Greylock Federal Credit Union Holds Youth Week

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Greylock Federal Credit Union will hold its annual Youth Week celebration from April 16-23 with the theme “Pump Up Your Savings.”

“Passport to New Adventure” lanyards and free tickets for the week’s events are available at all Greylock branches beginning Saturday, April 16. The annual event fosters financial education among young people in Berkshire County through free fun events and activities designed to enhance skills for managing money and savings.

“The goal of Greylock’s Youth Week is to instill the habit of saving at a young age, offering positive encouragement, and providing financial education to young people," Victoria May, AVP Manager Marketing Promotions & Partnerships of Greylock Federal Credit Union, said. "Youth Week’s fun events combined with financial education and incentives to ‘Pump Up Your Savings,’ can help our community’s youngest members to grow into financially capable adults.”

The events are open to eligible Greylock Youth Members up to 18 years of age (must be accompanied by a parent or guardian). To become a Greylock Youth Member, go to any Greylock branch to open a Share Savings Account. Greylock will deposit $10 in every new Youth Member Share Savings Account opened during Youth Week. Please bring the child’s Social Security card and birth certificate to open a Share Savings Account. Greylock Federal Credit Union is federally insured by NCUA.

Activities schedule for Greylock’s Youth Week:

Saturday, April 16: Mass MoCA, North Adams

Monday, April 18: Norman Rockwell Museum, Stockbridge, “Drop-In on Art” Family Program, 1 to 4 p.m.

New Camp Is Safe Place for Children Suffering Loss to Addiction

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
06:26AM / Saturday, December 27, 2025

Last year's Happy Campers courtesy of Max Tabakin.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A new camp is offering a safe place for children who have lost a parent or guardian to addiction. 

 

Director Gayle Saks founded the nonprofit "Camp Happy Place" last year. The first camp was held in June with 14 children.

 

Saks is a licensed drug and alcohol counselor who works at the Brien Center. One of her final projects when studying was how to involve youth, and a camp came to mind. Camp had been her "happy place" growing up, and it became her dream to open her own.

 

"I keep a bucket list in my wallet, and it's right on here on this list, and I cross off things that I've accomplished," she said. "But it is the one thing on here that I knew I had to do."

 

The overnight co-ed camp is held at a summer camp in Winsted, Conn., where Saks spent her summers as a child. It is four nights and five days and completely free. Transportation is included as are many of the items needed for camping. The camp takes up to 30 children.

 

"I really don't think there's any place that exists specifically for this population. I think it's important to know, we've said this, but that it is not a therapeutic camp," Saks said.

 

She said the focus is on fun for the children, though they are able to talk to any of the volunteer and trained staff. The staff all have experience in social work, addiction and counseling, and working with children.