Town Shop Youth Center

Summertime

admin — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 20:22:36 +0000

“When summertime comes it’s a celebration, people gettin’ out all across the nation and it seems like everybody’s gettin’ together. There’s music playin’ everywhere you go, got Dandy Dan talkin’ on the radio and it seems like everybody’s diggin’ that hot summer weather. Well, California sun shines all the time, but East Coast summers are a different kind, doesn’t last as long so it means a little bit more…it’s a Syracuse summer, everybody’s under the sun, oh yeah.” (Gary Frenay & the Neverly Bros.)
When temps are warm in July and August, the Town Shop reduces building hours to just two days per week (Mondays and Tuesdays from 5-10pm) so that we can get outdoors and do MANY other things.

Here are some program highlights:

Kayak (Nine Mile Creek) Mondays 5pm
Kayak (Seneca River) July 8 & August 26, 1pm
Kayak (South Sandy Creek) July 10, July 29, Aug. 28, 10am
Kayak (Owasco Creek) July 15, 1pm
Kayak (Tioughnioga River) Sept. 2, 11am
Volleyball (Gillie Lake) Tuesdays 6:15pm
Seva (Samaritan Center) Wed. July 7 & 21, Aug. 4,11, 25, Sept. 1 & 8…3pm
Seva (Sunshine Horse Rescue) Sat. July 3, 17, 31 & Aug. 14….9am
Hiking/Swimming (Green Lakes State Park) July 6 & 28, Aug. 10….noon
Hiking/Swimming (Ithaca Gorges) Aug. 5, 10am
Hiking/Swimming (Fillmore Glen) Aug. 12, noon
Hiking/Swimming (Chimney Bluffs) Aug. 19, 1pm
Hiking/Swimming (Taughannock Falls) Aug. 21, noon
Vegetarian Cooking Class w/ guest chef Ethan Camwell, culinary student at Johnson Wales, (July 14, 3pm at CV & DVs’ house on Seneca River, swim too)
Zoo (Rosamond Gifford Zoo)Tuesday July 20 1pm The Town Shop has a group pass.
Falcon Ridge Folk Festival …plus Berkshires camping, July 22-25, one of the best music fests ever!
Eating Our Way Around The World The Taj (India buffet) Tuesday Aug. 3 at noon Delicious!
Perseids Meteor Shower Hike up into Camillus Unique Forest to view, Wed. Aug. 11 at 8pm
A Midsummer Eve’s Poetry & Music Open Mic: outdoors at Gillie Lake, Wed. Aug. 18 at 7pm
Chenango Colorscape Arts Fest Great art and live music in Norwich, NY….Sept. 10 & 11

*ALL OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES ARE WEATHER PERMITTING
If we get rained out we will try to reschedule. Also, if temps are in the 90s the Town Shop building will probably be CLOSED and we’ll look for some place to cool off instead….if in doubt, phone. Activities that involve travel require sign up. MORE EXPERIENCES MAY BE ANNOUNCED AS SUMMER UNFOLDS. (ps Melissa Ahern from CMS will be working with us some days this summer…come welcome her

SUMMER SCHEDULE

admin — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 22:50:18 +0000

The last hard copy distributed Town Shop calendar was April/May, and the next one will be July/August. June is a difficult month to make lots of plans for due to final exams, regents, graduation, plus CV & DVs’ wedding anniversary (June 13…40 years). But some activities and building hours are regular and weekly: kayak on Nine Mile Creek (Mondays 5pm), volleyball (Tuesdays 6pm), seva (wednesdays 3pm). The Town Shop building is open all 3 days from 4-10pm (but if temps are 90 or above CLOSED and diversion to something outdoors). Thursdays are devoted to picnics and special events, as are weekend dates. Some special dates ahead include:

Thursday June 17… last picnic at Onondaga Lake Park 3pm
Sunday June 20… kayak on Owasco Creek 1pm
Thursday June 24… Chimney Bluffs , 12 noon (our first visit back since the state reopened it. Let’s celebrate).

In addition there will be Sunshine Horse Rescue seva on 2 saturdays, June 19 & 26. THE ENTIRE SUMMER SCHEDULE WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE END OF JUNE, and will include Falcon Ridge Folk Festival/Berkshires Camping, South Sandy Creek to Lake Ontario Beach, Ithaca Gorges, concerts on the lawn at Taughannock Falls, Chenango Colorscape, a mid-summer eve’s Poetry Swap, lots of seva, volleyball, kayak trips, hiking, and PLENTY MORE.

Segue into Spring

admin — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 04:48:00 +0000

April begins with unseasonably warm temps, and while this may be an “April Fools” of sorts, it portends the Town Shop’s schedule shift towards fewer building hours and much more activity outdoors. After a long winter, everyone wants to be outside as much as possible, immersed in nature and recreation. And the Town Shop strives to be “low impact” on the neighborhood where it is located.

Here are some program highlights:

Seva (Samaritan Center) Wednesdays 3pm
Seva (Sunshine Horse Rescue) 4/3, 4/10, 4/24, 5/1, 5/15, 5/29 9am
Seva (Earth Day) 4/17 9am
Kayak (Nine Mile Creek) Mondays starting 5/3, 5pm
Kayak (Owasco Creek) 5/2 12pm (Experienced paddlers!)
Kayak (Onondaga Creek) 5/16 12pm (An urban adventure!)
Hiking (Beaver Lake) 4/19 12pm
Hiking (Chimney Bluffs) 4/22 11am
Hiking (Camillus Unique Forest) 4/29 3:30pm
Hiking (Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge) 5/6 3pm (Possibly see bald eagles)
Hiking (Highland Forest) 5/23 12pm
Picnics (Onondaga Lake Park) 5/13, 5/20 3:30pm (Bring you own food to grill) and Clark Reservation 5/27
Volleyball (Gillie Lake) Tuesdays at 6pm starting 4/27
Song Swap 4/15 7pm Featuring Justin Jarmacz, Chrissy Gerace, Ryan Ta, and Mike Waters
Eating Our Way Around The World 4/17 El Canelo (Mexico) right after Earth Day and Friday 4/23 Secret Garden (Japan/Korea) 12pm Delicious!
Uno Tournament 4/28 7pm Organized by Heather Wheeler
Cooking Class 5/5 6pm Bento Boxes (Fill your own and take with you) with guest chef Heather Boss
Plantings 5/12 Right after seva, help Cheryl with mini-plant repotting and take one with you.
The Big Apple (NYC) Friday to Sunday 6/4-6/6, talk with Dave

* All outdoor activities are weather permitting. If we get rained out we will try to reschedule (check TownShop on Facebook for posts of changes).

Coming this Summer

More kayaking, seva, hiking, volleyball, Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, Berkshires camping, Chenango Colorscape, Ithaca Gorges, Lake Ontario, etc. Stay Tuned!

P.S. Check out Travis Sky Ingersol’s new skateboarding website (www.streetskatespots.org) and contribute to it. Sometime we will plan a trip to Philadelphia to stay with him and explore.

Town Shop Birthday

admin — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 08:37:22 +0000

The Town Shop Staff, youth participants, and volunteers wish to express sincere thanks to Solvay Bank for once again providing pizza for the Town Shop birthday celebration on March 4th. Their generosity has spanned over three decades! Thank You.

Not too many human endeavors last 39 years, which is why it is remarkable that on March 7, the Town Shop will be starting its 40th year of operation. Predictions back in 1971 were “it might last 2 years, 3 years tops”. It is a tribute to the community group that created the program and had the wisdom and good instincts to invite teens into the creation process and give them real power (to design, choose directors, pick the building, decide how to decorate and what goes on there, set the standards, etc.). And it is a tribute to the various funders and individuals who have donated money, time, and energy to sustain it.

The birthday will be celebrated with two live music events: Thursday, March 4, at 7pm, White Picket Fence, with special guests Run Forever (from Pittsburgh, PA), and Thursday, March 11, at 7pm, The Handsome Bastards with special guests. Come celebrate the start of our 40th year with us.

Other scheduled activities this program period include:

Seva (Samaritan Center) Wednesdays 3pm
Seva (Sunshine Horse Rescue) 2/20, 2/27/, 3/13, 3/27 9am
Cross Country Ski/Snowshoe 2/1, 2/9, 2/15, 2/18/, 2/21, 2/28 (Moonlight) 3/2, 3/21 (Spring skiing up on Tug Hill Plateau) If there’s snow, we go.
Town Shop All-Nighter 2/12-2/13 7pm-10am Come for some or all the time.
Zoo (Rosamond Gifford Zoo) 2/16 1pm The town shop has a group pass.
CNY Scholastic Art Exhibition 2/23 3pm at OCC
Dodgeball 2/25, 3/25 6:30pm
Peter Mulvey Concert He’s performed twice at the Town Shop, outstanding singer/songwriter on 2/26 at Funk & Waffles (Talk with Dave)
Febfest 2/27 10am We’ve offered to help the Camillus Methodist Church with childrens’ face painting. Talk with Cheryl if you are willing to volunteer for an hour or two.
Eating Our Way Around The World 3/6 12pm This time, Italy!
Cooking Class 3/9 6:30pm Waffles and Pancakes
Classic Movie Night Hosted by Dan Nolan. 3/16 7pm, “Back To The Future”

Town Shop alums Jeff and Julie Schlecht have graciously offered to host the next Town Shop Big Apple (NYC) trip (Sometime in April or May). Stay tuned.

PS The Town Shop has WiFi. We are also now on Facebook! (Thanks to Dakota)

“Tis’ The Season fa la la”

admin — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:30:40 +0000

It’s been a slow transition from autumn to winter, but worry not… winter is coming. In anticipation, the Town Shop has planned some cool outdoor experiences and some warm indoor activities.

Here are some highlights:

Seva (Samaritan Center) Wednesdays 3pm
Seva (Sunshine Horse Rescue) 12/5, 12/19, 1/2, 1/16, 1/30 9am
Holiday Music Concert 12/10 7pm At Camillus Methodist Church, featuring students from The String Corner.
Live Music Showcase 12/13 6pm (Town Shop opens at 4pm) With two great bands: Brothers We Grow (A reunion of sorts, and a chance to wish Dan Lyons well before deployment 12/15) and This Horseless Carriage.
DodgeBall 12/17, 1/21 6:30pm East Hill Elementary
Everson Museum 12/20 1pm “Impressionism: Turner to Cezanne” Normally $12 per student for this world famous touring exhibition, but down to $4 thanks to a generous gift from Travis Sky Ingersoll.
Cross Country Skiing 12/28, 1/10, 1/18, 1/25 & 1/28 (In the moonlight) Plus winter camping February 16-18. Snowshoes also available as an alternative.
Eating Our Way Around The World 12/29 1pm This time Thailand (Little Thai House)
Classic Movie Night Hosted By Dan Nolan. 12/30 7pm “The Sting” (Robert Redford and Paul Newman, Butch & Sundance, united again.)
English Shuffleboard Tournament (Henry VIII used to play this game as did Robinhood) Over 2 days 1/4 and 1/5 starting at 7pm.
Vegetarian Cooking Class 1/7, 1/26 6:30pm.
Rough Times Live (Teen Produced Television Show) 1/12 6pm, They’ll be coming to tape a feature on the town shop with open mic performances for poetry and music, plus a short theatrical piece.
Facials 1/14 7pm Cleansing toners masks and lotions, free and fun.
Zoo (Rosamond Gifford Zoo) 1/17 1pm The Town Shop has a group pass.
Town Shop Overnight 1/29-1/30 Food games music movies and a little bit of sleep, info available on 1/18.

More activities (like ice skating at Clinton Square or moonlight snowshoeing) may be announced as the winter goes on. Check out Dakota Bateman’s Town Shop Facebook page for quicker program updates. Stay warm and stay cool.

Also a sincere thanks to Camillus Methodist Church for keeping us supplied with peanut butter and hot chocolate all year. Much appreciated!

The Young And The Wireless… Win Up To $1000

admin — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 01:49:04 +0000

Hi David, it’s Jen here, your old kayaking buddy! How’s your summer been? Full of music festivals and the outdoors, I’m sure.

I took part in a really cool multimedia project this past summer on youth and technology. Our site is set to launch any day now (it’s just blogs and temporary stuff right now) and we’re running a contest to help get youth-generated content for our site. We’re a bunch of college journalists… what do we know about being young anymore! I know that you have a lot of interaction with youth at the Town Shop, and wanted to extend encouragement to your more tech-minded students to enter our video contest.

Technology has changed young peoples’ experience of the world, and we want to get them to reflect on that creatively. Maybe you could even make an event out of it and do a video all together.

Here are the contest details: Students make a 2 to 3 minute soap-opera style video on how technology has affected their life. It can be silly or sad, reflective or raucus, and be done solo or in groups. Submit it to our YouTube group before December 31st, 2009, and you’re in! We’ve paired up with author and researcher Don Tapscott to offer up to $1,000 in prize money for the best work.

I hope you’ll consider encouraging your students to enter. It could serve as great motivation and exposure for their work. If you have any other ideas for how I could get the word out, I’d love to hear them.

Contest details: www.thewirelesscontest.com
YouTube Group: www.youtube.com/group/youngandthewireless

Please let me know if you have any questions or feedback. I look forward to hearing back from you.

Jennifer Ward
Syracuse University
www.thewirelesscontest.com

Also check out her amazingly delicious Food Blog

Easing Into A New Season

admin — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:26:03 +0000

The Town Shop reopened on October 5 following a September staff vacation. An October/November program calendar is in the process of careful planning and will be posted on the website, and available as hard copy soon.

Here are some highlights:

Seva (Samaritan Center) Wednesdays 3pm.
Sunshine Horse Rescue 10/13 5pm, 10/24, 11/7, 11/21 9am
Moroccan Visitors 10/8 2:30-4:30pm, Come help us welcome Ms. Fadwah RIH (Director, National Information and Documentation Center For Youth) and Mr. Hicham El Mdaghri (Chief of Service, Ministry of Economy and Finance) It’s their first visit to the US and they would like to meet American teens and learn about youth organizations.
Zoo (Rosamond Gifford Zoo) 10/12 1pm The Town Shop has a group pass.
Apple Picking 10/15 3pm Beak & Skiff (79¢ per pound)
Chimney Bluffs (Chimney Bluffs Hiking) 10/25 12pm Spectacular autumn hiking.
Sterling Nature Center 11/1 12pm Another Lake Ontario adventure.
Dodgeball 10/29, 11/19, 12/17 6:30pm East Hill Elementary
Rough Times Live (Teen Program (TV Show) 11/10 6pm Teen produced television show taping at the Town Shop followed by short theatrical performance.
Eating Our Way Around The World 11/11 11am Ling Ling’s (China)
Trip To The Big Apple (New York City) 11/13-11/15 Hosted by Mike and Kelly Dubois in Woodstock, NY.
Classic Movie Night 11/25 7pm Hosted by Dan Nolan (film to be announced).

Coming in December/January

Live music showcases, Town Shop overnight, cross country ski trips, winter camping, Everson Art Museum exhibit (“From Turner to Cezanne”) and more. Stay tuned!

Students talk about their hopes for Joseph Biden’s education talk at Syracuse University

admin — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:00:01 +0000

by John Mariani

More than an hour and a half before the forum was to begin, the line of spectators to see Vice President Joe Biden and his all-star education panel extended from the metal detector at the entrance of Goldstein Auditorium, through the lobby of Schine Student Center and out the door.

It included Grace Castaneda, a Syracuse University freshman from Corpus Christi, Texas. “My parents supported President Obama and Vice President Biden. It’s pretty cool to see something they were a part of,” Castaneda said.

It also would be cool if the panelists talked about how to help college students get their education, she said.

David Vermilya, co-director of the The Town Shop youth center in Camillus, was escorting several teenagers from the center. They got their tickets courtesy of Rep. Dan Maffei, whom Vermilya said wanted teens from his district to attend the forum. Dan Nolan, now a Maffei aide, is a Town Shop alumnus, Vermilya said.

“I’m expecting to hear maybe some ideas or options for young people” to afford college, Vermilya said. “It’s hard to figure out how to afford it, especially in the economic climate now.”

One idea he had not heard, he said, was any kind of proposal that would let students perform community service in exchange for tuition. That would be ideal for one of the teens he was escorting, Dakota Bateman, he said.

Bateman, 15, of Syracuse, said she had volunteered at the Samaritan Center and Sunshine Horse Rescue.

She’s anxious to hear any ideas that would make college more affordable, she said.

“I’ve done a lot of research and I know it costs a lot of money,” Bateman said.

Source: The Post-Standard

Town Shop Vacation

admin — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 15:10:07 +0000

After a busy and successful summer schedule that filled the calendar right up to the doorstep of Labor Day weekend, the Town Shop will be mostly shut down from September 8 to October 5 (reopens 4pm) so that staff can vacate, recreate, and rejuvenate. There will be some activities in September… Seva every Wednesday (Samaritan Center) at 3pm, Chenango Colorscape Arts Fest September 12 and possibly 13, kayak down Onondaga Creek on Sunday, October 4 (an urban adventure). Contact Cheryl or David at 635-6495 if interested. A rich and robust autumn schedule will be posted soon and will include more seva opportunities (Samaritan Center and Sunshine Horse Rescue), dodgeball, Town Shop overnight, “Eating our way around the world” (Chinese), apple picking, autumn hiking along the Finger Lakes trail and Chimney Bluffs, more kayak trips, and a weekend trip to the Big Apple (NYC). Stay Tuned!

Meanwhile…

Former Town Shop participant and longtime friend Travis Sky Ingersoll has been busy. A few years ago he bought a home in Philadelphia, married Mindy Massaro (Director of International Studies at LaSalle University) this past July, has acquired two masters degrees and is close to earning his PHD from Widener University, and has created an online business that raises money for worthwhile youth development programs. Check it out, and start to peruse your own book collection. Later this year the Town Shop may organize a book drive as a fundraiser.

Summer ‘09

admin — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:14:50 +0000

Well, it took us awhile to plan it all out but this is a longer summer than usual (school doesn’t restart until September 8th), plus it was important to carefully consider staff capacities in the midst of knee replacement surgery recovery. That’s a long process.

The building will be open Mondays and Tuesdays 4-10pm, unless otherwise posted. Summer building hours are greatly reduced to allow for a variety of quality outdoor experiences.

A Few Highlights

Kayak (Nine Mile Creek) Mondays
Kayak (South Sandy Creek) 7/16, 8/9, 8/29
Kayak (Seneca River) 8/3
Kayak (Tioughnioga River) 9/1
Volleyball (Gillie Lake) Tuesdays 6:30pm
Seva (Samaritan Center) Wednesdays 3pm
Seva (Sunshine Horse Rescue) 7/18
Green Lakes State Park 7/9, 7/21, 7/30, 8/25
Taughannock Falls/Blue Sky Mission Club Concert (Blue Sky Mission Club) 8/1
Ithaca Gorges 8/27
Falcon Ridge Folk Festival 7/23-7/26
Whale Watch 2009 8/15-8/20