Moriah Summer Youth Program facing uncertainty

MORIAH | Unless the Town of Moriah is able to fill two imperative staff positions, their Summer Youth Program, a free service to students in kindergarten through sixth grade during July and August, is facing extinction for 2025. "As we sit here now, we have no applications for Director or Assistant Director," explained Town Supervisor Matt Brassard. "This has never been a problem before, but without those two positions being filled, I can't have a summer program. That would be detrimental to the kids and the families." The Summer Youth Program, which typically serves 120 Moriah kids, is scheduled to run July 7 through Aug. 1. With a daily average of between 50 and 70 kids, the program is completely free, and roughly 70 Moriah families have come to rely on those four weeks in the summer knowing their children are safe, entertained with their peers, and staying out of trouble. Running for six hours Monday through Friday, the program also serves participants a healthy breakfast and a healthy lunch. Again, all with no cost to the child or parent. "The Director sets the schedule for the four-week program," Brassard shared. "A lot is done at school, we use the school bus and bus driver. Sometimes the kids go to the forts at Crown Point or Fort Ticonderoga or Shelburne. They go to the movies, play basketball, flag football, soccer, and do arts and crafts. They are all fun, wholesome activities." Brassard recalls being part of the program as a youth, the many hours spent playing baseball a fond memory. He also credits the program for being essential to working families. "I don't ever want to say we are a babysitting service, that is not how I see it," he said. "It is a program to keep kids active and engaged. Some kids don't have the best home life and they are able to get away from that. A lot of parents use it as daycare, it is held the same hours as what school runs. If someone has a job and they can't afford childcare, this has been a solution." And if Brassard has no choice but to close the program, there is another group that also depends on it and will feel the negative ramifications- the 12 to 15 Moriah teens it employs as counselors for their summer jobs. "Summer jobs are not easy to come by for kids," Brassard noted. "For some of these kids, it is nice to have something local; for many teens the job is close enough to their house where they can walk to and from work, and make a few thousand dollars in a four week period." Any interested community members are invited to apply for the two open positions. The Director is required to hold a Bachelor's Degree and to also have some kind of camp environment experience in their background- they could have worked for Camp Dudley, for example. The Director is responsible for making the weekly schedule of activities. The workweek is 32.5 hours, and the Director's compensation is $28.30 an hour. The Assistant Director has no requirements to apply. This is also a 32.5 hour per week position and compensation is $23.65 per hour. Brassard said it is not a physically demanding job, but can be mentally demanding. There is paperwork to be filed, sometimes discipline of a rowdy child is required, so good communication skills and patience are qualities needed to bring to the table. "It's a fun work environment," Brassard said. "The kids get along and have fun. It's a great way to get to know our area students. The money is good, you make $5,000 in a four week period. It's a Monday through Friday work schedule, and you are off early afternoons and still able to enjoy the evening." Those interested in applying may email Brassard at supervisor@townofmoriahny.gov or call Town Hall 518-546-8631, or stop into Town Hall Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for an application. "Due to time constraints with training and necessary Department of Health paperwork and a background check, if I don't have somebody by early May, I will have to make a decision that we are not going to have the program," Brassard said. The clock is ticking.

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Moriah Summer Youth Program facing uncertainty

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