Peconic Dunes Summer Camp

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ROOKIE CAMP: MAY 21-23 & JUNE 4-6, 2010 - $239

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Are you beginning to wonder if your child has outgrown day camp? Is your child ready for greater independence? Three days of meeting new friends, learning new skills, growing up, and most important of all - having fun, can make all the difference in the world. Peconic Dunes is also aware that just getting used to the idea of going away for the first time involves process. Our Rookie Weekend is designed to provide a comfortable transition from day camp to sleep-away camp for both children and their parents.

Rookie Weekend provides an opportunity for campers to experience the excitement of a week at Peconic Dunes, and gives parents a chance to see how Peconic Dunes can help your child be more independent, make new friends and build self-confidence. Most of all, Peconic Dunes’s Rookie Weekend is a lot of fun! On the last day of Rookie Weekend, parents are invited to come up to camp. Rookie campers will be able to show their parents the many activities they were able to participate in and introduce them to campers and staff they connected with during Rookie Weekend.

BASIC OVERNIGHT: JUNE 27 - AUGUST 21, 2010...... ..............................................$539/week

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The 4-H camp program at Peconic Dunes has its roots in traditional overnight camping. The emphasis is on participating in community, developing confidence in oneself, and respecting our social and physical environment. Several of our traditions include morning polar bear dips in the Sound, friends tossing you in the pond on your birthday, and getting your P-Dunes t-shirt signed by all your new friends as you shout out last goodbyes and drive out the camp road back to your homes...

SAMPLE SCHEDULE

ACTIVITIES

ADVENTURE TRAIL: Part obstacle course, part boot camp, part yoga; campers race through our backwoods nature trail, hopping across stones, racing up dunes, and crawling through sand. Each session begins with stretching and a warm-up, teaching campers how to prevent sports related injuries.

ARCHERY: Based on the National Association for the Development of Archery, the archery program helps campers develop skills and experience personal growth. Campers learn the safe use of archery equipment, sportsmanship and self-discipline.

CANOEING & KAYAKING: Campers can canoe and kayak on Great Pond, exploring a freshwater ecosystem along the way. Every camper is tested on their boating safety skills when they arrive at camp and receive instruction from trained instructors throughout the week. Based on first day swim tests, non-swimmers and campers who chose not to participate are not eligible for this activity.

ENVIRONMENTAL ARTS & CRAFTS: Campers will construct functional objects or jewelry, such as bracelets, and necklaces, by utilizing found materials like pinecones, feathers, bark, twigs, clay stones and shells. Motivated campers can build environmental sculptures and learn basic principles of digital photography.

EVENING ACTIVITIES: All campers participate in creative, fun-filled evening activities: talent shows, all-cabin skits, games, dances and scavenger hunts. At the end of each session, all campers and staff are invited to participate in the closing campfire.

FISHING: Campers may participate in one of several fishing experiences. They can spincast for pickerel, sunfish, and bass; surfcast on the LI Sound for porgies, bluefish and stripped bass; or go flyfising with homemade flies. Campers will be introduced to fishing ethics, laws and regulations.

LEADERSHIP SKILLS: Peconic Dunes Camp endorses Challenge By Choice. We constantly ask campers to notice the zone they're currently in: "comfort," "challenge", or "freak out". In leadership skills campers learn that when we challenge ourselves we grow, and set even higher goals. This is accomplished through our organic challenge course.

NATURE: The entire Peconic Dunes campus provides for a variety of nature activities where campers can search for salamanders, explore fresh water and saltwater environments, identify wildlife, make birdfeeders, and play games. Programs include walks, fish dissection, scavenger hunts, journaling, and seining.

OPTIONALS: Twice everyday at 11am and 4pm counselors across all disciplines gather to offer a variety of the most popular and original activities for the campers to choose from. Past favorites include music jams, gardening, yoga, theater and whatever these gentleman to the right are found doing.

OUTDOOR SKILLS: Campers will acquire skills essential to enjoying outdoor living experiences, including building a shelter, building a fire, and orienteering. Survival skills and techniques necessary to exist in remote areas or in demanding situations will be covered. Campers explore the natural environment identifying wild edibles and natural material that Native Americans depended on. Outdoor ethics and respect for the natural environment are emphasized.

SWIMMING: All campers are tested for swimming ability and can improve their skills in swimming classes based on the American Red Cross instructional swimming program. Campers who pass the swim test will have daily opportunities for free swim and beach activities on Great Pond and the Long Island Sound.

TEAM SPORTS: Campers have many opportunities to participate in team sports including baseball/softball, basketball, soccer and volleyball. All instruction conincides with the age and skill level of each camper and progresses according to the camper's personal athletic development. Instruction and demonstrations on proper technique and strategy help to improve each camper's skills and understandings or each sport. Teamwork and cooperation are emphasized.

ECO OVERNIGHT: JUNE 27 - AUGUST 21, 2010.... ........................................$539/week

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The ECO (Ecology Camp Organon) mission is to connect children with the environment through authentic research and observation. Hands-on, field-oriented projects will enrich our campers' understanding of our local ecosystem and how micro-systems are interconnected. We encourage the open discussion of many ecological issues, some controversial, so that campers reach a deeper understanding of the natural world and their role in preserving it.

Campers will choose from a variety of conservation projects dealing with our local environment and their relationship to it. Topics will include:

Shellfish Aquaculture
Great Pond
Long Island Sound
Dune Ecology
Woodland Ecology

An integral part of the program includes using sampling instruments used by professional biologists, botanists, ornithologists, and other environmental scientists. During E.C.O. campers will practice stewardship in their projects and in their relationships. And, the data that each group collects will stand over time as an authentic contribution to the growing body of knowledge Cornell University Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County is collecting for Peconic Dunes County Park and the ecosystem for which it serves as steward.

Each week campers will be able to chose from 4 projects, with the options alternating every other week. Instructor schedules and weather prohibit us from announcing which projects will be offered which weeks. We apologize for any inconvenience.

EXTENDER WEEKENDS: VARIOUS DATES & PRICES

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JULY 3: PECONIC RIVER CANOE TRIP
In a past life, Camp Director Chris was a canoe instructor and river guide in Maine. Join him on a lazy paddle down the Peconic River. We’ll be eating lunch on the river, doing some swimming, and playing a few river games. When we come back to camp we'll have a July 4th BBQ and hopefully we'll catch some fireworks along the Sound shore. ($150)

JULY 10 & AUGUST 7: SPLISH SPLASH WATER PARK
During one of the hottest days of the year, our campers will be cooling off on one of Splish Splash's 20 water rides and slides. We'll provide the lifejackets to ensure our campers can enjoy as many rides as possible (obeying Splish Splash’s height restrictions and other park rules). ($150)

JULY 17 & AUGUST 14: DAY HIKE THE SWAHNAGUNK MOUNTAINS
This day hike will take us through Sam's Point Preserve, owned by the Nature Conservancy. We'll hike through a rare and endangered ecosystem, a Dwarf Pitch Pine Barren, one of the few remaining in the world. Campers will explore ice caves, and hike up and on top of many cliffs. Finally we'll pass the Verkeerder Kill Falls and the Old Berry Picker Shacks from the days when the area was picked for blueberries. ($150)

JULY 24: FISHING TOUR on LONG ISLAND SOUND
We'll be taking our group out onto the Long Island Sound on a 60’ fishing vessel. We’ll be looking for porgies, giant blues and striped bass. ($200)

JULY 31: CONNETQUOT RIVER CANOE TRIP
Once again we will take a lazy paddle, this time along the Connetquot River, which is approximately 8 miles long and flows through the Connetquot River State Preserve in Oakdale. ($150)

SAILING: JUNE 27 - AUGUST 21, 2010............$150

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Campers interested in learning how to sail can receive first hand experience on the Long Island Sound. For training we have a fleet of sunfish and blue jay sailboats. Our sailing instructors come from around the world to offer small group instruction.

Program includes:

* Boating safety instruction
* General care and maintenance of sailboats
* 4 instructors
* 12 campers maximum per group
* 8 hours of sailing instruction (weather permitting)