SKANEATELES — Skaneateles Middle School and SpeakWell – a youth leadership program that licenses its curriculum to school districts across the country, teamed up to host the SpeakWell John Wallace Basketball Camp and the SpeakWell Amy Hargreaves Acting Camps. Both camps took place July 16 and 17 at Skaneateles Middle School.
The clinics are a team effort between NYC-based SpeakWell, Skaneateles educators, and generous donors, including Chris and Karen Kreidler, Skaneateles Middle School Parent Teacher Committee, philanthropist Adam Weitsman, and The Skaneateles Education Foundation – whose mission is to enrich the educational experience of every student in the Skaneateles Central School District.
Basketball campers ages 10 to 13 learned high-level basketball skills and drills with Syracuse legend John Wallace – a first-round draft pick of the NY Knicks; a team of elite basketball coaches and players, including John Wallace Jr. and Joey Wallace, guest speaker, and Syracuse University’s all-time leading scorer, Lawrence Moten.
Acting campers learned codified acting and singing techniques and skills, script analysis, and monologues with “Homeland” and “13 Reasons Why” actress Amy Hargreaves and a team of professional acting and drama coaches, including NYC drama coach Kevin Winebold and veteran talent manager, Laurie Smith from Smith Talent Group.
SpeakWell exercises were incorporated into both camps.
SpeakWell founder Patty Kennedy helped campers learn and practice a growth mindset, focus, breathing, communication, and leadership on and off the court and stage, while camp mentors offer real-life examples.
“We are excited to bring the SpeakWell John Wallace basketball and Amy Hargreaves acting camps to our students. We think this is an amazing opportunity for them to learn from an incredible group of professionals, participate in an enriching summer experience and soak up skills that will benefit them for a lifetime,” said Michael Caraccio, principal of Skaneateles Middle School.
Studies increasingly show the devastating, longer-term impact of the pandemic on students’ well-being, with depression and anxiety rates skyrocketing as coping and communication skills have plummeted.
A report from Inside SEL cited a study by Tyton Partners noting nearly 75% of teachers feel their students have fallen behind academically, socially, emotionally, and physically. A research report from the American Psychological Association showed that Emotional Intelligence – specifically self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and communication skills – is the core focus of the SpeakWell curriculum – as critical predictors of students’ academic and life success.
The SpeakWell program began in 2019 with nine middle school students who became the first in the country from a K-8 school to deliver TEDx talks.
To date, SpeakWell has taught more than 1,000 students through its after-school programs and camps.
In addition to teaching leadership and communication skills, SpeakWell offers students opportunities to directly engage with high-level mentors of varying professional backgrounds, and participate in unique camp, speaking, and leadership opportunities. In addition to the basketball, acting camps, and TEDx talks, SpeakWell students have spoken on panels and with executives from international companies, including UBS, BT, and Meta.
Hargreaves was SpeakWell’s first mentor and actively worked with students through the after-school program and acting camps, and spoke on company panels, including BT.
“So much of what goes into good and interesting acting- listening, openness, empathy, the ability to focus and be present is reflected in Speakwell’s curriculum,” she said. “Our acting camps are just a natural expansion of these ideas. I’m so looking forward to meeting and working with the middle-schoolers of Skaneateles.”
Wallace, who had his #44 Syracuse University jersey retired in February 2020, has been involved with SpeakWell since 2019, delivered a TEDx talk with the original SpeakWell students, has mentored numerous students through the after-school program, basketball camps, and spoken at BT and UBS with Ms. Kennedy and the students.
Wallace invited his former Syracuse teammate, Lawrence Moten – who also had his #21 Syracuse jersey retired – the two remain the most prolific scoring duo in Big East history — to share basketball and life lessons with the Skaneateles campers.
“I’ll always bleed orange,” said Wallace. “I’m excited to work with the students of Skaneateles and looking forward to how much fun we’ll have, and how much I think they’ll learn – not just with basketball, but positive mindsets, self-confidence, focus, and communication – those skills help build better players, students, and a stronger society.”
For more information about SpeakWell, to sign up, or donate to scholarships, visit speakwell.rocks or contact [email protected].
