Farewell Summer 2013!
Yesterday, the NSDC Leadership Team was assembled at the far end of the bus yard waving goodbye to our campers and staff as the honking buses exited the lot for the last time in summer of 2013. As we engaged in this annual tradition, each of us was filled with both joy and sadness. Joy for what we’ve accomplished in just two short months, sadness because we’ll have to wait ten months to begin it again.
Our Stepping Stones grew so very quickly and their days were filled with developmentally appropriate fun activities. They loved their TGIM days… Spirit Day, Tony the Pony, Pajama Party, Janice Buckner, Olympics, Fun Bus and who could possibly forget the Stepping Stones Talent Show! As always, club was the highlight of the day for many of our upper camp campers. The skills and drills our coaches planned and implemented helped develop our camper’s athletic abilities regardless of the level they began with. Campers had so many opportunities to learn and create in arts and crafts, nature, dance, wonderworks, computers and cooking and the individual achievements made in swim and at adventure were astounding. Our 5th, 6th and Voyager campers enjoyed trips to Splish Splash, Adventureland, NYC, Jones Beach, Fishing, Great Adventure, Philadelphia and more.
But I think for all of us Special Events are what we look forward to most. This summer we enjoyed “Space the Final Frontier”, “Twisted Sports Spinoff”, “Wet and Wild Day”, “Carnival”, “North Shore Daydream” and last but certainly not least, Race to the Emerald City of OZ which proved to be the kickoff to Triathlon. During Triathlon I get see the best of our campers and staff. The teamwork, sportsmanship and camaraderie exhibited shows that STARFISH values are something our campers and staff have taken to heart.
The summer of 2013 is ending, but it has changed us forever. In the eight weeks we’ve spent together, this camp community, unlike any other, has filled us with so many wonderful memories to cherish. We’ve truly watched our campers ‘spread their wings and fly’. At the beginning of the camp season there were many timid faces, excited, but also a little apprehensive. As we end the summer we see how the experiences our campers and staff have had have helped them build friendships, self-confidence and self-esteem and with your support, by helping them overcome the challenges they may have faced, we’ve developed their resilience. This is what our mission states we will deliver and we hope this is what we gave our campers.
I thank you for entrusting us with your children and for allowing us to be a part of their lives.
We wish you and your family a wonderful school year and hope you’ll be back for summer 2014!
Sincerely,
Paula
