Welcome to the Statewide Art and Enrichment Roster, Hosted by CiTi BOCES
Regions Map
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This directory of artists, presenters and vendors is for contact information only. Please note that all
approvals are determined by individual BOCES and/or District criteria and do not guarantee acceptance of
proposed contracts.
Science Plus
National Geographic author and science celebrity Steve Tomecek, "The Dirtmeister" offers interactive science assemblies and non-fiction author programs for elementary schools and public libraries.
This Visiting Author Presentation focuses on disability acceptance & inclusion while connecting to the presenter's various children's books. By attending this program, students learn about different disabilities and the process of writing realistic fiction while becoming inspired to make a positive difference in their schools and communities. Great presentation for Autism Awareness Month (April) and Disability Awareness Month (October). Contact Author directly through her website for free Reading Guide. Amy also offers parent workshops related to raising a child with disabilities and understanding the unique needs of siblings.
Strum Bowing is a method that Tracy Silverman has developed to teach string players how to groove.
A Strum Bowing Workshop could be anything from a one-hour Zoom meeting with a school orchestra to a weeklong residency culminating with a concert. Workshops are based loosely on Silverman's book, The Strum Bowing Method. With school or youth orchestras, it’s often effective to have a zoom session a month or two before a live workshop or residency so the group can start working on some of the Groove Studies ahead of time. Tracy also encourages the instructor to take a lesson with him if they can, to familiarize themselves with the techniques.
He works with players of all ages and abilities, from elementary school beginners to conservatory pre-professionals to adult learners. He also presents pedagogy sessions and lessons with string teachers. He has lots of improvisation games that are effective for younger players (and great for breaking through inhibitions for older players) and the simplicity of the Strum Bowing method is accessible across age ranges.
For school orchestras, Tracy offers a collection of 22 Groove Studies for Strings which are an effective way to apply and reinforce the concepts of Strum Bowing and to practice techniques like Ghosting, Chopping, Subdividing, and developing the 3-D Strum. A favorite format is to work with the orchestra in rehearsals/workshops and then present a shared concert which usually consists of a solo program by Tracy using his live looping and electric 6-string violin, and then a collaboration with the orchestra on several pieces, which could be from the 22 Groove Studies for Strings or any piece that the orchestra is working on.
Grooving — awakening our inner sense of rhythm using Strum Bowing, essential to rock, jazz, hip hop, etc.
The Chop — non-pitched percussion sounds. Also the Compound Chop and the 3-D Strum
Ghost Notes — muted notes within a groove
Improvising — cultivating our natural curiosity and playfulness with fun improv games
Call and Response — ear training, rhythm training, style training
GPS for Strings (Groove Proficiency System) — Silverman's 4 step formula for finding your way to any groove
Blues scale and the blues
Other Workshop Topics
??Lecture/Demonstration – performance and explanations about technique, equipment, career etc; questions from the audience. General audience.
?Improvisation for Strings – an overview of the blues; call and response; simple scales and approaches for first-time improvisers. String players with instruments.
Mission Be, Inc. is a New York–based not-for-profit that has scaled nationally since 2013, bringing mindfulness-based social-emotional learning (SEL) programs to schools, organizations, and communities. To date, Mission Be has reached over 350,000 individuals across 322 schools and organizations in 28 states and 11 nations.
Our curriculum is rooted in neuroscience and aligned with the Next Generation Standards, NYS SEL Standards, the NYS Mental Health Standard, the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA), Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), and the NYS Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Framework (CR-S).
Through workshops, classroom programs, retreats, and assemblies for students, teachers, parents, and faculty, Mission Be provides practical tools with the intention to:
Reduce Stress – improve self-regulation and coping skills
Increase Focus – strengthen attention and concentration
Build Emotional Intelligence – reduce impulsiveness, improve empathy
Develop Resilience – enhance capacity to face challenges
Promote Well-being – foster healthier school climates and engagement
Program Highlights
Mission Be offers a variety of engaging, evidence-based programs for students, faculty, and parents, including:
Mindfulness in the Classroom (Pre-K–12): 1–16 week curricula with weekly lessons (40 minutes each) taught by Mission Be staff or trained educators.
Faculty Meetings & Workshops: Interactive sessions with breathing practices, SEL games, movement, and practical classroom strategies.
Professional Development for Educators & Administrators: One-hour to multi-day trainings on neuroscience, stress regulation, and classroom integration.
Mindful Mentoring Program for Educators: Six-hour training to strengthen teacher well-being and equip staff with mindfulness tools to support students.
Student Leadership Retreats: Full- or half-day trainings empowering students to become “Mindful Mentors” and peer leaders.
Parent Workshops: 75-minute sessions that provide families with mindfulness tools to support children’s well-being at home.
Headquartered in Islip, NY, Mission Be serves districts across Long Island and beyond, with the ability to travel to regions throughout New York State and nationally.
Learn more: www.missionbe.org/events
Contact: Carin Winter, CEO — 631-513-6151 | ceo@missionbe.org
Stitch Buffalo is excited to share our love of textile arts and provide instruction to learners of all ages and skill levels. When you book a class, a Stitch Buffalo instructor will come to your location and provide comprehensive instruction to your group. All supplies for the project are included.
Participants will learn fundamental techniques while developing design and collaborative skills in a relaxed environment that encourages exploration and personal expression.
Our rextile art projects/skills reflect traditional techniques used in many cultures from around the world.
These include:
1. Hand Embroidery
2. Block Printing
3. Pom-Pom Making
4. Jump Rope Making
5. Stencil and Appliqué
6. Macrame
7. Weaving
For each of the seven core disciplines, we offer three related projects that correspond to different ages and ability levels: beginner (elementary school); intermediate (middle school); and advanced (high school through adult). We also provide information on the
cultural context of each project, including how people from various cultures are practicing these traditional techniques today—right here in New York.
Go BIG AIR BMX Show features top professional athletes performing an unforgettable LIVE 40-minute Big Air Stunt Show. This exciting show is witnessed by over 600 schools per year, and includes powerful positive motivational messages delivered by the influencer/athletes in a way that resonates with students of all ages. Themes can include Anti-bullying, Character education, Motivation, Kindness and Respect and many more options. Our company has been in business for nearly 30 years so you can expect a professional experience from booking to delivery of your assembly, a kid favorite for decades. Don't miss out on this limited opportunity to have incredible high-flying stunts that will wow the kids along with high-energy, motivational messages they will never forget.
Local students are exposed to the presence and importance of local at-risk species and habitats and ways they can make a positive difference. Teachers can choose from a full menu of in-classroom and field trips that cover topics including adaptations, life cycles, habitats, photosynthesis, water quality, and more. Our favored field trip, “Habitats of the Saratoga Sand Plains,” highlights the Karner blue butterfly’s life cycle; its host plant, the wild blue lupine; the food chains and webs of the Saratoga Sand Plains Ecosystem; animal adaptations, freshwater life, pollution and habitat loss, and much more. These engaging programs meet criteria set forth in the state’s core curriculum for math and science. We now offer high school programming! Can’t find a program to fit to your needs? Contact us to schedule a unique program, tailored for you
The Children's Museum at Saratoga is dedicated to creating an interactive community that inspires curiosity, sparks imagination, and nurtures discovery. We are committed to serving as a resource for Capital Region school districts and to ensuring that programs and services are accessible to all children. The Museum offers outreach and field trip programs for students from preschool to 6th grade. Each program is designed to meet the needs of each classroom with plenty of opportunities for unique hands-on experiences. Programs correlate to Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards. They are wonderful additions to classroom curriculum as either an introduction to a lesson or to enhance current classroom units.
The Museum's priority is to make educational programs accessible to all students. We ask that you please share any special needs your students may have ahead of time so that we can accommodate their needs.
For more information about the Museum's program catalog and prices, please check out https://cmssny.org/education/.
I am a multi-brass-woodwind-instrumentalist, with a lifetime of road experience traveling the world teaching/playing. I love to share any and all of my knowledge with any one who wants to learn and have fun.
Page Turner Adventures’ Story-Powered shows are a unique blend of Immersive Theater, Circus, and non-stop Audience Participation that take a book from the PAGE TO STAGE! Every child in the audience becomes the hero of the story, making choices, solving problems, and impacting the outcome. It’s a visceral experience that turbo charges a passion for reading and writing that kids will never forget. PLUS…. Every teacher at the show gets a LITERACY WONDER BUNDLE link which includes an Ebook, Animated Video, Audiobook, Craft, Writing Guide, Reader’s Theater Script or PDF Puppet Kit all BASED ON THE SHOW the kids just saw! So the laughter and learning continue long after the curtain closes.
American DanceWheels Foundation Presents – Better Together
“We are all one, even if we feel worlds apart!”
American DanceWheels Foundation’s Better Together assembly uses disability awareness and the beauty of dance to promote understanding, kindness, and respect for people of all abilities.
The Show
Meet the Performers: Students will be introduced to talented dance performers who will share their personal journeys of challenge and triumph.
Wheelchair Ballroom and Latin Dance Performance: Students will watch wheelchair dance performances by dance couples made up of one seated and one standing partner who defy expectations while celebrating the beauty of diverse abilities.
Interactive Q&A: Students will have an opportunity to make their voices heard during a question-and-answer segment, engaging directly with the performers and allowing for a deeper connection and understanding.
Mini-Dance Lesson (when wheelchair available and class size permits): Participants will be invited to join a mini-dance lesson and experience the joy of movement from both seated and standing perspectives. This interactive dance lesson will help students understand how people can work together to create something beautiful and fun, if they are given the opportunity and tools to participate and learn.
Better Together is not just a performance—it’s an opportunity for students to see beyond physical differences and appreciate the shared human spirit through dance. Book this transformative assembly to foster character development and cultivate a culture of inclusivity within your school.
At the Utica Zoo, we are able to offer a variety of educational experiences both at the zoo itself and at Beaversprite, our conservation education center. Firstly, we offer field trips at both sites. Field trips to the zoo can be self-guided or fully educator led and can include a zoo introduction or curated conservation class tailored to the groups learning objectives. Beaversprite trips are all educator led and include exploration of the visitor center and guided hikes of the pristine 1300-acre wetland property. We additionally offer zoo outreach programs in a variety of styles, in which we aim to bring the zoo to you. For our outreach "Zoomobile" programs, we typically bring between three to five live ambassador animals and give a presentation on their biology, ecology, and conservation status and challenges. We also offer more heavily conservation focused programs, stressing issues like climate change, habitat loss, or invasive species. For these programs we bring fewer live animals but will bring a customizable PowerPoint presentation on the topic of choice and/or a guided activity that encourages active engagement by the students.