Summer Park Program Helps Keep Students Active

Measuring the success of the vibrant West Orange recreation department might be a difficult task, but its summer programs show it's an inch closer to touching the hearts of township kids.

There are the more than 425 children between the first and seventh grades who are taking part in the Summer Parks Program. Then, there are the counselors, who grew up in the program, graduated from West Orange High School, went on to college and have returned to help out during the summer.

It's these workers that make up the all-encompassing programs that have affected many lives, according to Bill Kehoe, the township's recreation director.

"I think a lot of these kids who come back and you look at them individually as they grew older, volunteering in different groups, kids who buy into the whole idea that its their home town and they want to be active," Kehoe said. "They are active in clubs, school government, high school sports. They have a positive experience looking for their for summer jobs they want to stay in their comfort zone where people know them and have had success."

There are seven shadow counselors, supervised by Paula Korey, who help special needs individuals during the program.

Patty Greenberg, who coordinates the Summer Park Program, said the program runs for four-and-a-half weeks from June 1 to July 30.

Kehoe said programs are hosted at the township's five public schools with playgrounds. The campers are divided into one of the schools based on their grade. Finishing first grade students are at Hazel Elementary School, second grade is at St. Cloud Elementary School, third grade is at Gregory Elementary School, fourth and fifth grades are at Redwood Elementary School and sixth grade is at Roosevelt Middle School.

The camps are $315 for early bird registration, $370 for regular registration and $435 for late registration. There's no registration after the program begins.

Activities include miniature golf, bowling and roller rink outings, a trip to Tomahawk Lake in Sparta and a trip to Camel Back Water Park in Pennsylvania.

"They really loved it,'' said Greenberg.

The camps run daily from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and end July 30. For more information, call the recreation department at (973) 325-4150. This year's camps are filled and registration is closed.