PLANNING YOUR BEST SUMMER EVER With Countless Choices Today for Children, Why Residential Summer Camp?
By Whitney Ryan
T
he earliest residential summer camp in the United States dates back to the 1800s. Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Gunn founded the first organized summer camp in 1861, in Washington, CT. From this small, two-week trip experience for boys grew an institution that has changed the lives of countless children for well over 200 years. The idea of campers living and sharing together in the outdoors has proven to be far more than just a way to pass warm, summer days. The personal grow th, character development and life lessons learned at camp typically stay with a camper for a lifetime. These lessons play a significant role in shaping young people into leaders who are fiercely i n d e p e n d e nt , e mp a t h e t i c a n d inclusive citizens. Campers quickly come to learn and appreciate the simplicity of rustic living at camp. No longer are they as attached to their electronics, social media posts or never-ending texts. They are in the moment with whomever they are interacting. T hey lea rn a nd ex perience t he importance of connections, empathy, sharing, patience and more. They live with cool, strong role models. Counselors who were often campers return to camp to give back and pass the magic they experienced onto future generations. Campers gain confidence as they feel a sense of independence. They are in control of their experience. They are owning their decisions and learning about themselves and what it means for them to contribute to a community. This independence leads to tremendous growth and an increase in confidence. Today, our world is fast moving and filled with expectations and benchmarks for children. Su m me r c a mp c a n prov id e relief from this constant pressure.
At camp, a child can let down their guard, take risks and try new things with no expected outcome. This builds resilience and determination to master a sk ill, which can be transferred to most anything they will do in life. At Wyonegon ic C a mps i n Den ma rk, Ma i ne we teach ou r campers to Be Brave and not perfect. We want campers to try new things and know that just trying is success. We all know that perfection is just an idea and not a reality.
What About Those Campfires? Singing around the campfire a nd eating s’mores under a starlit night sky. It sounds idyllic and it is. Campers feel the security of close friends and camaraderie as they sing, tell stories and watch the glow of the embers. The smell of the burning wood weaves in the fabric of their clothing. It is almost surreal, compared to the everyday life they live during the school year. At that very moment, the pressures from school don’t exist. For many, this is the fuel they need to get them through long winter months. These are the simple pleasures that campers for generations have enjoyed. This is a feeling that is hard to come by for some today.
Sunset over Moose Pond in Denmark, Maine after a full day at Wyonegonic Camp, the first all-girls’ camp in the nation.
part of a team. They learn tolerance, the importance of communication and inclusion. Each camper plays an important role in the success of the camp season and leaves their mark on the history of the organization. A parent did not create or micromanage this experience. This is at the essence of the camp experience. Campers are empowered by their ability to control the outcome. Camp friends are cherished and friendships My Camp Is My Community. reach across the globe. As campers Community is at the center of leave, they are already dreaming of the camp experience. It is about the the next summer. people and the experience. Campers What Is The Take Away? living together in modest quarters allows for cultivation of mutual L oy a lt y, t r a d it ion a nd understanding among people with independence rest at the core of the different beliefs and values systems. summer camp experience. Camp By being part of an intentiona l can be a fun and zany place, staffed community in which campers need by cool, young counselors who guide to forge friendships, live without the campers. However, with the all the comforts of home and are surrounded fun also come healthy discomforts, by outstanding role models, they learn which provide appropriate growth that they can connect with individuals opportunities. Often the greatest who are different. Campers learn that discomfort is homesick ness. Dr their actions matter and that they are Michael Thompson, in his book,
Homesick and Happy discusses in detail the importance of the summer ca mp experience in relation to growth. He points out that one can be homesick and happy at the same time. As parents, we too easily rush to intervene in situations to protect and ‘save’ our children. Growth happens when one steps outside of their comfort zone. There is no better place than summer camp to experience these emotions and to learn how to respond. Camp fosters independence and parents need to respond and adapt as do their children. Letting your child grow into themselves, letting him feel the sense of pride in completing a camp session, letting her have her own special community that does not include you and letting your child share this experience with you through the countless stories you will hear during the winter months are central to a successful experience. Sending a child to summer camp requires great strength, trust and the ability to let your child spread their wings. They will fly back and when
they do, you will notice a child who is soaring with more confidence, resilience and strength. It is hard to put a grade on the camp experience, as it will evolve in years to come. Mr. and Mrs. Gunn knew in 1861 that it was good for that group of boys to have an outdoor experience. From the back woods of Connecticut has grown an institution that has expanded across the globe. Young people of all cultures, faiths and beliefs live together and face similar challenges in the outdoors. Imagine if the Gunns could see today the impact their original idea has had on the world of camping! Whitney Ryan is Director of Staff Recruitment and Leadership Training at Wyonegonic Camps in Denmark, ME. She frequently speaks on girls and womens’ issues and teaches Community Living Skills classes for girls at Rumsey Hall School in Washington, CT. She is a life long educator of girls in residential camp environments.
Giving Girls Strength for a Lifetime The ALC experience engenders the lifelong lessons of confidence, self-awareness and kindness. ALC is rich in friendship, fun, adventure and fosters important educational growth for all campers. Alford Lake Camp is an overnight summer camp for girls, ages 8 to 17, located in Hope, Maine. We offer 3 1/2 and 7 week sessions. To learn more, reach out to us: call 207-785-2400 or email us at explore@alfordlakecamp.com
alfordlakecamp.com
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JUNE 24–JULY 26 5
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Finding the Balance By Tess Adams When it comes to parenting, especially adolescents, the conflicting messages and research abounds. An article in the morning paper shouts, “Your children are too stressed and overwhelmed, and anxiety is on the rise.” Yet, as you look ahead at high school and the college admissions process, it can feel irresponsible not to help your child build the best academic and extracurricular skill set possible to help them achieve their dreams. Is it possible to find a balance amidst the pressure from all sides? During the adolescent years, the brain undergoes a massive transformation. While we think of teens as being those around ages 14–18, the true period of adolescent brain development stretches from ages 10–24. During this period, the brain peaks in its available gray matter— making it an age ripe for learning. In addition, the “pleasureseeking” dopamine receptors in t he bra i n i ncrea se, emot iona l responses in the amygdala increase, a nd t he pref ronta l cor tex (t he area responsible for planning and decision-making) remains under construction. As you can imagine, this paints a picture of many young people you might know: they can pick up new skills so quickly, they are motivated by reward and social approval, they are easily stressed, and they tend to process everything on an emotional level first. One of the most remarkable factors of the developing middle school and teenage brain is the fact that it begins a process of pruning. This is where the brain takes all of that incredible gray matter and begins to form it into the special skills students will need to navigate the adult world. This pruning occurs primarily through repetition and rehearsal of these skills. S o how c a n you he lp you r adolescent build on the incredible capacities of their brain, while protecting them from the emotional turbulence and stressors of the teen years? Research increasingly points to the idea that avoiding stress is not
Children balancing on tree trunks. [Imgorthand]/Getty Images. the solution to building a resilient and capable adult. However, living in a state of constant stress and overwhelm can also lead to the potential for more complex anxiety to develop. In a New York Times article, “How to Help Teenagers Embrace Stress,” psychologist Lisa Damour discusses that while chronic and traumatic stress can be toxic, the stress that comes with normal tasks, such as taking a big test, is a “typical and normal part of life.” She continues on to emphasize that because research has over and over told us that stress causes harm, we have become convinced as educators and parents that our job is to reduce stress, or to become stressed ourselves trying to find ways to prevent our children from encountering any obstacles. The article concludes by saying that not only is it important to reframe our view of stress as an important way to build capacity in young people, but this can only be fully achieved through providing equal opportunity for rest and fun. “Instead of trying to vanquish academic pressure, we
should turn our attention to making sure students can rebound between bouts of intense intellectual activity, just as athletes rest between hard workouts . . . Students should be taxed by school, and they should have enough time to restore themselves.” I recently taught a yoga retreat for mothers and daughters in the Berk shires. T hese were you ng children, mostly 6–8 years old, but I was delighted to find that many had been learning mindfulness a nd y o g a s k i l l s at s c ho o l , i n afternoon programs, and at camp. Mindfulness and yoga are just a few of the tools that you can provide your child with. These are skill sets that allow children’s minds and bodies opportunity to strengthen the ability to shift from the heightened stress response state that can come from academic and social tasks, and back into their bodies and into the moment. These are moments where their nervous systems can move into a restorative “rest and digest” state. The more t hat t hey are given chances to practice and master facing the
NOW ENROLLING JUNE 16 - AUGUST 4, 2019
normal and healthy stressors that stretch them, and then regain their quiet and calm, the more deeply they will embed this skill set for future challenges. A recent study done by t he B o s ton C h a r ter Re s e a rc h C o l l a b or a t i ve , a p a r t ne r s h ip between the Center for Education Research at Har vard and MIT, reinforced this position strongly. A group of 6th graders were either assigned to a coding class or a mindfulness class. At the end of eight weeks, t he group who participated in the mindfulness class reported feeling less stressed and better able to control their emotions. Half of the students who participated also underwent brain scans, and remarkably, their a my gd a l a s s howe d d e c re a s e d responses to stressful or scar y stimuli. The students from the coding class did not show these same results. When you begin your search for summer programs, my recommendation would be looking towards programs that allow your
child to continue to build upon their academic skill set, but also allow them continued opportunities to play, hike, live in the moment, breathe, stretch, and bond in positive ways with peers. This time in your child’s brain and social development is a critical window to help them to reinforce and prune the pathways in their brain for a lifelong balance between work and play.
Te s s A d a m s , L I C S W, i s a psychotherapist and yoga teacher. She is the Director of Counseling a n d t h e We l l n e s s P r o g r a m coordinator at Berkshire School in Sheffield, Massachusetts.
Summer Programs at Berkshire School offer a wide-range of academic, artistic, and athletic camps and programs for youth ages 8-17. All programs are held on our beautiful 400-acre campus located in the Berkshires.
www.berkshireschool.org/summerprograms 245 North Undermountain Road, Sheffield, MA 413-229-1207
Excerpt From A Letter To Wyonegonic Camp From The Parent of Twin Girls Doing research for our special section this year, I came across a letter from a mother whose twin girls went to Camp Wyonegonic last summer. A twin myself, I was intrigued. She wrote about a topic about which I have heard many parents of girls in Greenwich struggle. The letter could have been written by any one of them and it reminded me why we publish this special section in the first place. Here is an excerpt from the letter:
W
hen the school year kicked in this fall I discovered an unexpected gift from Wyo that was not published in any of the literature. Wyo has given my daughters a place to belong even though the canoes are stored for the winter, and the lake is starting to ice over. I didn’t expect camp would help with the 10% of hard days where my well-adjusted positive girls were simply having a rough time and their circle of friends at home didn’t feel safe and supportive. Since leaving Moose Pond in August, Wyo has held them up as tall and sturdy as the pines surrounding the Grove. On hard days, both girls have found comfort by telling me a story about a friend from camp. This reminded them of a larger circle and they were ok. They have a community where they always feel like they belong. They have treasured letters from friends. A poster hangs on their bedroom wall of every face that was part of camp last summer. They see themselves there too; they belong. This scaffold has given them strength and resilience they need to be a good friend and stand tall when they sometimes feel alone. Yes, Wyo was a place of positive growth last summer, but it continues to provide refuge and comfort even though the summer has long passed. That sense of belonging was woven into every song they learned, every night they were sung to sleep by a counselor, every adventure they experienced, and every friend they made. As parents trying to raise girls who have positive and supportive friendships we are so grateful for the expected and unexpected gifts that Wyo has given to our girls. Wyonegonic parent 2018 and 2019
PLEASE DOUBLE CHECK ALL DATES, TIMES, FEES, AND OTHER INFORMATION WITH EACH CAMP. AUDUBON NATURE DAY CAMP 203-869-5272 X346 613 RIVERSVILLE ROAD, GREENWICH GREENWICH.AUDUBON.ORG/ SUMMER-NATURE-DAY-CAMP Our weekly-themed camp programs provide a unique place for your child to explore the outdoors during their summer break. Campers build a deeper connection to the natural world through fun, experiential activities while exploring our 285acre Main Sanctuary, which includes a beautiful teaching pond, the Byram River, Mead Lake, forests, and meadows. ALFORD LAKE CAMP 207-785-2400 HOPE, MAINE WWW.ALFORDLAKECAMP. COM A Summer Haven for Girls, Alford Lake Camp is an overnight summer camp for girls, ages 8 to 17, located on Alford Lake in Hope, Maine. Summers at ALC are action-packed, fun and filled with friends. As one of the world’s oldest girls’ residential summer camps, ALC is steeped in tradition and legacy, tenets that guide the camp’s enduring philosophy. The Alford Lake Camp experience engenders
confidence, self-awareness, and kindness, lifelong lessons. ALC is rich in friendship, fun, adventure and important educational growth for all campers. BRIDGES SCHOOL BRIDGESSCHOOL.ORG 203-637-0204 296 VALLEY ROAD, COS COB This program with three two-week sessions is designed for threes and fours. We will group children by gender, age and sibling schedules. Program includes: Extended Art Activities, Outdoor Sculpture, Collage, Woodworking, Outdoor Activities, and Water Play. Science and Art activities. BRUCE MUSEUM 203-413-6756 TOD’S POINT, SEASIDE CENTER, OLD GREENWICH WWW.BRUCEMUSEUM.ORG The Bruce Museum Seaside Center at Greenwich Point Park educates visitors about the ecology of Long Island Sound. Live-animal marine tanks, seashore dioramas, and free, drop-in activities for all ages. Dates: Tues. – Sun 11am – 5pm. Custom environmental programs available for groups.
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF GREENWICH WWW.BGCG.ORG/CAMPS 203-869-3224 Fun! Adventurous! MEMORABLE! Within just a few miles from home, kids ages 6-12 and 13-15, can choose their source of FUN this summer! Camp Simmons is a sprawling 77 acres of pure wilderness on Lake Avenue in Greenwich and features an outdoor swimming pool, archery range and pond for boating and canoeing. In addition to the many activities that campers are encouraged to participate in, there are special events and themed days like Christmas in July, Soccer Olympics, and weekly fishing derbies! Clubhouse Camp is located on Horseneck Lane in Greenwich and offers a multi-sport field house, soccer field, 25-meter pool, arts & crafts and a technology center. Here, children enjoy daily games of table tennis, bumper pool, and air hockey,
as well as leisurely swims with their friends. Every day is special at the Clubhouse with themed days such as Funny Hat Day, Super Hero Day and the Summer Olympics!
or interest of a young child like spending time in the outdoors. Each week campers will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities from fishing, campfire cooking, boating, swimming, handicrafts, archery, BB shooting, hiking, bouldering, and more! Boys and girls are separated by Dens and meet together for Friday campfire and special themed days.
Teen Campers can dive into summer at the Clubhouse. Open to members ages 13-15, teens have access to a multi-sport court, soccer field, swimming pool, and game room. Most of their time is spent off-site visiting attractions such as New York City, local beaches, Boy Scout Adventure Camp (grades amusement parks, sporting events 6-8) Outdoor program for boys with and more! or without Scouting experience! All camps are licensed by the State of Each week campers will have the Connecticut and are competitively opportunity to participate in a variety priced at $150 per week per child of activities from fishing, campfire (closed 7/4 - short week of 7/1-7/5 cooking, canoeing, swimming, ax is $120 per child). Campers must and whittlin’ skills, archery, rifle be registered members of the Club shooting, climbing, orienteering, and in order to attend. All swimming more! instructors are American Red Cross certified. CAMP WEKEELA 207-224-7878 Call 203-869-3224 or visit bgcg. HARTFORD, MAINE org/camps to download camp WWW.CAMPWEKEELA.COM registration forms. GREAT SUMMERS START HERE. For Camp Wekeela, a coed residential child care financial assistance camp on mountain lake setting. contact Care 4 kids at CTCare4kids. Family oriented, warm, inviting program for children, 7-16, led by com. talented specialists and counselors. Water Sports: swimming, sailing, wakeboarding, CAMP CHEWONKI FOR BOYS water-skiing, canoeing, kayaking, windsurfing, (207) 882-7323 tubing, paddle boarding, water WISCASSETT, MAINE trampolines. Land Sports: archery, BOYS.CHEWONKI.ORG baseball, basketball, disc golf, flag Every summer, boys ages 8-15 football, fitness, golf, skate boarding, come to Chewonki from across the mountain bikes, gymnastics, lacrosse, country and around the world to street hockey, soccer, beach volleyball, Creative/Performing experience authentic summer camp karate. Arts: painting, drawing, tie-dye, fun on the coast of Maine. On our pottery, woodworking, rocketry, 400-acre campus, you can explore photography, jewelry, musical theatre, the outdoors, gain new skills, dance, radio, video, guitars, piano, work on a real farm—and just be drums. Tennis: pro instruction. yourself. For more than 100 years, our unique nature-based approach Outdoor Adventure: high/low ropes, to adventure, learning, and play has rock wall, climbing tower, campfire created lasting summer memories cooking, orienteering, rappelling, zip for our campers. Get outdoors and line. Culinary Arts. Environmental Education. Horseback Riding. Trips: discover what’s inside! camping, whitewater rafting, ocean surfing, teen trips to New England CAMP CHEWONKI and Canada! FOR GIRLS (207) 882-7323 WISCASSETT, MAINE CARDINAL BASEBALL CAMP GIRLS.CHEWONKI.ORG (203) 869-3736, 10 HILLSIDE RD CARDINALBBCAMP@AOL. Who are we? We’re girls and young COM women who love adventuring, Cardinal Baseball Camp will be in having fun with new friends, session at Greenwich High School learning about ourselves, each for its 17th consecutive summer. other, and Maine’s legendary lakes Greenwich High School Head and rivers, mountains and forests, Baseball Coach Mike Mora and islands and coastline. his staff provide a fun learning We welcome challenges, inspiration, and laughter. Each of us is essential environment, while stressing the in the community we create each fundamentals of baseball. Skills and summer, living close to the natural drills begin at 9:00am and a game is played daily from 10:45-12:00noon world. when campers are to be picked up. Imagine How it Would Feel: wake up with the birds; cook blueberry CARDINAL SOCCER CAMPS pancakes over a campfire; laugh on WWW. a mountaintop after a hard climb; CARDINALSOCCERCAMPS. paddle your canoe through white COM water; sing under the stars with friends; share a lake with loons; hear a river running by your tent at Week 1: June 24th-June 28th, 2019 night. Imagine–or spend a summer Camps: Cardinal Kickers, Half Day with us and find out what these Academy, Full Day Travel, Full Day Elite, Goalkeeper experiences feel like for real. Week 2: July 8th-July 12th, 2019 Chewonki girls and young women Camps: Cardinal Kickers, Half Day are ages 8 to 16. We come from all Academy, Full Day Travel, Full Day over the U.S. and the world. Each Elite, Goalkeeper one of us is unique. What we have Week 3: July 15th-July 19th, 2019 in common: curiosity, courage, Camps: Cardinal Kickers, Half Day compassion, a good sense of humor, Academy, Full Day Travel, Full Day and the passionate belief that Elite, Goalkeeper spending time outside teaches us Week 4: July 22nd-July 26th, 2019 Camps: Cardinal Kickers, Half Day and leads us to our truest selves. Academy, Full Day Travel, Full Day Chewonki girls and women discover Elite, Goalkeeper joy in the great outdoors, welcome a Week 5: July 29th-August 2nd, 2019 challenge, and get that competence Camps: Cardinal Kickers, Half and community-building are vital Day Academy, Travel and Elite, in the wilderness, and afterwards. Goalkeeper, High School Prep They dare to explore, expect the Week 6: August 5th- August 9th, 2019 unexpected, work hard, and play Camps: Cardinal Kickers, Half Day Academy, Full Day Travel, Full Day with all their heart. Elite, Goalkeeper, High School Prep Week 7: August 12th- August 16th, CAMP PLAYLAND 2019 802 Ponus Ridge in New Canaan Camps: Cardinal Kickers, Half Day campplaylandofnewcanaan.com Registration for Camp Playland is Academy, Full Day Travel, Full Day ongoing. Dates: Monday, June 25th Elite, Goalkeeper, High School Pre– Friday, August 17th. Minimum Season enrollment is 2 weeks. Campers: Week 8: August 19th- August 22nd, ages 3 to 14. Door-to-door bus 2019 transportation from Greenwich. 18- Camps: High School Pre-Season acre campus in New Canaan CURTAIN CALL 203-329-8207 CAMP SETON WWW.CURTAINCALLINC. 203-869-8424 COM 363 Riversville Rd, Greenwich Curtain Call offers two different www.greenwichscouting.org summer programs for youth: our Set on a 239-acre woodland with 2 Summerstock and Summerstock lakes and over 5 miles of hiking trails! Junior program, which is a fullOutdoor program includes boating, day, conservatory-style workshop swimming, archery, BB and rifle program for ages six thru sixteen, range, nature, gaga ball, Scout skills, and our Summer Youth Theatre climbing, fishing, campfire cooking, which produces a full-scale musical handicrafts, wilderness survival & production each summer featuring performers and technicians’ grade more! Co-ed Cub Scout Camp (grades four through age twenty-one. 2-5)– Nothing stirs the imagination
The Gift of Presence: A Tech-Free Summer
CAMP BGCG June 24-August 23 7:30 am -4:30 pm
Camp simmons
Ages 6-12 • 744 Lake Avenue Traditional camp experience including
P
By Betsy Tomlinson & Sue McMullan
ediat ricia ns wa rn us, our f riends’ Facebook posts remind us, and The New York Times gives us the dire evidence: screen time is destroying the next generation. And yet, there are great educational tools in technology. We also hear how important it is that our children learn to use it. We see schools using iPads in the classroom, even in kindergarten. So what is a parent to do? How do we find a balance? Are we willing to give up tracking our children with “Find my Friends”? How many times a day do you and your children text each other? In short, how do we balance the ways that technology is useful in our children’s lives with the welldocumented dangers? One of the greatest gifts of a traditional summer camp is the opportunity to unplug. Parents don’t need to spend the summer prying the devices from our children’s hands and begging them to go outside and play. Instead, imagine that your children are a part of a community where ALL interactions are face-to-face. Imagine your child jumping into a clear blue lake and splashing with friends, never pausing to post to Instagram or wondering whether her friends are doing somet hi ng more f u n. Pic t u re you r son playing cards with a young adult role model who genuinely listens to what he has to say. Imagine your child sitting still, listening to the loon’s call and pausing to enjoy nature, or cracking up over some silly joke with friends. Of course, summer camps teach activities and campers learn every day. They return from camp full of new skills: they can stern a canoe, they have a fierce backhand, they canter on a horse, they weave a basket or swim across the lake. More and more summer programs focus on skill development: your daughter can go to lacrosse camp one week and coding camp the next. We know that it takes many ingredients for our children to become productive and self-confident individuals. Playing on a sports team, acting
in a school theater production, and academic success all play a role. But children need more than “hard skills” if they are going to become mature, fully formed human beings. A summer camp experience can be the transformative place to prepare our children to care for themselves in an equally important way – in just a few weeks, they learn about who they are or who they want to be, how they go about making healthy decisions, and how to use their voices in an emotionally safe place before they have to cope with making huge decisions in their everyday lives. How do we do a l l t hat at c a mp? At traditional summer camps, campers and counselors of all ages sit together for three meals a day. They learn to communicate and they learn to listen. At camp, most children arrive and don’t know anyone. They learn to make new friends. When they have free time, they learn to entertain themselves by reading, writing or playing games with friends. They entertain their imaginations. They sit by the lake and watch the sunset in silence. They form an identity that is separate from their home lives. They gain confidence from being independent. They realize that they can survive without technology and that camp gives the gift of time in a simpler world. What does this feel like from a parent’s perspective? Ca mp pa rent, A l ford L a ke Ca mp alumna, and Managing Editor of the Boston Globe, Jennifer Peter, reflected, “Maybe it’s something we should all try, if it wouldn’t get us fired. Three weeks of ‘screenlessness’. Though just writing that made my heart rate rise a little. Would that mean I couldn’t listen to podcasts and audiobooks during my commute? (I access those things through a screen, but I don’t need to be on a screen to enjoy them. Exemption, right?) Would I have to sit at meetings and actually just listen to the people speaking without simultaneously checking to see if a story had been filed or an email had been received? And maybe, the overnight camp test is not fair. Arguably, it’s a lot easier to forget about screens when you’re in a place of abundant beauty, surrounded
nature programs, arts & crafts, swimming, special events and themed days.
CLUBHOUSE CAMP
Ages 6-12 • 4 Horseneck Lane Full service, air-conditioned facility with 25-meter pool, arts & crafts and technology center. Daily games of table tennis, bumper pool, air hockey. Leisurely swims and themed days. Summer Brain Gain to foster creative thinking skills.
TEEN CAMP
Ages 13-15 • 4 Horseneck Lane pool, designated game room. Visiting attractions such as NYC, local beaches, amusement parks, sporting events, etc. Weekly program fee is $150 per child. *Closed 7/4. Short week 7/1-7/5 is $120 per child. Must be a current Club member.
For more information, visit
BGCG.ORG/CAMPS
Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich 4 Horseneck Lane • Greenwich, CT 06830 • (203) 869-3224
GREAT�SUMMERS�START�HERE. by wholesome girls who have also agreed to give up screens for the summer, swimming and sailing and reading books by flashlight. Maybe it’s too much to imagine shutting off the screen amid the hubbub of everyday life. But maybe -- be still my heart -- we should try.” Alford Lake Camp’s philosophy is based on some very important parenting priorities, especially the immeasurable value of giving
your child the empowerment of positive self-esteem and self-image in a world that challenges these traits every day. ALC is a place that teaches girls what it takes to be happy, healthy, and productive individuals. B e t s y To m l i n s o n , D i r e c t o r o f Communications and Technology and Sue McMullan, Director, Alford Lake Camp.
Unpacking Summer Camp
I
By Cullen McGough
f you’re a parent whose child attends camp, you’ve probably encountered one of those official packing lists, complete with dire warnings about the required number of socks, the importance of labeling underwear, and the forbidden nature of sha r p objec ts, v ideo ga mes, cellphones, lighters, and processed sugar (because, so they claim, it attracts bears). I can still remember epic battles with my mother about packing for my first time away at summer camp. “But Mom,” I whined. “I need this axe. I’m going to be in the forest. I have to survive.” To my 8-year-old-brain, t he demands of sleeping away from home were roughly on par with that scene from The Empire Strikes Back where Han Solo slits open the belly of a Tauntaun and shoves in the comatose body of Luke Skywalker, just to keep him from freezing to death. I wasn’t exactly sure what camp would be like, but based on the number of socks I was told to bring, I assumed it would be cold and stinky, and I would have to get tough if I wanted to survive. “You don’t need an axe,” she said, taking it out of my bag. “They have axes. In fact, you’re not allowed to use an axe. Where did you get this?” On the other hand, going to summer camp meant I would get my very own sleeping bag. Prior to this, I had to make do with a handme-down from my older sister, a particularly embarrassing Strawberry Shortcake-themed sleeping bag. Sleepover parties were rough. My friends all had bags printed with cool action figures like Skeletor, Optimus Prime, or the Tasmanian Devil. “ W h a t ’s h i s s up e r p owe r? ” demanded my friend Steve, pointing to a cartoon image of The Purple Pie Man leering out the window of a pastry-themed castle. “He makes pies,” I muttered, and pretended to fall asleep. No more! Wit h ca mp in my
future, it was time for a trip to L.L. Bean where I immediately latched on an $800 arctic survival bag. “Mom! Mom! This is tactical nylon. Tactical. You can sleep on a glacier. It only weighs two pounds. I think it stops bullets?” “Put it back,” she said, dragging me over to the Lightweight Summer Cotton Zone. Still, I remember it was a good day. I went home with a brand-new plaid sleeping bag, which was totally cool that year, because the movie Braveheart had just come out, and I would be able to tell Steve that this was exactly how Scottish Highlanders went camping. Even better, Mom agreed to get me a flashlight. My own flashlight. Not one of those crappy plastic ones that lived under the sink, oh no, this was a Mag Light. Adjustable focal point. Textured grip. This baby was clearly high-tech gear used by law enforcement, ninjas, scientists, and could probably burn through walls if only I could get the adjustment right. I leaned out the car window on the way home, signaling nearby planets in Morse code. “Don’t point that at airplanes,” said Mom. “It’s illegal.” In those days, LEDs were still a dream of the future, and the 12 size-D batteries required to run this monster cost a small fortune. We made one last ca mpingsupply stop, dropping into the local pharmacy. “One bag,” Mom said. “And don’t tell your counselors.” I stared wide-eyed at the candy isle. Was this real? Was I dreaming? This never happened. Even at Halloween, Mom routinely demanded a 90% candy tax on my haul. “It’s for charity,” she lied. I m a d e s om e q u ic k m e nt a l calculations. Hard candy would last longer, but chocolate bars would be better for trading. I settled on a bag of Smarties, reasoning that I could always split them up into smaller units if I needed to wheel-and-deal with the other kids. Later that night, I tried out my
new sleeping bag and lay on the floor of my room, tracing the glow-in-thedark stars attached to the ceiling with the beam of my Mag Light. “Are you sure I can take the candy?” I asked Mom when she poked her head in to demand I go to sleep. “No,” said Mom. “But it’s your
first time at camp. Play dumb. Sweet dreams.” In the end, Steve and I ate the candy before I left for camp, and I used up all the batteries on that first night, but I still have my plaid sleeping bag. And it still reminds me of one of the best summers of my life. I survived.
Cullen McGough is a former camper, counselor, camp manager. He is currently working for Camp Chewonki, a fantastic summer camp in Wiscasset, Maine, which does not allow sharp objects, video games, cellphones, lighters or processed sugar.
DANCE ADVENTURE 36 SHERWOOD PLACE, GREENWICH 203-625-0930 WWW.DANCEADVENTURE. COM/CAMPS.CFM Summer Dance Dance Camps One are one-week long, each with a theme. You may register for as many weeks as you like. As an option, you can add the Lunch Tap Dance Extension. Ages 4-7 years. Space is limited. DEVITA KARATE 203-629-2467 SBERGERS@DEVITAKARATE. COM WWW.DEVITAKARATE.COM Program: 10 Martial Arts Lessons plus Uniform and Equipment. Ages: 3+ yrs. Times: Flexible times to choose from, varies by age. See website. Martial Arts is a great way to learn discipline and focus as well as increase self-esteem and confidence. Our variety of class times and days make adding martial arts to your summer plans convenient. EAGLE HILL SCHOOL 203-622-9240 45 GLENVILLE ROAD, GREENWICH WWW.EAGLEHILLSCHOOL. ORG/SUMMER-PROGRAM You’ve heard of “summer slide” but your child won’t experience it here. Eagle Hill’s Summer Academic Program is an extension of the philosophy and strategies for leaning that we use throughout the regular school year. We create a multi-sensory, hands-on summer learning experience that sets students up for success in the fall. The Summer Academic Program immerses each child in a languagefocused environment tailored to meet his or her learning needs. Eagle Hill’s Summer Academic Program is open to any student ages 5-14 who either has a languagebased learning disability or simply needs additional learning support. The 2019 program runs Monday through Friday from July 1-31 (except July 4 and 5). FAIRFIELD COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL 2970 BRONSON ROAD, FAIRFIELD WWW. FAIRFIELDCOUNTRYDAY.ORG Summer@FCDS offers full and half-day co-ed camp programs for campers entering Kindergarten through 9th grade. Our 2019 season includes 7 week-long sessions from June 17-August 2. Our week-long sessions provide an atmosphere of learning and fun, with highly qualified, experienced educators (many of whom are full-time FCDS faculty) who are committed to providing a positive experience for every child. Camp is held on the 25-acre FCDS campus, where campers love cannonballing into our pool, letting their imaginations run wild during arts and crafts, playing games and honing new sports skills outdoors, and having a blast with new friends all summer long! FILMMAKERS INK BENDHEIM WESTERN CIVIC CENTER, GLENVILLE FILMMAKERS-INK.COM PATRICK MCCULLOUGH 413-320-6071 This summer, take a deep dive into filmmaking. Guided by Filmmakers Ink professionals, our young filmmakers learn by doing as they develop the key creative and technical skills required for exceptional filmmaking. Filmmakers Ink programs are designed to give students solid lifelong hacks with which to access, express, and develop their creative ideas and then turn them into movies. FIRST CHURCH PRESCHOOL FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH 203-637-5430 108 SOUND BEACH AVE., OLD GREENWICH FIRSTCHURCHPRESCHOOL. ORG We’ve Got the Perfect Camp for Your Preschooler – Summer Program at First Church Preschool! Our popular Summer Program at First Church Preschool is designed for children ages 3 – 5 years. They must be 3 years by 12/31/19 and not yet attended kindergarten and be TOILET TRAINED.
GREENWICH DEPT OF PARKS & REC SUMMER CAMPS GREENWICHCT.ORG 203-618-7649 The Dept. of Parks and Recreation will be offering a wide variety of camps to meet the needs and interest of all children in Greenwich. We will be offering Kamp Kairphree for children 5 – 12 yrs, Greenwich Adventurers for children 8 – 15 yrs, Art and Music Camp for children in grades 3 – 8, and Skatepark camps GIRL SCOUTS OF CT and clinics for children 6 – 14 yrs (203) 239-2922 old. Also summer swim lessons, WWW.GSOFCT.ORG and our special soccer with Aldwin Make new friends, sing silly songs, camps will be available. build a campfire, hike the trails – adventures await at GSOFCT GREENWICH DEPT OF Summer Camps! ALL girls ages 5 to PARKS & REC AT BENDHEIM 17 are welcome! With both day and WESTERN CIVIC CENTER resident camps to choose from, there GREENWICHCT.ORG is sure to be one just for you! Not 203-532-1259 only do we provide great traditional Greenwich Adventurers, Ages 8-15, camp activities, but GSOFCT will be based at the Center. Just Wee summer camps helps you expand Two will offer programs Ages: 14 your horizons while having fun and months-3.5 years. Filmmakers Ink enjoying the adventure of learning will offer camps in special FX and and connecting with the world Movie making for Ages 8-15. Dance around you. Pointe will be back, offering Dance Camps for Ages 3 and up. Incrediflix Day and resident camp opportunities will offer two 1/2 day programs are open to girls going into grades the week of August 1. Morning 1 to 12. Resident camps are located Animation Flix, Afternoon - Lego in Lebanon, CT and Tolland, MA. Flix. Legos come to life. Ages 7 -13. Leadership opportunities for girls entering grades 7-12 are available at all GSOFCT camps. New this year, the program runs seven weeks from mid-June through July/early Aug. Children can be enrolled for the entire program, or for single weeks, to work with your family’s summer and vacation schedules. We have a variety of fun, exciting activities including sports, arts and crafts, music, science experimentation, water play, snacks, time exploring our Nature Classroom, and so much more.
GRAND SLAM TENNIS CLUB IVAN LENDL TENNIS CENTER 914-234-9206 WWW. GRANDSLAMTENNISCLUB. COM Kids Love Grand Slam Tennis Club! Sign Up Now for Summer Tennis Programs Weekly, Daily, Half-Day Program Options; Beginners to Tournament Level Ivan Lendl Tennis Center GREENWICH ACADEMY 203-625-8967 WWW.GREENWICHACADEMY. ORG/SUMMER Greenwich Academy summer programs encourage boys and girls to imagine, discover, and create. Classes, taught by GA’s experienced teachers and coaches on our 39-acre campus, include engineering and design workshops, debate camp, chess, athletics, language studies, drama, and a variety of creative art experiences. Weeklong sessions are open to children entering pre-K–12 for full or half days in the month of June.
ART AND HISTORY CAMP AT THE GREENWICH HISTORICAL SOCIETY 203-869-6899 39 STRICKLAND ROAD, COS COB GREENWICHHISTORY.ORG/ CAMP
Co-ed summer camp for Ages 3 – 13 Located on the 92-acre campus of The Greenwich Country Day School, GCDS Summer Day Camp offers boys and girls a summer full of adventure and fun! Open to all children in the CT/NY area. Our state-of-the-art facilities include 2 swimming pools, 4 gymnasiums, 4 tennis courts, dance studio, rock wall, Performing Arts Center, Technology and Creativity Labs, and air-conditioned classrooms. Campers are divided into seven age groups. This allows our professional instructors and exceptional counselors to give more personalized attention to each camper and to target age-specific athletic and artistic activities. A nutritious nut-free lunch is served every day!
INDIAN HARBOR YACHT CLUB SAILING (203) 869-2484\ 710 STEAMBOAT ROAD, GREENWICH In June 2019 IHYC begins their 96th season of Junior Sailing on the Long Island Sound. Junior Sailing at Indian Harbor is open to both member and non-member children across a broad range of ages and abilities. Beginners as young as 4 years old can take their first sail in an Ideal 18 in our introductory Sprite program. Accomplished racing sailors up to seniors in high school can compete in local, regional, national and international regattas in Optimists, Lasers and C420s. The program runs for eight weeks – late June through mid-August. Their mission is to promote participation in sailing through education and competition while developing in our Junior Sailors the qualities of sportsmanship, seamanship, self-discipline, and a respect for nature and for their fellow sailors – and to have a wonderful summer of fun and friendship. Classes are available as one, two, and four-week-long sessions.
At the unique and highly interactive Art and History Camp for kids in KIEVE CAMP FOR BOYS grades 2-8, campers learn about 207-563-5172 our town’s fascinating history and NOBLEBORO, MAINE create Impressionist art and crafts WWW.KIEVEWAVUS.ORG projects; all weeks include STEAM Camp Kieve is located on three activities. July 8-19 grades 5–8; July miles of pristine lake frontage on a 22-August 2 grades 2–4. Hours: peninsula in Damariscotta Lake, 60 Monday-Friday, 9:30am-2:30pm. miles northeast of Portland, near the coast and 4 miles from our sister camp, Early bird deadline April 1. Wavus. Operated by the Kennedy Registration deadline June 15. family since our 1926 founding, we offer traditional, noncompetitive, Early Bird Rate until April 1 diverse in-camp program with (Includes Greenwich Historical activities such as tennis, riflery, Society Family Membership): $600 sailing, team sports, arts & crafts, for two weeks; $400 for single-week environmental discovery, an excellent sessions. adventure ropes course, and trips Open Registration Rate to our nearby, beautiful ocean front (nonmembers and all campers after property in Bremen and Audubon’s April 1): $700 for two weeks; $450 Hog Island. All BOYS participate in for single-week sessions. our progressive wilderness tripping program designed to inspire and At the unique and highly interactive challenge campers through beauty Art and History Camp for kids in and teamwork. Trips range in grades 2-8, campers learn about length from two days to three weeks, our town’s fascinating history and depending on age. create Impressionist art and crafts projects; all weeks include STEAM activities.
GREENWICH COMMUNITY SAILING 203-698-0599 WWW.GREENWICHSAILING. COM Greenwich Community Sailing is proud to announce the opening of registration for the 2019 summer program. Programs are for ages 8-16, one and two week programs. Their highly qualified and US Sailing certified instructors look forward to providing safe and fun learning experiences on the water. Classes are filling up fast so please give us a call There’s an Early American Life week or register on-line today. and Art Colony week for both age groups. During the Early American Life week, campers weave and create colonial toys. During the Art Colony week, campers learn about the Cos Cob art colony and practice Impressionist art techniques.
GREENWICH COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL GCDS.NET/SUMMERCAMP 203-863-5677 401 OLD CHURCH ROAD, GREENWICH
GREENWICH YOUTH CONSERVATION PROGRAM (GYCP) 203-622-7792 WWW.GREENWICHDHSFUND. ORG/GREENWICH-YOUTHCONSERVATION-PROGRAM/ Teens work on Town owned properties doing conservation work in the morning and have educational/ recreation time in the afternoon. Youth Co-ed 14 -15 (entering Grade 9 or 10). M – F, 8:30 am-3:30 pm. Teens can participate in one 2-week session. Choice of 4 sessions. Applications available in public school guidance office s in April. Teens must complete an application and attend group interview to be eligible to participate. For teens attending private schools please call for an application.
Campers get full access to the Historical Society’s new campus, spend time in Bush-Holley House, and learn from professional museum educators and Master Artist Dmitri Wright. July 8-19 for grades 5–8; July 22-August 2 for grades 2–4. Camp hours: Monday through Friday, 9:30 am to 2:30 pm. Contact: Anna Greco, 203.869.6899 or agreco@greenwichhistory.org. THE GREENWICH PERFORMING ARTS STUDIO 203-273-STAR (7827)
GREENWICHPERFORMINGARTS. COM
Classes in Acting, Musical Theatre, Improv, Movement and On Camera and put on a Show! The Benefits are: Increased Confidence, Improved Public Speaking Skills, Enhanced Acting Abilities, Gained Comfort in Social Settings, Refined Brainstorming Abilities, Improved Listening and Observation Skills, Enhanced CreativeThinking Abilities, Improved Decision-Making Skills and Team Development Skills.
MAGIC DANCE TODDLER WWW.MAGICDANCE.COM 203-981-4704 AT THE AUDUBON CENTER, CONTACT AUDREYAPPLEBY@ YAHOO.COM
MEAD FARM 203-322-4984 107 JUNE ROAD, STAMFORD WWW.MEADFARM.COM Mead Farm is one of the oldest horse riding establishment in Stamford with a history dating back to 1928. As a family-run business, we offer: Year-round lessons for children and adults Boarding, leasing and sales Seasonal programs Birthday parties & more From the first time rider to the more advanced, our instructors provide a comprehensive and challenging riding experience within a casual atmosphere. Mead Farm offers private and group lessons designed for those who want the full hands-on equestrian experience. Mead Farm has expanded its offerings to include programs through local Recreation and Parks Departments, as well as other organizations. THE MEAD SCHOOL 203-595-9500, EXT 63 CREATIVESUMMERMEAD. ORG Creative Summer at The Mead School is not your average summer camp! Centered around the visual, performing and expressive arts, the emphasis of this four-week program is on creativity and the creative process, on children as artists working with artists. The Mead School is extremely proud to be celebrating the 30th year of its multi-arts summer program for young people ages 6 1/2 to 16. Staffed by professional artists, educators, and performers, the emphasis in this fourweek program is on creativity and the creative process, on children as artists working with artists. The Mead School, located at 1095 Riverbank Road in North Stamford, provides a perfect summer setting for exploring all aspects of the arts. OGRCC 203-637-3659 WWW.MYOGRCC.ORG Summer Painting: Budding artists will learn to draw and paint and become acquainted with the master artists. For kids ages 6-14 (other ages willbe considered).
we learn Proudly providing life-changing experiences in nature for boys and young men, ages 8-19.
we lead
Join us in Maine for the best summer of your life! Camp Chewonki for Boys 485 Chewonki Neck Rd. Wiscasset, Maine
we fly
https://boys.chewonki.org
we learn Proudly providing life-changing experiences in nature for girls and young women, ages 8-19.
we lead
Join us in Maine for the best summer of your life! Camp Chewonki for Girls 485 Chewonki Neck Rd. Wiscasset, Maine
we fly
https://girls.chewonki.org
OGRCC 203-637-3659 WWW.MYOGRCC.ORG CONTINUED Sandpipers Beach Camp: Arts & crafts, field trip to Island Beach, games and beach activities planned with an emphasis on promoting sportsmanship, commitment, respect, and kindness. Sample activities include scavenger hunts, kindness games, dance party, Sidewalk chalk, classic games, water balloon games, kite flying and more. Ages 3yrs to 10yr olds. Tennis: Each participant will learn a different stroke daily. This camp includes instruction on the forehand, backhand, serve and volley. There is also an optional cross-training component to this camp to facilitate coordination as well as improve endurance. Games such as soccer and kickball will be played. Children will receive a minimum of 2 hours of on-court instruction each day. Rugby: Introduce fundamental rugby skills, as well as implementing rugby ethics on and off the pitch. Staff includes seasoned rugby players that have played at OGRCC, Greenwich High School, All Americans and players with experience abroad and at the collegiate level. OLD GREENWICH TENNIS ACADEMY 203-637-3398 151 SOUND BEACH AVE. OLD GREENWICH OLDGREENWICHTENNISACADEMY. COM The Junior Summer tennis program offers children of all ages and abilities the opportunity to learn solid tennis fundamentals through guided-discovery learning. All levels of play participate in team competitions, singles and doubles round robins- they will work on ball control, court movement, fitness, sportsmanship and much more. RIVERSIDE SCHOOL OF MUSIC 401 EAST PUTNAM AVENUE 203-661-9501 RIVERSIDESCHOOLOFMUSIC.ORG Stringed Instruments Music Camp for Beginners and young musicians: Try a new instrument in this short, fun learning experience! Improve your playing in intensive lessons and master classes! SUMMER INSTITUTE AT KING THE KING SCHOOL, 1450 NEWFIELD AVE IN STAMFORD 203-322-3496, EXT. 500 WWW.KLHT.ORG/SUMMERINSTITUTE There are 1, 2, 3, or 6 week sessions. In addition to providing academic and artistic opportunities, the Summer Institute offers athletic camps for those students who want to engage their bodies along with their minds, and push themselves to be their best in a variety of sports. All sport
camps are run by a King Varsity Coach. Players will be able to gain individual instruction from the area’s top coaching staff. The coaches are interested in developing skills and building better teammates through drills and scrimmages. SUFFIELD ACADEMY 860-386-4482 SUFFIELD, CT WWW.SUFFIELDACADEMY.ORG/PAGE/ ACADEMICS/SUMMER-ACADEMY The Summer Academy at Suffield welcomes students from ages 12 to 18 from around the world. We hope you will join us for five memorable weeks where you will have the opportunity to meet new friends, enhance your study skills, and prepare for the next academic year. Each summer over 130 students from around the globe come to the Summer Academy at Suffield to experience life in our community—a life filled with exciting opportunities to learn both in and out of the classroom. Students enroll in the Summer Academy to expand their skills, whether in the classroom, in the art studio, or on the playing fields. Being part of our community means being part of a hands-on learning experience. You will have the opportunity to eat, live, learn, and laugh with a culturally diverse group of peers and faculty members. Students have the opportunity to take a wide range of classes and participate in a great variety of activities. Our academic program focuses on enhancing study skills and also offers courses in math, science, music, art, English, and foreign languages. DAY CAMP AT WHITBY SCHOOL 203-869-8464 969 LAKE AVENUE, GREENWICH WWW.WHITBYSCHOOL.ORG Through Whitby’s hands-on, interactive enrichment programs for ages 18 months through 12 years, you’ll be amazed at what your kids can learn and achieve this summer. All activities are hosted on Whitby’s secure 30acre campus, including our recently renovated Athletics Center! Camp sessions are led by Whitby’s own teachers and well-known, local instructors who are the best of the best. WAVUS CAMP FOR GIRLS 203-549-5719 JEFFERSON, MAINE WWW.KIEVEWAVUS.ORG Wavus Camp for Girls is located on two miles of pristine lake frontage on Damariscotta Lake just 65 miles from Portland, near the coast, and 4 miles north of our brother camp, Kieve. Wavus operates a traditional, noncompetitive in-camp program in conjunction with a
progressively challenging wilderness tripping program. In-camp, we offer swimming, arts & crafts, team sports, archery, riflery, sailing, paddle boarding, an adventure ropes course, and trips to our nearby ocean front property on Muscongus Bay. All girls participate in our progressive wilderness tripping program designed to inspire, challenge and educate campers through the beauty of nature and the gratification of teamwork. Trips range in length from two days to three weeks depending on age.
WINONA
CAMP FOR BOYS
207-647-3721 BRIDGTON, MAINE WWW.WINONACAMPS.COM THe Winona Experience begins with our beautiful location on the shores of Moose Pond with inspirational views of Pleasant Mountain and Mount Washington. A mile of waterfront, with each unit offering its own encampments and program. Junior (7-11), Intermediate (11-13), Senior (13-15) and CIT (16-17). Canoe, mountain and kayak trips are available for all ages. Campers choose activities on a daily basis from a wide variety of outdoor living programs, athletics and aquatics. Included in the Winona Experience is an extensive sailing program, horseback riding (English), rock climbing and woodworking. Junior Maine Guide program available to boys ages 14 and older. Veteran staff; with campers and staff from 30 states and 15 foreign countries. Founded in 1908.
WYONEGONIC CAMPS (207) 452-2051 DENMARK, MAINE WWW.WYONEGONIC.COM Wyonegonic Camps, established in 1902, is the oldest continuously-run camp for girls in America. Wyonegonic is composed of three separate camps — designed to fit the individual needs and interest of the campers. Each camp forms its own closeknit community that is small enough to kindle deep friendships. Cabin life is rustic and simple. Our seven hundred acres of
pine forest and two miles of shoreline offers campers a sense of privacy and isolation. We offer programs for girls between 8 and 18 years old. Wyonegonic is a camp where girls learn about themselves in a non-competitive atmosphere and enjoy the beauty of friendship in the simplicity of the outdoors. YMCA OF GREENWICH 203.869.1630 WWW.GREENWICHYMCA.ORG The YMCA of Greenwich offers a variety of summer camp options that value individuality as well as a sense of community, promote positive self-esteem and expose children to a variety of skills and experiences. Our dedicated camp counselors are ready to provide an active and fun environment for all of our campers. Each camper will receive a camp t-shirt to wear on trip days as well as a calendar of daily activities. MINI CAMPERS (3 – 5 YEARS): Give your Preschooler/ Rising Kindergarteners the opportunity to learn, grow and play each day while making new friends. Weekly sessions include arts & crafts, music & movement, outdoor sports and daily Water Acclamation swim lessons, based on the YMCA’s National swim lesson curriculum. DISCOVERY CAMP (ENTERING GRADES 1-5): Discover something new this summer! Sports, crafts, Water Movement & Stamina Swim Lessons, games and more! Campers will enjoy weekly themes and take trips to town beaches and attractions. *Rising Kindergarteners are eligible to attend with older siblings. YWCA OF GREENWICH 203-869-6501 259 EAST PUTNAM AVENUE YWCAGREENWICH.ORG/SUMMERCAMPS The YWCA offers 3 fabulous Summer Camp experiences. There is a wonderful, 2-session Preschool Camp for girls and boys 15 months – 5 years old (Contact: Geri Smiles, g.smiles@ ywcagreenwich.org Tel. 203-869-6501, ext. 221) or the very popular, 41-year old Camp Ta-Yi-To offering 2, 4-week sessions for girls and boys K – 5 grade (Contact: Arthur Smith a.smith@ywcagreenwich.org Tel. 203-8696501, ext. 251) and the excellent Girls Circle Camp that builds the confidence of 10 – 12 year olds (For information about eligibility and registration, call Leslie Coplin at 203869-6501, ext. 173).
Preventing the Summer Slide By Dr. Marjorie E. Castro
A
s educators, one thing that concerns all of us at Eagle Hill School, in Greenwich, is the amount of learning our students lose during the summer months. This “summer slide” can be discouraging for a student when a new school year begins. Of course, Eagle Hill’s teachers and families look forward to the summer months. Longer, warmer days with more time to relax, spend time with our loved ones, and maybe even take a nice, long trip. Still, summer is always shorter than we think and goes by faster than we anticipate. Though we all need and cherish this relaxing time, it’s estimated that, without support, young students can lose significant academic progress over the summer. This means that students, and teachers, are starting off the next school year at a disadvantage. It’s thought that teachers can spend up to six weeks of the new school year working to get students back to their pre-summer point. How can we help prevent the summer slide and be sure that our children have a wonderful, relaxing summer – but also maintain the skills and strategies they’ve gained during the school year? At Eagle Hill, we provide every family with a packet of summer work, but often our parents ask for more ideas. Here are a few suggestions: • Read. Perhaps this seems like an obvious suggestion, but it’s often harder to find time to read than you might think. Spend time reading out loud as a family (take turns!), listen to audio books in the car on a
road trip, visit your local library for a new best-seller…however you can incorporate reading! Think about establishing a sacred time each day when all screens are off and everyone in the family reads. • Teach (or learn!) life-skills. Work together with your child on a new recipe or a family favorite (recipes require reading and math!), teach your child how to do his or her own laundry, or pack the dishwasher. A l l of t hese chores requires a
certain amount of thought and problem-solving which strengthens a child’s ability to do something independently! The independence and the confidence it builds will transfer to school and a child’s ability to take on other learning challenges. • Consider a daily dose of writing. Perhaps we don’t have time to write a novel, but setting aside five minutes to write per-day could make a world of difference. Have your child start a journal and write about the
wonderful experiences he or she is having over the summer. • M a k e le a r n i ng p a r t of you r vacation. Spending all day at the beach can be wonderful, but find time to visit museums, historical sites, zoos, aquariums, etc., wherever you may be vacationing. These trips can help keep your child’s mind active. You may also consider enrolling your child in a summer academic
program. It might sound like a hardsell, especially for a child who may struggle in school, but a summer program is hugely beneficial in keeping the summer slide at bay. At Eagle Hill, our Summer Academic Program is entirely in the month of July – giving time in June and in August for families to vacation and spend time with each other. Our Eagle Hill teachers teach reading, math, study skills, and writing – the subjects that often deteriorate the most during the summer months. It is focused learning during the morning hours with no homework. Children can elect to stay on for extended day enrichment activities or to just have fun with family and friends in the afternoon. The morning academic program solidifies skills learned during the school year and takes students to the next level so that they are wellprepared for a new school year. However you chose to combat summer learning loss, be sure to find time for fun and family as well. But do make time to keep your child’s brain working so that hi or her new experiences over su mmer brea k contribute to success in the school year. Try and have your children read stories that relate to those experiences, write about the wonder of a summer vacation, and have opportunities for practical learning (buying an ice cream cone and figuring out what the change will be) – all of these things can ease your child’s transition back into school in September. Dr. Marjorie E. Castro is Head of School at Eagle Hill School Greenwich.
Denmark, Maine • 207-452-2051 www.wyonegonic.com
Bridgton, Maine • 207-647-3721 www.winonacamps.com
• The nation’s oldest brother/sister camps • Traditional Maine residential camp programs for 3 1/2 weeks or 7 weeks • Miles of lake shore frontage located in Western Maine • Wilderness trips
