Building A Stomping Ground

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region is a regionally-operated and locally-funded non-profit organization that serves New York's Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, and Schenectady counties. They create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. Lisa O'Sullivan joins me on the podcast today to share the power of mentorship and how these relationships can help youth reach their full potential. 

In this episode, I’m joined by Maggie Fronk, the executive director at Wellspring. Wellspring supports survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in Saratoga County, offering a comprehensive range of services and support, Maggie has been working in social service organizations for a very long time, and with her extensive experience and profound insights, Maggie brings a wealth of knowledge to our discussion. One of my favorite parts of our conversation was how Maggie illuminates the connections between so many different organizations, she says "We're all working with people." Maggie Fronk is a deeply dedicated and fiercely wise leader who we all have so much to learn from. 

After-school care, homelessness prevention and support, emergency assistance, free summer meals, and so much more! CAPTAIN is a beehive of activity with folks working endlessly to support the Capital Region. Fern Hurley is the Executive Director and an incredibly kind leader. She has tons of experience in non-profit work and is deeply passionate about supporting the community where she is from. As a volunteer-driven organization, CAPTAIN strives to be a recognized leader in finding effective solutions to social issues in the communities they serve. CAPTAIN Community Human Services supports and empowers people of all ages to reach their goals of personal growth and self-sufficiency. They strengthen communities.

The Franklin Community Center has been a steadfast support pillar for the Saratoga community providing a diverse range of services to assist those in need. I'm joined by Abbie Aldrich who shares about their food pantry, afterschool support (Project Lift), holiday assistance, housing support, and so many more ways Franklin Community Center is providing support. Abbie has such a vibrant way in which she cares for her community, she is from Saratoga and works tirelessly to create opportunities and access. We have been partnered with Franklin for the past couple of years and are so grateful to have an organization so close to camp that is deeply committed to our community. 

The Ali Forney Center is one of our newest partnerships, this will be the first summer they send youth to camp. The Ali Forney Center's mission is to support LGBTQ+ homeless youth in New York City. The Ali Forney Center is the largest LGBT community center helping LGBTQ homeless youth in the United States. They both manage and develop transitional housing for their clients as well as offer a massive amount of programs and services to holistically support their community. In this episode, Alex Roque the President and Executive Director shares about their impactful work, how much awareness and education play a role, and dreams about the future of this new and growing partnership. In the short time I’ve known Alex I have already learned so much, he is a dedicated and passionate leader who knows how to create a community filled with joy and care.

The Rochester City School District is a public school district that serves approximately 24,900 students in the city of Rochester, New York, which is where Stomping Ground's founders are from! We have been partnering with folks from RCSD since the very beginning of camp and have met so many genuine, kind, and passionate people. In this episode, we’re joined by camp celebrity Allison Klee! This is Klee’s first year working as a social worker in RCSD and she will be helping get some youth to camp this summer. Klee has a superpower in the department of partnerships because she has seen both sides, from managing the relationships as a camp director at Stomping Ground to now getting to send youth to camp from RCSD. This episode feels like a full circle journey, we’re so lucky to be connected with so many amazing folks from Rochester and especially to learn from and continually be inspired by Klee's creativity and kindness.

George Jackson Academy is New York City's only independent middle school for academically talented boys from families of all incomes. They challenge their boys’ minds, nurture their hearts, and empower them to be leaders and change-makers.  In this episode, Ramon Javier, Head of School, shares heartwarming and powerful stories. Discover how a simple 'good morning' can transform lives, explore the essence of manhood and the power of vulnerability, and learn why fostering a tight-knit community of support and belonging is transformative. 

Why are partnerships integral to Stomping Grounds mission? How did they start and how have they evolved? How do we build reciprocal relationships? What is a partnership mindset and what kind of impact can it have? Join Laura in the first episode of our new season as she unravels the story behind our partnerships – how they began, evolved, and the power of building reciprocal relationships. Explore the partnership mindset and the profound impact it can have. 

This Season of Building a Stomping Ground explores the transformative power of community through conversations with our incredible partner organizations. Join us as we highlight their impact work, learn from dedicated and talented leaders, and delve into why these connections are so meaningful. 

In this episode, we chat with a remarkable Stomping Ground camper, Jujube, who has a gift for inspiring others through her outspokenness and confidence. She shares with us the importance of finding your voice and how Stomping Ground has provided a space for her to be open and authentic. Join us for an engaging conversation on the power of vulnerability, self-expression, and the impact of summer camp on personal growth and development.

In this episode, we speak with Ray, the former host of the Building A Stomping Ground Podcast, about his new non-profit organization, The Local Sound Collaborative. Ray shares his motivation for starting a non-profit and the challenges he has faced along the way. We also discuss the role of community and collaboration in the success of a non-profit, and how his experiences with Stomping Ground have influenced his approach to building The Local Sound Collaborative. Join us for an inspiring conversation on the intersection of arts, music, and community-building in the non-profit sector.

We speak with Adam Feldman, the Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity in the community surrounding Stomping Ground. Adam discusses his long-term experience going to and working at summer camp and how it shaped his philosophy on community building and play-based learning environments. We also talk about the impact of Habitat for Humanity on the surrounding community and how Adam incorporates his background as a math teacher and investment banker into his leadership style. Join us for an engaging conversation on the importance of play, community, and leadership in shaping the world around us.

Well we had to do it. We HAD to bring in the best story teller we know and love, they have been doing it all the way since 2015. Laura is the co-founder and executive director of Stomping Ground. She drives the idea that story telling can be a powerful tool to create connection and understanding. Join us as she rounds off what we hope was an incredible season two of the BASG podcast! 

Shout out to Glennon Doyle for the idea of an "inner knowing" we are truly big fans! 

You didn't think we would forget the kitchen did you?! For our 9th episode we bring on our head chef, Nina Roberts, to tell you how it all goes down back there behind the kitchen wall curtain. Nina absolutely knocked it out of the park this summer, completely leveling up the way we see and make food at camp. She tells us the best camp meals, and what it is really like to work in the SG kitchen. We don't want to give away any spoilers... but lasagna has to be the best meal, right? 

So you sign up to work for camp, and you know you will interact with some kids. But you also might lead a photography class, or clean a bunch of dishes. You might work in the office for half a day, jump on the lawn mower, sit with a sick camper, or even plunge a toilet! It takes a lot to make our small little organization run and there are two people that understand that better than Jade and Maggie. We owe SO much to these two incredible humans - take a listen! 

We had to dedicate one whole episode to working and hanging with our teen campers, so it only made sense to bring on our talented teen expert: Squeaks! She has worked at many camps before finding her way to SG, and you will arguably learn a little about yourself while listening to her reflect on summer 2021 (I know I did). Plus, if you want a camp nickname, she explains the whole origin story behind her lovely identity as Squeaks. 

Do you ever have those people in your life that are just so reliable? That is our next guest, Maddy. She ran the buddy board, she led so many different activities, and she connected so well with every cabin she worked with. Maddy joins us today to share her experience with Stomping Ground after working at other summer camps for several years beforehand. Tune in! 

Well what a delight this episode was. Patrick Days is an energizer bunny that makes all of the other bunnies look tired. During summer 2021 you could find him leading all camp cheers, going hard on the basketball court, or playing 1000 games of magic. He is an example of loving your job so much that sometimes it might not even feel like work, and he shares is triumphs and struggles with us today on the BASG podcast! 

You know her and you love her, it's time for Nana!! Nana, AKA Alex Vaillancourt, is a parent coach/educator during the school year, and the Makerspace Maven during the summer. She has worked with children and families for over 30 years. Experiences have included working in a castle in the middle of Central Park, teaching English in Japan, and being a teacher/assistant director at three parent cooperative preschools. Check out her website here to learn more about what she does in the off season: www.availparentcoaching.com

MK Conner in the building!! They were a cabin counselor turned panda in just one summer, and after you listen to this episode you will understand why. MK is incredible at making connections with staff/campers, and is always looking to level up the fun and creativity that happens at camp. Looking to emulate your fav staff member? Well look no further! 

Up next in our staff reflections and stories from summer 2021: the channel 27 news anchor himself, Quarius Loucas! This guy can do it all. He makes announcements from the picnic table, leads dance parties, and recognizes the fun in making new traditions. Tune in to hear just how he makes it happen.