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Community Corner

Patch Picks: Summer Camps Near Mineola

Here are five summer camp suggestions catered to campers with different interests.

It’s never too early to start thinking about summer camps for one’s kids, not only so there’s one less thing to think about and they are involved in something when school’s out for the year, but because space often fills up very fast, especially those sports camps.

We also know that not every parent wants to sent their child away to “sleep-a-way” camp, so we've kept things here on Long Island and close to Mineola.

Here are five local camps we think are worth checking out.

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Future Stars Summer Camp at SUNY Old Westbury Campus

This camp is designed to meet your child’s specific interests in a particular sport or program. Whether they enjoy drama, dance, cheerleading or are looking to excel in a sports like basketball, baseball, tennis or volleyball there are specific programs designed to allow your child to focus on what they love the most.

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Future Stars Nassau County also offers one of the only circus camps where children have the opportunity to learn and practice circus acts with a staff of international artists.

There is also a swim program offered for children who are looking to perfect their strokes and stamina, as well as flag rugby, a new sports-specific summer program.

Little Stars is a program designed for younger children, ages 4 through 6. Instead of focusing on a specific activity, Little Stars have a more traditional camp day including arts and crafts, field sports and swim.

Notes:

  • Door-to-door transportation throughout Nassau County is available for Future Star campers and Little Stars if they go for an “extended day.”  
  • Lunch is included in the camp cost for all campers.  Campers enrolled in programs other than swimming will have one period of recreational swim every day.
  • The camp season begins on June 27 through August 19** and campers can choose from any of the sessions offered depending on the program.
  • There will be an Open house on March 19 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
  • Contact: (516) 876 3490

**unless noted – see specific camp programs

Chaminade Instructional Sports Camps

This camp is designed specifically for boys entering grades 5 through 9 who are looking to concentrate on an athletic sport. Every sport varies in the number of weeks in each session and also has specific age requirements depending on the one your child is interested in.

Sports include lacrosse, baseball, soccer, non-contact football, and track and field for boys entering grades 5 through 9. Campers entering the 6th grade will have the opportunity to participate in the wrestling program and campers entering 7th grade can partake in any and including volleyball and all sport speed and agility skill programs.

Notes:

  • There is no transportation provided.
  • There will be no lunch period for the campers however, daily snacks and drinks will be given to each camper and they are allowed to bring their own lunch. 
  • Recreational swimming is optional for campers who wish to swim.
  • Contact: Don Scarola, (516) 742 5555 ext. 460 or 526  

** There is also a swimming skills program offered for campers entering grades 7 through 12.  

Science Museum of Long Island

This unique summer program is offered as eight separate weeks designed with a specific theme.

The Summer Science Experience program is offered to children in nursery school through 3rd grade. Campers experience science first hand by doing experiments with slime, learn about the planets and how things fly. Other adventures include a trip to Manhasset Bay with nets and shovels to meet some of the water life living under the sand and sea.

Advanced Summer Science is offered to campers entered grades 4 to 7. Campers have the opportunity to learn about the earth’s power of creation and destruction, rock climb and rappel, as well as surviving in nature by building your own fire.

Long Island Raiders is offered for campers going into 5th grade and older, who are looking to “discover the world from a scientific perspective!” Campers who enroll in this 5 day extravaganza will cover the east end of the island to New York City day by day on a “close-to-home” sleep away adventure.

Notes:

  • In order to send your child to camp you must be a member of the Science Museum of Long Island. If you are not and wish to join to take advance of the summer camp, membership is $100 for one year and applies to your entire family.
  • There is no transportation provided however campers can attend “extended hours” and arrive at camp one hour early for an additional charge on days that parents are working.
  • There will be an open house on March 28.  
  • Contact: (516) 627-9400 ext. 14

**Nursery school children must be at least 4 years old and toilet trained

Beth Shalom Day Camp

Located in Roslyn, Beth Shalom Day Camp welcomes campers in grades entering 1st through 8th who are looking for a traditional camp mixed with special events.

This summer is there a new exclusive Early Childhood Center full day and mini camp offered to nursery school and kindergarten children**. These groups are led by licensed teachers with typically a 4:1 camper counselor ratio.

Some of the special trips for the Junior campers (grades 1 to 4) include bowling and Fun Zone as well as Splash Splash for the 3rd and 4thgraders and a Mets game for campers in the 4th grade group. A day of a “tween” (girls in grades 5 through 8) include regular sports schedule with an advanced crafts and dance program.

Tweens go on weekly trips and attend the special overnight for dinner and a Broadway show. The Sports Academy is the boys group (grades 5 through 8) who focus on sports and athletic activities. They go on sports-related trips, participate in leagues and play in inter-camp games. The Sports Academy overnight includes a major or minor league baseball game and there will also be an optional overnight trip to Club Getaway in Kent, Connecticut**.

The coed Counselor in Training program (CITs) is designed for 9th and 10th graders who someday hope to become counselors. The first half of their day is with an assigned group, working alongside counselors. In the afternoon, they participate in activities with their peers. Part of the CIT program includes weekly trips along with two overnights.    

Notes:

  • Transportation is provided to and from camp (car seats are supplied for younger campers).
  • Each day campers will be served a peanut and tree nut free lunch as well as snack time in the afternoon.  
  • Camp begins on June 29 through August 23 – there are 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 week sessions.
  • There will be an open house on March 13 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • Contact: Ginger Bloom, (516) 621-9257

**Parents of campers in the tweens and boys academy groups can choose whether or not they want their children to mix with the opposite sex. 

Hofstra Summer Camp

Hofstra Summer Camp is broken down into two different kinds of camp depending on what your child is interested in.

The Specialty Camp is a coed program that offers sessions for two, four, six or seven weeks for campers entering kindergartn through 9thgrade. Campers in this program will have the opportunity to choose one specialty every two weeks. Half of the day is geared to the interest while the other part of the day is spent doing planned recreational activities. In addition to the major sports offered, some of the other specialties include work with computers, journalism and acting well as other programs offered to campers depending on their age.

The Sports Academy is for campers who wish to focus strictly on athletics. All of the campers in the Academy are supervised by "Hofstra’s well-known, NCAA coaching staff." The program is designed for children entering second through 12th grade and includes the major sports and a few others.

Notes:

  • Transportation is provided to Nassau county residents.***
  • Lunch is served to campers daily.
  • Open house on March 27 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
  • Contact: Terry Ryan, (516) 463 CAMP

***there are exceptions for transportation, contact camp director

Be sure to check back next week to find out what's going on for St. Patrick's Day!

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