Program & Activities

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 3-14, 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:

Featured Programs

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, horseback riding in Connetquot Park, fishing from a fishing boat out of Captree State Park, facing new challenges navigating a ropes course through the trees or soaring on a trapeze, picnics and team-building at public parks and beaches, etc. Teen Travel is a privilege, and Senecas must sign a behavior agreement in order to participate in these trips.

Send your 3 year old to camp!

Our 3 year old age group is called the Pequots. This is a great way to introduce your younger child to camp with a shorter camp day that includes wading pool, camp activities, snack, and more – the camp activity will change every day! If you’ve got a precocious little one who just can’t wait to come to Alvernia like his/her older siblings, the Pequot program is for you.

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.

Age Groups

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 Daysailors, Hobie Wave, and Hobie Getaway. Your Huron and Seneca camper is also welcome to sign up for our Level 1 Small Boat Sailor certification program, which takes place during special. This is an elective program which allows your camper to become certified by US Sailing, a nationally recognized sailing organization.