We offer several performers from our roster for BOCES Programs.

I coordinate Onondaga Lake education experiences for elementary and middle school students. The lake field trips involve hands-on learning stations that include fishing, water quality testing, a nature walk to learn about the ecosystem, a local history lesson related to Onondaga Lake, and an integrated art project.

We offer engaging author visits to schools and organizations, either virtually or in person with our author(s) and book character(s). Each 45-minute assembly is designed for students in Pre-K through 4th grade and includes a read-aloud from a book of your choice, interactive storytelling with music, games, and lively discussion. Students will also have access to discounted pricing on books. These read-aloud sessions aren’t just entertaining—they’re educational. They help motivate children to read, strengthen their comprehension, expand vocabulary, and introduce language patterns not typically heard in everyday conversation. Students are encouraged to make meaningful connections between the stories and their own lives, making reading both fun and relevant.

Once Upon a Toon is a unique hybrid of storytelling with live cartoon illustrations. Multi-Emmy Award-winning cartoonist Joe Wos draws the stories as he tells them, in a lively and engaging program for all ages. Pulling from original stories and folktales with a twist, this live show is like watching a picture book being drawn before your very eyes. Each presentation includes a short guessing game, a how-to example, and two illustrated stories. Yielding between 15-20 drawings at every show. Best of all the illustrations stay with your school and may be displayed, auctioned, or even photocopied to share with students. Popular illustrated tales include Joe’s original pun-filled adventure “Don on the Farm” about a duck who longs to be a rooster, and with some help from his friends, they all help each other achieve their dreams! Joe also puts his unique spin on such classics as The Crowded House, How Turtle Flew South, How Elephant Got His Trunk, and many more.

Lime Hollow’s field trips offer standards-aligned, hands-on opportunities for students throughout Central NY to connect with the nature world and the concept they are learning in school. Field trips are inter-disciplinary and align with standards across curriculum including science, math, language arts, social studies, and social emotional learning. Each field trip is led by trained environmental educators with the support of the participating school’s teachers and volunteers.

Day in Clay is a diverse, multicultural ceramic art program for K–12, including professional development and disabilities. The programs are conducted virtually and in school. Overview Headquartered in Tomkins Cove, NY, Day in Clay was founded by Cliff Mendelson in 1988. Day in Clay provides a multicultural ceramic artist in residence programs for K–12 in over 400 schools and districts. It offers both virtual and on-site assemblies and classroom interactive programs with diverse culturally inspired hands-on/demonstrations in clay. Students get a real taste of the creative process and how design, form, and function relate across disciplines and cultures. Students create and explore African, Asian, Latin/ Native American, and Greek cultures through programs like vessel making, tile making, mask making and multicultural potter's wheel, all custom-tailored for their curriculum. Students work directly with clay, learning advanced techniques and understanding how each culture tells their unique story through 3D art, and discover the relationship between art and society. In the class, students become involved in working with clay while learning advanced techniques and the science behind glazing, painting, and firing. They explore the relationship between art, science, and society. Students also use historical techniques to create, decorate, and design vessels using culturally specific patterns, symbols, and imagery. Day in Clay invites an artist to demonstrate various aspects of different programs, how they connect to the history of ceramics, and show the interrelation of ceramics in cultures worldwide. Staff development provides arts faculty with the techniques, cultural history, and hands-on problem-solving, ready-to-go lesson plans to bring clay into the classroom. Staff learn to use cultural connections as a way to connect students to their own work. The training mirrors Mendelson's college-level teaching, where engagement and sharing expertise are paramount. Lessons are tied into Native American, Asian, African, Latin American, and Greek cultures. Mendelson provides advanced hand-building techniques and the science behind glazing, painting, and firing. Staff development is custom-tailored to meet the needs of a school’s faculty. The best way to problem-solve with students is a hands-on approach and learning the limits of the materials to advance their success. A lively Q&A is always encouraged!

Féraba – The African Rhythm Tap Company offers dynamic school assembly programs that blend traditional West African music and dance with American tap, creating an engaging, educational experience for students from kindergarten through 12th grade. Féraba's assemblies are interactive and culturally enriching. They are an immersive experience that combines storytelling, music, and dance to take students on a cultural journey, emphasizing the interconnectedness of global traditions.

Bring on the Spectrum (BOTS) welcomes friends of ALL ages and abilities to join us for fun activities! BOTS has a 5,000 square foot sensory gym with swings, slides, a quiet room, foosball, air hockey and more. BOTS is also a community space, offering social groups and clubs, such as art, personal training/fitness, Minecraft Club, Lego Club, Tween Scene and Teen Takeover.

Picture this: laughter echoing through the trees during spirited team building games, the pride of a child as they climb to the top of a rock wall, and the serenity of hiking along winding trails to discover cascading waterfalls and enchanting forests. At Frost Valley, we weave magic into every moment, crafting a truly unforgettable experience for every guest. Within our program, we celebrate every milestone and cherish every shared smile. Our dedicated Outdoor Instructors are more than just educators—they are role models, companions, and guides. Their mission is to spark meaningful connections within your group and inspire a profound bond with the natural world. We passionately believe in the power of outdoor education, now more than ever. Our science curriculum is designed to kindle student’s curiosity, empower their critical thinking, and deepen their understanding of the environment and their place within it. As you explore the wonders of nature, you are invited to awaken your inner adventurer. Conquer our exhilarating high ropes courses, glide across Lake Cole in a canoe, and build a fire from scratch—each activity a gateway to self-discovery and empowerment. Beyond the thrill, it’s about uncovering the extraordinary found within every individual. Frost Valley is more than a field trip; it is a safe space where friendships blossom, memories are etched in time, and hearts are forever touched. We invite you to delve into the enclosed materials for a glimpse into the magic that awaits you through Frost Valley YMCA’s Outdoor School Programs.

Rogue Bear InterACTIVE Adventures produces captivating, hands-on educational enrichment programs in which the KIDS are the STARS of the SHOW! In our History Mystery Adventure Quest, kids build knowledge, observation, and research skills as they hunt for a priceless historical artifact just like Indiana Jones or Carmen Sandiego! They follow mysterious trails, uncover hidden clues, solve baffling riddles, decode secret messages, and overcome challenging obstacles to recover a priceless artifact, identifying historical landmarks, employing deductive reasoning, and utilizing knowledge about history along the way! Everyone contributes and each child has a role, making everyone feel important and valued throughout the activity. In ComicCrafting 101 kids learn to create their own comics using simple storytelling and illustration techniques. They design characters, choose settings, and develop the plot - then bring their stories to life both visually and with words, turning simple lines and shapes into fantastic scenes and images! No previous story writing or illustration experience required.

I've been presenting at schools all over the country for more than 25 years. Each year, I develop new, interactive presentations to keep things fresh and exciting for everyone. While the structure and content are new every year, my presentations are always fun, fast-paced explanations of how I create my books. Using a grade-appropriate, interactive digital slide show, I explain the writing process from generating ideas to writing rough drafts to editing and revising. I emphasize the vital importance of all the revisions and changes that all good writers do to their work. I share rough drafts with the students and demonstrate why it's so important to keep working and reworking the writing. I also show how I create the artwork for the books and explain how the writing and illustrating processes are linked for me. Each presentation ends with a drawing demonstration and questions from the audience.

Award-winning, nationally touring actor and educator Tim Collins has performed his acclaimed one-man shows for over 1,000,000 students and educators around the country. Tim offers a range of engaging shows for all ages, K-12, as well as interactive workshops for students and adults. STANDING BY, STANDING UP (3rd-7th grade) ?This powerful solo play depicts a compelling range of characters confronted by bullying and cyberbullying. Timely and thought-provoking, this impactful drama identifies ways students can prevent violence in their schools and communities. TO BE HONEST (8th-12th grade) A performance created specifically for middle and high school audiences, this moving show addresses a range of trending issues including cyberbullying, bystander intervention, and the impact of social media on friendships and relationships. NO MORE BULLYING (K-3rd grade) This fun and exciting program engages kids and provides strategies on how to avoid bullying and how to become an empowered bystander and work to prevent bullying and cyberbullying. INTERACTIVE WORKSHOPS (all ages) Utilizing an innovative combination of innovative games and activities, small and large group discussion, and compelling and memorable role-playing exercises, Tim provides transformative workshop sessions for students and professionals. Workshops on a variety of topics are available, including: Healthy Communication, Conflict Resolution, Team Building, Bystander Intervention, Cultural Responsiveness, Leadership, Diversity and Inclusion, Bullying Prevention, Cyberbullying Prevention, Healthy Masculinity, Creative Writing, Improvisational Comedy, Acting and Public Speaking.