By Ashley M. Casey
Associate Editor
The coronavirus pandemic has scuttled many in-person events in 2020, and until a vaccine is widely available, it looks as though virtual venues will be the case in 2021. Normally, the CanTeen after-school center in Cicero hosts the Syracuse Banff Mountain Film Festival in February, but the fundraiser has been converted to a virtual one.
“Obviously, people would prefer to be sitting in a theater with a big screen because these films are more visually appealing on a big screen,” said Toni Brauchle, youth services director at the CanTeen.
CanTeen supporters can rent Banff films at home through Oct. 24, 2021. Film selections will rotate throughout the year, but viewers can choose either the Amber or Onyx bundle for $15 for a 3-day rental or both packages for $28 for a 14-day rental period. The films can be re-watched throughout the rental period.
“The beauty of it — and I just did this myself — is you can buy the bundles as a gift and have them sent to an email on a specific day,” Brauchle said.
Visit canteencny.com/banff/ for more information or to purchase a bundle.
With hybrid learning in full swing at the North Syracuse Central School District, the CanTeen continues to provide after-school programming for students of Cicero-North Syracuse High School and North Syracuse Junior High School. Last week, the two schools held classes remotely because of the number of positive COVID tests.
“It’s challenging. It’s isolating,” Brauchle said. “I know the school districts are doing the best that they can with an extremely fluid situation, but we’ve got some kids that are just drowning right now.”
To combat the isolation of remote-learning days, the CanTeen has begun hosting “Hot Spot” learning days. Students can register to go to the CanTeen from 7:15 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays for a safe yet socialized environment to do classwork and homework. Unlike the CanTeen’s usual drop-in program, however, students cannot come and go as they please on Hot Spot days; they must stay until 2 p.m. Masks are required, and lunch and snacks will be provided.
Brauchle said kids can bring their Chromebooks and school supplies to the CanTeen on Hot Spot days and staff will help them stay on task.
“We are not tutors, but we can help them organize.. … It’s better than sitting at home with all the chaos,” she said. “During the day there’s not a whole lot going on here, and we’re hearing that some kids are struggling with the remote stuff.”
The CanTeen continues to offer its regular after-school activities from 2 to 6:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The center is planning a “Polar Express” movie night from 4 to 7 p.m. this Friday, Dec. 11.
“We’re having campfires outdoors. The teen council were brainstorming some activities they’d like to see — maybe a movie once a month, some Zoom karaoke,” Brauchle said.
The CanTeen is open to NSCSD students in grades 8 through 12 and is located at 6046 State Route 31 in Cicero, in front of C-NS. Visit canteencny.com for more information or to register for Hot Spot learning days.
