Staten
Island Day
Camp's long history starts well before it became the
present “ultimate day camp experience” that so many
families have grown to love for over 30 years. It begins, in
fact, more than 35 years ago at Willowbrook Park where current
owner/founder Michael Halpern worked as a Director for another camp
in
Staten Island. (At that camp he stood on a very large
prominent rock his stage) daily as he educated, entertained, and
laughed with campers and counselors of all ages. Michael Halpern
then a
Physical Education Teacher (now retired NYC
Board of Education
Principal) began his journey in camping on that very rock where
he stood committed to create a camp that fostered the building
of self-esteem in children through positive social, educational,
physical and creative experience. For those who might question
the existence of that very large rock…..? It stands firmly
imbedded still for all to see on the west end of Willowbrook
Park.
In
1979 Michael Halpern started Staten Island Day Camp with a
handful of campers and counselors.
Although small in its initial stages compared to other day
camps of that era in Staten Island, Michael Halpern began to
establish a vision for camping which focused on creating an
environment where kids belong and grow strong; where feeling
the support of a caring counselor is common place; where the
day is filled with confidence- building experiences, and
where play inspires personal growth. The structure of Staten
Island Day Camp has changed little since its inception. Yes
the population of the camp has greatly expanded and new and
exciting electives/activities are constantly offered to keep
up with the times of the
21st century camper, but many of the
authentic Staten Island Day Camp traditions which thousands
of campers have enjoyed through the years have their very
roots starting back in the year of 1979!!!!
Today Staten Island Day Camp employs a
large fulltime staff of many who are teachers, coaches, and
athletes of the Staten Island Community. It operates at full
capacity throughout the summer months as host to hundreds of
campers from the surrounding community who vary in age from
5-14, and come from a wide variety of economic, ethnic, cultural
and social backgrounds. Staten Island Day Camp has utilized the
spacious facilities of the
College of
Staten Island for the past nine years and these grounds
have become the perfect place for youth to have fun experiencing
summer camping as it was meant to be! Today the torch of
parental
responsibility has touched many of the Staten Island Day
Camp’s Alumni who have become parents themselves. Though the
rock might be a very distant memory for those Alumni, their
choice of camp is not and you will find many second generation
campers fill this summer’s camp season with excitement, as they
experience friendships, create memories, and learn the values
that will shape the rest of their lives as once their parents
had done before them at Staten Island Day Camp!
