Once upon a time, in the beautiful, lush state of Maine, known as ME to its buddies, there lived a bunch of energetic, sprightly young kids who just couldn't keep away from a rather bouncy fellow named Mr. Basketball. Maine, with its enchanting forests and tranquil, sparkling lakes, was a picture of idyllic calm. But the moment Mr. Basketball made an appearance, the tranquility turned into a whirl of excitement. These Maine kids were a lovable, noisy bunch who had a knack for dribbling, shooting, and throwing Mr. Basketball through a hoop. Their laughter echoed across the pine trees and elks would often stop munching on their favorite blueberry bushes just to watch these youngsters play. Maine's longest resident, a brilliant, old moose named Marvin, fondly watched over them from the sidelines. He'd often shake his huge antlers and yell, "Bounce that ball, kiddos!" Mr. Basketball, despite all the bouncing and squeezing, never lost his spirit. In fact, he loved the attention and the adventure! He would occasionally get a bit dizzy though, but that was all part of the fun. After all, who wouldn't want to fly through the air and score a perfect "swoosh" in the basket? So, in the captivating landscape of Maine, these basketball-loving kids and their round, rubbery friend created a symphony of laughter and sport. They had a blast, and Marvin the Moose did too, even if he did grumble about the noise every now and then. But deep down, he knew he wouldn't have it any other way. Because, in Maine, basketball wasn't just a game. It was a celebration of friendship, fun and, of course, a very resilient, bouncy, Mr. Basketball.
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What began in a humble New York City apartment with just a single student, Spark, has since blossomed into an enriching program impacting thousands of children. Our unique educational approach combines the elements of art, yoga, meditation, and nature to create a holistic learning environment. This distinctive blend is what sets Spark apart, allowing us to reach and inspire a multitude of children in truly meaningful ways. With an array of offerings to accommodate various schedules and needs, Spark has something for everyone. Our services extend beyond the standard after school and weekend classes to include holiday and summer camps, birthday parties, portfolio preparation, private classes, and custom pods. We also welcome homeschool groups and are thrilled to announce the recent addition of a forest school program to our repertoire. You can find Spark on-site in various schools and at our main studio located in the Upper West Side. But we're not stopping there - we're also planning to expand to the Upper East Side and Brooklyn. For our families in Pennsylvania, we run the program from our family studio there. And if you're not in close proximity to any of our locations, don't worry. We offer in-home instruction and virtual options to ensure that Spark can reach you, no matter where you are. We invite you to explore all the ways you can experience Spark and look forward to helping bring our program to you.
Camp Cedar has proudly upheld the values of camp and community that its founders established 66 years ago. Bill and Sheila Hacker, along with Henry Hacker and Henry Lesser, opened the original camp in 1954 with just 37 kids. Over the years, they built up the camp facilities with a true labor of love. Now, Camp Cedar is a thriving camp with 270 boys ages 8-15 enjoying the summer together. Camp Cedar is the perfect size, offering all the options of a larger camp while still being able to individualize each camper’s experience. Taking a walk to the campfire, visitors can witness the values of camp and community that have been proudly upheld since the camp’s inception. The dedication of Bill and Sheila Hacker, Henry Hacker, and Henry Lesser has created a lasting legacy that continues to enrich the lives of campers each summer.