Serving All Communities & School Districts Town-wide Since 1980 |
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*Administrators; Teachers; Scout Leaders; Club Advisers; Community Leaders ...
PLEASE pass Information on to Students & Parents!!!
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Helpful Resources for Parents; School Personnel; Students; Community Leaders...
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Annual APRIL Town of Smithtown
Global Youth Service Day (GYSD)
This Year...Participate ALL Month Long!
FOUR GYSD Initiatives for Student Community Service Credit!!
Do One OR All Four!!!
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Participate independently OR as a Group!
Sport Teams/Community Groups/Scout Troops/Class Leadership projects/Religion Classes...
Contact the Youth Bureau to arrange for Group Participation in GYSD projects
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#1 April Planting at Smithtown Town Hall Kindness Rock Garden
(At Smithtown Town Hall, 99 West Main Street, Smithtown)
KEEP Our Township's
Kindness Rock Garden
GROWING for GYSD!!!
Here's a chance to share some KINDNESS and positivity!
Creating Kindness Rocks can be an excellent activity for friends and family to do together.
Examples of designs are - words of encouragement; rainbows of hope; butterflies; flowers; optimistic and inspiring words or phrases... virtually anything that spreads positivity. The more colorful, the better!!!
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Here’s what you'll need:
- A smooth, flat rock from your yard, (cleaned well with dish soap and completely dried),
- Non-washable acrylic craft paint and/or a gel pen, (even a sharpie or permanent marker will do),
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Brush-on or spray-on outdoor sealer such as Mod Podge,
- Your positive messages and creativity!
Step 1. Once your rock is washed and completely dried, we suggest painting the entire rock a bright color, so it will be highly visible,
Step 2. Then apply sealer and let dry.
Step 3. Then, using a thin brush or gel pen/marker, apply your positive message/artwork in a contrasting color and seal again.
If you don't have all of the suggested materials, don't despair! Do the best you can with the rocks you find and whatever paint/markers you have at home!
They won't look or stay nearly as bright, but do the best you can.
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*When your rocks are ready, just bring them up to Smithtown Town Hall at 99 Main Street in Smithtown and PLANT them in the Kindness Garden to brighten the day for all who drive by!
***PLEASE don't forget to take a PHOTO of you planting your rocks (showing the rocks you made) and email your photo(s) ASAP to the Town of Smithtown Youth Bureau to share!
Include your full name as you'd like it to appear on your Town Community Service Certificate and we'll email it back to you.
*One (1) hour of Community Service Credit for three (3) rocks. Maximum two (2) hrs. of credit (6 rocks).
ALL ages/grades welcome to participate!
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#2 Stars, Stripes & Service Project
Express What Memorial Day
Means To YOU!
Join with other students for this
Town-wide Postcard & Flag Project
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It's never too early to plan how YOU and your family can "Remember and Honor" our fallen heroes.
Creating colorful, expressive postcards AND displaying the American Flag for the GYSD #StarsStripesService campaign can be an excellent activity for friends and family to do together.
Memorial Day is an American holiday, observed on the last Monday of May, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Originally known as Decoration Day, It originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971.
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The Town GYSD - #StarsStripesService project enables participants to recognize the sacrifice of those who died serving our country by spending time remembering; and honoring our fallen heroes by creating expressive postcards AND displaying the American flag.
- Please choose from the templates provided to create your own personal, colorful Stars, Stripes & Service postcards.
- Bring it/them to the Youth Bureau, located at the Town of Smithtown Horizons Center, 161 E. Main street, Smithtown (back of the building) on one of the TWO Drop-Off Days::
Saturday, April 24th, Global Youth Service Day, 10:00 AM - Noon
OR
Wednesday, May 5th
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
You will receive your Town Community Service Certificate that day:
*One (1) hour of Community Service Credit for three (3) postcards. Maximum two (2) hrs. of credit (6 postcards).
ALL ages/grades welcome to participate!
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How to participate:
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Color/decorate your chosen template(s) - Below.
Use different ones if doing multiple postcards.
- Younger participants can use the color-in templates. Older students use the "design your own" postcard with only a border.
- On the postcard, write a brief statement about what Memorial Day Means to YOU!
- Include on your poster: Your First Name; & Last Initial; and your grade.
Click Design Your Own Postercard Template:
*PLUS, each student will get a small American flag to display by their mailbox, or somewhere near the front of their home. PLEASE email a photo of your displayed flag to the Youth Bureau for us to share (you can definitely be in the photo if you'd like!)
*Consider participating in the Emergency Food Pantry Essentials Bag Food Drive on the SAME Days/Times. See details below.
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Keep A Lookout For It!
Stars, Stripes & Service Postcard DISPLAY FOR Memorial Day!
In Recognition of Memorial Day this year, Stars, Stripes & Service postcards will be displayed in the front windows of the
Town of Smithtown Horizons Center/Youth Bureau Building
161 East Main Street, Smithtown
(*Plus other locations in the Township, to be announced!)
Thousands of people driving and walking by will also have the opportunity to Remember & Honor...
...Even if its only for just that moment!
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#3 "Essentials Bag" Food Drive
Smithtown Emergency Food Pantry
ON THE SAME DAYS & TIMES
As the Stars, Stripes & Service Postcard Drop-Off
Collect & Drop Off YOUR collected Food Donation
Collect donations or donate yourself and drop off your own "Essentials" Bag(s) on the SAME DAY/TIMES as the Stars, Stripes & Service project
Bring your donation to the Youth Bureau, located at the Town of Smithtown Horizons Center, 161 E. Main Street, Smithtown (back of the building) on one of the TWO Drop-Off Days::
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Saturday, April 24th, Global Youth Service Day
10:00 AM - Noon
OR
Wednesday, May 5th
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
You will receive your Town Community Service Certificate that day:
*One (1) hour of Community Service Credit for TWO (2) "Essentials" Bags. Maximum two (2) hrs. of credit (4 Essentials Bags).
ALL ages/grades welcome to participate!
*Consider participating in the Stars, Stripes & Service Project on the SAME Days/Times. See details above..
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What Goes in EACH "Essentials" Bag?
Pat Westlake, President of the Township's, Emergency Food Pantry asked the community to collect the most recent "Essentials" requested at the Food Pantry.
So, each Essentials Donation Food Bag should include the following items (New Food Items Only):
- One Box of Macaroni & Cheese
- One Jar of Prepared Tomato Sauce for pasta
- One Box of Granola Bars or Other Snack Bars
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#4 Do your own GYSD project
CHOOSE your own GYSD project
DECIDE on your project plan & goal
ESTIMATE time you will spend
SUBMIT your proposal by April 30th
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Use this GYSD Project Planning & Tip Guide to choose and plan your own Project: |
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Investigate & Learn:
The more you understand the issue that your project idea is addressing, the more impactful your project will be.
Find Solutions:
Map out community resources and assets. Then decide on a course of action and a project goal.
Build Partnerships : Reach out to individuals and organizations that can help or even partner with you.
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Plan and Get Help:
Recruit your peers and community partners. Break your project up into various steps and how you and your partners will accomplish each.
Get organized:
Organize your project plan, and decide who will do what.
Act: Activate your fellow volunteers and community partners. Provide clear guidance about your project plan and goal.
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Spread the word: Reach out to everyone who can help publicize and promote your project to reach it's goal.
Get it done:
Plan your final preparations and get to work!
*Feel free to reach out to the Youth Bureau for advice and assistance with program promotion!
_______________________
**Email your project proposal to the Youth Bureau by April 30th for approval**
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Your Project Proposal should include:
-Your Name; Email; School; Grade
-Your cause
-Your project goal
-Your plan of action
-List of anticipated fellow volunteers & partners
-Timeframe for your project. When will it start & end.
-Estimate of the hours you personally will devote to this project
-How you will document your efforts
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Reflect, Report and Celebrate:
Upon completion of your project you will;
Email the results to the Town of Smithtown Youth Bureau to receive documentation of community service.
Include your complete project proposal for reference.
State and show how you achieved your goal; and confirm how you followed your proposed plan.
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Contact us with any questions.
Submit GYSD project proposal to the Youth Bureau by April 30th
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Virtual Community Education Event
Held March 25, 2021
A HUGE Success!!!
Hosted by:
Town of Smithtown
Youth Bureau
Horizons Counseling & Education Center
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We were SO pleased that approx. 123 participants: professionals; MS & HS Students and Parents attended this fascinating presentation on March 25, 2021. Students were provided with Community Service Credit by the Youth & Community Alliance for participation in this community education event.
Dr. Dewey has published more than 250 peer-reviewed scientific research articles, book chapters, abstracts, and his research has also been featured on 20/20, Dateline, Good Morning America, ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, CNN, FOX News, News 12 Long Island, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Newsday.
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Professionals learned important facts about addiction and/or heard new research that they were not familiar with. Families Learned Together About:
The Disease of Addiction…In Some VERY Unexpected Forms...
-Gaming and cell phone use
-Use of caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol
-Vaping (and how it relates to COVID-19)
-Marijuana contamination with fentanyl & methamphetamine
A huge thanks to Dr. Stephen Dewey for presenting this important research in a very clear and understandable way.
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New VIRTUAL, Multi-Community Rotary Student Interact Club
**Community Service & Leadership Opportunity for H.S. Students**
NO Former Interact Experience Needed!
Newcomers to Interact WELCOME!!!
Tuesday, April 6th: 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
AND
Tuesday, April 20th: 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Find out how student leadership can be seriously fun!
Discover the benefits of Interact Club participation?
Project Planning Breakout Rooms Still Forming - Perfect Time to JOIN!!!
The Town of Smithtown Youth Bureau would like to announce the formation of a virtual, International Rotary - District 7255 Student Interact Club, which encompasses all local townships and beyond!
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Interact is an official program of Rotary International, in which students of high school age are encouraged to engage in Community Service activities similar to those done by Rotary Club members themselves. Rotarians provide guidance to the the student Interact Club members.
Connect with leaders in your community and around the world to:
- Take action to make a difference in your school and community
- Discover new cultures and promote international understanding
- Become a leader in your school and community
- Have fun and make new friends from other school districts AND around the world
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What’s involved?
Interact clubs organize at least two projects every year, one that helps their school or community and one that promotes international understanding. Rotary club adult sponsors mentor and guide Interactors as they carry out projects and develop leadership skills.
Celebrate the global impact of Interact by getting involved in:
- World Interact Week
- Interact Video Awards
- Rotary Youth Day at the United Nations
- Global Youth Service Day
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Email Stacey Sanders in the Youth Bureau to receive participation links:
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Town of Smithtown Youth Bureau
Community Needs Assessment Survey
February 2021 - April 2021
Monthly Raffle Prize Drawing for Survey Participants!!!
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PLEASE take a few minutes to complete this VERY brief survey by clicking the link below to assist the Town of Smithtown Youth Bureau in determining the programming needs of your community. This feedback (Feb. - April 2021) will allow the bureau to effectively plan programs for the remainder of 2021.
As a sign of our appreciation, all survey participants (students and adults) will be entered into our gift certificate raffle for the month
April's raffle prize is a $25 Door Dash Gift Certificate!!!
Thank you in advance for your
valuable feedback!
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Congratulations to our randomly chosen March Survey Raffle WINNER!!!
Meet , Lynn Wang from Commack, the winner of the March Survey Raffle Prize of a $25 Grub Hub Gift Card!
Lynn and her family reside in Commack and she has two children, one an 11th grader at Commack High School and one eighth grader at Commack Middle School
Her 8th grade daughter recently participated in the Youth Bureau's Virtual Trip to the Long Island Aquarium to see the live Reptile Encounter program. Lynn's daughter thoroughly enjoyed the program and found it to be "interesting and informational".
Lynn completed the Youth Bureau Community Needs Assessment survey and feels that, "Everyone should take the survey to give feedback, so it will help for future program planning."
Thanks for your input Lynn !!!
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Kindness Can Be Spread In MANY Different Ways!
Ongoing Ways YOU & Your Family Can HELP...
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Other Ways to Help Feed
Struggling Families
Now more than ever food donations are critical to help many families through these unimaginably difficult times!
PLEASE consider donating to one or more of these important community resources. Don't let anyone in YOUR community go hungry!!!
1.Long Island Cares has always been a great advocate and friend to the people of Smithtown and beyond. During the coronavirus, LI Cares has been working around the clock despite the obstacles. Residents can help by making monetary donations:
OR by donating via setting up and doing your own:
2.Island Harvest relies on the kindness of the public year-round to feed those who are most in need. Residents can help during the COVID-19 pandemic by clicking here and: donating online
Each $25 donation will go towards supplying a family meal kit, which provides food for three to four days.
3.Smithtown Food Pantry:
**See the GYSD "Essentials" Donation Drop-Off Dates above!
Residents wishing to help the food pantry during the coronavirus can mail monetary donations or gift cards to Smithtown Emergency Food Pantry: Post Office Box 1663, Smithtown, NY 11787.
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Plus.... Don't forget about possibly
Helping a Furry Friend!!!
Foster a Dog or Cat: Due to COVID-19, the Smithtown Animal Shelter has had to restrict public access to confirmed adoption appointments and animal/wildlife rescue. Residents with no other pets or young children at home can apply to foster a rescue dog. Families looking to serve the community can sign up to foster cats as well. The shelter staff is limited at this time, so Town officials ask that the only serious foster applicants apply.
- ONLY Approved Adoption Appointments will be permitted to enter the Shelter.
- Call to discuss what you are looking for in a pet and we can help you decide if we have a pet that suits your lifestyle.
- Schedule a FaceTime interaction with the pet that you are interested in.
- We will help you get a feel for the animal’s personality and typical interaction with its caretakers.
- Fill out an application- They are available on our website, or we can email/fax one to you.
- Once you have an approved application, you may meet the pet that you are interested in at the shelter, weather permitting we will hold all dog interactions outside.
We assure you that the animals are getting plenty of love, attention and medical care despite the limited access to the public. On behalf of the Town of Smithtown and the Animal Shelter team, we wish you all health and positive thinking during this troubling time. As a united community, we will get through this!
CONTACT US:
P (631) 360-7575 F: (631) 360-7973
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Students... Join the Town of Smithtown Youth Bureau
Volunteer Corps
AND
Local Community Groups/Agencies...
Become a Town of Smithtown Youth Bureau
Volunteer Program Partner
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Join the hundreds of Other Local
Youth and Families as registered...
Town of Smithtown Volunteer Corps Members
Smithtown Youth Bureau
Volunteer Corps member!
Get Early Notification about
Community Service Opportunities
&
Fun Family Programs
Continue reading here for more information.
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Does your group/agency
Need Volunteers?
The Town of Smithtown Youth Bureau
promotes volunteerism and fosters
positive social and leadership opportunities for
youth and families
throughout the township.
The Youth Bureau is interested in partnering with local
groups and organizations to promote volunteer
opportunities for youth and families in the community.
For more information - click here
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Click link to view & share brochure:
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Town of Smithtown Horizons Counseling & Education Center
Horizons Counseling and Education Center is an OASAS-licensed not-for-profit agency funded to provide adolescent and adult treatment, prevention and education services for drug and alcohol related problems.
Horizons Counseling and Education Center's Prevention Program has been working with local schools to develop and offer drug and alcohol presentations virtually.
If you are interested in a presentation or in having your students take part in a evidenced based program please feel free to reach out to them.
You can contact Kelly Devito for more information:
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Looking for Family Activities to keep you ALL Busy and Productive!!!
Visit both of the following EXCELLENT sources of quality activities:
-NY Metro Parents-Suffolk (Sanity saving ideas & activities):
-Macaroni Kid (Articles; events; guides):
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See the following list of important resources available during this challenging time:
Helpful information and COVID-19 specific resources can be found at:
NYS Office of Mental Health Emotional Support Line:
1-844-863-9314,
Suffolk County Behavioral Health & Other Resources:
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161 E. Main Street
Smithtown, NY 11787
Phone: (631) 360-7595
Fax: (631) 360-7687
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