Not sure where the kiddos should hang out while spending a summer on the East End? We've rounded up top day camp and overnight camp options in the Hamptons and on the North Fork. Read on for part IV of the summer 2015 list. Visit the Dan's Papers Summer Camp Guide for additional options and get ready for a summer of fun on the East End.
The Art Farm is celebrating 20 years! This 10-acre farm in Bridgehampton has sports fields, a gym and classrooms. The summer camps span a wide variety of programs. Younger campers will explore music classes and playtime, and older children will enjoy sports and outdoor adventures. The Art Farm’s fun elective options include computing, woodshop, horseback riding, photography, skateboarding, media and film, kayaking and swimming. Enjoy structured freedom with “Camp My Way,” where kids are allowed more freedom in choosing how they spend their day. All programs foster friendships and encourage campers to develop wide-ranging skills. Shuttle service pick-up and drop-off is available. Camp begins June 29. If your child is a budding chef, he or she may enjoy Taste Buds Kitchen. Back for another year in the Hamptons, Taste Buds Kitchen invites kids to make two to three recipes a week as they learn the basics of working in the kitchen. Older campers can tackle advanced techniques and culinary challenges. New for 2015, Art Farm on Wheels gives kids ages 7–12 the chance to experience everything that the Hamptons has to offer. Between getting picked up and dropped off at their door, the Art Farm on Wheels takes campers to athletic, artistic and educational activities of their choosing. Campers can practice sports through lessons in golf, tennis, horseback riding, surfing and more. Local artists will offer art instruction and premier chefs will teach campers how to prepare yummy and healthy meals. For more info, 631-537-1634 or visit theartfarms.org.
Master the art of musical theater by learning from current Broadway artists at the Broadway Method Academy (BMA) in East Hampton. BMA provides essential tools for young artists to integrate acting, singing, and dancing. This summer, BMA will host a two-week long, musical theater intensive workshop from August 3–14 for ages 13 to 21. The program will conclude with a showcase cabaret.
Visit broadwaymethodacademy.com for more info.
Campbell Stables Pony Camp in Bridgehampton offers eight weeks of camp—two four-week sessions—where aspiring equestrians can enjoy riding lessons, instructional classes, grooming, crafts, organic farming and more. Camp runs Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to noon and is open to campers ages 6–16. For more information, visit campbellstables.com/camp or call 631-726-0802.
Camp Invention celebrates its 25th season in 2015. Inspiring girls and boys entering grades 1–6 to think big and imagine how they can change the world for the better, this one-of-a-kind weeklong experience connects science, technology, engineering and math through fun hands-on activities. The program allows students to learn about creative problem solving. Camp is held July 13–17 at Dayton Avenue Elementary in Manorville; July 20–24 at Eastport Elementary; and August 10–15 at the Springs School. Visit campinvention.org or call
1-800-968-4332 to sign up.
Learn the fundamentals of soccer at the 2015 youth soccer camp at East Hampton High School. The camp, which runs from June 22–25, is open to boys and girls entering kindergarten through grade 9. This instructional camp will be coordinated and staffed by the East Hampton High School Soccer coaching staff and members of the soccer program. Camp proceeds benefit the high school soccer program. Email bonacsoccer@gmail to reserve your spot and for more information.
Future Stars Southampton at North Sea Community Park offers seven different athletic programs for children ages 4–16: baseball, basketball, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, multi-sports and Little Stars. Little Stars is a specialty program for children ages 4–5, and is designed to meet the diverse needs of younger campers. All programs will run between June 15 and September 4 with flexible enrollment options (one to eight weeks). Visit fascamps.com or call 631-287-6707 for additional information.
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 in Southampton. Gray Horse Farm Billington is a full service equestrian center with skilled and friendly trainers. All ages and levels of riders are welcome. Camp runs from June 30–August 21 from 9 a.m. to noon. Sessions are available by the week. Call 516-903-5036 or visit ghfbillington.com for additional information.
Baseball lovers ages 4–16 can dedicate their summer to the game at Hamptons Baseball Camp. Campers of all experience levels are encouraged to enroll for instruction in warm-ups, drills and gameplay. Weekly sessions are available between June 8 and September 4 in Water Mill. Camp days start with a morning discussion and warm up before campers break into groups as determined by age and ability. Then campers warm up, stretch and practice throwing exercises, after which they focus on a specific aspect of baseball. The day ends with a daily double header. Play ball! For more information, call 631-907-2566 or visit hamptonsbaseballcamp.com.
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. 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 are available. New this year, HCDC introduces “Hampton Country Sports Academy,” an athletics-focused program for kids age 7–11 that will allow campers to have a sports-camp experience in the morning, followed by elective and swim activities in the afternoon. Visit hamptoncountrydaycamp.com for more information.
Hampton Racquet in East Hampton offers sports, tennis and creative play for all ages, groups and skill levels. Hampton Racquet takes advantage of 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 years old) and develops players’ skill sets on through their formative years as Rising Stars. Tactical and strategic play is the focus as they progress on through the Five Stars and Shooting Stars 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 Eleanor Whitmore Early Childhood Center in East Hampton will host its annual Sandpipers Summer Fun Camp. Sandpipers Summer Fun Camp is a fun and educational program for children ages 18 months to 6 years. The camp nurtures children’s curiosity, encourages them to explore their world and guides them as they make new discoveries. Each two-week session of Sandpipers Summer Fun Program will focus on a theme—Farms, Oceans, Fairy Tales, and Where We Live—and will include related art projects, stories and field trips. Children can be enrolled for full days or half days, for two-week sessions for the entire summer. New this year there will be a drop-in rate! Camp begins July 8. Visit ewecc.org/sandpipers-summer-fun-camp for additional information.
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 29–July 10 and July 20–31. 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.
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. Campers are given an introduction to tennis and tennis-related activities, athletics, arts and special events. Flexible enrollment options are available, with programs running from June 29 to August 21. For additional info, go to southamptonrcc.com.
Located in East Hampton and also newly in Bridgehampton, 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. There are 28 different majors to choose from, including surfing, sailing, horseback riding, filmmaking, robotics, rock band, naturalist explorers, basketball, golf, gymnastics, ceramics and creative writing. Ross also offers an early childhood camp program for kids ages 6 and under. Camps begin on Monday, June 29, and weekly sessions run through August 21. Visit summercamp.ross.org for additional information.
Enjoy a week-long performing arts camp at the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center. Open to ages 5–17, the camp allows kids to learn musical theatre, Broadway, acting, playwriting and ballet during different weeks throughout the summer. Dates and times vary. For more info, whbpac.org or 631-288-2350.
New this year at the YMCA East Hampton RECenter, campers involved in the Sports/Swim camp program and the Leaders Club will be able to go surfing with CoreysWave Professional Surf Instruction, an organization based in Montauk. CoreysWave specializes in surf lessons, stand-up paddling and guided surf trips to global destinations. CoreysWave will be providing $10,000 in services to the youth involved in both the Sports/Swim Camp program and the Leaders Club this summer. The Sports/Swim Camp program will include three field trips to surf with CoreysWave. “CoreysWave has made a big splash at the YMCA by bringing in a new facet to our youth programs,” said YMCA East Hampton RECenter Executive Director Glenn Vickers. “We look forward to watching this amazing partnership grow as the children in the East End are exposed to the sport of surfing, allowing us to continue our commitment to water safety.” For more information on the East Hampton YMCA, visit ymcali.org or call 631-329-6884. CoreysWave also offers private and group lessons, as well as a kids’ surf academy. Kids ages 7–16 can register for the daily camp, where they’ll learn essential ocean safety knowledge and surfing skills! For more info, visit coreyswave.com.
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