Elementary Counselor Newsletter
Summer Program Edition
April 2024
Summer is just around the corner!
The camp scholarships are awarded directly by the providing camps. Please contact the camps you are interested in and learn about their application process. You may need to submit a copy of your lunch eligibility letter. All participating families received this letter in the Fall. If you need additional copies of your letter, please contact your school's main office. It's never too late to apply, please click here to access the free and reduced lunch information and the application.
Sincerely,
Port Washington Elementary School Counselors
Summer Programs in Town
Please see below for a list of local summer programs for children in Pre-K - 5th grade. There are limited scholarships available to some of these summer camps. Please get in touch with the program you are interested in directly for more information.
Summer Together - please click here for more info. Summer Together is a volunteer-run program that funds scholarships to local day camps for Port Washington families in need of economic assistance. Summer Together has enabled hundreds of children to share fun and enriching summer activities with their peers. Application opens April 15th and closes May 1st.
*Summer Together scholarship recipients will be chosen with a lottery.* Online registration will begin on April 15, 2024.
- FAST Sports Camp - please click here for more info.
- Science Museum of Long Island - please click here for more info.
- Parent Resource Center Summer Program for Pre-K - please click here for more info.
- Camp Invention - please click here for more info.
- Unlimited Sports Summer Day Camp - please click here for more info.
- Bach-to-Rock Music Camp - please click here for info.
- PYA Summer Camp - please click here for more info.
- PW Public Library Programs - please click here for more info. Please click here to sign up for the PWPL newsletter.
Local Parks & Town of North Hempstead Community Calendar
Manorhaven Beach Park - please click here for more information.
North Hempstead Beach Park- please click here for more information.
Sand Point Preserve Woodland Playground - please click here for more information.
Manorhaven Pool
Residents of the Town of North Hempstead who are enrolled in a free or reduced lunch with their school district, enrolled in a Federal or State assistance program, meet SNAP monthly gross income and annual gross income thresholds are qualified for a 60% off facility membership. 2024 prices will be available soon on the website above.
Applicants must provide: proof of income, residency, and identification. You may likely need to provide your lunch eligibility letter as well.
Summer Camps Listing
Below is a listing of some summer camps by category: mixed camps, music, science, and art, dance + theater. Also listed are facilities that offer "vacation workshops" during school holidays.
Summer Camps
Port Day Camp
Port Washington Children’s Center, 232 Main Street, Suite 2, Port Washington, NY
516.883.4864 | https://pwchildrenscenter.org/learning/#kidsport-summer
Half-day and full-day sessions for kids ages pre-K through 2nd grade. Kids enjoy water play, music, art sports, nature and more!
Art
Haven Art
29 Haven Ave, Port Washington, NY
516.883.8344 | www.havenartstudiony.com
JCC
300 Forest Dr. East Hills, NY
516.484.1545 | https://www.sjjcc.org/programs/early-childhood-youth-teens/summer-camps/#overview
For ages 7 – 16, offers a summer theater camp and Broadway theater camp. Contact Susan Kalman at skhalman@sjjcc.org for details.
SoulShine
146 Main Street, Port Washington, NY
516.944.3142 | https://www.daratroshane.com/
USDAN
185 Colonial Springs Rd, Wheatley Heights, NY
631.643.7900 | www.usdan.com
For children grades K-12, Usdan is a non-profit performing arts day camp that offers classes in music, art, theater, dance, chess, writing, nature, swim, tennis, & recreation.
Sports
Berest Dance Center
12 South Washington St, Port Washington, NY
516.944.6687 | www.berestdance.com
For children ages 3 – 15, students study at least two styles of dance per day.
Golf Camp at Harbor Links
1 Fairway Dr, Port Washington, NY
516.767.4816 | www.harborlinks.com
For children ages 6 – 16. Call for details.
Port Sailing School
86 Orchard Beach Blvd, Port Washington, NY
516.767.7245 | www.portsailing.com
For children ages 10 – 17, Port Sailing School offers four two-week sessions of hands-on training in seamanship, sportsmanship sand boat handling skills. Each session will include a basic sailing course aboard a 23-foot keel sailboats.
ProSoccer
Mulitple locactions, Port Washington, NY
www.prosoccerkids.com
Soccer for kids ages 2.5 – 8 years old.
Tennis Academy
100 Harbor Road, Port Washington, NY
516.883.6425 | www.pwta.com
Intensive tennis camp for kids who are able to play matches with a focus on instruction, performance training, supervised practice and match play.
Unlimited Sports Action
30 Beechwood Ave, Port Washington, NY
516.767.7675 | www.unlimitedsportsaction.com
For children ages 3 – 10, a variety of sports are offered (and open enrollment) for both half-day and full-day programs. Single days are also available.
World Tae Kwon Do Academy
19 Main Street, Port Washington, NY
516.944.5454 | www.portwtkd.com
A three- to seven- week summer program for school-age children that focuses on Tae Kwon Do, soccer, bowling, nature hikes, archery and other outdoor activities.
Science
Mad Science
Various locations, Port Washington & Manhasset, NY
516.620.6768 | www.longisland.madscience.org/
Half-day and full-day week-long programs with interactive and hands-on experiences that allow children to discover cool chemical reactions, build rockets , check out security sytems and cool spy equipment and build their very own working robot.
My Spectrum School
This unique summer offers hands on STEAM-based (science, technology, engineering, art and math) activities for kids ages 2-10 in their state of the art school and in their outdoor nature classroom. You can enroll for half days, full days, and extended days (perfect for working parents) and have the option to opt for week by week or the entire summer.
Community Synagogue
160 Middle Neck Rd, Port Washington, NY
516.883.3144 | https://www.commsyn.org/ecc-summer-camp.html
For children from birth (with a mommy & me program) – 5 ¾ years, this six or seven-week summer program offers an indoor facility, 12-acre estate, and a mix of activities including sports, games, nature walks, water and sprinkler play, stories, arts and crafts and more.
CW Post Youth Camps
LIU POST Youth Programs, 720 Northern Blvd, Brookville, NY
516.299.4004 | http://www.liu.edu/CWPost/About/Offices/CWP-Youth-Camps
For ages 5 – 16, programs include arts & crafts, computers, cooking, dance, drama, music, nature, sports, and swimming along with specialty programs — horseback riding, cheerleading, and performing arts.
Growing Tree
140 E Broadway, Roslyn, NY
516.621.9009 | www.growingtreenurseryschool.com
For children ages 18 months – 5 years, this camp offers indoor and outdoor playgrounds, music/movement and special visitors, weekly summer themes, sprinklers/water activities, outdoor classrooms and more! This seven week program offers 2, 3, 4 and 5 day options.
LuHi
131 Brookville Road, Brookville, NY
516.626.1100 | www.luhisummercamps.org
For ages 4 through grade 8, LuHi offers a variety of programming in each 2 week session, including an “all around program” which offers a little bit of everything, arts & education programs and specific sports schools.
North Shore Day Camp
85 Crescent Beach Rd, Glen Cove, NY
516.676.0190 | https://www.northshoredaycamp.com/
For children ages 2 ½ to 15, North Shore Day Camp has an amazing facility that includes four heated swimming pools, a 9-hole miniature golf course, driving cages, rock-climbing wall, ropes course, zip line, mountain bike course, and playgrounds as well as tennis, basketball, volleyball and tetherball courts and baseball fields, soccer fields, and hockey rinks. Also available is a fine arts village offering ceramics, woodworking, drawing, painting design and more; a computer room; cooking cabin; and game room.
Oasis
LIU Post 720 Northern Blvd-- Riggs Hall 47, Brookville NY
https://oasischildren.com/liu-post/
Parent Resource Center
Parent Resource Center, 232 Main Street, Suite 4, Port Washington, NY
516.767.3808 | www.parentresource.org
For ages 2 ½ – 5 ½, the PRC offers a six-week preschool camp that includes water play, arts and crafts, sports, music and field trips — wonderful staff and teachers and one of the best bangs for your buck in terms of camp!
Pierce Country Day
Mineola Ave, Roslyn, NY 11576
516.621.2211 | www.piercecamps.com
For ages 3 – 9, a variety of programs and special events that include swimming, paddle boats, water rock climbing wall, water trampoline, kayaks, scuba diving, snorkeling, interactive sprayground, sports, arts, and adventure programs.
Shibley
175 Warner Ave, Roslyn, NY
516.621.8777 | www.shibleydaycamp.com
For ages 3 – 13, Shibley offers a number of unique activities in their junior and senior camps including sports, theater/drama, olympics, early childhood, ball pit, go karts, rock climbing and more.
Summer Streeters at JCC
300 Forest Drive, East Hills, NY
516.484.1545 | https://www.summerstreeters.org/
For ages K – 6, a variety of programs, pre-camp and post-camp childcare and bus transportation.
Buckley Country Day
2 I U Willets Rd, Roslyn, NY
516.365.7760 | www.buckleycamp.com
For ages 18 months through 15 years, Buckley offers Parent-Child programs, 3-day and 5-day mini-day programs and 5-day full-day programs. Families can register anywhere from 2 weeks through 8 weeks. The 25-acre campus offers outdoor and indoor facilities including swimming, sports, arts, sciences, and enrichment.
Kids Summer Fishing Adventures
Inspiration Wharf, 405 Main Street, Port Washington, NY
www.theangler.com/kids-summer-fishing-adventures/
Weekly Sessions All Summer Long for kids 8 and up beginning Monday, June 24!
A fun and exciting hands on approach to fishing, adventures include fishing boat trips, eco tours, fish ID, equipment care and use, boat safety, knot & rig tying, conservation and much, much more! All equipment, bait and tackle provided!
Vacation Workshops
Haven Art
29 Haven Ave, Port Washington, NY
516.883.8344 | https://havenartstudiony.com/
All ages welcome to drop in and paint for an instructional art class. See website and/or call ahead for details.
Island Rock
60 Skyline Drive, Plainview, NY516.822.7625 | www.islandrock.net
Indoor rock climbing facility that offers “open climb”, classes and training, and birthday parties. Kids Club Programs starts for newbies ages 5+. Family Programs and adult climb also available.
Parent Resource Center
232 Main Street, Suite 4, Port Washington, NY
516.767.3808 | www.parentresource.org
For children 18 months – 4 years, the PRC offers a variety of special programs and classes while school is out on holiday.
The Science Museum of Long Island
Holiday Workshops
Set on days students are off from school, our holiday workshops offer students in grades Pre-K through 7th a day full of hands-on science activities. Each day has a unique theme with different experiments, crafts, and demonstrations.
Transportation not provided. Children must bring a packed lunch. Drop-off: 10am Pick-up: 3pm
Current available dates are 4/22, 4/23, 4/24, 4/25, 4/26, 4/29, 4/30, and 6/19.
After School Workshops
Our after-school workshops run three times a month from 3:30-5:00pm and provide students in grades K-5th a chance to explore their scientific interests in a fun, social setting. For more information head to www.smli.org/afterschool.
Children’s Garden Workshop
A unique 8-week workshop beginning on May 3rd. Students will learn the ins and outs of gardening as they plant their own vegetables and watch them grow. We’ll also explore plant biology, pollination, and much more! Runs on May 3rd, 10th, 17th (no class on May 24th!), May 31st, June 7th, June 14th, and June 21st.
Fridays, grades K-5th
Transportation not provided. Drop-off: 3:30pm. Pick-up: 5:00pm
Music
iSchool of Music
14A Cold Spring Road, Syosset, NY
516.802.5885 | https://ischoolmusicart.com/
For kids ages 7 – 16, iSchool offers a 2-week music video camp, Rock ‘n’Recording Camp, and Rock Band Camp.
School of Rock
154 Mineola Ave, Roslyn Heights, NY
516.441.0010 | www.roslyn.schoolofrock.com
Offers performance boot camp, “making the band” camp, METAL performance camp and PopRocks performance camp.
Source of Summer Camps Listing: http://portwashingtonmama.com/summer-camps/
Benefits of Summer Activities & Camp
For generations, children have spent their summers at day and sleepaway camps, trying new activities such as swimming, hiking, and various sports. But what many families may not realize is that camp provides children with different opportunities to develop important life skills that are difficult to achieve in any other environment. Below are just a few of the many benefits your children will gain from the summer camp experience.
1) Campers obtain the life skills needed to become successful adults.
2) Camp educates the whole child.
3) Camp allows kids to unplug from technology.
4) At camp, there's plenty of time for play, which helps children with social and emotional development.
5) Children can reinvent themselves at camp.
6) Camp promotes independence.
The full 6 SUMMER CAMP BENEFITS, article by Jess Michaels
Coordinator of Elementary Counseling