PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. - Picatinny Arsenal officials hosted youth, along with their adult sponsors, currently enrolled in New Jersey’s Big Brothers Big Sisters program, as part of a team-building event on Sunday, August 6.
Members of the 2023 Class of Lead Morris, with the support of several area businesses and organizations, combined efforts with Picatinny Arsenal’s Frog Falls Aquatic Park to provide a fun-filled outing for the adult volunteers ("Bigs") and children ("Littles"). The group were permitted to take a dip in the aquatic park that boasts more than 520,000 gallons of water adventures and were provided with lunch and information about many of the community programs that may be of benefit to them.
As the nation’s largest volunteer-supported mentoring network, Big Brothers Big Sisters strives to make meaningful, monitored matches between adult volunteers and children, ages 5 through young adulthood in communities across the country.
By partnering with parents/guardians, volunteers, and others in the community, the Big Brothers Big Sisters program helps to build greater confidence and higher aspirations for youth. The goal is to help them to avoid risky behaviors and strive for educational success.
“One of the components of Lead Morris is to organize a Serve Day’ where you choose a non-profit organization to give back to,” said Marybeth Bull, who works with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. Bull is also a member of 2023 class of LEAD Morris, along with Picatinny Arsenal garrison commander, Lt. Col. Alexander D. Burgos.
LEAD Morris is a 10-month program in which participants take a day-long fieldtrip each month to various business, government, or education facilities in Morris County.
“This year our team decided to host the Big Brothers and Big Sisters at Frog Falls,” said Burgos. “The intent was to showcase Picatinny Arsenal, but also show appreciation to the ‘Big’s” that give their time in supporting and mentoring the ‘Little’s’.
Founded in 1991, Leadership Morris is a community education program of the Morris County Chamber of Commerce. The program teaches business professionals and non-profit executives about the opportunities, challenges, institutions, and the people of Morris County. After a leadership change in 2022, Leadership Morris officially changed its to LEAD Morris.
The curriculum is designed for both established leaders and for persons identified as future leaders whose business acumen and community consciousness will help to make a difference in Morris County.
Since Picatinny became involved in the program in 1998, 34 Arsenal employees have graduated from the course.
The Frog Falls facility includes two high velocity slides, six 25-yard lap lanes, a zero-depth entry leisure pool, a lazy river, and a child activity pool. For more information, visit the MWR Website.
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