Welcome to the second installment of our East End summer camp roundup. (Read part 1 here) Let your children experience the beauty of the area while making new friends, stimulating their interests and developing new hobbies at one of these great camps. With so many camps, it can be hard to narrow down your choices.
Maybe Junior is an aspiring actor or actress? Bay Street Summer Kids Theater Camp has expanded. New this year, camp will be offered at two locations—Studio 3 in Bridgehampton and at the Southampton Center. Bay Street will offer four total camp sessions, open to kids ages 7–12. The Southampton Center location will host “Land of Make Believe” camp from August 4–8 for ages 7–9, where fairy tales collide as students create their own play. Kids age 9–12 can enjoy a weeklong “My Life is a Musical: Camp!” from August 11–15. In Bridgehampton, kids ages 9–12 will enjoy a Seussical twist on Shakespeare in “Green Eggs and Hamlet,” held from August 4–8. The August 25–20 camp for ages 7–9 delves into Shakespearean comedies in a mini Midsummer Dream camp.
Call 631-725-0818 or visit baystreet.org for additional information.
If you child is more at home in the water than on land, then maybe sailing camp is the ticket to a fantastic summer. Breakwater Yacht Club in Sag Harbor provides junior sailing instruction for kids ages 9 and up. This season, the youth sailing program is offering beginner, intermediate and racing classes. Beginner classes run for one week, beginning June 27. Beginner lessons include instructions on rigging a boat and what to do if your craft capsizes. Students learn about how a boat responds to wind before they see these concepts in action on the water. But don’t let your kids have all the fun. Contact Breakwater for adult sailing and rental information.
Visit breakwayernyc.org for additional information.
New for 2014, let your child explore his or her inner stage persona at the East Hampton Art and Theatre Camp. The camp focuses on musical performance and studio art. The day will be spent in various performance classes such as improv, dance and music, taught by actors currently working in New York City, accompanied by studio art classes, like collage and set and costume design. The camp, which is held at Pierson High School, offers four-week and eight-week sessions, open to ages 6–14. Session One runs from June 30–July 25; and Session Two operates from July 28–August 22. Sessions are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
For more information, visit hamptons-theaterarts.com or call 917-922-0895.
The Hamptons wouldn’t be the Hamptons without the miles of pristine beaches! Let your kids learn how to take full advantage of the ocean at surf camp. At Flying Point Surf School, kids will learn the ins and outs of surfing, from reading the waves to actually standing on a board. The camp is taught by First Aid/CPR certified, fully insured instructors with a 3:1 student/instructor ratio. Weekly sessions are available, though campers are invited to sign up on a daily basis as well. All boards and equipment provided. Rather leave the swimming to the fishes? Flying Point also offers a Fish Camp. Enjoy morning or afternoon fishing trips on the area’s sheltered waters on a fully equipped custom sport fishing boat. Featuring instructions in saltwater fishing, basic freshwater fishing, fly-fishing and surfcasting, Fish Camp gives kids skills they can use for a lifetime of fun.
Call 516-885-6607 or visit flyingpointsurfschool.com for more info.
It’s no secret that the East End is an equestrian paradise. Help your youngster learn about the art of horsemanship at Gray Horse Farm Billington’s pony camp. Gray Horse Farm Billington in Southampton is a full service equestrian center with skilled and friendly trainers. All ages and levels of riders are welcome. Camp runs from June 24–August 22 from 9 a.m.–noon. Sessions are available by the week
Call 516-903-5036 or visit ghfbillingtom.com for additional information.
The TLC Family of Camps offers three options on the East End. Tucked away in East Hampton, Hampton Country Day Camp (HCDC) offers an unmatched summer experience for children ages 2.5–10 years on a 10.5-acre campus. The summer program provides a unique blend of athletics, aquatics, creative and performing arts in a safe, warm, nurturing and fun environment. Led by a team of top-quality specialists who are all committed to building campers’ self-esteem and self-confidence, the camp promotes values and character. HCDC accommodates children of all ages, with a stepping stone campus appropriate for kids ages 2.5–4 years old and an upper campus for ages 5–10 years old. A 3-year-old mini-day is also available from 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Round trip, door-to-door transportation is included in tuition, based on program selection. Flexible enrollment options (eight weeks, six weeks, four weeks, weekly) are available. New this year, HCDC introduces “Coaches-in-Residence” partnership programs with Basketball Stars of NY, NOGA Soccer and East Hampton Indoor Tennis, where top-quality coaches will be on-site all summer, taking sports program to the next level. (They are also currently exploring coaching partnerships for the baseball program.) HCDC is also building a shaded Gymnastics Pavilion with a variety of instructional equipment and apparatus (led by an experienced specialist), which will be offered to the 5–10 year olds this summer. The camp will also be introducing an Imagination Playground—an innovative and mobile playground equipment system—where campers can enjoy child-directed and open-ended play while unlocking their own creative spirit.
The Hampton Sports & Arts camp allows kids ages 11–15 to customize how they spend their summers, preparing them for greater independence, by instilling self-confidence and broadening life perspective.
If Junior is a rising tennis star, check out Southampton Racquet Club & Camp (SRCC). The tennis club offers players of all ages the opportunity to hone their skills through private and semi-private lessons, clinics and tournament play. The camp offers campers an introduction to tennis and tennis-related activities, athletics, arts and special events. All camps begin June 30 and run through August 11. SRCC and Hamptons Country Day Camp also have a pre-camp June 23–27; and a post-camp option from August 25-29, as well as a three-week enrollment option August 4–22.
For additional information on the camps, visit southamptonrcc.com, hamptonsportsandarts.com, or hamptoncountrydaycamp.com.
Hampton Racquet in East Hampton offers sports, tennis and creative play for all ages, groups and skill levels for a variety of age groups. The camp’s attention to creative play optimizes the great outdoors and allows campers to discover their innate talents on and off the courts. Hampton Racquet celebrates the joy of movement, develops physical coordination and instills a love of sport and athletic skill. The innovatively integrated tennis program starts with Twinkle Stars (youngsters 3-5 years old) and develops players skill sets on through their formative years as Rising Stars (ages 5-8 year olds). Tactical and strategic play is the focus as they progress on through the Five Stars (ages 9-12 year old) and Shooting Stars (ages 12 and older) programs and achieve an adult understanding of the game. Camp begins June 23.
For more information, visit hamptonracquet.com or call 631-324-0297.
The Sail Montauk sailing school offers a junior sailing program, where kids ages 10–16 learn to sail in the two-week summer camp sessions. Each boat is limited to four or five students with a certified instructor. Classes meet dockside each morning at the Montauk Yacht Club, where briefing and dockside instructions take place before on the water sailing and hands-on participation. Once comfortable handling their boats, students will fine tune their skills with racing and games. Camp runs Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Session dates are June 30–July 11; July 14–25 and August 4–15. Sign up by May 1 and save 10% using code JSPDPEB.
For more information, visit sailmontauk.com or call 631-522-5183.
A family-owned, Southampton institution since 1969, Sandy Hollow Day Camp allows campers to grow in a safe, fun environment. Activities include hockey, soccer, softball, volleyball, arts and crafts, basketball, tennis, field trips, a Red Cross swim program and more. Take note: Fridays at Sandy Hollow have become synonymous with fun-filled special event days. Campers enjoy a wide variety of popular activities including inflatable giant water slides, Slip ’N Slides, dunk tanks, inflatable bouncers, DJ dance parties and camp cookouts.
For more info, visit sandyhollowdaycamp.com.
Let you child explore their passion for sports at Sportime summer camps, with locations throughout New York and Long Island, including Amagansett and Quogue. The East Hampton Sports Camp @ Sportime (in Amagansett) offers children between the ages of 3-13 a program of sports and games that includes tennis, baseball, swimming, basketball, soccer, hockey, dodge ball and capture-the-flag, plus great creative arts and camp activities.The facility boats a 23-acre campus that features 33 Har-Tru tennis courts, a heated swimming pool, two dedicated camp buildings, several large playing fields, an outdoor multi-sport court, a pro shop and a snack bar. EHSC @ SPORTIME also enjoys exclusive use of the Sportime multi-sport arena at Terry King Park, right across the street from the main campus. Sportime has transformed this regulation size indoor roller hockey rink into a state-of-the-art, multi-sport arena with air conditioning, three full basketball courts, three competition volleyball courts, hockey changing rooms and restrooms. Sportime Quogue boasts four indoor Har-Tru (clay) courts, 22 outdoor Har-Tru courts, heated outdoor pool, full-service health and fitness club, multi-sport court, child-care, locker rooms, full-service spa/wellness center and cafe.
For more information, visit sportimeny.com/ehsc or sportimeny.com/quogue.
Located in beautiful East Hampton, Summer Camp @Ross gives campers an opportunity to explore new interests in a safe and supportive environment. Campers will enjoy all the fun of a traditional summer experience while pursuing other interests in sports, science, nature and arts. The unique Choose Your Own Major program for ages 6–14 offers participants the opportunity to follow their passions and focus on creative activities, scientific investigation and sports. Campers choose a morning major, and full-day campers choose a weekly minor, allowing for more in-depth opportunities to explore those areas. Minors include African dance, circus, Jujitsu, music video, magic and much more! There are 26 different majors to choose from, including surfing, sailing, Junior Innovation Lab, horseback riding, filmmaking, robotics, music, naturalist explorers, basketball, golf, gymnastics, ceramics and creative writing. Ross also offers an early childhood camp program for kids ages 6 and under. Infants 2 and under can take part in “music and movement,” which is designed to nurture motor development. Creative Explorations, for kids ages 3–5 introduces kids to multiple activities, and there’s a sports camp open to kids ages 4–6. Teens @Ross allows high schoolers ages 15–17 to have a fun and productive summer with college prep programs and intensive workshops in science and technology.
Camps begin on Monday, June 23, and weekly sessions run through August 15.
For basketball die-hards, Ross School will also play host to the New York Knicks Summer Basketball Camp. Boys and girls ages 8–18 will learn and experience team participation and personal development in a structured environment. The camp focuses on improving each camper’s skills while teaching and emphasizing offense, defense, shooting and game fundamentals. Three camp sessions run from August 16–18; August 20–22; and August 25–27.
Visit ross.org/summercamp, email summercamp@ross.org or call 631-907-5555 for additional information on all programs.
Summer camps build character, friendships and life skills. It’s most important to choose a program that best fits your child’s needs. If you’re college-aged kid needs a productive reason to get out of the house, tell him/her to forward a resume and two writing samples to stacy@danspapers.com for consideration for the Dan’s Papers editorial internship program.
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