For many children and families in the Capital Region, summer activities like visiting a water park have often been out of reach. However, this year, an initiative by Berkshire Farm Center and Upstate Chevrolet Dealerships, called "Summer to Remember," is changing the narrative.

"I was so thankful for this program, for getting them out and about and for you for making this happen today,” parent Colleen Sheehan said.

Sheehan's busy schedule, juggling two jobs, had left her with little time for fun summer activities with her son, Grayson, who was born during the COVID-19 pandemic.

One of the program's beneficiaries, Demarion Everett, a teenager from Albany who typically spends his summer immersed in basketball and video games, had a delightful twist this year. He was one of about 70 children who had the chance to visit Zoom Flume waterpark, where he enjoyed the water slides and made new friends.

“It feels good, you know, I met a couple of new friends, and it's my first time actually being here,” Everett said. “So the slides and stuff are pretty fun to me. I'm having a great time."

Berkshire Farm Center aims to expand such initiatives across New York , envisioning a future where more cities where they operate can benefit.