. “In the few hours parents and kids spend at our camp, our goal is to maximize the number of things they see and do, culminating in a unique experience shared together.”

In speaking with parents, what constitutes a successful interaction between them and their children and prospective camps varies. Local mom Amanda Goldberg is already looking into camp for the summer of 2017. Her family will be attending an informational session for a specific summer program and will speak with camp directors at that time. “The three of us will have an opportunity to ask questions of the directors,” she said. “While my son has watched all of the promotional videos for the camp program, he has some very specific questions that cannot be answered from a video. It would be our son’s first time away from home and it is also important to meet the people who will be caring for him for six weeks.”

Learning about various summer programs can be accomplished many different ways. Each approach offers something different and it is important to recognize what a successful interaction entails. Ultimately, what’s important is that parents, children and camp directors leave with a clear indicator of whether or not that camp is a good fit for the child.

Heather Skolnick and her husband and three kids are New Castle residents. Heather works for Macys on their Omnichannel Process and Systems team. She often reminisces fondly about her fun-filled summers at camp.

Harvey Cavalier Summer Camp OPEN HOUSE: Sat., Feb. 6

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pool time harvey

The Harvey Cavalier Summer Camp will hold its next off season open house, Saturday, Feb. 6, at The Harvey School, 260 Jay Street, Katonah, NY from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The 125-acre camp, which features arts, crafts, theater, dance, gymnastics, swimming, sports and ice skating, is a limited enrollment program for children entering Pre-K through ninth grade in September 2016.

The 2016 summer session begins Tuesday, July 5, and runs through Friday, Aug.12. For more information, parents should call (914) 232-0581 or visit: www. harveycavaliercamp.org

Should the event need to be postponed due to bad weather, the open house would be held Feb. 20.

Harvey Cavalier is a private, nonprofit camp for children who live in the counties of Westchester, Putnam and Fairfield, Conn.
Camp Pool image

When my Kids Said “No” to Camp

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Anna and Ari Bennett
Anna and Ari Bennett

Ok, we all know that family. They are the ones scratching their heads about how to fill the hours and hours of “free time” for their kids this summer because their children had too much anxiety about camp, and mom and/or dad caved, thinking “well, I don’t think you should force a child to go.”

I know that family because it was my own. For whatever reason, my kids were never particularly “easy” about camp. Yes, some summers I did manage to get one or both off (when it was both, it felt like a total coup!), and like other parents in town, I gleefully looked forward to and indeed enjoyed more lazy “responsibility free” summer hours at the pool club after a few hours of work, or no work at all.

Ah, yes, the Chappaqua life for me. After expending a respectable amount of stay- at-home (and work too) energy all through the school year, it was a charmed July and August the moment that camp bus pulled up. A leisurely walk with a friend through the North County trail or into the woods at Whipporwill. A tennis game at Club Fit. Or, perhaps, a glorious jaunt to the city on Metro North to catch up with the Met or MOMA. Mom goof off ops galore! They were all the more “doable” those long summer days pre “pick up” from day camp, or on the couple times, we got them off to sleepaway camp too. I never felt any guilt about parting ways, knowing after all that we were paying a pretty penny for our kids’ daily entertainment via time spent with such enthusiastic , energetic hands (all those cute counselors! another dynamic, charming camp director!) and peers with whom they shared a host of activities. Visiting day was something I always genuinely looked forward to.

And yet, as “great a summer” as the kids appeared to sometimes have, late fall/winter would roll around, time to plan, and at different junctures, some version of an “I’m not going to camp” chorus would kick in. At one camp, I did determine that there were social issues that had caused considerable stress for one child, and I could feel my whole body reeling and later empathizing with my child’s disappointment and determination to avoid that all over again. Perhaps my own ambivalence was noted and capitalized on because the anti-camp campaigns could sometimes get pretty intense.   (Sorry kids, you are young adults now, and I get to spill…just a little!)

I would like to add too, that while getting your kid to camp is a most noble goal, and creates wonderful experiences and memories, it’s also not the end of the world either if it doesn’t work out. Despite “all the free time,” we did have some great out of the box times together and those are the stuff of memories too. It just seemed a little hard at times at least till we got in some summer groove.

So it was with all this in mind that I thought a writer might check in with other parents who had similar experiences along with some expert resources in the area about any resistance to camp, whether you wish to call it separation anxiety or just plain old fear. Not surprisingly, it turned out to be a pretty touchy topic…as parents did not beat down the writer’s door to share stories about difficulties getting their kids to camp, or to agree to camp at all. But the author (Eileen Gallagher) did gather some solid advice, checking in with many of our expert camp sponsors for additional commentary. We hope you find it helpful, and perhaps on social media when we post this story, you too will begin to spill freely about your own child’s anti camp sentiments and what you ultimately did about it. Stranger things have happened.

In the meantime, here’s to a happy summer for your own children…wishing you the peace you deserve, and your children, in camp or not, the time of their lives.

Grace Bennett is publisher and editor of The Inside Press, Inc.

Getting YOU and Your Child Excited for Camp

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Harvey Cavalier Camp
Harvey Cavalier Camp

Despite the lingering snow, summer is not far away. As days get longer and temperatures climb, the time will come for children of all ages to embark upon the exciting adventure of heading off to summer camp.

Thinking about a day camp experience for your child, but concerned about separation anxiety? Worrying about how your son or daughter will adjust to a new setting? You are not alone. This practical and straightforward advice from day camp experts will ease your mind and help you both make a smooth transition.

World Cup Nursery School & Kindergarten
World Cup Nursery School & Kindergarten

Ruth Goodman, a social worker at Mount Kisco Child Care Center, assures parents that separation anxiety tends to be short lived. “Summer camp is often longer than a school day,” she reminds parents. “Camp counselors should expect such a reaction, and should welcome the camper with warmth and a song or other opening activity to assist the parent in saying a quick and confident goodbye.”

“Parents worry because kids worry,” states Gina Zohar, director of the “Little Cavs” program at the Harvey School. “Go over the schedule the day before. Let them know what to expect for lunch. Who will be picking them up that day? Let them know.”

Mohawk Day Camp
Mohawk Day Camp

The director of World Cup Nursery School and Kindergarten, Roxanne Kaplan, mentioned that children are very perceptive, and will pick up on the fact that a parent is worried. “As parents, it is important to keep your emotions in check. I know that it is often easier said than done, but when you are feeling worried, try to remember all the reasons why you chose the camp.”

“Even if you are nervous as a parent, do your best to show your child how confident you are that he or she will have a great experience at camp,” advises Gordon Josey, owner and director of Breezemont Day Camp. Parents should address issues they might be worried about with the camp to alleviate their concerns, but at a time the child is not around.

Breezemont Day Camp
Breezemont Day Camp

Zohar tells parents they have 24/7 access to her. As a parent, teacher, and camp director, she understands the situation from all points of view and stresses the importance of communicating. “I love what I do, and love talking with parents and grandparents. [Camp] is a big deal. We want them to love it!”

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Other tips:

  • Visit the camp ahead of time to have a sense of what your child should expect.
  • Give your child a photo or comfort item to hold onto during the day.
  • Keep goodbyes “short and sweet,” and less painful.
  • Go over the schedule the day before. For example, will there be art, skating, swimming, etc.
  • Check in with the camp during the day if you have concerns about your child’s adjustment.
  • Empathize with your child, listening to their concerns, but redirect them to the positive aspects of the camp.

Finally, take heart. In Kaplan’s experience, “Ninety nine percent of the time, when you call to check in on your camper, you will find out that the tears were very short lived.”

Eileen Gallagher is a regular contributor to both the print and online editions of The Inside Press (www.theinsidepress.com). Her children attended summer day camps and enjoyed them so much, they went on to become counselors.

PUBLISHER’S Note: A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO ALL OUR CAMP SPONSORS FOR THEIR EXPERT ADVICE IN THIS FEATURE.