Special Needs Movie Event and Youth Recreation Programs Set for this Winter

Summit Community Programs and the Summit PAL are proud to present a TryCAN Movie and Dance Party on Monday, January 16. Youth with special needs, their siblings and families are welcome to join us for a showing of the film Monsters Inc. indoors on the big screen along with brief music and dancing before the movie. A quiet activities room will also be available for children needing it. Light refreshments will be served. Trained volunteer teen Peer Mentors will be on hand to help the kids have a great time. The Movie and Dance Party will take place from 2:30-4:30 pm at the Summit Community Center, 100 Morris Avenue. RSVP is required at summitcan@gmail.com. Special thanks to the Summit PAL for their financial support for this event. This event is offered as part of Summit’s 19th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, in keeping with day’s theme of volunteerism and service. The Summit PAL offers numerous programs throughout the year for the benefit of the youth of Summit to promote activities that foster lifelong health, community spirit and a feeling of goodwill and awareness between the children and police officers.

Youth with special needs or those who could use a little help and encouragement in participating in recreation are also welcome to register for several “TryCAN” programs that continue this winter. These popular and affordable programs, open to children from any town, help youth develop skills that allow them to pursue a sport or activity further or simply provide them with a meaningful recreation experience, using teen Peer Mentors from local middle and high schools to help participants learn and have fun. Programs include:

• Baseball Skills – Sundays starting January 22
• Indoor Fitness Club – Mondays starting January 23
• Let’s Pretend play and social group for 3-5 year olds – Saturdays starting January 21
• Play and Learn play and social group for 6-7 year olds – Saturdays starting January 21
• Kidz Club social group for grades 3-5 – Saturdays starting January 21
• Dance and Movement Group – Sundays starting January 22
• Mini Yoga Group – Sundays starting January 22
• Move and Dance for older kids – Sundays starting January 22
• Social Skills, using technology, for 8-12 year olds – Mondays starting January 23
• Teen Friendship Group – Mondays starting January 23.

All programs are held at the Summit Community Center, 100 Morris Avenue. For a copy of the flyer, detailed program information and prices, contact summitcan@gmail.com. Register online at https://register.communitypass.net/summit, by phone 908-277-2932, or in person at Summit Community Center. Space is limited. Thanks to the NJ Department of Community Affairs for program support.

The TryCAN Collaboration of communities offers an array of recreation programs for youth with special needs throughout the year. TryCAN also trains teen volunteers as Peer Mentors in programs throughout the year to help children be successful in recreational activities. For those interested in helping as volunteer peer mentors, please contact TryCAN at summitcan@gmail.com. For more information about TryCAN, visit summitcommunityprograms.com under “Programs and Activities.”