176 Summer

Everyone has a story to tell. Our stories were well illustrated on the stage and in our booths at the 2019 Summer Culminating Event. Our staff and students epitomized aspiring authors, as they wrote their detailed tales of the Summer, showing parents and spectators what the hype was all about. Masterful performances by Dance, Music, Step, Cheerleading, Chorus and ELA grabbed the attention of all attendees, hardly ever allowing them opportunity to lose focus.

Thank you to our amazing Activity Specialists who worked tirelessly to transform the Gym into a museum of summer projects and memories. Each booth was successful in drawing the attention of students and parents, promoting interactivity. Both non-performaning and and performing Clubs and Academic Segments were well represented. They include Art, Computer Science, Dance, Engineering, Home Economics, Music, Sports, Step/Cheerleading, ELA, Math, Middle School Leadership and Science. Staff members and parents also had the opportunity to meet, and discuss the progress and growth their children made over the Summer.

This Summer Math students (grades 1-5) participated in a segment called "Math Is Life". This segment consisted of reinforcement of basic skills acquired in the previous grade, as well as preparation for what students would be learning in the next grade. This was achieved by working in "reinforcement groups", completing worksheets, playing interactive trivia games, and participating in all sorts of other fun math activities. Our Math instructors worked extremely hard at making this learning experience as fun and engaging as possible; by including base ten blocks, cubes, handballs, and ice breakers students were able to enjoy solving Math problems. Additionally, students were introduced to a Mathematical Reward System that helped them improve their financial skills. To motivate students to participate and be eager to learn more, they were rewarded with fake money for participation and good behavior. At the end of each week, students were allowed to purchase items such as cookies, candies and toys with the fake money. What a fun way to strengthen your money skills! Towards the end of the Summer, parents had the opportunity to view the wonderful work their children completed during the Summer, at the Culminating Event.

The ELA segment focused on Essay Structure, and Poetry. Students worked together in separate groups to create their own College or University, while also learning about different types of Colleges (HBCUS, Community Colleges, Ivy League’s, and Private Institutions). For grades 2-5, this project consisted of creating and typing up a Constitution for their school and a list of Bylaws- allowing students to refine their grammar. In addition to honing their writing skills, students were able to create a school anthem, flag, and university promo video. In these promo videos, students showcased the benefits of attending their university and their popular academic/extracurricular programs (enhancing their public speaking skills).

First graders worked on their reading and writing skills by learning about Poetry Structure and Literary Devices. Using repetition, imagery, similes, metaphors and personification- students created their own Poems in groups and performed them for the Culminating Event.

The Science Segment was called, "The Ring of Fire". The main focus of this segment was Earth Science and Chemistry; students were able to learn about volcanoes and chemical reactions. In an effort to give students a better understanding of Earth Science and Chemistry, students had the opportunity to learn: the different branches of earth science, layers of the earth (crust/ mantle/ core), how volcanoes were formed, types of volcanoes, volcanic eruptions (magma/lava/gases), and so much more. With the new acquired information and careful supervision, participants were able to create an exciting project (showcased at the culminating event) while listening to some soothing age-appropriate music. Using computers, cardboard boxes, play dough, soda bottles, newspaper, paint and more- students recreated the "ring of fire" which is a chain of active volcanoes that spans from Australia to South America. Each child played a significant role in the project- whether it was calculating distance or drawing and coloring in weekly projects, everyone's contribution was significant and greatly valued. We hope everyone saw the erupting chain of volcanoes this Summer.They were truly impressive!

The Middle School Segment offered Campers an opportunity to reinforce their learning during the school year and hone softer skills as they explored the Counselor in Training Segment. The curriculum included:

ELA-Writing, Writing, Writing to promote creative writing. Journal entries were written daily by students for practice and shared to enhance their presentation skills. Students also read “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe, watched the movie “Bridge To Terabithia” and ended the creative segment by writing a creative piece and typing it leveraging MLA format. The Segment topped off with a visit to the Museum of Illusions to learn more about depictions as the goal for our creative writing segment was to help students see there are multiple ways of looking at things.

Math-Centered around a Digital Marketing students developed their own business product along with pricing and marketing. This was a segue way to their Bakery business debut at the CYCSI 2019 Summer Market Day. Students in groups developed a business name, marketing, pricing, acquired cakes and pastries and supported a thriving business on Market Day.

Counselor In Training-Emphasis was placed on the value of leading a healthy lifestyle and key concepts such as communication styles and team work were introduced to the students. Campers watched the documentary “Super Size Me” and completed a goal-strip with a commitment to achieve a health-related goal by the end of summer. Next, students explored a session on neuroscience to understand the physical impact of living a healthy lifestyle (i.e. how it impacts our brains).

Campers also role played to define aggressive, passive and assertive Communication Styles and the importance of clearly defined goals, quality outcomes for good Teamwork Dynamics/Communication. This segment ended with teams creating a Lesson Plan targeting the younger grades and a video of them discussing their Plan was made for presentation in the 2019 Summer Culminating-Event.

This summer, Computer Science collaborated with Engineering Club on a project that drew the attention of parents and student alike. Robotics, a segment re-introduced to the program, was welcomed by students eager to bolster their STEM skills. Ms. Christele, our Engineering Club instructor, was responsible for hardware components of the project. She ensured students understood the robotics concepts, including the parts it needs to function. After successfully constructing the robots with assistance from supporting staff, they proceeded to the next phase of the project. Mr. Darrien, the Computer Science instructor, led the students in coding the robots to make them move and interact. Using logic, they accurately applied coding techniques to program robots to follow complex patterns and instructions. Overall, the students enjoyed working in a team setting, assembling and programming the robots to their hearts’ content. Their hard work was recognized in the end, where at the Culminating Event their parents and visitors were able to make use of the remote control which was programmed by students, to navigate the robot through a maze.

CYCSI Summer Camp returned to Adventureland, with the hopes of recreating the laughter, joy and thrill we've experienced over the last few years. We were undoubtedly successful, as each student enjoyed their out of school experience with an assortment of amazing games and rides. Staff members looked on watching yellow shirts zip through the sky, while the screams that resonated across the park, echoed through our ears. By splitting up into groups, every student was able to enjoy as many rides possible, with the time provided, while also staying close to the friends they wanted to share their experiences with. Before we knew it, the clock ticked and it was time to head back to the buses. As we made our way back to the school, students reunited with their peers and recapped on the adventure they had experienced-ending another day of summer fun.

Our first ever trip to Lego Land was one to remember. Our students and staff surveyed detailed structures made up entirely of Lego bricks. Each building, tall or short, was fascinating to say the least, and were remarkable models. With so much to see, the students' gaze hardly digressed as they watched various models come to life. Many of the models moved and had lights which made it more appealing for our students. They also received an opportunity to build Lego structures with their friends using colorful Lego bricks, permitting them to custom design anything their heart desired. Students also used up plenty of energy running around in the play area with other kids. The Lego ride was one of the most notable experiences for them, where they were able to witness more Lego spectacles throughout. Before departing, they watched a 4-D movie about the Lego Legends of Chima, in which they enjoyed the interactivity. Overall, the experience was wonderful, and was most certainly a first for most of the students.

Laser Bounce was another fun, featured trip this year. This was our second trip to Laser Bounce for the year, as we visited during our Spring Break Program. Since it was a favorite for everyone, it only made sense to return. Students were able to run and play arcade games with their friends. Most students were selective in their game choice. They picked games which allowed them a larger number of tickets to redeem for coveted prizes. Playing arcade games wasn't the only fun they had, as they spent ample time in the play area. With plenty of tunnels and slides, everyone had enough space to enjoy themselves without bumping heads.

Welcome to CYCSI! The staff and students spent the first day of camp saying "Aloha" at our first ever Luau Party introduced and coordinated by Mrs. Brandie Austin, our Site Supervisor. The students received an opportunity to meet and greet the staff, and make new friends with whom they might spend the summer. Music provided, we played the hottest Summer Songs that had the students dancing until they couldn't dance anymore. Everyone was provided with pizza and beverages, and took pictures with Hawaiian themed props. By the end of the camp day, the students had embraced the atmosphere of our program, and began looking forward to a Summer bound with plenty more fun activities to come.

Park Day was our first fun Friday activity, where students had the opportunity to enjoy the hot weather and bathe in the sun. We spent the majority of the day managing the students while they played outside, before bringing them inside to cool down and relax. Although there were many ideas- we couldn't find a more suitable method of cooling down, than to enjoy the sweet, frozen taste of a special delicious treat. Students were able to practice money management skills by purchasing ice cream. They enjoyed a choice of vanilla, strawberry or chocolate ice cream, and had the option of adding an assortment of intriguing toppings. The toppings consisted of gummy bears, fresh fruit, cereal, M&Ms, sprinkles, Nerds, and marshmallows. Sounds good, doesn't it? Students paid a dollar for two scoops of ice cream without toppings, and paid an additional 50 cents for three toppings. After eating their ice cream, students were able to burn off the additional calories by participating in a Dance Party until it was time to say goodbye for the day.

Our annual Movie Day was a blockbuster hit once again, with the premiere of two hit movies at CYCSI. The students had an opportunity to embark on a web-slinging adventure in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, or discover a mysterious, hidden world in The Secret Life of Pets. The tough decisions didn't cease there however, as they had to pick from a variety of snacks and drinks. All items were a dollar, including hot dogs, popcorn, snacks and juices, but received the best bargain when they bought the package of a popcorn, snack and drink for two dollars. Everyone settled in their theaters, and prepared for showtime to begin. Lights dimmed and they began to enjoy their food while watching their movie choice.

Game Day, hosted by the Computer Science and Technology Club, was a success as students gathered to engage in healthy competition and fun gaming sessions. They had the option of playing a variety of video games, many staff members generously donated the use of their own consoles, or board games. Students were permitted to bring their own items and games, which gave them an opportunity to show off their flashy devices and adeptness in games they were familiar with. Admission into the Video Game Room required a Video Game Review of a game they've played or heard about. The three Video Game Rooms consisted of multiple devices, PS4s, an XBOX ONE, and laptops and students played and competed in video games such as NBA 2K19, Madden NFL 19, and more. Additional rooms were used for old school board and card games, such as Snakes and Ladders, Checkers, UNO, and Jenga. Everyone was able to enjoy their gaming sessions, both before and after snack time. During snack time, we celebrated Mrs. McKay's birthday, wished her a special Happy Birthday and thanked her for many years of service.

This Summer we initiated a workshop series that reflected the growing and developmental nature of our organization. Our Mini Conference gave students insight into the many growing fields and provided them with life skills. Lego Engineering Project, Hip-Hop Production, Drone-flying, Cooking, and Art was provided by a different staff member, and consisted of instructional time followed by an engaging activity. The students also coordinated outfits with their friends to "twin" and take photos. All students were very creative with their outfits and poses, and made perfect models for the photo session. Our staff acted as participants and "twinned" with our students.

This year we made our return to our neighboring park, Laurelton West Playground, to spend the day running, jumping and playing under the sun. Upon arrival, the students picked their spots in the park to station their belongings and prepared for lunch. Subsequently, the students proceeded to use all of the space around them to engage in fun activities fully utilizing their ability to make fun out of anything or anywhere they go. They were given the opportunity to participate in water activities, allowing them to run through the sprinklers, hurl water balloons and soak each other with water squirters. When the water war was over, the students returned to the open field to enjoy refreshments and play a few more games. When it was all said and done, we could tell the students wished Field Day was everyday.

Our students had the opportunity to become consumers on Market Day, as we promoted the concept of consumerism and strategic spending at a young age. They had a variety of items such as toys, books, accessories, food and juice from which to choose. We thank all the parents who donated items. The children very much appreciated their generosity. After shoppng, they were able to watch their peers' performances they practiced all Summer. Such performances included Dance, Step, Music and Theater. We were all impressed with their improvement from the beginning of Camp, and couldn't wait to see the final performance at the Culminating Event.

We are truly grateful to all parents and community members who continue to support enriching Out of School Programs for our youth.

Special Thanks to District 29 Assembly Member, I. Daneek Miller, District 27 Council Member, Senator Leroy Comrie, Ms. Marissa Castello, P.S. 176Q Principal, Mrs. Lorraine Bridges, Community Youth Care Services Inc. Chairwoman, Home Depot, LaGuardia WorkForce Center, Summer Youth Employment Dept., Tam Jam Entertainment, the NAACP Jamaica Youth Council, YMCA, York College.

Community Youth Care Services, Inc.

Quality Out of School Programs

120-45 235th Street, Cambria Heights, NY 11411

Telephone no: (718) 276-8164• Fax no: 775 459-4359

Email: bgilmore@cycsi.org
Website: cycsi.org
Location: 120-45 235th Street, Cambria Heights, NY, United States
Phone: 718 276-8164
Facebook: facebook.com/communityyouthcareservicesinc