I Am Beacon Is Offering A Summer Youth Art Program & It Has Been Added To ALBB's Summer Camp Guide - Only 8 Seats - Reserve A Spot Now

ALBB is constantly working to update the Summer Camp Guide to make sure we are getting you the information you need and getting it to you ASAP!

If you run a Summer Camp and want to add more details and photos, consider upgrading to a sponsored listing so that we can show those lovely photos and gush about the themed weeks you have planned! Learn more here >

But first, we wanted to share with you that I Am Beacon is offering a Summer Youth Program!

They will be offering the program on Saturday mornings from 11am - 12:30pm to explore digital art using iPad Pros and Procreate.

Sessions run on Saturday mornings from July 9 to August 13

Over 6 weeks, you will work on iPad illustration, create a digital poster design, create in augmented reality (AR), and then show it all off and display them at the back to school block party!

Spaces in the program will be limited with only 8 spots! However, if you own an iPad and Apple Pencil, you can be accommodated too.

There is no cost to participate in this course.

You can find more info in ALBB’s Summer Camp Guide or click here >

BCSD Summer Camp Is Back & Added To ALBB's Summer Camp Guide - Spots Are Filling Up - Reserve A Spot Now

In case you missed it, ALBB’s Summer Camp Guide is up & constantly being updated! If you run a Summer Camp and want to add more details and photos, consider upgrading to a sponsored listing so that we can show those lovely photos and gush about the themed weeks you have planned! Learn more here >

But first, we wanted to share with you that The Summer Academy is back at Beacon City School District (BCSD)

They will be offering two sessions of a 2 week summer program to support continued learning of their elementary students. The program will be for students CURRENTLY in Kindergarten through 5th grade for the 2021-2022 school year. 

Session 1 runs July 11-21 and Session 2 runs August 1-11.

The summer academy will provide collaborative, creative and fun activities to support reading, writing, math, and extra-curricular exploration.

The summer academy will run Monday through Thursday and will be housed at Beacon High School. Students that are currently in grades 1-5 will rotate through a four period schedule. Students currently in Kindergarten will stay with their teacher throughout the entirety of the program. 

Spaces in the program will be limited and the expectation is that the student will commit to an entire two-week program; students may enroll in just one session or can enroll in both sessions.  

There is no cost to participate and district transportation will be provided. Breakfast and lunch will be served, at the beginning and at the end of each day.

*If your student is participating in the Tues/Thurs ENL program they can still participate in Summer Academy* 

Space is limited and open enrollment will end at 12 noon on June 22nd, so hurry! You can find more info in ALBB’s Summer Camp Guide or click here >

The River Pool at Beacon IN The Hudson River Opens for 2018!

The left side of The Beacon River Pool - eye level.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

As you play at Riverfront Park, known since 2014 as Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park, you may have experienced the extreme desire to swim in the Hudson River to cool off. Well, now you can - because The River Pool at Beacon is open again this year! Starting in 2007, five years after submitting construction plans to New York State, the pool opened to the public for the first time. The river pool idea was originally proposed by the pool's co-founder, Pete Seeger, according to the pool's History page.

What's a River Pool?

The river pool is netted and shallow, with a net bottom designed by Meta Brunzema Architect P.C., a New York City-based design firm. You could crawl on it, with a child on your back, pretending you are an alligator gliding just under the water surface. Or you could sit or stand in the shallow water, enjoying the breeze off the water and gazing up or down the river, thankful you aren't in the traffic moving (or not moving) on the Newburgh/Beacon Bridge. Or, you could simply sit on the colorful plastic seats and bask in the sun, slipping further into the water as you're ready.

River pools aren't unique to this spot - they have been around since at least 1830, up and down the Hudson River - but they were removed after 1930 due to water pollution. Pete Seeger was a major advocate for cleanup of the Hudson River. Thanks to his efforts as well as many other organizations including Scenic Hudson and Riverkeeper, the river has improved since then, and many groups and people continue to advocate in this direction.

Can Anyone Use the River Pool?

It's a free pool for all, thanks to support from individual donations, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Durst Organization, the Abrons Foundation, the Hudson River Foundation. The pool's organizers actually want to increase its size. They're working with another architecture firm to design a bigger pool, and they're talking with cities and towns to find the right location that offers agreeable environmental considerations.

What's It Like Swimming in the River Pool?

The changing room at The Beacon River Pool.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

So fun. So relaxing. You're IN the river, just sitting there protected from the currents by the anchored netting. The pool is small, so you'll be near others as they dip in and out of the pool. The pool is also very shallow: An adult is up to their waist or thighs. The River Pool is fully staffed by lifeguards, and even has a changing room!

If thunder rolls in and you need to leave the pool and wait 30 thunder-free minutes to go back in, you could always shoot baskets at the park's basketball court, or play on the playgrounds. Or have a picnic on the grass (watch out for alllll of the goose poop).

An additional perk: Riverfront Park is very breezy, so you'll be cooled off quickly down by the river no matter what.

Is Swimming in the Hudson River Safe?

The Hudson River was contaminated by companies who dumped pollutants into it for many years. An ongoing effort to clean up the Hudson River has spanned several decades. As of today, it has reached cleaner levels, but is closely monitored by The River Pool at Beacon. Says a representative from The River Pool this year: "The quality in Beacon Harbor is definitely of concern. Beacon Harbor had a long run of low numbers. We hope this is a temporary situation. That said, the pool is off the north shore of Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park. The water is tested every week by the county health department. We would not open if the water was not considered safe for swimming."

Swim For The Pool - From Beacon To Newburgh!

Fundraising continues for the pool with regular donations that you can make at any time, and during the 15th Annual Newburgh to Beacon Hudson River Swim, where you can sponsor a swimmer - or be a swimmer that people sponsor! See the Beacon to Newburgh Swim page for details.

Make a donation here to keep this all going, but don't worry if you can't. It was designed for all to be able to access and experience the Hudson River. See you at the pool!