Activities and Interest Centers
This list will continue to be updated as activities are finalized. Check back closer to the event for updates, and for the opportunity to pre-register for specific activities online to insure your child does not miss out on his/her favorite activity.
Harry Potter
Join us as we play a real game of Quidditch! 2 Teams will be decided by a "Sorting Hat." There will be Keepers, Chasers, Beaters, and of course, Seekers. Come help us find the Golden Snitch and have a lot of fun with other Harry Potter fans! This activity will involve playing together in teams, tossing quaffles, and answering trivia questions after each score to help teams earn more points! Social stories will be used to help prepare the participants for their roles as keepers, chasers, beaters, or seekers.
Liza Bergman, MSEd, who is dually certified in special education and elementary education and works as a school consultant at the North Shore/Long Island Jewish Autism Center, will be facilitating the activities.
Session 1
Ages: 8-11 years old
Limit: 20
Session 2
Ages 12 and up
Limit: 20
Warhammer 40,000
Warhammer is a popular fantasy tabletop battle game in which players choose from a staggering array of armies ranging from medieval Arthurian-type Knights to futuristic Space Marines. The game pieces are finely detailed 28mm figures, and the game includes a wide array of supports that help develop the artistic and hobby skills of players. Participants in this activity will take control of a small army of figures with the goal of cooperating with other players in order to accomplish a larger goal. Players will be given a handout including background and important rules, and information on where to acquire the game and addresses of local stores that provide support and a place to play. We will provide the figures and tabletop terrain, players should just bring their imaginations and a little bit of patience. Most importantly, players are encouraged to make friends in order to have opponents all year round. Once players have some experience, any rainy afternoon the kitchen table at home can be turned into a fantastic setting for a game! Bill Russell, an instructor at the New York Institute of Technology for college students with learning disabilities, will be facilitating.
Sessions: This is a rolling activity which you may visit of stay for as long as you like.
Ages 10 and up
Chess
Chess Master and experienced teacher, Harold Stenzel, will conduct instructional sessions for beginners and more experienced chess players. Meet others who love the game or get acquainted with the basics of Chess. Learn and then play games.
Harold Stenzel, has been one of Long Island’s most accomplished chess players for the past three decades, having participated in over 4000 rated games. He has been president of the Nassau Chess Club since 1979 and its
tournament director since 1976. During that time has organized over a thousand events. He has taught chess to children at over two dozen local schools and over a dozen local libraries.
Session 1: Introduction to Chess
Any age
This is an instructional and playing session for those who don’t know how to play or aren’t sure of all the rules.
Session 2: How to Play Chess Better
Any age
This is an instructional and playing session for those who have experience playing chess.
"Scene-It" Movie Trivia
Scene-It is the world’s first DVD board game, featuring hundreds of Hollywood stars and film clips from major movie studios. It combines the fun of a classic board game with the visual excitement of DVD technology. In addition, there are movie trivia cards and questions about scenes featured on the Scene-It DVD. The game keeps players of all levels engaged with 11 unique on screen challenges. Lorrie Cohen, M.A., a nationally certified counselor with a private practice specializing in children on the Autism spectrum, as well as the parent of a child on the Spectrum, will be facilitating the games.
Session 1
Ages 8 to 12
Maximum: 8
Concentrates on scenes and trivia from four categories: movies, TV shows, musical artists and athletes. This game is for those who have a passion for current movie and TV trivia.
Session 2
Ages 13 to 16
Maximum: 8
This level of Scene-It concentrates on movies.
Jeopardy
For those with a great interest in facts and information, Jeopardy will provide you with an opportunity to meet other fact wizards, combine your knowledge, and compete for special prizes. Peter Wigg, Psy.D., who has worked in the field of developmental disabilities for 20 years and has been at the Cody Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities at Stony Brook University for the past four years, will be facilitating the Jeopardy game. He is a psychologist with special interest in social skills development, school consultation and individual psychotherapy with adolescents with high functioning Autism and Asperger Syndrome.
Session 1
Ages 11 and under
Limit: 20 participants
Session 2
Ages 12 and over
Limit: 20 participants
Trampoline
An activity using Rebounder bouncers, which are dramatized in the popular novel about high-functioning autism, Speed of Dark, will help children and adolescents develop their coordination while bouncing on real trampolines! Chris Speziali, an experienced personal trainer who founded and runs Power Pals, which teaches special needs children the motor and athletic skills they need to make their playground experiences easier, will be supervising the activity.
Any age
Activity will be continuously supervised and ongoing throughout the day.
Puppet Pals
Different sessions geared toward specific age groups will allow children and adolescents to explore making and/or operating puppets, and then at the end of the day to participate in putting on a puppet show! Faith Kappenberg, PhD, LCSW; John Kappenberg, EdD; and Anne Marie Swerz, MSW, MA; and their team, including peer mentors, will be leading the puppet activity.
Session 1
Ages 7 to 11
Maximum number: 8
First watch an interactive puppet show, performed by peer mentors, called Perry Finds a Pal. Perry and his puppet friends teach kids how puppets and kids have fun together. They are silly, make mistakes and ask the audience for help.
Next, make a puppet. Professional staff, Perry the Puppet, and peer mentors will assist participants in making their own simple puppets. Then, pairs of kids will do their own puppet shows, or they will have the option of simply playing together with a selection of hand puppets with peer support.
Session 2
Ages 11 to 14
Maximum number: 8
Older youngsters will use 2 ½ ft. life-like teenaged puppets similar to those seen on Sesame Street and the Broadway show, Avenue Q. The participants will be assisted by peer mentors and adults. We will work with the puppets using age appropriate popular songs. Jokes, and brief sketches. This session will appeal to kids who like puppets, role-play, music, acting or animated characters. Kids who are reluctant to operate the puppets can join the fun by talking to the puppets and doing the sketches with them.
Session 3
Open to all ages, sibs and parents
Mentors and some of the participants will present selected sketches and songs from Sessions 1 and 2. All participants will be invited to join the musical finale with a variety of puppets.
Candy Land
Children will enjoy hands-on, structured activities involving colors, shapes and movements. We will make a real life "Candy Land" game and children will have the opportunity to work individually to bring home their own home-made candy land activity. We will have a "Shape Hop and work with shapes to make patterns. No reading skills are necessary. Minimal reciprocal language is necessary to participate in this activity. Turn-taking will be emphasized if children are ready.
Dr. Juliet Williams, a NYS Licensed Clinical Psychologist who has a private practice in Stony Brook, NY specializing in diagnostic evaluations, cognitive assessment, educational consultation and practical therapeutic interventions for high functioning individuals with ASD and their families, will be facilitating the activity.
Ages 4 to 8
Limit: 12 participants
Charades
For the budding actor who loves trivia about popular songs, movies, and television shows. There will also be a lightning round in which kids can act out the names of common household items. April Malone, a teacher's aide at Rosemary Kennedy Center who works with children with Autism and Developmental Disabilities and a co-facilitator for the Long Island Global and Regional Asperger Syndrome Partnership adult support group, will be facilitating the games.
Session 1
Ages 11 ands under
Maximum Number: 20
Session 2
Ages 12 and over
Maximum Number 20
Dinosaurs
Children will be able to choose from a variety of activities including a Dinosaur Egg Hunt, Dinosaur Crafts, Dinosaur word searches and Dinosaur spelling. Children are encouraged to bring one of their dinosaurs to play with in Dinosaur Land. Children may make a Dinosaur tree for their herbivores. Dr. Juliet Williams will be facilitating.
Ages- 4 to 9
Limit - 12
It Takes a Child to Raise a Village
Come join us to partner up with new friends and families to create our own (almost) life-size town!
We need "wanna bees"... builders, designers, engineers, architects and artists, to help create the town you'd like to live in... We provide the boxes, glue, details and paint- you provide the imagination and construction! We map out the village - you decide what it needs and where to make it.
How many ice cream flavors would we have? Should there be a mall of just video parlors and laser tag? Then let’s do it!
No experience necessary!
Friend Match-Up Board for future contact will be added to throughout the day.
Bonnie Jan., a Socialization Specialist, coordinates the group program at Long Island Psychiatric in Roslyn, New York. She has been conducting social skills and self esteem groups, as well as consulting in the fields of special education, mental health and public educations for 30 years.
All ages
Continuous throughout the day
NASCAR
Is NASCAR your thing? Join other kids 9 to 13 years old who enjoy NASCAR. We'll talk about favorite drivers. Is Jeff Gordon going to win more races than Richard Petty? We'll play some trivia. There may even be time to play a board game with a NASCAR theme. Feel free to make up trivia questions than you can ask other NASCAR fans. Bring a game if you like.
Sample trivia questions
Who was Red Byron? Who are the only brothers to win the NASCAR Winston Cup Championship?
David Makowski, Ph.D., is a psychologist specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of individuals with autism spectrum disorders. He is on the faculty at the Cody Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities at Stony Brook University, where he coordinates the school consultation program. He is also a Senior Psychologist at Schneider Children's Hospital where he conducts social skills groups.
Ages 9 to 13
Limit: 12
Cartooning
David Bamundo has been professional illustrator and graphic designer for more than a decade. His clients include Nickelodeon, The New York Times, Forbes, Newsweek, SPIN and amazon.com. He is living proof that a steady diet of comics and cartoons can lead to a rewarding occupation.
David lives on Staten Island with his wife Nancy.
Session 1 - Beginner’s Cartooning
For children with an interest in cartooning, but not much experience with it. The ability to create popular cartoon characters using simple shapes will be explored. Children will be provided with art materials and a number of cards and stickers from David.
Session 2 - Advanced Cartooning
For those who already have some drawing ability. Children’s interests will be explored and then they will create a magazine or comic book cover demonstrating this interest and their cartoons. Children will be provided with art materials and a number of cards and stickers from David.
Lego City
You will meet with other people who love to build with Lego blocks. Each person will have an opportunity to design and create their own structure to be included with others in the development of a Lego City. Everyone is encouraged to stop by before the end of the day, to see the final design created by all participants in this on-going activity.
Rosemarie C. Komorowski is the parent of a child with Autism, currently a Youth & Education Advocacy Specialist with the Suffolk Independent Living Org., Partner in Policymaking from the Advocacy Center in Rochester,NY, past President of North Shore, and currently Rocky Point SEPTA, and former Fine Arts Educator for the NYC Board of Education.
This Lego activity will be continuous throughout the day. No pre-registration needed. Any age group included.
Scrambled States of America
If you love geography facts and maps of the States, you will have a great time playing Scrambled States of America.
Jean Jacobson, Ph.D., is a psychologist at Just Kids. She specializes in diagnosis, treatment, and development of social skills for children on the autism spectrum.
Session 1
Ages 8 to 11 years old
Limit: 12 participants
Session 2
Ages 6 to 9 years old
Limit: 12 participants
Trains, Trains, Trains
This activity is for train aficionados. You will meet other children who are interested in trains, have arts and crafts activities that are all about trains, check our knowledge in train championships, play games and earn prizes. All having to do with trains, trains, trains!
Sagit Vishnia, Psy.D., is a clinical psychologist and a staff member at the Cody Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities at Stony Brook University, where she coordinates the Social Skills Training program.
Session 1
Ages 6 to 8
Limit: 10
Session 2
Ages 8 to 10
Limit: 10
REGISTER NOW!
Please note that, although everything included on the list has been finalized and the needed personnel have all confirmed their attendance, the lineup is subject to change at any time if a scheduling conflict develops.
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