For eight weeks, Kids in the Game partners with Bronx Health REACH to bring fitness and wellness activities to 11 places of worship in the Bronx and Upper Manhattan. Our coaches are tasked with teaching physical education in ways that can be sustained at home, as well as in each respective community.

Kids in the Game provided over 200 youth and parents across the Bronx with nutrition and physical fitness education. In all of our sites, there is an increased sense of community and newfound ownership over their physical and mental wellbeing. We stretched, we laughed, we did multiple squats, but most importantly we completed the program with enthusiasm and a commitment to wellness that will continue to develop in the future!

Our Sites

Why this work is particularly important in the Bronx:

Brandon Evans, our Program Coordinator, works closely with the Bronx Health REACH team, Emily Oppenheimer and Yolanda Benitez, on securing coaches for the eleven programming sites. Once a week for an hour and a half, Kids in the Game comes together with NYU and the Institute for Family Health to host the program to fight these statistics.

Each session is divided into a nutrition lesson provided by NYU and the Institute for Family Health, followed by a physical activity put on by our Kids in the Game coaches. The coaches lead kids and their parents in fitness activities that are both space appropriate and flexible for all physical ability levels. The context of the fitness activity varies from each site and coach, but each site shares the same unique goal of bringing physical fitness to underserved communities in a way that will be sustained at home, beyond those eight weeks.

“Kids in the Game coaches engage underserved communities of diverse backgrounds with one common goal: to increase physical activity and bridge the wellness gap. We had families who had never played together engage in fun activities and commit to continuing the goal of implementing physical activity into their everyday lives. For 11 places of worship, Kids in the Game provided the tools and resources for increased wellness and a change in the physical and mental well being of a multitude of families,”

Brandon Evans.

One of the largest wins we had this year was growth in parent engagement from week one to week eight. When we started, the adults would step to the side while the kids engaged and participated in the activities. After challenging our coaches to find creative ways to include the adults, we saw tremendous growth in the parent participation. Promoting positive and impactful play between the parents and kids was one of our desired outcomes, and it has made a huge impact on the communities we serve.

The Bronx Health REACH was formed in 1999 to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in health outcomes in diabetes and heart disease in African American and Latino communities in the southwest Bronx. Since then, the Bronx Health REACH coalition, led by the Institute for Family Health, has grown to include over 70 community-based organizations, health care providers, faith-based institutions, housing, and social service agencies.

Bronx Health REACH

The day has finally arrived. Your lunch box is packed full. Your outfit is ready. Your sunscreen is prepped (thanks mom and dad!). Today is the day that you don’t mind that your alarm clock (do kids still use alarm clocks?) is ringing for the first time since school got out. You have excited butterflies in your stomach anticipating the new friends you will meet and the new experiences you will have. Today is the day. Today is the first day of Kids in the Game SUMMER CAMP!

By design, a day at a summer camp run by Kids in the Game looks a little bit different everyday of the week. The general structure, of course, has consistency and fluidity to ensure that our campers and counselors alike know the general routine of camp. However, we want our campers to wake up every morning with the same excitement they feel on day one of camp as they do on day 27 of camp. To insure this we have made it a priority to put detailed thought into activities, themes, projects, and field-trips.

Here is what a one day at KING Summer Camp looks like:

8:00-9:00 Early dropoff begins with main camp festivities beginning at 9am. The most prepared camper will come with a refillable water bottle, a lunch with extra snacks for throughout the day and a ready-to-go attitude!

9:00-9:15- Camp Rally! This an important time of the day to welcome all the kids and give them a run down of what the day will look like.

9:15-10:30- First sports/movement activity of the day. This section could be tennis, basketball, soccer, baseball… you name it we probably do it. We keep our instructional blocks to small groups so our campers will have fun but also learn the fundamentals of that day’s sport. Our staff includes sport specialists that have the highest knowledge in their particular sport.

10:30-10:45- Snack time! With our campers being active for most of the day, it is key to stay hydrated (water bottles are a MUST!) and fueled up on snacks. We will have a snack shop full of nutritious snacks if you want to send your camper with a couple extra bucks or pack some extras into their lunch box.

10:45-11:45- Each of our camps is located next to a beautiful outdoor park. We get special permits at each location to use these parks to their fullest extent. At this time during the day, we will be playing special, larger grouped activities. These activities will be geared towards the weekly theme.

11:45-12:30- For this time frame, we will split the groups into a couple different stations. This could be arts and crafts, a STEM project, or a specialized movement group. We have specialists working with each of these groups and again the activities will directly correlate to the weekly theme. Let’s think about through the decades theme for a second… the kids will travel back in time and learn different dance movements (sock hop, the twist, etc) and explore decade-old, classic craft activities (flower crowns, pet rocks, making play-dough etc). Our activities in these sections are design to cater to specific age groups, so every camper will get the most out their camp experience.

12:30-1:00 – Lunch! Time to sit back, relax and refuel. All our campsites have refrigerators to store lunches from home.

1:00-1:30 – Camps days are go-go-go so it is important to have a little downtime. Our youngest campers might use this time to nap, older kids to read a book or work with a counselor on some academic work.

1:30-2:30- If you were in the arts group in the morning then it is your time to do STEM or creative movement and vice versa. No need to fret, all campers will get to participate in all planned activities.

2:30-3:30- This will be our second stop for a large group activity. This activity will be different than the morning, but no less fun! We have 100+ games in our pockets, so we promise no kid will get bored playing the same thing over and over again.

3:30-4:00- End of day rally with a special treat to boot! Don’t fret that the day has come to an end. There is always tomorrow for more camp adventures. The best questions we get asked at the end of the day are the “what are we doing tomorrow….Can we do this tomorrow?” type of questions. And we can confidently answer… tomorrow will bring new adventures, new friends and new experiences.

4:30-6:00- For those needing a little extra time to come pick up your camper we do offer extended after care from 4:30-6. This is an additional $15 per day and can be added at an at-need basis.

A couple of extra notes: Like we said, we like to keep everyday a little bit different and this schedule will change here and there to accommodate special trips, activities and projects.

Wednesdays will always be our field trip days. Whether you are a Mets fan or a Yankees fan, don’t worry, we got you covered and go to a game of each. We will also be going to Luna park, museums, and a Liberty basketball game.

This year we are also offering swim lessons. Lessons are an additional $45 per week for a 40-minute lesson. Highly trained swim specific instructors teach our lessons.
Already know how to swim? No problem, we take the 1st grade and up campers to the pool for open swim once a week as well!

We truly believe that communication is key to our success. Camp families will receive weekly communication on how camp is going, what to expect and if there is any special items that your camper need to bring (i.e. White t-shirt for tye-dye, swim suit for lessons, wear your camp t-shirt for field trip etc…)

For more detailed information on our summer camps please visit https://www.kidsinthegame.com/summer-camps/ and let’s all get pumped for the BEST SUMMER EVER WITH KING!

When asked to describe the Bronx in three words Tracey Lewis, Kids in the Game Program Coordinator, thought for a couple minutes before saying, “needs more mentors”. From a non-New Yorker perspective, this answer didn’t surprise me. There is no lack in commentary of the “rough, lack of funding, lack of opportunity” side of New York’s most Northern borough. Unfortunately, often times we only hear that side of the story. Tracey is on a mission to write and tell another Bronx story.

Tracey was born and raised in the Bronx and is a The Bronx Wood School elementary school alum. He is currently leading Kids in the Game’s Bronx outreach program, traveling to elementary schools across the borough, educating principals on the Kids in the Game mission. For Tracey, giving kids the opportunity to be surrounded by positive influences is important; but furthermore, giving kids someone they can relate to in a positive way is vital. For that mission, Tracey is the gold standard.

From growing up in the Bronx, Tracey moved upstate to play point guard at Utica College. Although he described Utica as a “culture shock”, Tracey excelled both on the basketball court and in the classroom. He graduated with a degree in Criminal Justice and was accepted to the School Counseling Graduate program at Mercy College. To not stop there, Tracey was also a graduate assistant basketball coach at Mercy and has interned with the New York City Police Department. Oh and did I mention he also currently coaches the Cardinal Hayes High School basketball team?

To say he is a positive mentor is an understatement and that does not even include his roles with Kids in the Game. He currently is the After-School Program Director at Mount Carmel Holy Rosary, an elementary school within the Partnership Schools system. The Partnership Schools consists of six Catholic schools that aim to provide outstanding educations to low-income students. Working with this population Tracey has provided further structure and mentorship to these growing kids.

And because Kids in the Game nor Tracey take the summer off, you can find Tracey busy at our Inwood Summer Camp as the Assistant Director or planning drills for a KING Hoops practice.

He might not have a favorite sports team, restaurant, movie, TV show or any other basic questions I asked him, but what he does have is a passion for kids and sports. He told me that his quote “best day ever” is a day where all he does is coach kids and nothing else. Now I don’t have kids, but if I did, I can tell you, I would be first in line to have Coach Tracey be their coach, mentor, and friend.

With summer right around the corner, everyone’s got camp on the mind. Here’s what parents are saying about our summer camps.

Didi N. – 5 Stars on Yelp

“This is an awesome summer camp which encourages your kids to be active and fit. Their philosophy is centered around getting kids involved in sports and physical fitness. I am a true believer of kids being active and long term effects. The staff is caring and enjoy working with kids. Children get to try different sports and learn basics of teamwork and effort. Both of my daughters, 4 and 6 participated last year and can’t wait to go back this year! It is also affordable by NYC standards. This gem will not remain hidden for long!!”

Amanda S. – 5 Stars on Google

“The Summer camp on the UWS was amazing! The counselors are engaged and work hard to make it fun for the kids. All the counselors learned all the kids names even if they weren’t in their group so it felt like a community which makes the kids feel special and I think makes it safer for the kids especially on field trip days. There are lots of activities including sports, games and even a popsicle break on a hot day. My daughter was up early every morning & couldn’t wait to start (we arrived before the staff some days) and she insisted on staying in the after care because it was so fun. The field trips to major league baseball games and museums were just the icing on the cake. I can’t recommend this highly enough for high energy and athletic kids it’s a dream come true.”

Jessica L. – 5 Stars on Facebook

“We signed up our 4-year-old for one week last summer, and she loved it so much that we promptly signed her up for two more weeks. The kids played sports and games outside everyday, and there were indoor activities like arts and crafts, and special activities like tap dance. It was what we wished school could be like. The coaches are very sweet with the kids and made sure their water bottles were always filled up and that they brought them when they went to the park. One thing that really surprised me was how kind an accommodating the staff were – it was clear they really seemed to want to make things easy on the families. They had a sign-in sheet and sign-out sheet for drop off and pick-up, and every day ended with a Popsicle. One special thing to note for prospective parents of campers: my kid was wiped out every day… Which was awesome and made an early bedtime a breeze and my summer that much more enjoyable!”

Elida M. – 5 Stars on Yelp

“Really good program, professional staff. All sweet, kind but at the same time firm. My daughter participated on their summer camp last year – she can’t hardly wait for the summer 2016.”

Thor W. – 5 Stars on Facebook

“Kids in the Game has been great for my 4 yr old daughter, who has some medical issues. The staff is pleasant to work with and super helpful in navigating particular needs. Also, it’s the most affordable camp in the neighborhood, which means a lot! We’re looking forward to another great summer!”

Tell us about your experience with Kids in the Game!

If you already signed up for camp, share the news with your friends. If you haven’t registered for camp this summer, we still have openings in our Upper West  Side, Inwood and Riverdale locations. Register at: www.kidsinthegame.com/registration

*All reviews have been sourced from public Yelp, Google and Facebook pages.

Kids in the Game (KING) has partnered with St. Margaret of Cortona School, 452 W. 260th Street, to create our new summer camp in Riverdale, Bronx.

The Riverdale, Bronx camp is located near Van Cortlandt Park and will have a variety of activities including field trips, swimming, sports, fitness games, dance and more.

Click here to see wha our summer camps offer!

The camp is available for boys and girls entering Pre-K4 to 8th grade in Fall 2016, and will run for 9 weeks, beginning June 20th until August 19th. See below for details on before-care and after-care options.

The rate for the Riverdale location summer camp is $325 per week. Family discount is available.

To register, to go www.kidsinthegame.com/registration

Kids in the Game (KING) is proud to announce the start of youth soccer clinics with Partnership Schools! Following the volleyball and basketball KING and Partnership Schools series, soccer clinics will begin on Saturday, April 16th.

The network-wide program will take place at Rainey Park, on Park Street and Intervale Avenue, in the Bronx. Boys and girls in 3rd through 8th grade can join the 10:00am to 11:30am session.

Soccer clinics will run for five weeks and focus on teaching and improving skills such as dribbling, passing, receiving and shooting.

Register online at www.kidsinthegame.com/registration and select “Bronx – Saturday Soccer Clinics”

A True ‘Partnership’

In addition to the upcoming soccer clinics, KING is also planning a couple of other special events for the Partnership network:

8th Grade Transition Orientation: KING is organizing a send-off event for the graduating 8th graders in the Partnership Schools network. Students from all six schools within the network will have the chance to connect and meet others that will be attending similar high schools. Students will participate in group activities and get acquainted through organized games. The event will be held on May 23rd at Our Lady Queen of Angels.

Field Day: Partnership Schools and KING will hold a network-wide Field Day on June 13th! KING coaches will run outdoor games and competitions for 632 students during the day-long event held at Randall’s Island.