Enroll Now for Scarsdale Rec Camp

Spring may be suffering from a slow start, but summer is just around the corner. Early registration for Scarsdale town recreational camp began this week. Serving approximately 900 campers, the Recreation Department offers a summer program for Scarsdale children entering grades Kindergarten through Eighth Grade. Director Jim Andreski, a teacher at Scarsdale Middle School, runs the program with four returning Assistant Directors. The program is divided into four different camps by age:

• Camp Sagamore for campers entering Kindergarten housed at Greenacres School
• Camp Lenape for First Graders at Edgewood
• Camp Wapetuck for Second Graders at Quaker Ridge
• Camp Patthunke for Third-Eighth graders housed at the High School.

Suzanne Busby, Superintendent of Scarsdale’s recreation and parks department says that typically Sagamore and Lenape have the largest enrollments.

Older kids have the option of doing a combination package where they attend morning sports or soccer camp and then Camp Patthunke in the afternoon. Those campers also have the opportunity to register for one specialty elective that meets once a week for an additional fee. In the past, those electives have included horseback riding and golf.

The kids go to the pool once a day and take part in all the best things about camp from sports to arts and crafts to talent shows and the occasional day trip. They do this all close to home and with current and future classmates. Ideally, the friendships formed at camp will last throughout the school year.

Parents, get to enjoy the amazing value the camp offers. For those who register before May 6, camp costs $805 for the full summer, $955 when you register after that date. There are weekly options should you not need to the full five weeks. Transportation is also available for those who want it for an additional cost.

One thing that is new this year that Busby wants parents to be aware of is an enrollment deadline. A camper must be registered before June 17th to guarantee a full summer. Any registration received after that date is not guaranteed and the camper will have to wait until the second week of camp to begin. Busby explains that this new policy will ensure that the camp is properly staffed to keep the counselor to camper ratios at optimal levels.

Indeed, the weak in the economy over the past few years lead to a rise in rec camp enrollments.

“Two years ago when the economy was really at it’s worst we did see camp enrollment rise as well as at the teen camp,” Busby recalls. And while they didn’t track retention rate numbers for the campers, surveys the department conducted showed families in town gave the camp high marks.

The economy may be improving, but in many cases, the job market remains soft. That means the camp has their pick for counselors, which as Suzanne Busby tells it, can make for some hard choices;

“We hire up to 500 people for the summer, which is a lot. But what we are seeing is that a lot of college kids aren’t getting the jobs or the internships in the city that they once were. So they are applying for jobs with us. We’ve been able to hire then older counselors for the camp, which at times can make for difficult choices since there are so many good applicants.”

The town wants the residents to know that value does not mean compromised safety. The staff members have years of experience with children and each counselor is over the age of 16 and interviewed personally by the camp director. The entire camp staff has a 2-day orientation, with certain counselors trained in CPR, First Aid and EpiPen. A certified EMT is on staff at each camp.

Speaking of the value, some parents may think that there is a catch since the cost is so low. Not really. The town camp has use of the school facilities whereas private day camps have to run their own, which cuts down on costs. The use of the town pool also keeps costs low. The town camp purpose is to provide a service for its residents, not to make a profit. One catch, campers must bring a lunch from home each day.

New this summer: A family no longer has to belong to the pool for their child to attend the camp and enjoy swimming there.

One additional option for students entering sixth through ninth grade: A teen travel camp for those who want to get off the fields and experience something different each day. The excursions include trips to water-parks, ball games and tours in the city. Suzanne Busby says registration is nearly full, so if you are interested jump in. It’s on a first come, first serve basis.

Now all we need is some warm weather.

To learn more, look for the link to Parent Guide or sign up online here.

Jen is a freelance journalist who has covered the economy and markets for over a decade at a major financial news outlet. She lives in Scarsdale with her husband and 2 children. Jen has yet to bake a successful batch of cookies.