Adventures in Learning received funding for its youth to attend sleep away camp from a Charitable Trust, focusing on the support of underserved children. However, with COVID-19 present, sleep away camp was no longer an option this past summer. Adventures’ leadership turned to the Trust and asked for permission that the $125,000 usually designated for the sleepaway camp be used to fund the day camp at the Hagedorn Community Center located at the Manhasset/Great Neck EOC instead. Without hesitation, the Trust granted permission. Approximately 60 campers, gradesK-8, attended the camp.
It should be noted that despite certain limitations due to COVID-19, leadership took the necessary safeguards to protect campers and staff. Everyone wore masks, used hand sanitizer, regularly hand washed and socially distanced from others. A camp nurse was also on staff.
Using two outdoor classrooms, the campers’ activities included reading, math and coding, as well as soccer and basketball (drills only due to COVID-19). Jen DeSena and her son, Michael, also gave twice weekly tennis lessons at Whitney Pond Park across the street. Needless to say, campers had an awesome time.
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Led by Manhasset residents Connie Parsons and friend Ann Hill, the campers also developed an organic garden outside the EOC building. By summer, the campers weeded and picked the yummy, ripe crops. They then took their freshly picked veggies home to share with their families.
The camp directors were Adventure’s Program Director, Jonathan Landau, and newly hired EOC Youth Director, Richard Nelson.
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Diana Holden, Executive Director of Adventures in Learning said, “The restrictive standards we implemented had an enormous impact. Since all campers and staffers abided by the restrictions, I am thrilled to say that not one individual contracted COVID-19. This is proof that even COVID-19 could not impact our summer camp program. We defied it! Our deepest thanks to the trust for stepping up to the plate!”
Founded 52 years ago by the Congregational Church in Manhasset, Adventures in Learning is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. It is an after-school education and enrichment program, located in the Hagedorn Community Center at the Manhasset/Great Neck EOC building at 65 High Street, Manhasset, dedicated to improving the lives of children in Manhasset and Great Neck in need of after school care and instruction.
