Pocantico Summer Camp Kicks off on July 2

The Pocantico Hills Day Camp, which starts July 2, has a full and exciting schedule planned for this summer.

Parents and caregivers must register children in person at Pocantico Hills School. They can do so from 3-5 p.m. June 14. They can also attend an open house from noon to 1 p.m. June 9. There are different rates for residents and non-residents of the district.

The camp is in session weekdays through August 10, with the exception of July 4. It is open to students entering pre-kindergarten through ninth grade. The program runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Families can also register for before-camp care from 8 to 9 a.m., and aftercare from 3 to 6 p.m.

Ryan King is the new director of the camp. During the school year, he is a wellness and movement faculty member at Avenues: The World School in Manhattan. His previous positions include director of physical education and youth athletics for the Field House at Chelsea Piers in New York City and as a gym teacher at two other schools in New York City.

Kerry Papa, who teaches third grade at Pocantico, is the assistant camp director. She joined the Pocantico teaching staff this school year. She previously taught in Ardsley, Larchmont and Weston, Florida. She was also a curriculum specialist in Weston.

“Mr. King and Ms. Papa have planned an exciting and fun summer for campers,” Superintendent Carol Conklin-Spillane said. “They are building upon beloved camp traditions, working on how they can use all the resources our wonderful campus provides, and infusing new ideas and energy into the program,” she said.

The director and assistant director will work with a team of specialists in primary school education, middle school education, wilderness, culinary arts, studio arts, and arts and crafts. Children will visit trails that connect the school grounds to Stone Barns and the Rockefeller State Park Preserve.

“It will be a safe but dynamic and fun camp experience, and we will take advantage of all that Pocantico has to offer,” Ms. Papa said.

Events planned for the season include a performance by Day Rock on July 9, a visit from Outragehiss…Pets on July 13, a fair on July 27, and on-campus campouts for grades 4, 5 and 6. The pool is a major component of the program.

There will be day trips for campers throughout the six weeks, such as the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk for second-graders and Quassy Amusement Park in Middlebury, Connecticut, for fifth- and sixth-graders. Eighth- and ninth-graders will go on an adventure trip to Club Getaway in Kent, Connecticut.

For more information, visit www.pocanticohills.org and click on Summer Day Camp at the bottom of the Community dropdown menu.