No place on Long Island has consistently provided memorable experiences each and every summer for children of all ages like Kenwal Day Camp of Melville, New York, where kids can unplug from their phones and experience a magical time filled with fun, learning, and adventure in the real world.
Located at 100 Drexel Avenue, Kenwal Day Camp was originally established in 1957, it is one of the only day camps on Long Island that is open exclusively in the summer, without any winter, spring, or fall programs, running this year from June 27 to August 22.
Howard Feinstein, Kenwal’s Director/Owner, describes it as a traditional co-ed day camp, which means that they don't focus on any particular sport or activity; instead, variety is the name of the game, with numerous fun and exciting things for children to experience, always making a summer at Kenwal Day Camp one to remember.
“We really represent all the sports and all of the arts here at Kenwal Day Camp,” he said. “We have ropes courses, bungee trampolines, swimming pools, and Ninja Warrior courses...it's a little bit of everything, just to keep the kids engaged and teach them how to socialize and how to get along nicely with other people.”
Some new additions this summer, Feinstein said, include a whimsical playground of musical instruments such as giant xylophones, as well as a “water walk,” which is an exciting inflatable obstacle course in their pool.
Feinstein noted that during the COVID-19 pandemic, when children were confined to their homes, they became far more reliant on their cell phones, iPads, and social media, and as a result many have developed a degree of social apprehension and introversion. The whole point of Kenwal Day Camp, he said, is that it serves as an excellent way for getting children to unplug from their devices and get outside, experience nature, and forge new bonds and relationships with children their own age.
“Kids were already getting more and more addicted to their electronics, and the pandemic only served to exacerbate that situation…summer camp is a great way to get children back into the swing of things,” he said. “The camp is the perfect way to get kids away from their screens and into nature and experience physical activity, deal with each other on a one-on-one basis, form friendships, and learn things in the process.”
“When we re-opened after COVID, we would be constantly telling the children, yes, you're allowed to play with your friends again,” Feinstein continued. “That was the toughest part. It was sad to see the kids were so apprehensive about it, but it was nice that by week three we were able to turn them around and have them enjoy summer camp again.”
Kenwal Day Camp employs approximately 400 staff members to look after the 700 children that attend each day throughout their summer program. The camp is situated upon 20 scenic acres with lots of shade. The summer program is constantly growing and evolving based on suggestions from campers.
Kenwal Day Camp also provides transportation for campers whose parents are not able to get them there themselves, in addition to free early and after-care.
“We have buses that will pick children up from their front door and drop them off at their front door,” Howard said. “We have nice air-conditioned buses so the campers are comfortable, and while some parents drop their kids off themselves, the majority of campers, we do it for them.”
Meals are prepared on site and provided to all 700 children each and every day, ensuring that they have the energy to keep up with the many programs available to them.
Kenwal Day Camp’s workers are extensively trained, but Howard noted that up to 75 percent of them return every year, so the high experience level of the majority of his staff makes running the camp much smoother.
“Our office staff has been with us forever,” he said. “Our head director has been with us for 47 years, our transportation director has been with us for 47 years, our trip Director started as a camper at age 9, and our group leaders have been with us for an average of 12 to 15 years apiece.”
And for those who are thinking that the extraordinary experiences available at Kenwal Day Camp may be financially out of reach, Howie is quick to point out that his camp’s rates are affordable for the majority of parents on Long Island.
Having provided many supremely memorable experiences for children each and every summer since 1978 has been an extraordinary experience for Feinstein, who said that it’s something he looks to continue for many years to come.
“One of the greatest joys for me, especially with this year coming up, is that we're getting third generation children coming in now. Grandpa went to camp here, dad went to camp here, and now their children are coming to camp here. It's just an awesome feeling,” he said. “I go out to local restaurants and I see waiters/waitresses that are 23 years-old and they ask me, ‘hey, are you Uncle Howie? I went to your camp 20 years ago and those were the best days of my life.’ So when you bump into people who have been there over the years, it's just a great feeling.”
To find out more about Kenwal Day Camp, please call 631-694-3399 or visit https://www.kenwaldaycamp.com.