Children, Teens & Families
Please check out the Children & Teens Calendar on our Community Calendar Page for any upcoming events.
Gilda's Club Westchester offers support to children, teens and families impacted by cancer in anyway through age appropriate support and networking groups, social events, and educational workshops. Our program is designed to be a place for children and teens to learn, play, care and share, all the while supported by our professional staff and trained volunteers.
To find out what's been going on in the Children, Teens and Families Program, check out our current Noogie Notes.
Noogieland
Noogieland - so named for Gilda Radner's comedic actions on Saturday Night Live - is the designated space in the clubhouse just for kids.
For children who have cancer, have a family member living with cancer, or have a family member who has died from cancer, Noogieland is a warm environment where kids can be kids and see that they are not alone.
Kids at Gilda's Club Westchester
Noogie Nights
A monthly activity based group for children impacted by cancer in anyway. This social group is a place where kids can be kids and have fun doing activities like photography, art and yoga.
Kids Connect
An ongoing peer support group for children who have a family member living with cancer or have cancer themselves. This group uses art, games, stories and other expressive activities to help children feel safe to ask questions, express difficult feelings and share common experiences around cancer. View our Kid Connect Flyer.
Kids' Bereavement Group
An ongoing peer support group for children who have experienced the death of someone in there life from cancer. This group uses expressive activities to help children express their feelings and join with others who have had similar experiences. View our Kids' Bereavement Group Flyer.
Teen at Gilda's Club Westchester
2012 "It's Always Something" Teen Essay Contest
An essay contest for high school students impacted by cancer in any way.
Do you have a family member or friend living with cancer?
Are you a cancer survivor?
Has someone in your life died from cancer?
Tell your Story!
We are looking for honest, detailed personal essays by young writers (9th–12th grade) who demonstrate an authentic ability to move readers by sharing their experience with cancer.
Click here here to download an essay entry form OR click here to submit your essay online.
PLEASE NOTE: The deadline for completed essays is March 20th, 2012. Essay must be typed and between 500 and 2000 words long. Entrants must reside in the following counties: Westchester (NY), Rockland (NY), and Southern Fairfield (CT).
Read the winning essays from 2009, 2010 and 2011.
Tween Group
A monthly group for children, ages 9-13, who are impacted by cancer in any way. This group uses art, writing, photography, and other expressive modalities to help participants share their experience and express their feelings.
Teen Support Group
A monthly, co-ed support group for teens, ages 13-17, who have a family member living with cancer. View our Teens Connect Flyer.
Teen Workshops and Series
Educational and activity based workshops and series for teens offered through out the year. Visit our calendar page for upcoming teen workshops and series.
Youth Committee
A volunteer group of high school students from the area who get together to plan events to raise awareness of GCW. To get involved, visit the Volunteer page.
View the Youth Committee's most recent Teen Newsletter.
Families at Gilda's Club Westchester
Family Time Events
A monthly themed social event for children, teens and families. Past events include Beach Bash, Gardening at Gilda's, Family Wellness Day, AKA Got Your Backpack, Kids' Comedy Night, Pumpkins in the Park, and Carnival. There's also Gilda's Birthday Celebration and Noogiefest, the annual Halloween party. These events are always open to the public.
Parents at Gilda's Club Westchester
Parenting Networking Groups
Monthly groups for parents to share their experiences of raising children when there is cancer in the family.