Our Day Camp Program
We believe it’s important for kids to play, to learn to win and lose, to get outside and run around a little. To this end Camp Alvernia offers a wide variety of indoor and outdoor activities.
Campers at our summer day camp range in age from 4-14, and we tailor our program to suit this wide range of ages, skill levels, and interests.
Campers are grouped by gender and grade completed. Special care is given every year to solicit feedback from campers and staff, with an eye towards constantly improving our program.
Activities include the following:
- Arts & Crafts
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Bocce
- GaGa
- Tennis
- Boating
- Swimming
- Soccer
- Theater
- Music
- Sand Volleyball
- Track
- Cricket
- Playground
- Nature Studies
- Storytime
Boating
Boating is one of the highlights of the Camp Alvernia experience. Our property is right on Centerport Harbor which allows us to offer boating for every age. The program is tailored to each camper’s abilities at each stage of development. Each child must wear a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) in order to participate in the boating program. PFDs are also worn by all counselors and boating staff. We restrict the areas of the harbor available for boaters, and maintain a number of moorings to keep the water open. Boaters in the harbor are supervised by certified waterfront lifeguards. Trained Camp Alvernia boating staff patrol the water in chase boats to offer assistance to campers, maintaining constant radio contact with the lifeguard.
Cayugas and Oneidas (completing Pre-K through 2nd grade)
We have small hand-operated boats for our youngest campers to use, and they are confined to a very small cove in Centerport Harbor. We provide this area with its own certified waterfront lifeguard. Cayugas and Oneidas are sometimes taken out in canoes or rowboats as a special treat. They are introduced to the basics of boating safety, ie: to always remain seated in the boats, to always listen to the lifeguard, to return to shore when they hear the 3-whistle “All Boats In” signal, to stay within their boundaries, etc.
Mohawks (completing 3rd and 4th grade)
Mohawks learn basic canoe and kayaking skills, and are able to take these boats out by themselves into Centerport Harbor. Mohawks also have scheduled periods devoted to small boat sailing. For the Mohawks, each boat is operated by a Boating instructor, who introduces them to the fundamentals of sailing. When they become Hurons, they will have the opportunity to sail on their own.
Hurons and Senecas (completing 5th-9th grade, must be 14 and under as indicated above)
Hurons and Senecas are taught the fundamentals of sailing, and are given opportunities to practice sailing on our Zumas and Picos. They also have the opportunity to sail on larger boats such as our 14.6-foot American Daysailor. Periodically, campers are invited to try their sailing skills in a regatta.
Teen Travel
Our oldest campers are those completing grades 7-9 (must be 14 and under as indicated above), a group we call the Senecas. What’s unique about the Seneca program is Teen Travel. A few times a week, all the Senecas take out-of-camp trips to various destinations on Long Island. These trips include Splish Splash, canoeing on the Nissequogue, fishing from a fishing boat out of Captree State Park, roller skating, public parks and beaches, etc. Teen Travel is a privilege, and Senecas must sign a behavior agreement in order to participate in these trips.
Read about History of Camp Alvernia