Local Summer Camps

The Dix Hills/Melville area has many summer camp options right here in our own backyard. Here are some of our Patch Picks to consider:

1. Park Shore Country Day Camp  - 450 Deer Park Road, Dix Hills; 631-499-8580.

Family owned and operated since 1959, Park Shore offers four-, six- or eight-week sessions for boys and girls ages 2-14. Park Shore offers a multitude of programs and activities on a 15-acre campus. Pre-school campers, ages 2-5, can choose a three- or five-day schedule. Junior campers, ages 6-7 and senior campers, ages 8-10 participate in a full-day, five day a week camp experience.  Travel camp programs are available for both senior campers, grades 5 and 6 as well as superteens, grades 7 and 8. Door-to-door transportation is provided for all. Park Shore is currently open every Saturday and Sunday from 12-3 p.m. for tours of the camp.

2. Kenwal Day Camp - 100 Drexel Avenue, Melville; 631-694-3399.

Kenwal Day Camp, family owned and operated since 1957, is located on 20 acres in Melville with four heated pools and a plethora of programs and activities to excite every camper. Kenwal offer programs for ages 3-15 year olds, including mini weeks for ages 3-5, teen travel programs for 7th and 8th graders and CIT programs for 9th and 10th graders. They also offer door-to-door transportation and extended a.m. and p.m. hours for working parents. Kenwal is holding open houses every Saturday and Sunday 12-4 p.m. from now until June.

3. Crestwood Country Day School and Camp - 313 Round Swamp Road, Melville; 631-692-6361.

Crestwood, operating since 1957, offers a large variety of indoor and outdoor experiences on their 15-acre campus for kids ages 2 1/2 -16. Sessions are flexible with three-, four-, six- and eight-week programs or a "any 30 days" option. There are mini-day/week options available for preschoolers as well as a one day a week parent/child program for 18-30 months. Teen programs are available for those entering 7th-10th grades and a CIT program is offered for 10th-12th graders. Door-to-door transportation is provided. Crestwood is open for visits weekdays by appointment and Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

4. Driftwood Day Camp - 331 Mt. Misery Road, Melville; 631-692-6990.

The Driftwood Day Camp is now family owned and operated by the owners of the pre-school day camp Miss Sue's in Plainview and sleepaway Camp Tioga in Pennsylvania. Their facilities encompass 11 parklike wooded acres in Melville offering kids ages 3-15 a wide range of traditional and innovative activities. Driftwood offers mini- weeks for ages 3-8, four-, six- and eight-week programs for nursery-5th graders, travel programs for grades 6-9 and a CIT program for 15 year olds. Door-to-door transportaion is provided. Driftwood is open for tours each weekend from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

5. Dix Hills Adventure Camp - 575 Vanderbilt Parkway, Dix Hills; 631-499-8058.

The town of Huntington offers a full-day camp program on the grounds of the Dix Hills Park for grades 1-8. The camp day includes red cross swim instruction, recreational swim, ice-skating, arts and crafts, sports, group games and more. Ice skating instruction and golf for grades 6-8 is available for an additional fee, as well as after care for working parents. Sessions are for two, four, six or eight weeks. Enrollment is limited. Registration is currently underway at the Dix Hills Ice Rink or online.