After having to limit their extracurricular activities during the COVID-19 pandemic, Kenwal Day Camp of Melville, NY is pleased to announce that 2023 marks the return of their full slate of summer activities – while introducing some exciting new additions as well – and the camp’s staff and management couldn't be happier about it.
Located at 100 Drexel Avenue, Kenwal Day Camp is open to children of all ages and was originally established in 1957; it was later purchased in 1978 by the Feinstein family, whom its remained with ever since. The camp is seasonal, and one of the only day camps on Long Island that runs exclusively in the summer, without any winter, spring, or fall programs
Kenwal Day Camp employs approximately 400 staff members to look after the 750 children that attend each and every day throughout their summer program, which lasts from June 26th to August 18th. The camp is situated upon 20 beautiful acres, and the summer program is constantly evolving based on suggestions from campers.
Among the activities that was forced to be put on hold during the pandemic, according to Kenwal’s Director and Owner Howard Feinstein, was their attendance of Broadway shows; this summer, older campers will have the opportunity to experience both MJ: The Musical, featuring the music of Michael Jackson, and Once Upon a One More Time, a musical comedy based on songs popularized by Britney Spears.
“These are evening performances in Manhattan, for campers age 12 and older,” Feinstein said. “The children do a full day at the camp, and then they stay here while we feed them dinner and then we take fancy coach buses to the city to see the Broadway shows.”
Trips to South Street Seaport – a neighborhood in New York City that features shops, restaurants and events – are also available for the same age range, Feinstein noted.
“We do all sorts of things with the campers at South Street Seaport, including attending Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum and numerous other fun activities that are available in the area,” he said. “Prior to the pandemic, the children really enjoyed this. Much like the trips to Broadway, the children stay after camp for dinner and then we take coach buses into the city.”
Older campers also get the opportunity to take an extended trip up to Niagara Falls this year to behold one of the most astounding and breathtaking natural wonders available in New York State, as well as to engage in other fun features available in the region.
“The trip to Niagara Falls is 5 days and 4 nights, and its part of our ‘Extreme Teen’ program, which again is for children aged 12 and up,” Feinstein said. “Aside from experiencing the wonder of the falls themselves, the children will also get to experience the Cave of the Winds, the Hockey Hall of Fame, the Toronto Zoo, and much more.”
Campers also get to take trips to Citi Field Stadium in Queens to watch New York Mets baseball games; again, these excursions take place outside of normal camp hours in order to attend night games, which Feinstein says are far more fun for the kids.
But don't let all of these exciting activities geared towards older campers make you think that younger Kenwal Day Camp attendees are neglected in any way. Feinstein says there's plenty for youngsters of all ages to do as well such as sports programs including roped courses, bungee trampolines, swimming pools, zip lines, cargo climbing nets, water slides, and much more to help keep the campers physically engaged.
There are also a healthy amount of arts and crafts programs as well, such as an edible arts area that allows children to unleash their inner artist while they create tasty treats at the same time.
Feinstein said the necessity of having to curtail Kenwal Day Camp’s activities during the pandemic – the camp was never shut down, but nonetheless was forced to significantly reduce their attendance numbers – was disappointing, and he said now that they have returned to capacity, campers are in for a treat as things finally get back to normal.
“Putting these activities on hold in order to operate and remain open...well, it was a blessing just to be able to open, but having the kids finally go back to normalcy is going to be amazing,” he said. “Just watching the kids get together again and going out without their parents, without their cell phones and electronics, and just doing all of the things we all did as children, it's great. They're no longer sitting home, they're out and about in the fresh air. It's a really wonderful feeling to be able to provide that for them once again.”
To find out more about Kenwal Day Camp, please call 631-694-3399 or visit https://www.kenwaldaycamp.com.