Due to numerous community requests, the Smithtown Youth Bureau is now offering a
High School Study Skills Boot Camp program. This program includes the same components as our Middle School Program (below), at a H.S. level, condensed into a one-time, intensive workshop and incorporates very important "advanced note-taking strategies."
This
intensive 1 1/2 hour workshop will be held at the Horizons Center Community Room, 161 E. Main Street...
**Please note that All Four
Middle School Study Skills programs are currently
almost full.
ONLY a few open slots remain.** We will then have a waiting list for the next scheduled programs.
We've been adding additional summer day & evening Middle School Study Skills programs to accommodate the
overwhelming
response for this service!
Middle School age students from all over the Township will be participating in this fun, interactive, yet relevant and useful summer learning experience.
immediately and specify if you prefer a day or evening program.
*You will be contacted regarding program availability.
We will be running these programs on a regular basis due to community interest. If classes are full, you will be placed on a waiting list for the next available class.
Evening Programs -
(Waiting List Only)
August - Tuesdays 1, 8, 15, 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
(
class currently full)
August - Thursdays 3, 10, 17, 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
(class currently full)
PLEASE contact us ASAP to register for any spots that may still be open, or to pre-register for future Study Skills programs.
Student Volunteers Needed!!!
The Summer of Youth Empowerment
*Community Service Credit Provided*
Sponsored by the Horizons Counseling & Education Center
Town of Smithtown Youth Bureau
and
Youth & Community Alliance-Substance Abuse Committee
Horizons Counseling and Education Center, Smithtown Youth Bureau, and the Town of Smithtown Youth & Community Alliance's Substance Abuse Committee will be collaborating on their second Pizza Box Top project this summer.
They will be working with local pizzerias and placing prevention stickers on pizza boxes. The prevention messaging stickers say "Your Actions Matter! Preventing underage drinking is everyone's responsibility."
The goal is to bring attention and awareness to the dangers of underage drinking and the legal ramifications for serving alcohol to minors. The project is open to M.S. and H.S. students.
They will also be completing a "Not On Your Life" (NOYL) campaign with H.S. students. This campaign focuses on working with liquor stores to ensure that they are supportive of the underage drinking laws set by the State.
Our "Pizza Box Top -Pizza & Planning Meeting" will be held;
(Yes - Pizza will be served!!!!)
July 20, 2017
1:30 p.m. -2:30 p.m.
Horizons Center Community Room
161 E. Main Street, Smithtown
(*Planning meeting attendance is mandatory to participate)
The actual Pizza Box Top event will be held at various pizzerias throughout the Township (Four Locations- To be set) ;
July 28, 2017
2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
Our NOYL (Not On Your Life) event date will be announced soon.
Program participation is limited - Summer programs fill quickly.
So PLEASE register SOON...
To participate in our summer Pizza Box Top project or NOYL campaign please contact Horizons Counseling & Education Center:
Parents & teachers also invited to participate and help supervise activities.
Community Education Sticker for
Pizza Box Tops & Sticker Shock Campaigns.
Other Community Service Opportunities
For Students & Families...
Create A Beautiful Butterfly Garden for the Public to Enjoy!!!
AND
**Earn Community Service Credit this Summer**
The Town of Smithtown Youth Bureau will be partnering with the
Smithtown Historical Society to offer additional, fun student & family volunteer opportunities.
During this summer's collaborative program, in addition to spending quality time outdoors, creating a beautiful, flowering
Butterfly Garden, participants will learn about the Town's agricultural history.
As local butterflies, such as the Monarch, face the threats posed by pesticides, the creation of nurturing, safeguarded environments is critical to the preservation of the natural character of the Town of Smithtown.
Student Volunteers in
grades 7 - 12 are needed to plant a Butterfly Garden on the Smithtown Historical Society grounds for the public to enjoy. Participants earn community service credit, while enjoying the great outdoors, beautifying their community and developing gardening skills.
*Register SOON, since summer programs fill quickly.
A
limited number of student participants (and some parents) will participate in this community, beautification program on:
or listing of all Smithtown Historical Society events.
Check out their Family Yoga program....
Join yoga instructor Lois Corbani Healion as she leads families through an hour yoga flow.
Yoga poses, breathing exercises and nurturing relaxation techniques will awaken the inner child in all. This class is a wonderful opportunity for some family bonding time. Caregivers welcome too.
We are looking for YOUR input! There are two brief surveys - one for parents and one for students.
As town residents, your opinions regarding the needs you see in your community are of utmost importance to us!
Please take a few moments to complete the brief survey. Your input helps us to improve upon our existing programs, and to develop new ones to meet community needs.
We depend on community input....PLEASE click on the links below to participate. The survey only takes a few moments.
Thank you!!!
Tuesday, August 29th, 4:30-6:00 -
Smithtown Library Main Branch
**A new website for the Town of Smithtown Youth and Community Alliance is currently Under Construction.
Visit the newly developed Alliance website from time to time and see where you'll find the most current information on our Alliance, and how you and your family can be more involved in your community.
Global Youth Service Day
A Day Honoring Our Local Emergency Responders
Town of Smithtown Youth Bureau
Global Youth Service Day...
"Our Community: Letters of Gratitude" on FiOS1 Channel
PLEASE check out the
link below- FiOS1 to view coverage of our
Smithtown Youth Bureau Global Youth Service Day celebration honoring local Emergency Responders (April 22, 2017)
.
The piece is entitled: "Our Community: Letters of Gratitude," which was aired on the ViOS1 program "Push Pause."
Please Click on link below to see video of event highlights...
On Saturday, April 22, 2017 approximately 160 students and family members from Smithtown Township attended the 8
th Annual Town of Smithtown's Global Youth Service Day celebration at the beautiful Smithtown Landing Country Club's Merrywood Cottage. The annual Global Youth Service Day event (GYSD) is for Smithtown, Kings Park, Hauppauge and Commack school districts, grades K-12.
In addition to the 160 students and family members present, there were honored guests, including firefighters, police officers, and EMT's. Eleven student Town-wide Letter Writing Contest winners were recognized, and were given the opportunity to read their Letters of Thanks to the local Emergency Responder honorees.Nearly 400 students throughout the Town of Smithtown submitted letters to thank Police, Firefighters and other Emergency Responders, all of which will be mailed to local responders. Outstanding Student Volunteers from throughout the township were recognized for their community service, as well.
Global Youth Service Day is a campaign by Youth Service America (YSA) and is a worldwide event of activism that empowers youth to speak up and take action in their part of the world. At this recent event, students and their families had the opportunity to personally thank local Police Officers, Firefighters and other Emergency Responder honored guests, meet other students and families from throughout the township, and enjoy a continental breakfast. Participants also prepared personalized Thank You Cards which were sent to local Emergency Responders.
"We Don't Serve Teens!"
"Community Education Campaign implemented by....
Town of Smithtown
Youth & Community Alliance
"Substance Abuse Committee"
on Smithtown Day - June 4, 2017
Horizons Counseling and Education Center, Smithtown Youth Bureau and the Youth & Community Alliance's Substance Abuse Committee collaborated on their second "We Don't Serve Teens" event during Smithtown's annual street festival on June 4th.
Eleven student Alliance volunteers circulated through the crowd and educated adults on the Suffolk County Police Department's "Cancel the Keg" hotline. The police hotline was launched to help deter underage drinking parties. If anyone is aware of an underage drinking party they can call (631) 852-KEGS and an officer will go to the house and speak with an adult about the Social Host Law.
A total of 377 adults were informed and signed a pledge that they would not serve alcohol to minors. Our youth volunteers also distributed information on the Medication Drop-off locations in the township. Properly disposing of unused or expired medication helps get them off of the streets and less likely into a young person's hand.
The goal of this youth empowerment event was to bring attention and awareness to the dangers of underage drinking, the legal ramifications for serving alcohol to minors, and the secure way to dispose of prescription medication. By engaging the community through activism and education community standards, social norms, and attitudes will influence change and keep our young people safe.
Thank you to the following young people for their hard work and dedication: Jonathan Pofcher; Rocco Campanelli; Brandon Malenitza; Chris Pollina; Jackson McFadyen; Justin Harvey; Nick Harvey; Janet Liu, Alice Liu; Carissa Philips; and Ryan Philips.
DontServeTeens.gov is a Federal Trade Commission led campaign to reduce underage drinking, providing information in English and Spanish about the rates and risks of teen drinking, links to state alcohol laws, tips on how to talk to friends and neighbors about serving alcohol to teens, and free downloadable artwork and media materials that organizations can use in their communities.
Smithtown Student Participants on Smithtown Day 2017
Family Community Service Event/ Recreational Pool Party
July 17th
Please note...
*** Unfortunately, this program is now full!!!***
Families were invited to join us for the annual Town of Smithtown Youth Bureau's
Community Service Event/Recreational Pool Party, to be held on
Monday, July 17th! Please contact us to see if any any open spots become available.
This event is an evening filled with community service, pizza dinner and free swim at our beautiful Smithtown Landing Country Club.
During the event, participants will be able to make
"Ready for School" supply boxes which will be provided to struggling students and families in our
Township.
Community service credit will be given to all students who participate. Pizza dinner and snacks will be provided for all in attendance.
This community service/recreation event will be held rain or shine.
The "Ready For School" community service activity and pizza dinner are held comfortably indoors, at the Smithtown Landing's Nissequogue Room. Weather permitting, families may then move outside to swim in the Town Pool.Indoor, fun activities have been planned in case of rain.
Please note...
*** Unfortunately, this program is now full!!!***
Town of Smithtown
"Ready for School" Program
Travel Safely this Summer!
As Thousands of Americans begin to plan their summer travels, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) cautions all those who plan to travel by car to think safety first to ensure a safe trip for them and their families.
We're highlighting some of their tips here!
Safety tips from NHTSA for safe summer travel:
Perform a basic safety check. Routine car care like tune-ups, battery checks, and tire rotations are important and help with preventing breakdowns. If you're traveling long distances this summer, don't just rely on your usual maintenance. Be sure to also check your vehicle's tire pressure, wiper blades, fluid levels, lights, and air conditioning before you go.
Protect your passengers. All drivers and passengers should wear seat belts. When you're traveling with a child, it's safest for them to ride in a car seat suited for their age and size, and all children 13 and younger should ride in the back seat. If you're having trouble finding the right car seat for your child's age and size, you can visit here for additional tips.
Share the road and stay alert! Warmer weather will attract different types of roadway users, including motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Without the protection of a car or truck, these road users are more vulnerable. So put a safe distance, 3 or 4 seconds worth- between you and motorcyclists, and always be mindful of pedestrians or bicyclists. During long trips, take a break when driving long distances. Plan ahead for times to stop and stretch, eat healthy, and relax.
Store an emergency roadside kit. Even well maintained vehicles can break down, so it's a good idea to have a few emergency items readily accessible for your family's road trip. In your kit, consider adding a cell phone and charger, first aid kit, flashlight, flares, jumper cables, water, and blankets.
Don't drink and drive. An average of 1 alcohol impaired driving fatality occurred every 51 minutes in 2015. Be responsible, and don't drink and drive. If you plan to drink, choose a designated driver before going out.
Avoid distraction. Distraction accounts for approximately 10 percent of fatal crashes and 15 percent of injury crashes. Distracted driving can be anything that pulls your attention away from driving, including cell phone use, texting while driving, eating, drinking, and using in-vehicle technologies and portable electronic devices. Please visit this distracted driving website for additional information.
Observe "Move Over" laws. Move over and change lanes to give safe clearance to law enforcement officers assisting motorists on the side of the road. It's the law in all 50 states.
For more information on summer driving tips, visit here
Drive safe, and have a fun summer!
Youth Advisory Board -
A Year in Review...
The Town of Smithown Youth Advisory Board supports the Smithtown Youth Bureau by advising them about community needs, and providing volunteers and assistance to local organizations & initiatives.
The updated Youth Bureau website has a link to encourage our students and their families to join the Town of Smithtown Volunteer Corps and stay up to date with opportunities to gain community service credit and help make our town a great place to live.
This past fall, our volunteers helped collect food for those in need by hosting a food drive to benefit the Smithtown Emergency Food Pantry. In December, the Town of Smithtown Recreation Department and Senior Citizens Department requested support for their annual "Tender Years Treasury" event....a special holiday shopping spree for children from grades K-5. Youth Bureau Volunteer Corps members escorted children (one on one) through the gift area, where they had the chance to chose their own gifts.
January kicked off our Town-wide letter writing contest, where students were encouraged to write a letter of thanks to an emergency responder. Members of our Town of Smithtown Youth Advisory Board read through over 400 letters, and voted for the best. Winners were recognized at our Global Youth Service Day held on Saturday, April 22 at Smithtown Landing Country Club.
At this internationally recognized day of service, approximately 160 youth and families gathered to honor our guests, including firefighters, police officers, and EMT's. Eleven Town-wide Letter Writing Contest Winners were recognized, and were given the opportunity to read their letters of thanks to the local Emergency Responders. Outstanding Volunteers from throughout the township were recognized for their community service.
This summer, the Youth Board and Youth Bureau will once again be hosting a community service and pool party event. Children and their families will enjoy summer fun while helping those in need.
Town of Smithtown Youth Bureau Volunteer Corps Membership...
Don't delay....register NOW!
The Smithtown Youth Bureau maintains a
Volunteer Program Database for tracking volunteer information and your volunteer activities. If you would like to be included in this database, please complete the Online Volunteer Corps Application.
Registered volunteers will receive early notification of volunteer opportunities with the Youth Bureau, other Town Departments, as well as opportunities with our local partners.
Note: Please be sure to include any previous volunteer service(s) on your application.
*Adults and students
are invited to register.*
Adults are needed to assist with program supervision and serve on the
Smithtown Youth Advisory Board and the
Youth & Community Alliance of Smithtown
(details on our web site)
Highlighted Youth Bureau Programs
The Smithtown Youth Bureau offers ongoing youth development, prevention and intervention programs for youth and families in the Commack, Kings Park, Hauppauge and Smithtown school districts. Our popular programs include:
Study Skills - Time Management - Organizational Skills
Town of Smithtown Horizons Counseling & Education Center
Town of Smithtown Horizons/Youth Bureau Department
Horizons Counseling and Education Center
is the Town of Smithtown's program for the prevention and treatment of drug and alcohol related problems. Services include counseling, specialized adolescent and adult treatment groups, and referrals for additional services. Smithown Horizons and Smithtown Youth Bureau work in collaboration to provide prevention education to school districts and community organizations.
For information about Horizons services visit their web site:
NYS Office of Children & Family Services, NYS Department of Transportation, Suffolk County Police Department - 4th Precinct, Suffolk County Youth Bureau, NYS Association of Youth Bureaus, Suffolk County Youth Board Coordinating Council, Smithtown Animal Shelter, Smithtown Recreation Department, Smithtown Parks Department, Long Island Volunteer Center, Smithtown Historical Society, National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA),Verizon in Smithtown, Target in Commack, Huntington Learning Center in Smithtown, Smithtown Industry Advisory Board, Commack Coalition of Caring, Smithtown Library System, Hauppauge Youth & Community Coalition, Kings Park in the kNOw, Smithtown Children's Foundation, Kings Park Council of Schools, Communities of Solution, League of Women, Voters, Smithtown Food Pantry, Partners in Prevention, Project9line, Lessings at Smithtown Landing Country Club, and many others.
Useful Links:
Hauppauge-Smithtown Macaroni Kid is a free, weekly e-newsletter and website for parents. Each week they share articles, events, discounts, and giveaways for families with children of all ages. They even have giveaways just for moms and dads! Sign up for your free subscription!
