Team Up Now, Clean Up Later!
Queens College kicked off their ‘Team up Now, Clean up Later!' campaign with local Public School 229 when members of the QC Baseball team went to visit for the day on Friday, November 14, 2008. The Knights put together different activities that helped to teach different aspects of the game of Baseball. There were four stations and over the course of the day, the Knights worked with 1300 students from grades kindergarten to sixth grade. One station, headed by Knights Jared Stoler and John Cohen, was ‘Home Run Derby'. At the derby each student was given 5 pitches to show off their batting skills. Right next door was a ‘Pitching Station' which was headed by Senior Kevin Salguero. At the pitching station, students worked on their aim by throwing balls to a designated target.
Across the yard, Freshmen Kyle Contino headed the ‘Relay Races' station. At ‘relay races', students worked on their hand eye coordination and worked on moving the ball faster.
And finally, on the east side of the yard, Junior Brian Friedman ran a baseball version of ‘Steal the Bacon'. This was no ordinary Steal the Bacon, as the students had to run to the middle to hit a baseball that was placed at the top of a t-ball mound. This particular station worked on listening skills, speed and on hand eye coordination.
Senior Stoler, President of SAAC as well as a co-creator of the event said, "It was a fun, rewarding experience. We are glad that we could be there and we're thankful for the invitation. We had a great time and we hope it's the first of many. We enjoyed it just as much as the kids did." In the spring, QC athletes return to the school to join with the students, teachers and staff in their efforts to go green. SAAC advisor and event coordinator Rachel Walter said, "It doesn't take much to come out and volunteer your time. We've worked with P.S. 229 before and focused on just the students who were attending the Special Olympics. I'm very happy we are able to spend time with all of the students this visit. The students and staff seemed to really enjoy the event and I can't wait to come back to help clean up!"