The SUNY Poly Spotlight Series is a robust collection of camps for kids and teens as well as events and workshops for people of all ages. Showcasing the expertise of SUNY Poly faculty and staff and our Mohawk Valley community, the series provides opportunities for fun and learning in the areas of STEM, the arts, athletics, wellness, and more.
Have an idea for an event? Email us at events@sunypoly.edu and let us know!
The gold listings are workshops or camps for middle and/or high school students with specific age ranges.
The green listings are athletic camps for middle and/or high school students with specific age ranges.
The blue listings are events and workshops for community members of all ages.
| ⛓️💥 A Legacy of Liberty: Poland’s Enduring Pursuit of Freedom: 10/15/26 (All Ages) |
Date: Thursday, October 15
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Student Center, 2nd Floor, Theater, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, 100 Seymour Road, Utica, NY 13502
Presenter: Independent Researcher, Daniel Sargent
Description: Join us for a special SUNY Poly Spotlight Series event in observance of Polish American Heritage Month exploring the people, events, and defining moments that have shaped Poland’s long pursuit of national independence, individual freedom, and self-determination.
A Legacy of Liberty will trace themes of freedom and resilience across centuries of Polish history, from medieval struggles to preserve sovereignty, to the contributions of Polish patriots during the American Revolution, to the long and difficult struggles of the 20th century against Nazi occupation and Soviet domination.
Along the way, the program will highlight individuals and pivotal moments that demonstrate how the pursuit of liberty has remained a powerful and recurring theme in Poland’s history, both within its own borders and through the contributions of Polish people around the world.
Through stories of courage, perseverance, sacrifice, and service, A Legacy of Liberty will offer an engaging look at Poland’s historical journey and the enduring importance of freedom, independence, and democratic ideals.
Fee: Free
Deadline: Register by Thursday, October 15 at Noon
Attendees: 40 (Max)
RSVP: Register Now!
| 🏀⚽🐾 Kid's Night Out: 10/16, 10/23, 11/6, 11/13, 11/20, 12/4 (Ages 7-12) |
Date: Fridays - October 16, October 23, November 6, November 13, November 20, and December 4
Time: 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. (Registration Begins at 6:30 p.m.)
Location: Wildcat Field House, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, 100 Seymour Road, Utica, NY 13502
Coaches: SUNY Poly Athletic Department
Description: The SUNY Poly Athletic Department is excited to introduce a fun new Friday night experience for kids ages 7–12! Kid’s Night Out gives children the chance to spend the evening playing sports, games, and activities alongside SUNY Poly student-athletes and coaches in a fun, active, and supervised environment. While the kids play, laugh, make new friends, and burn off some energy, parents can enjoy a few hours to themselves!
Kids will participate in a variety of activities throughout the evening, including:
🏀 Basketball
⚽ Kickball and other indoor sports
🏃 Games and team challenges
🚧 Obstacle courses
🐾 Activities with SUNY Poly student-athletes
⭐ And plenty of other surprises and fun!
No special athletic ability or sports experience is required, but sneakers and a great positive attitude are. Kid’s Night Out is about having fun, being active, meeting new friends, and creating great memories. Play with the Wildcats! One of the things that makes Kid’s Night Out special is the opportunity for kids to interact and play with SUNY Poly college athletes. Our Wildcats will help lead activities, encourage participants, and make sure everyone feels like part of the team.
Parents - We Play. You Relax. Whether you want to enjoy dinner out, run some errands, or simply have a quiet Friday evening, leave the fun to us!
Play. Laugh. Make memories. Wildcat style! 🐾
Fee: $30.00 Per Child
Deadline: Register by Thursday (of the day before) by Noon
Attendees: 100 (Max)
RSVP: Register for October 16!
RSVP: Register for October 23!
RSVP: Register for November 6!
RSVP: Register for November 13!
RSVP: Register for November 20!
RSVP: Register for December 4!
| ⚽ Women's Soccer ID Clinic: 10/18/26 (Grades 9-12) |
Date: Sunday, October 18
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Location: Wildcat Field House, 880 Wildcat Drive, Marcy, NY 13502
Presenter: Colleen McTygue, Head Women's Soccer Coach at SUNY Poly
Description: 9:30 a.m. (Check In), 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. (Field Session), 12 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. (Lunch, College Talk, and Q&A), 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. (Campus Tour), 1:30 p.m. – 3 p.m. (Small Sided Games and Full Field Game), and 3 p.m. (Closing).
Fee: $65.00 (Eventbrite Fees: 3.7% & $1.79 per ticket + 2.9% Credit Card Processing Fee)
Deadline: Register by Friday, October 16
Attendees: 5 (Min) and 25 (Max)
RSVP: Register Now!
| 👻 Spooktacular STEM Workshop! 3D-Printing & Electronics: 10/31/26 (Grade 7-12th) |
Date: Saturday, October 31
Time: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Location: Electronics Lab G219, Ground Floor, Donovan Hall, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, 100 Seymour Road, Utica, NY 13502
Grade Levels: 7th to 12th grade students
Description: Get ready for a Spooktacular Saturday of making, coding, and engineering!
In this 3-hour hands-on workshop, you’ll combine 3D printing, electronics, coding, and engineering to create your very own interactive Halloween decoration.
Learn how to slice and 3D print your own ghost, build and wire an electronic circuit, and program it with an Arduino to come alive! Your finished ghost will detect when someone walks by, eerily light up, and play a spooky song. By the end of the workshop, you’ll have your own interactive Halloween decoration to take home—perfect for scaring your friends, your family, and maybe even your pets!
No previous 3D printing, electronics, or coding experience is required. Just bring your creativity and be ready to build!
Girl Scout Badges: Think Like An Engineer Journey Award eligible
Fee: $25.00 per student. This camp is being supported by the Mohawk Valley section of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
Deadline: Register by Wednesday, October 28 at Noon
Attendees: 16 (Max)
RSVP: Register Now!
| 👥 The Hidden System Behind Organizational Performance: How Hidden Structures, Behaviors, and Informal Networks Shape Results: 11/11/26 (All Ages) |
Date: Wednesday, November 11
Time: 5 p.m.
Location: Student Center, 2nd Floor, Theater, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, 100 Seymour Road, Utica, NY 13502
Presenter: Author and Organizational Effectiveness Expert Mark I. Cushman
Description: What really determines how an organization works?
Every organization has a formal structure: leadership roles, policies, procedures, reporting lines, and strategic goals. But beneath that visible structure is another system shaped by relationships, informal networks, unwritten rules, shared assumptions, and workplace behaviors.
As part of the SUNY Poly Spotlight Series, author and organizational effectiveness expert Mark I. Cushman will explore how these often-invisible forces influence communication, collaboration, decision-making, trust, accountability, and performance.
Drawing on more than four decades of leadership and organizational experience, Cushman will examine why an organization’s intentions and its actual results can sometimes drift apart, and how recognizing the “hidden system” can help leaders and employees better understand how organizations really function.
Attendees will gain insight into:
• How informal networks and relationships influence how work actually gets done
• Why unwritten rules and shared assumptions can be as powerful as formal policies
• How hidden organizational dynamics affect communication, trust, and decision-making
• Why well-intended strategies sometimes produce unexpected results
• How greater awareness of these systems can strengthen alignment, accountability, and organizational performance
About the Presenter: Mark I. Cushman is a human resources and organizational effectiveness executive, facilitator, speaker, college professor, and author. His more than four decades of experience span engineering, manufacturing, human resources, workforce development, organizational leadership, and public service. Through leadership, consulting, teaching, and speaking, he helps organizations strengthen alignment, communication, trust, and execution.
Fee: Free
Deadline: Register by Wednesday, November 11 at Noon
Attendees: 40 (Max)
RSVP: Register Now!
| 🎤 SUNY Poly Alumni Association Bus Trip: New York City (Bryant Park): 11/14/26 (RSVP Now) |
Date: Saturday, November 14, 2026
Time: Bus Leaves SUNY Poly at 6 a.m.
Location: New York City (Bryant Park)
Description: Community members are invited to join the SUNY Poly Alumni Association for a fun-filled day trip to New York City! Relax and enjoy the ride as we depart campus on Saturday, November 14 at 6:00 a.m. and travel to Bryant Park, where you'll have the day to explore the city at your own pace.
Whether you're planning to visit the markets, enjoy world-class shopping and dining, or simply take in the sights before the holiday season begins, this trip is the perfect opportunity to experience everything New York City has to offer.
Your registration includes round-trip motorcoach transportation on Saturday, November 14, with drop-off and pick-up at Bryant Park. Gather your friends and family and enjoy a memorable day in the city! We will be departing Bryant Park at 6:00pm and be back to campus at approximately 10:15pm.
Tickets are $90 and will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. No refunds.
For questions, please contact us at alumni@sunypoly.edu.
Fee: $90.00
RSVP: Register Now!
| 📸 BE HERE: Photography, Attention, and the Power of Seeing: 12/2/26 (All Ages) |
Date: Wednesday, December 2
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Kunsela Hall, Auditorium, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, 100 Seymour Road, Utica, NY 13502
Presenter: Award-Winning National Geographic Photographer Amy Toensing
Description: What does it mean to truly see the world around us?
Join National Geographic photographer Amy Toensing for an inspiring evening that explores the power of attention, curiosity, and human connection. Drawing from more than twenty years of experience documenting stories across the globe, Toensing shares the remarkable journeys behind some of her most memorable photographs—and the people who made them possible.
Through entertaining, humorous, and heartfelt stories from the field, audiences will discover that great photography isn’t simply about cameras or technology. It’s about showing up, earning trust, listening carefully, and being fully present. Whether sitting at a kitchen table, traveling down a remote road, or spending time with a community over days or weeks, Toensing reveals how meaningful images begin with meaningful relationships.
More than a talk about photography, BE HERE is a reminder to slow down and pay attention to the people, places, and stories that surround us every day. Through stunning imagery and personal reflections, Toensing demonstrates how the simple act of noticing can transform the way we experience the world.
Amy Toensing is an award-winning visual journalist and National Geographic Explorer whose work has appeared in National Geographic, Smithsonian, Time, Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal, and numerous other publications. Her photographs have documented cultures, conservation efforts, social justice issues, and environmental challenges around the world, earning international recognition for their depth, humanity, and storytelling. One of her photographs from the Australian Outback was selected as one of National Geographic magazine’s all-time 50 Best Photos, placing her work among some of the publication’s most celebrated images.
Whether you’re a photographer, storyteller, student, or simply someone who wants to see the world a little differently, BE HERE offers an unforgettable perspective on the value of presence, empathy, and connection.
Fee: Free
Deadline: Register by Wednesday, December 2 at Noon
Attendees: 60 (Max)
RSVP: Register Now!
