Youth participate in First Annual "Checkered Flag" Workshop at Skyview Drags

On Aug. 7th 2009, the staff at Skyview Drags in Tioga Center welcomed The Magic Paintbrush Project for the First Annual "Checkered Flag" Workshop.

The workshop, which welcomed students from Stacey Chandler's special needs classroom out of Endwell, N.Y., was a joining of family and caregivers for a special project that engaged creativity and combined it with “Summer Fun” - the theme of Chandler's summer program.

Together, with the Magic Paintbrush Project based out of Greene, N.Y., students and project staff created a banner that will proudly be displayed at the track.

According to Jennifer O'Brien, Program Director for the Magic Paintbrush Project, the vibrant session was planned to engage special needs families creatively with each other as they face the challenges of special needs diagnosis and include the community in the fun.

"This project is about more than kids and paint," said O'Brien. "We try to integrate individuals with disabilities into their communities, and we engage their families and caregivers as well."

For the students from Stacey Chandler's summer class out of Homer Brink Elementary in Endwell, N.Y., the project fit in perfectly with their summer time theme of "Summer Fun".

Stacey Chandler's classrom pictured with Skyview's IHRA officials (Photo by Greg Zyla)

According to Chandler, the program offers one planned field trip each Friday, and the dragstrip was a perfect opportunity for her students to learn about activities within the community. The focus on Friday, according to Chandler, was racing.

Prior to arriving at the track, the students researched words and phrases that might be found at a racetrack, and then worked to place those words on a banner that will be hung on display at the track.

To do this, the students taped the words on a banner, and then painted around them. Once completed, the tape was removed to expose the white lettering in a colorful display.

For Nicolette Foss from Endwell, N.Y., who receives assistance with speech and occupational therapy, the dragstrip project was exciting for several reasons. Nicolette's father, according to her mother Dominica, has relatives that race, so Nicolette has had the opportunity to sit in the cars on occasion.

Nicolette also likes to paint, and she also noted that she has made friends in the summer program.

Her mother Dominica accompanied Nicolette on the field trip to Skyview Drags, and is also employed in the summer program through the Home Brink School. Dominica noted that the program is helpful in certain aspects, but can be challenging as well. "You really learn what it takes to help individuals who have special needs, and how to identify what those needs are," she added.

But overall, Dominica feels that the program is especially beneficial as it helps others, like her daughter, be around others who have special needs as well. "It helps her to get out around others, and it helps her to be independent."

As for the staff at Skyview Drags, the project offered an opportunity to help out those with special needs within the community. "We love doing this," said Amy Culver, track manager at Skyview Drags.

Culver's nephew, nine-year old Drew Knickerbocker, participated in the project on Friday alongside the summer class from Endwell. According to Kim Swansbrough, Knickerbocker, who sustained serious injuries in an ATV accident in 2006, is making progress through his therapy.

Also on-hand on Friday was Jason Hall, the vice president of sales and marketing for the track. Hall talked about the helmets that were painted during the project by students, and how they will be auctioning them off during their "Night Under Fire" event on Sept. 5 at Skyview Drags.

Hall said that the dragstrip likes to get involved with the community, and felt that the Magic Paintbrush Project was a great way to help out. "We want to do more things like this," said Hall. "We have the facility and it's been fun to bring the students up and show them what we have here," he added.

Hall noted that the Magic Paintbrush staff, as well as the students, has been invited back on Sept. 5 for the "Night Under Fire" event. He also noted that the painted helmets to be auctioned off that day will benefit the Magic Paintbrush organization. To learn more about the Magic Paintbrush Project you can visit them on-line at www.magicpaintbrushproject.org, or call them at (607) 729-5059.

Pictured is Stacey Chandler's classroom of "specially abled" students along with track representatives, parents and caregivers. The group posed in front of the completed banner at Skyview Drags. (Photo by Wendy Post)