NIA After School Programs Enjoy Extra Activities During Spring Recess

Although schools were closed for spring recess, the NIA continued having their after-school programs each day.  Since schools aren’t in session during this time, the NIA receives additional funding to provide students with a full 10 hour day of programs.  These days create wonderful opportunities for the NIA after-school programs to bring new projects to the schools or for students to go on field trips.

Students at NIA’s After-school Program at I.S. 281 spent one day at Aviator Sports and Recreation in Floyd Bennett Field.  Located on Flatbush Ave in south eastern Brooklyn, Floyd Bennett Field is the location of the city’s first municipal airport.  Aviator Sports and Recreation hosts a wide array of participatory activities like ice skating, basketball, volleyball, hockey, soccer, flag football, and rock climbing.

Susan Czarnecki, NIA Site Coordinator at I.S. 281 cheered on her students as they skated their laps around the NHL regulation size ice rink.  Czarnecki commented, “This is what the NIA OST Program at IS 281 is all about.  The children, who attend our program when school is not in session, are given the chance to discover recreational, educational and cultural opportunities in their own neighborhood.  The Aviator Sport trip was phenomenal, our NIA Staff and 75 participants are looking forward to a return trip.”

When arriving home from the trip the children were asked to write about their experiences from the day.  Student, Cansu Zor, wrote what many others felt that day, "This was my first time ice skating.  We played basketball also, but I liked ice skating more.  Ice skates are so cool.  I am so happy because I've been on ice for the first time and I did it with my NIA Family".

Also experiencing something fun and new were the students over at NIA’s After-school Program at P.S. 229.  The extra program days were the perfect time for the students to be introduced to the Aviation Club.  Provided by Hobby Quest, a local educational program agency, the Aviation Club teaches participants to build planes from scratch.  The program gives students a hands-on approach of learning through building and flying model airplanes, which has been a popularized hobby since the days of the Wright Brothers.

Linda Panza, NIA Site Coordinator at PS 229 had this to say about the program addition, “The children were very excited about Hobby Quest coming to the NIA OST Program at PS 229. They could not wait until they arrived.  The children were able to fly their self made little aircrafts in both the school-yard and the auditorium.  The staff and children were very pleased with the outcome.”

In additional to these activities, other NIA trips included bowling at Maple Lanes and A Behind The Scenes Tour at the NY Aquarium in Coney Island.  Broadening the students experience around Brooklyn certainly has its benefits.