Rec Camp Offers Fun for Campers and Counselors Too

With over 700 Scarsdale kids in six camps and a staff of 180 CIT's, counselors and supervisors, the Scarsdale Day Camp is a big enterprise. According to Vicky Latouris of the Scarsdale Recreation Department, with one-week remaining of the 5-week program, all has gone well. Despite global warming, this summer has been temperate and there have been no heat waves or major storms to disrupt the camp that serves children from kindergarten through eighth grade.

The Scarsdale Rec Camp is divided into sub camps based on age. The age divisions include: Camp Sagamore for kindergarteners, Lenape for first graders, Wapetuck for second graders, and Patthunke for third through eighth graders. There is also the option to participate in the Combination Camp for children grades three to eight. This camp specializes in sports and soccer but also includes enrollment in Camp Patthunke in the afternoon. Everyday, campers arrive bright and early to take part in the many activities offered by the camp, which include swimming, various sports, music, and art. The children are able to experience new things and develop hobbies and interest. Despite the wide variety of activities available, the counselors told us that the favorite activities among the campers seem to be traditional camp past-times like board games and lanyard making.

Swimming at the Scarsdale Pool is a key part of the day and kids are taken from the schools to the pool by bus for swim instruction and free play. Pool temperatures are kept to 82 degrees to make it easy for kids to enjoy the water, and a big staff of swim instructors are employed at the pool to teach kids to swim in small groups.

In addition to the wide array of regular activities, there is also a unique social aspect that is very important to the operation of the Rec Camp. Emma Weinstein, a recent Scarsdale High School Graduate, is a counselor for 3rd grade girls at Camp Patthunke. Emma explained, "The children are able to meet other kids that they will soon be spending time with in middle school and high school." The Rec Camp helps youngsters to create that first connection with their peers, before actually entering the higher-level schools."

The daily program is highlighted by special events that occur throughout the summer. These include field trips, carnivals, magic shows, and more. For example, Camp Patthunke spent the day at Rye Playland, while Camp Lenape took a trip to the Norwalk Aquarium. There are also weekly ice cream days and a carnival with blow-up slides and cotton candy.

This year, the Rec Camp added a new element to the program at Camp Pathunke where they collaborated with Anna Stampfli of Scarsdale Strings to add musical instruction to the arts program with includes performing arts, dance and arts and crafts. This new segment gives campers the opportunity to sing and play instruments including the guitar and drums. The program culminated in a show on August 6 where kids playing instruments accompanied dancers. Many parents attended the performance at the Scarsdale Middle School to watch the campers display their musical talents. The children played the guitar and drums, as well as sang songs including "Wild Thing" and "Hit the Road Jack."

While younger kids enjoy camp close to home, students in 6th through 8th grade can participate in the Teen Travel Camp. This daily travel program takes 40 students on trips to amusement parks, on tubing and white water rafting adventures, to Broadway shows in Manhattan and Club Getaway in Connecticut. There are two 3-week sessions, and both sessions were fully subscribed.

The camp creates an energetic environment for the children, but also offers employment opportunities for high school and college students. Ali Farfel, a rising senior at Scarsdale High School and counselor for Camp Lenape, said "the job is convenient because it's local, and all the kids are really fun to be around, but the only challenge is that it is a very long day." Emma Weinstein also commented, "it's great to form relationships with the kids and see them making new friends and developing relationships; but it's difficult getting the kids from one place to another and making sure they have all their belongings." Overall, the counselors describe their work as a rewarding experience. Charli Suchin, another recent Scarsdale High School grad and counselor for Camp Lenape, explained to us her favorite part of the job. She noted that, "The best thing about being a counselor is seeing kids setting aside their differences and being good human beings."