2014 Summer Camp Roundup:
Summertime is the time for children to spread their wings, find a new passion, polish up skills, and have loads of fun.
Summertime is the time for children to spread their wings, find a new passion, polish up skills, and have loads of fun. Here are just some of the ways in and around Rye.
The Ballet Class
From August 18-29, ages 5-13 can partake in a concentrated study for beginning and intermediate students at the Rye Arts Center. Classes focus on ballet technique, stretching, strengthening, pointe, and variations with educational films, lectures, and fun crafts.
Intermediate students will be able to show their accomplishments in the studio at the end of the course. All students should pack a lunch or snack each day. Girls must wear pink tights, pink ballet slippers, and any color leotard.
The complete schedule can be found at theballetclass.com. For more information, contact Celeste Morningstar at theballetclass@gmail.com or 967-0912.
Rye Arts Center
All ages can explore their creative side this summer from June 30 through the end of August. Programs are offered by the week in morning, afternoon, and late afternoon sessions and summer classes. Private instrumental and vocal lessons are available and three special musical theatre weeks will take place in August.
Programs include Half Day for Half Pints for pre-K, 3D Printing and Modeling, Writers Week, Creative Building, Maker Club with LittleBits, MakeyMakey and more, Vocal Pop Workshops, Art Explorations, Ceramics, Digital Photography& Imaging, Drawing and Painting, Fun with Melody and Rhythm, Introduction to Piano and/or Guitar, Musical theater week with GREASE, Musical Theater week with MATILDA, Manga/Cartooning, Studio Art, Exploring Painting, Portrait painting, Acrylic & Oil painting, Drawing and Painting from Life, and Cartooning & Action Figures and Vocal seminars.
The Dance For Parkinson’s Disease program will be offered on Wednesdays and Fridays in July and August.
Look for the online Summer Guide at ryeartscenter.org. To receive a summer program catalog, call 967-0700.
Rye Rec
Rye Recreation provides residents with camps that are fun, safe, and affordable for children of all ages. Camps run from July 1 through August 8.
Kiddy Camp (ages 3-5) is a 6-week, half-day, classroom-based program. Every day, children participate in story time, songs, outdoor play, art, sports, free play and more. Special events are held weekly. Campers must be 3 by April 30, but not entering kindergarten to be eligible. Six-week fee is $700 for residents, $1,400 non-residents. Registration is ongoing.
Lower Camp (grades K-2) registration begins March 3 at 6:30 p.m. At this full day program, participants can enjoy sports, group games, arts and crafts, scavenger hunts, field trips, and special theme days. Some children can participate in a learn-to-swim program which is held three times a week at Rye Golf Club; an extra fee is required and space is limited. The fee for the full day is $760 for six weeks or $525 for any two consecutive weeks. Non-residents are accepted as space permits for $1,520 beginning May 8.
Upper Camp (grades 3-6) registration begins March 3 at 6:30 p.m. Campers can participate in a variety of trips and programs including sports, games, arts and crafts, chosen electives, and special events. The fee for the full day is $760 for six weeks or $525 for any two weeks. Non-residents are accepted as space permits for $1,520 beginning May 8.
Camp 78 is a travel camp for those boys and girls entering grades 7 or 8. Trips include Madison Square Garden Tour, Bronx Zoo, Yankee and Mets Games, Medieval Times, Great Adventure, Brownstone Park, a trip on the “BEAST” and more. Sign up for one or more weeks. Cost is $185 for Week 1 and $225 each week for Weeks 2-5. This program is open to Rye residents only and registration is ongoing.
Teens entering grades 9 and 10, who are interested in gaining practical experience working with children for community service credit, can apply for Junior Counselor positions. The application deadline is March 30. Visit ryeny.gov/recreation.cfm and follow the links to apply.
For more information, call 967-2535, email recreation@ryeny.gov, or visit ryeny.gov/campmain.cfm.
Community Synagogue of Rye
Ages 2-3 can experience a variety of indoor and outdoor activities including art, music, yoga, water play, games, snack, and playground learning. The program runs four or five days a week for children entering a 3-year-old program (by fall 2014), from 9:15 a.m. -12 p.m.
All teachers have at least an undergraduate or associate’s degree in early childhood education, and have many years of experience working with young children. The camp is ideal for children who are not yet quite toilet trained.
To register, call 967-7698 or email doberlander@
comsynrye.org.
Rye YMCA
All camps are led by a team of full-time professional directors. The passionate and dedicated summer staff is selected for their strong character, maturity, enthusiasm, and commitment to Y values.
JUST 3’s is an introduction to swimming, arts and crafts, music, sports, and more for 3-year-olds.
At KINDER CAMP, ages 4-5 can enjoy instructional swimming, arts and crafts, music, and playground time.
DISCOVERY CAMP (grades 4-5) is held at Osborn School from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Activities include instructional swimming, arts and crafts, nature, sports, field trips, and more. Extended care is available.
ADVENTURE CAMP, (grades 6-9), is a travel camp that includes adventure-bound activities, day trips, overnight excursions, and other challenging experiences.
Registration is ongoing. Visit ryeycamp.org or stop by the Member Services Desk.
Rye Nature Center
This summer do you want your child to make a nature-inspired film, explore an urban forest, and learn how to cook on a campfire? Then the Rye Nature Center is the camp for you! Children in preschool through eighth grade can enjoy the 47-acres of forest, gardens, and playgrounds under the tutelage of the Nature Center’s popular naturalists and science staff.
For the preschool set, the half-day camp provides a nurturing environment where young children can comfortably discover and enjoy the great outdoors. Elementary aged children will love the variety of the camp’s daily activities – art, science, gardening, hiking, animals – while having the freedom to explore the grounds with their group leaders.
Middle school aged campers enjoy a program where environmental stewardship is put into practice as they get to showcase activities for the youngest campers and go on exciting weekly field trips.
Sign up for the whole summer or by the week. Camp runs from June 30 through August 15 and all new programs are in the works for 2014, including a special week of “Nature at Night” camp.
For more information and to register, visit ryenaturecenter.org.
RyeTV
Join RyeTV this summer in their air-conditioned space to learn basics of portable video while producing stories using go pros, stop-motion, and editing. On the first day the group will pick a topic and plan the production. By week’s end the story will be complete and air on RyeTV.
Three sessions will be offered: July 7-11, July 14-18, and August 18-22, all from 2-4 p.m. Cost is $75 per week. Space is limited. Sign up for one week or all three.
Rye Historical Society
Looking for something fun and educational for your children to do this summer? Why not enroll them in the Hands-on-History Summer Colonial Camp? Girls and boys ages 7-13 will spend three fun-filled weeks immersed in colonial history at the Square House from July 8-25 from 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Tuesday-Friday. Campers will experience what life was like more than two centuries ago through activities including painting portraits and landscapes, learning about colonial gardens and food, and playing old-fashioned games.
The cost for the full three weeks is $400 for members, $450 non-members by April 30. After April 30, cost is $450 for members, $525 non-members. Weekly sessions and rates are also available.
To register, call 967-7588.
Clay Art Center
Enjoy 28 weekly, themed camps for ages 6-15. Camps offer young artists the chance to develop their imaginations and gain self-confidence while working in the transformational medium of clay. Ages 6-9 choose from exciting themes including “Colossal Coliseum,” “Minecraft in Clay,” and “Monsters, Myths, and Magic.” Ages 10 and up can use the potter’s wheel as a tool to create unique functional and sculptural pieces of art during camps like “Reinventing the Wheel” and “Wheel Throwing Boot Camp.”
Choose from half-day, morning or afternoon camps, or full day camp including a supervised lunch break. Registration is ongoing and all registrations received by March 15 will receive a 10 percent early bird discount.
Port Chester residents with children in the Port Chester public school system can receive a 20 percent discount, and full and partial scholarships are available. Reliable high school and college students who wish to assist with the program should contact communityarts@ clayartcenter.org.
For a full camp listing and to register visit clayartcenter.org.
Summit Soccer
At Kinderkickers ages 3-6 can develop a love for the game while learning individual skills, dribbling, passing, ball control, and shooting.
Ages 7-14 can also take part in the action in half- or full day sessions. In addition to individual skills, demonstrations of teamwork and tactics are taught to ensure that every phase of the game is covered.
For additional details and programs, visit summitsoccer.net.
Future Stars
Choose from over 18 programs for ages 4-16 at SUNY Purchase sprawling 500-acre campus. Campers enjoy endless acres of playing fields, training areas, and two new lighted turf football and baseball fields. Participants will also utilize three indoor gyms, racquetball and squash courts, training rooms, Olympic-size indoor swimming pool, video tape analysis room, and cafeteria.
Sports camps include Tennis, Soccer, Baseball, Basketball, Lacrosse, Football, Multi-Sports, Swim, Diving, Softball, Field Hockey, and Volleyball.
Specialty camps include Circus Arts, Magic, Academic, Horseback Riding, and Cheerleading. The Rising Stars program is designed for younger campers entering grades K-1.
For more information, visit fscamps.com.