Editor’s Note: The Gift Of Camp And Our Upcoming Camp Fairs

CampWKKayaks
Camp Wingate Kirkland

My daughter, who will be 16 in May, is almost four years older than my son. One of the always-interesting aspects of parenting them is seeing how my son’s reaction to a new experience compares to my daughter’s when she was his age. For example, when he was a toddler, I eagerly looked forward to reading him the bedtime classic, Guess How Much I Love You, because my daughter and I read it all the time (and each time was just right).

“But Adam, it’s…wonderful.”

“I don’t like it.”

A child’s taste in board books is one thing. How he feels about summer camp is much more impactful. For a few years now my wife and I have been speculating on whether he’d take to sleepaway camp—and Camp Crane Lake in particular—with the passion and joy that Elena did. Adam was the child who kept up regular visits to our bed at night well into grade school, and we thought that he might not even want to try sleepaway at the same age Elena did (the summer after grade 3). But to our surprise about two years ago he declared his intent to go even before we raised the subject. I must tell you, once he said it, I realized that I kind of didn’t really want to let go, but I did.

The result? Apparently, he had his homesick bouts like most first-timers, but, lo and behold, within three weeks Crane Lake had worked its magic and had another convert.

I share this because I want you to know that, as a parent, I’ve shuffled my kids through a variety of day camps in the city, day camps out of the city, and now sleepaway camp. I don’t view that sequence, however common, as a natural or necessary progression, but I do think that camp can be one of the great gifts a parent can give a child if the child is in agreement. And the mission of our annual Camp Guide is simply to help parents identify camps that are good matches for their children, whether you’re looking for day, sleepaway, or a summer of both. To do that, we offer articles on researching camps as well as articles on what makes the camp experience special.

As you read the issue with your own goals in mind, I hope you’ll take a few minutes to enjoy the most personal story in the issue: Our roundup of camp directors reminiscing about some of their favorite summer traditions. Good camp directors are everyday heroes—you can hear it in their words. Let their passion inspire you to find the right camp for your child.

New York Family also produces the city’s largest Camp Fairs. In February, March, and April, there will Camp Fairs in both Manhattan and Brooklyn. The Camp Fairs are fun, child-friendly, and allow families to get all their camp-related questions answered. The Camp Fairs are free, but it’s best to pre-register by clicking HERE to secure your spot. The upcoming Camp Fairs, all from 12-3pm, will be held as follows:

  •  Sunday, February 7, on the Upper West Side:  Congregation Rodeph Sholom, 7 West 83rd Street
  • Saturday, February 27, on the Upper East Side: St. Jean Baptiste High School, 167 East 75th Street
  • Saturday, March 5, in Battery Park City: Asphalt Green (BPC), 212 North End Avenue
  • Sunday, March 6, in Park Slope, Brooklyn: Berkeley Carroll School, 181 Lincoln Place, Brooklyn
  • Saturday, April 9, on the Upper East Side: St. Jean Baptiste High School, 167 East 75th Street
  • Sunday, April 10, on the Upper West Side: Congregation Rodeph Sholom, 7 West 83rd Street

Happy Camping,
Eric Messinger, Editor

Eric Messinger is the editor of  New York Family. He can be reached at [email protected].

Relevant Directory Listings

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Camp Huntington

<p class="MsoNormal">A co-ed, residential program for children and young adults with special learning and developmental needs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Our summer camp and weekend camp programs are designed to maximize a child’s potential, locate and develop strengths and hidden abilities. Your child will enjoy the fun-filled days of summer camp while learning practical social and life skills. We offer a unique program approach of adaptive therapeutic recreation, which combines key elements that encourage progress: structured programming, nurturing care, a positive setting, and academic instruction to meet IEP goals. Our campus is located in the beautiful hamlet of High Falls, New York within the Catskill Mountain region.</p>

New Settlement Community Center

<p>Offering a host of healthy, fun and exciting programs for children ages 6 months and up, including ballet and hi-hop dance with Alvin Ailey, group and private swimm classes, mixed martial arts, youth technology, piano, violin and guitar lessons, and more.</p>

Long Island Game Farm Wildlife Park & Children’s Zoo

<p dir="ltr">Long Island Game Farm Wildlife Park & Children’s Zoo presents programming for children and families of all ages, animal encounters, zookeeper experiences, VIP tours, season memberships, and much more! Camp Zoo introduces and immerses children in nature through outdoor exploration, games, crafts, and other educational hands-on activities. </p> <p dir="ltr">In partnership with their nonprofit arm, the Foundation for Wildlife Sustainability, the game farm also offers culture, education, and wellness programs to connect people with wildlife and the natural environment. </p> <p dir="ltr">A critical aspect of the game farm is serving as a sanctuary to animals that have been rescued, rehabilitated, or re-homed, including Sicilian miniature donkeys, alpacas, African Sulcatta tortoises, peacocks, rabbits, goats, sheep, alligators, and our beloved Gomez, a Sulphur-crested cockatoo, and Nala, an African Serval cat! </p> <p> </p>