The Knickerbocker Greys is the oldest after school activity in the United States, founded in 1881 for children aged 6 to 16. Since its founding, the primary purpose of the Greys “is to instill in cadets a sense of personal responsibility, and instinct for leadership, the habit of reliability, and the self-assurance which follows mastery of these steps to useful citizenship.” Cadets undergo a series of experiences over the years that build confidence, improve self-esteem, develop character, social skills, patience, perseverance, enthusiasm, public speaking, problem solving and leadership. The tradition of the Knickerbocker Greys lives on in all of the cadets.