Summer Fun for all at the Scarsdale Rec Day Camp

Summer, the long awaited season is finally here. And for almost 900 Scarsdale kids, the Scarsdale Recreation Department day camps are providing fun-filled days of escape not too far from home.

The Scarsdale Day Camp program encompasses five camps: Camp Sagamore, Camp Lenape, Camp Wapetuck, and Camp Patthunke are regular day camps for children in grades Kindergarten,1st, 2nd, and 3rd-8th, respectively. Among these four camps, 700 rowdy campers keep the counselors busy. Even with the help of about 115 counselors and 60 other staff members, running the camp is no easy business. The challenge to keep up with the ten-minute attention spans of a group of six-year-olds keeps everyone on their toes. Campers play sports and games, make art projects, and work on their singing and dancing for the Variety Show, held once each summer to showcase e the talents of campers, one musical number at a time. Once a day, each group takes a trip to the Scarsdale Pool, an oasis after a warm day at one of the elementary schools, most of which are not air conditioned. Between barbeques, visits from the ice cream truck, magic shows, crazy hat day, and Red, White, and Blue Day, the hours pass quickly. Field trips to Leapinʼ Lizards, Legoland Discovery, and the Maritime Aquarium break up the weeks and provide added entertainment.

No summer is ever the same, as there is a constant flow of staff entering and exiting the camp community. With new directors at Camp Patthunke, Sagamore, and Wapetuck this year, fresh pairs of eyes review the successes of each camp and design new schedules and activities. Through the ongoing contribution of these directors, the camp continues to progress and evolve.

For teens, an alternative to Camp Patthunke is Travel Camp, the fifth full-day camp. Founded eight summers ago, the Teen Travel Camp provides action-packed days for campers who crave adventure. It appeals to older campers who have outgrown Camp Patthunke and are ready to spread their wings. Sophia Bohjalian, 13, says she likes Teen Travel because "all the counselors are very nice. There are special things about each of them that I like." She also remarked that "[Travel Camp] is a good way to go to a lot of cool places without begging your parents to take you!" While many kids spend the summer at sleep-away camp, Emily Kopp, 13, says Teen Travel is special because "you donʼt have to stay overnight, but you still get the experience of being with all your friends on fun trips." Their favorite trip is whitewater challenge rafting in the Delaware River, despite the lengthy bus ride. Since campers are not allowed to use their cell phones during the commutes, they turn to other forms of entertainment and end up making numerous new friends. The Enchanted Coach bus experience is luxurious in comparison to what the trip would be on a yellow school bus. The pleasure of air conditioning and the fact that the campers seem to agree on movie choices make the rides pleasant. Hannah Glickenhaus, 12, says, "I was shocked by the fact that when I brought in the movie ʻLegally Blondeʼ the boys were more than willing- if not excited- to see the sequel on the next ride!" Five counselors and a director accompany the campers on each trip, and sometimes two more, to ensure safety and accountability for all campers in certain destinations. Since there is not always a counselor watching their every move, campers are often expected to be independent and make mature decisions. Trust and responsibility are key factors in making this camp a success.

This year, the campers will also be going to Broadway, Central Park, Lake Compounce, Splish Splash Water park, the Bronx Zoo, Club Getaway, the South Street Seaport, and Six Flags Great Adventure! It is a wildly popular program and because there is a maximum of 40 campers, the Rec Department reluctantly places kids on an ever- growing wait-list each year.

The Sports Camp is a half-day camp. The session takes place in the morning, before the heat of the day descends. Campers play baseball, basketball, football, wrestling, field hockey, and lacrosse. Similarly, Soccer Camp runs only in the mornings and works to develop each playerʼs fitness and technique. Some campers in either Sports Camp or Soccer Camp join the regular day campers at Camp Patthunke for the afternoon. This program allows kids to play sports as well as bond with fellow campers over lunch, crafts, drama, and swim lessons.

Vicky Laoutaris, Recreation Supervisor, says that the Rec Department seeks to add new elements to the camp schedule each summer, especially for Camp Patthunke. Since the age range of campers attending Patthunke encompasses kids who have classmates attending sleep-away camp, mixing things up every summer gives these kids an enjoyable camp experience without having to set foot outside their home town. Minor changes each summer also encourages campers to return the next summer, building a strong camp community of new-comers as well as veterans. Ms. Laoutaris noted that Camps Sagamore and Lenape focus on wetting the campersʼ feet and introducing them to summer camp, while different forms of recreation are necessary for older kids.

The Scarsdale Day Camps appeals to a wide array of children because of the variety of activities offered. The camp program has been evolving and will continue to do so. Children who are aspiring athletes, drama queens, swimmers, chefs, and artists alike find a home-away-from-home with their camp families and the days of summer whiz by.

Photo: Teen Travel campers Hannah Glickenhaus, Emily Kopp, and Sophia Bojalian

Carly Glickenhaus will be a Sophomore at SHS in the fall. She enjoys writing, photography, and soccer, and dives for Scarsdale Town Pool Swim & Dive Team.