Saturday Program for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children and Teens
Established in 1989, Rhinelander’s Saturday Program remains the only free, recreational weekend program for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children and Teens in New York City. All Deaf and Hard of Hearing children and teens, ages 5-21, in New York City, are invited to participate.
Saturday Program Philosophy
Many of the young people in the Saturday Program come from schools in which they are mainstreamed. Some are the only Deaf or Hard of Hearing people in their schools. This may lead to a sense of isolation and a feeling of being "different." Other Saturday Program participants attend schools for the Deaf where sign language is used, but they have no family members or friends who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. In each situation, these young people do not have sufficient opportunities to interact with their Deaf and Hard of Hearing Peers during leisure time. The Saturday Program provides a great environment for these young people to play and learn with others like themselves.
The camaraderie and sense of belonging that is gained through the Saturday Program helps participants build self-confidence and social skills. A number of the Saturday Program staff are Deaf themselves. These adults serve as role models and mentors for the young people in the program.
Saturday Program Activities
The Saturday Program’s home base is the Rhinelander Children’s Center. Although a number of activities take place off-site, all participants gather at Rhinelander at the beginning and end of the day.
- In-House Activities: Activities at Rhinelander for children ages 5-13 include arts and crafts, drama, dance, games and cooking. Teen activities at Rhinelander vary widely and have included Salsa dancing lessons, information sessions on communications technologies, discussions with community leaders on health and safety issues, and cooking. There are many parties and special events especially around the holidays.
- Field Trips: All participants take field trips to attend theater performances and sports events, go apple picking, bowl, swim and play basketball. In recent years, participants have attended New Victory Theater, the Big Apple Circus, and Mets Baseball. Groups of children and teens take separate field trips when an activity is age-specific. There are also annual camping trips to Children’s Aid Society’s Wagon Road Camp.
- Community Service: Helping others is an additional important part of the program; community service provides the participants with the chance to see themselves as helpers, enhancing their self-esteem. Teens plan projects for the younger children and are regular volunteers at Carl Schurz Park where they help with planting and other efforts in the fall and spring each year.
Saturday Program Schedule and Enrollment
The Saturday Program meets from 9:30-3:30 on Saturday two or more times per month from September through June. New participants are welcome at any point during the school year.
Click here to download the new 2008-2009 schedule and application materials in English.
Click here to download the new 2008-2009 schedule and application materials in Spanish.
Saturday Program Meeting Dates:
September 2008 - June 2009
SEPTEMBER 13th & 27th
OCTOBER 4th & 18th
NOVEMBER 1st & 15th
DECEMBER 6th & 13th
JANUARY 10th & 24th
FEBRUARY 7th & 28th
MARCH 14th & 28th
APRIL 4th &25th
MAY 9th & 30th
JUNE 13th & 20th
For more information about the Saturday Program.
Please call Suling Miller, Program Coordinator, at (212) 876-0500.