The White Plains Youth Bureau Bits N’ Pieces Summer Camp wraps up its 6-week session on August 14th at the Church Street Elementary School in White Plains. Students entering 1st through 5th grade came together from 8:30am to 5:00pm for camp fun and sports activities.
Backyard Sports runs a program in collaboration with the White Plains Youth Bureau, Monday through Friday from 1-2:45pm, bringing new sports to these campers. Like other BYS programs, the coaches are high school and college students, who are excited to bring the games they love to young kids in different communities.
Coaches Max Bunzel (left), Elliot Graham (middle), and Shane Wolfe (right) having a candid moment before camp starts
Meet the BYS Coaches
How did you get started with Backyard Sports?
Shane Wolfe: In sophomore year of high school he became good friends with Danny Bernstein and his son, Max. Max invited him to go to a Sunday program to mentor a special needs child and he has been hooked ever since. “This program gives me a unique sense of fulfillment when I leave after a full day of seeing smiles on the kids faces, playing sports,” said Wolfe. “It makes me feel like I’m making an actual difference.”
Elliot Graham: Found out about Backyard Sports through friends who had been affiliated with the program for a while and through Danny Bernstein and his kids. He liked the program and didn’t hesitate to become involved. Graham said, “I love this program because it gives young children the chance to be affiliated with unconventional sports. For example, we’ve been doing team handball, golf, and hockey. Often the kids aren’t exposed to the facilities or the money necessary to play these sports, so coming to this camp and being able to share these experiences with them is really amazing.”
Max Bunzel: Learned about BYS through friends and the community. “I’ve learned how to have more patience when teaching the younger kids how to play golf,” said Bunzel. “And that is definitely going to help me in the future.”
