Join us for Octoberfest

Camp is quiet these days as the Summer 2010 season has ended, but that doesn’t
mean camp isn’t on our mind. We are already planning for 2011 and thinking of
new ways to keep July and August your favorite time of the year. So, how about a
little hint of Summer this Fall???

Please join us on Saturday October 2nd, from 1-3:30pm, for Stonybrook Day
Camp’s Octoberfest. There will be music, games, sports, arts & crafts, challenge
course activities, horse and carriage rides, contests and lots more. It will be one
part mini-camp experience, one part beautiful fall day. Refreshments will be served
and we welcome you to invite friends and family- Everyone is welcomed! Current
campers, alumni, prospective campers, fans of camp…..we hope you will join us for
what promises to be a great day.

Please RSVP by Wednesday September 29th at 973.584.0078 or
stonybrookdaycamp@yahoo.com. Thanks and looking forward to seeing you on
October 2nd!




Don't forget to check out http://www.stonybrookdaycamp.smugmug.com to see all of the pictures from camp!

Thank You for ANOTHER WONDERFUL STONYBROOK SUMMER!!!

It is hard to believe that today is the last day of camp at Stonybrook Day Camp for the 2010 season!! It seems like just the other day we were greeting our campers and getting camp underway. Days fly by when you are having fun! A sampling of summer highlights include:

• brand new basketball court got lots of play


• time capsule was found after 30 plus years!


• Stony and Brook, adorable bunnies, joined camp


• Eco-Adventure, our new program, was a hit


• Stonybrook hosted its first camp garden


• camp hosted two days of Wild Water Day this year


• skydivers broke Color War


• Stonybrook Day Camp loved Dairy Queen and Dairy Queen loved Stonybrook Day Camp


• Every program from Super Science to Arts & Crafts and Cooking just blew us away with their creativity. New projects, new ideas and new techniques kept things fresh and exciting- candle making, ceramics, goo, straw rockets, gummy worms, giant bubbles AND HOW ABOUT THAT SOLAR POWERED OVEN!!!?


• Reptile Show and Princesses & Pirates came to camp


• Our sports clinics raised the bar and did not disappoint


• Our newest program, Wacky Wild Field Day was a HUGE success


• ATV records were set and smashed and set again


• Our Challenge Course was home to more proud moments than ever before (we even got a three-year-old camper to zip on the Small Zip in the beginning of camp and then tell us every day that he “would do it again tomorrow” all summer long. With staff’s support, he zipped again before the end of camp with a big smile on his face. That smile said it all!


• The list goes on and on

We hope that your camper shared their proud moment at camp this summer with you. We know that you have a choice when it comes to camp, and we thank you for choosing Stonybrook Day Camp. It has been an honor and privilege to serve your family and get to know your children. THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF THE STONYBROOK DAY CAMP FAMILY. We look forward to seeing you in 2011!!...and before that at Octoberfest on October 2nd!!

Don't forget to check out http://www.stonybrookdaycamp.smugmug.com to see all of the pictures from camp!

How many years have YOU been at Stonybrook??

As we near the end of another summer at Stonybrook Day Camp, our campers add another year under their belts…. or bathing suits or soffe shorts! For many, the numbers of years at camp are impressive!!!!! 5, 10, 11, 12 years (and that is just the campers….. some of the staff are returning for their 15th, 17th, 49th, etc). So, what is it about Stonybrook that keeps them coming back for more?…. We decided to ask!

Andrew W, a 13 year old Randolph resident, is completing his 11th summer at camp. He loves his camp friends, all camp sports and the Challenge Course. He completed his second year on Teen Xtreme. Last year he enjoyed the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Cedar Point Amusement Park. This year he liked spending the night at Inner Harbor when visiting Baltimore. When asked what keeps him coming back he told us that there are always new things to do at camp. And while there are always new people to meet, he feels like he knows everyone. In fact, he has been coming here for so long that he feels like he has practically grown up at Stonybrook.

Sadie C, a 3rd grader from Mountain Lakes, is completing her third summer at camp. The Big Zip at the Challenge Course is her favorite activity. What keeps her coming back from year to year? It is a simple concept- Camp is just fun!! Her friends are great and she loves the counselors.

Adam C is a 4th grader from Randolph returns for this 6th summer. His favorite activities are baseball, Jumping Pillow, Super Science and Boating & Fishing. He also loves Eco-Adventure, which is a new program at camp this year. When asked to elaborate, he explained that he loves interacting with the environment and seeing how change happens. One day at Eco-Adventure he saw a tadpole and it only had hind legs… a few days later it had front legs and a tail…. A few days after that it became a frog! He is looking forward to trips next year as a Trailblazer, and he is excited because as he gets older, there will be even more new things to do at camp.

Joey R, a CIT from Livingston, completes her 12th year at Stonybrook Day Camp this year. With many good memories and friends, she considers camp her home away from home! She has always been close with her counselors, and now as a CIT, she loves working with children. Spirit Week has always been a consistent highlight of her summer. Her groups always created the most intense dances. And there is also nothing like the energy of Color War. Cooking has been a favorite activity; she loves how everything cooks faster in the magic oven! And while there are lots of consistent things about camp, she also loves how camp is always changing things up and keeping it fresh… new things are introduced each year…. This year campers enjoyed new shows including the Reptile Show and Pirates & Princesses…. Campers enjoyed a new basketball court…..Campers got to go to Dairy Queen for winning Spirit Week and sky divers broke Color War… camp has you always wondering what’s coming next?

Brothers Matt and Zach K, 10 and 13 years old, are from Parsippany and love spending their summers at Stonybrook. Matt, completing his 6th summer, loves camp sports including baseball and basketball. And when asked to explain what he likes the most about camp, he was concise- I just like it here. The counselors and my camp friends are great. Zach who is completing 11th summer at camp and his 2nd year on Teen Xtreme has had a great time on the trips. He loved seeing colleges in Baltimore and touring the baseball stadium and Inner Harbor. Also concise, he just really loves it here.

Danny H, a Livingston resident, is completing his 5th year at camp. In addition to Color War and Carnival, he loves Rocketry, ATVs and Challenge Course. He plans on coming back to camp for years to come so he can hang with his friends and attend Trailblazers and Teen Xtreme. Seeing his brothers, Zach and Josh enjoy these programs, he is hooked. He wants to go on the big trips, but still enjoy the perks of camp life like ice cream at the end of the day and some heated games of Four Square.

Zach K, from Randolph, is completing his 8th summer at camp and this year participated in Trailblazers. He loves playing baseball and always enjoys the camp food, especially dessert! He loves his camp friends and always enjoys meeting new counselors and seeing some favorite returning ones. What has kept him coming back for 8 years… There were always new things to do or try. He loved being able to ride the ATVs and enjoyed Eco-Adventure, which was a new program (and Stony and Brook, the camp bunnies who were also new to camp).

Kelsey N, a Randolph resident, is completing her 6th summer at Stonybrook. She participated in Trailblazers this year and she loves Challenge Course, ATVs, swim and Arts & Crafts. She has fabulous summers at camp and she has lots of great friends (both counselors and campers). When asked why she comes back year after year, she just said it just feels like she should come back because it is always so much fun. In fact, she plans on coming back till she is old enough to be a Senior Counselor!!!!!

Having spoken with many about their summers at camp there seems to be some consistent key themes. The friends made at camp are like no other; our counselors are incredibly supportive and fun; and while it is a familiar place, there are always new things happening at camp. We love that the number of campers with impressive numbers of years logged at camp keeps growing, but what we really love is hearing why! It is enough to get us motivated to start planning next summer as soon as this summer ends….. we gotta keep them guessing and wanting more Stonybrook Day Camp! We hope to see you back next summer!

Don't forget to check out http://www.stonybrookdaycamp.smugmug.com to see all of the pictures from camp!

FIELD DAY FUN!!!

Field Day was so much fun today! The calendar said “SUPER WACKY FIELD DAY”, but that was an understatement.

Our campers moved through 18 different activities with their group, led by our specialists. The campers, counselors and specialists had so much fun at each and every location. Some of the activities included: Frisbee Distance Toss, , Junk Yard Relay, Marble Toes, Shoe Race, Hula Hooping, Sack Race, Baseball Accuracy, Miniature Golf, Shoe Kick, Basketball Hot Shots, Basketball Obstacle Course, Balance Beam Bean Bag, Bowling, Yarn Ball Toss….just to name a few…Whew!!! Ask your child which activities were their favorite and to describe what was involved...

This was a new addition to our already jam-packed program schedule. Judging by the response from our campers, this will become a permanent part of our programming going forward!! Our campers will certainly look forward to this day next summer, as will we!!!


Don't forget to check out http://www.stonybrookdaycamp.smugmug.com to see all of the pictures from camp!

Candle Making

Next time you light a candle either because your lights went out (definitely a possibility with our crazy New Jersey weather) or you are just looking to relax, we know some will have more appreciation for what went into getting that flame going!!!!!

Many older groups actually made candles at Stonybrook Day Camp this summer. Our Arts & Crafts specialists selected crystal wax as their medium for making the candles. Using crystal wax is a very safe method since it doesn’t involve campers having to actually melt the wax. Campers first select their crystal colors and then design their pattern. The next step is to mix the crystals and pour them into jars. Specialists then light the wick and melt wax on top. Once all of the wax melts, it creates a seal, which holds the crystals in and allows it to continue burning.

Excited with the beautiful candle patters, our campers were inspired to get even more creative with the outside of their candle jars. Some decorated with stickers, others with foam letters spelling out their name. They all came out fabulous and our campers really enjoyed the process every step of the way. And, if you need to light candles, please try to select a different one…. these are true works of art, and in our opinion, these deserve some display time on the mantle, entryway or bookshelf!

Don't forget to check out http://www.stonybrookdaycamp.smugmug.com to see all of the pictures from camp!

Carnival Day

As everyone knows, Carnival is a highlight at Stonybrook Day Camp!! We are happy to report that this year's Carnival did not disappoint!! Campers were all smiles as they enjoyed a huge super slide moon walker, foam jousting and red rocket bounce. They also enjoyed an array of carnival booths, including a can smash, ring toss, six-cats-down (you get three chances to knock six cats down), tic tac toe and wreck 'n ball. There was also a golf challenge (golf clinic participants clearly had an advantage) and Jurassic toss.

Don't be surprised if you camper comes home with some BIG NEWS to share.... the carnival marriage booth was EXTREMELY busy!!

In keeping with our Carnival theme, campers enjoyed cotton candy and snow cones. It was fun-fun-fun again at camp today.... In keeping with our Stonybrook standards, our campers were well supervised; each counselor took several campers as they enjoyed roaming from station to station. We were happy that once again, the weather was perfect, and most importantly that it was a fantastic start to Week Eight of camp!!

Don't forget to check out http://www.stonybrookdaycamp.smugmug.com to see all of the pictures from camp!

GO BLUE!! GO WHITE!!

Color War is all about friendly competition…friendly competition taken seriously.

Camp is divided up into two teams, the blue team and the white team. This year the Blue Team was named BLUE THUNDER and the white team was named WHITE LIGHTENING. As you will see from our camp photos, kids wear their color from head to toe. We saw everything from painted faces to team accessories including colored hair bows, necklaces and socks. While groups are divided up on different teams, siblings always stay together. Remember many of us are parents at camp and we understand the value in keeping the peace at home.

Teams are led by Counselor Captains and Camper Generals selected for their ability to inspire others with their own enthusiasm for Stonybrook. These are individuals who have spent many a year here at camp. Throughout the day, the teams compete in a variety of competitions including Bucket Brigade, Scavenger Hunt, Relay Races and Frisbee Basketball. Each activity is scored and points are awarded to the winning color of each group. In the afternoon, the campers look forward to the Apache Relay.

The score, along with team accomplishment, is announced periodically via loudspeaker. This allows the teams to keep tabs on how they are doing… and as you can imagine, each time the score is announced, it just fires up the competition!

There is really no detail left unattended. At the end of the day, the teams come together at flagpole and perform their team cheer, which are immediately scored. The final scores are tallied and a winner is announced. And, you can only imagine the scene. While letting the winning team celebrate (it is only fair), we talk with the non-winning team and focus on what they accomplished.

This is truly a highlight of our summer at Stonybrook Day Camp. Color War is full of amazing competition, lessons in sportsmanship and real pride in teamwork. It is a day for all to enjoy, and of course, a day for all of our campers to give us their best when it comes to competition. Go White! Go Blue!

Don't forget to check out http://www.stonybrookdaycamp.smugmug.com to see all of the pictures from camp!

COLOR WAR 2010 BREAKS!!!

Today was the day that every camper has been waiting for at Stonybrook Day Camp!!!

Despite week after week of fabulous events and fun times, the question most asked is and always has been…WHEN IS COLOR WAR??? Both campers and parents ask us this very question over and over again..…. Is it today? Is it tomorrow? Is it next week???? Their questions are always answered with the same response, “We don’t know”. Color war break is always highly anticipated, highly planned, and always the best kept secret.

With the days of camp passing and less than 2 weeks to go, you can only imagine the intensity surrounding the questions…. Well, today, Thursday, August 12th, COLOR WAR ARRIVED AT STONYBROOK DAY CAMP!!

And it really was a FABULOUS break- if we do say so. Our campers were watching some of our staff play in a staff soccer game, and they were completely oblivious to the plane flying overhead. As the plane got closer, it was noticed by a few, but soon all were in a frenzy as out of the sky 3 parachuters jumped and floated down to deliver the message that COLORWAR 2010 had officially begun.

The cheering immediately began and the excitement was palatable as campers and counselors all celebrated Color War Break and got ready for the upcoming competition. We are certain that with such a fabulous break, the games themselves will be just as memorable. So let the games begin!!!!

Don't forget to check out http://www.stonybrookdaycamp.smugmug.com to see all of the pictures from camp!

SPLASH!!

Splash is a sound often heard when you walk by Stonybrook’s two pools. It is certainly the place to be this summer! We always present swimming as a positive, fun activity and we encourage campers to get more comfortable with the water while learning important life skills. During instructional swim, campers progress on an individual basis according to the American Red Cross swimming levels. In the Upper Camp pool, there are 6 levels of progression. In the Junior Camp pool, there are 3 levels of progression. Campers benefit from swimming in small groups in both pools and swim reports are generated bi-weekly.

Our campers swim twice daily. The first time is instructional swim while the second is free swim. During free swim, the focus is really on having fun…..some campers enjoy an occasional belly flop and cannon ball! Or for our younger campers, free swim may mean water games like ring around the rosie or London bridges. And for our real water fanatics, campers may also enjoy lap swimming during electives and water aerobics during hobbies, among other aquatic activities. So while safety is always our number one priority, there is always excitement down by the pool. We truly take our instruction seriously and we are very proud of the results! We hope your fish, mermaid or shark has become more confident and a bit more excited to take a dip or swim some laps!

Don't forget to check out http://www.stonybrookdaycamp.smugmug.com to see all of the pictures from camp!

CERAMICS CRAZE!!!

Arts and Crafts has been bustling with activity, and while we are certain you have seen many finished masterpieces, we still want to fill you in on what our Picassos, Monets and O’Keefes have been doing.

We recently completed a unit on ceramics, and most of our campers, ranging from our youngest to our oldest, used clay in an age appropriate way. Our younger campers made “pinch pots” which we hope was a great addition to your home! The campers had a great time banging out the clay and getting all the air bubbles out. We then helped them to mold and create their own individual pots using their fine motor skills as well as their creativity.

Our older campers also participated in the “ceramics craze” and made various projects including clay coil pots or clay tiles. The coil pots involved several steps, including rolling out the coils carefully and then placing each coil on top of the others to shape the pot. It was important that each camper take the time to smooth out the inside of their pots in order to ensure that when the coils dried, they would stay together and avoid any breakage. Some groups made clay tiles where they sculpted and molded the tile out of clay and then added a design in clay (often their first initial), which they then molded to the top of the tile.

After all the sculpting was complete and the clay was dry, each camper was able to paint their pot or tile using their own design and color choice. The excitement about art may start at Stonybrook but who knows where it will go…..think big, think MoMA, think the Met…. OK, a bit carried away, but we have seen some real talent and most importantly, some happy campers excited to be a part of the ceramics craze!

Don't forget to check out http://www.stonybrookdaycamp.smugmug.com to see all of the pictures from camp!

TUBING ON LAKE HOPATCONG

While our third graders and up were bussed to Camel Beach today, second graders at Stonybrook Day Camp had an extra special wet and wild day! Tubing on Lake Hopatcong was the day’s main activity for our second graders and the smiles were as huge as the adventure.

This is one of those activities you just have to experience for yourself in order to understand the rush and the excitement…. but we’ll give it a try! Think about you, along with one or two other friends, holding onto a huge tube that is being pulled by a motor boat. Think about the wind racing through your hair while the water splashes occasionally on your face…..

And did we mention that all your camp friends are cheering your name as they safely sit on the speedy boat while you get to experience the tube! It was fabulous and the kids had a complete blast! And with safety always being our first priority, all of our campers were lathered with sun screen and a lifeguard was also on the boat. It was truly a fabulous time and a day that many of our second graders will talk about for a while to come. Today was pure thrill and pure Stonybrook fun!

Don't forget to check out http://www.stonybrookdaycamp.smugmug.com to see all of the pictures from camp!

FORE!!!

Before you can ever have a chance of even getting near a green jacket, every golfer has to start somewhere…… our golf clinic was really great this week! Our Golf Specialist Rob Moore, worked with our aspiring golf professionals on the fundamentals of grip, stance and swing. We also worked on putting and played mini-golf.

The group also learned how to keep score by playing Frisbee golf and shoe golf. Shoe golf???? That’s right, our campers kicked their actual shoes in hoops along the course. A par value is assigned for a hole, and the play began as our golfers teed off by kicking their shoes towards the hoop. And you guessed it!!... the number of kicks was their score for the hole.

We also saw our campers really improve their skills while also having a good time. We are pretty confident that Phil Mickelson would find this training fascinating and maybe even learn a few things from our campers and Specialist!!

Don't forget to check out http://www.stonybrookdaycamp.smugmug.com to see all of the pictures from camp!

Geckos and Lizards and Snakes…OH MY!!!

Today was quite an adventurous day for many at Stonybrook as our campers made some interesting new friends. The Lizard guy brought his reptile show to camp and it was amazing to see and touch so many unique animals… especially when kids usually only see these animals on TV or at the zoo!

In addition to being excited about being up close with these reptiles, our campers learned so much. They learned how animals camouflage to protect themselves from prey. They also learned how snakes shed their skin so the can grow.

Some highlights from today:
“Boots”, the lizard has little legs and does not move fast at all.

When meeting “Cheese”, the gecko, and “Lighting” and “Thunder”, both turtles, and we learned that age and diet can not always be seen by size. Thunder is a tiny ten-year old omnivore and Lightening is a huge two-year-old herbivore!

“Sandy”, the gopher snake, likes to crawl into any hole. And while he is the biggest gopher snake in America (from California), he only eats (mice) once a week!

“Tinkerbelle”, almost eight feet long is a boa constrictor whose scales feel like our fingernails! And our 3 and 4 year olds, Kindergarteners and First graders actually got to feel for themselves as many enjoyed petting Tinkerbelle! It was hands on learning at its best!

Don't forget to check out http://www.stonybrookdaycamp.smugmug.com to see all of the pictures from camp!

ATV'S

We have heard that a little red sports car named Lightning McQueen says, “Speed….I am Speed.”….. well….has he met some of our campers? Before kids are able to drive ATVs they learn about the rules of the road. After demonstrating competency and a clear understanding of the course rules, licenses are issued. Campers hold these licenses with pride.

This week at Stonybrook Day Camp, we have been time trialing on the ATV course. Because safety is always our number one priority, the ATVs are set to not exceed a certain speed. However, driving an ATV is not just about pressing the gas, closing your eyes and making it happen (yikes!). There is lots of skill involved as kids learn about steering and respecting the course. In addition to keeping a stop watch for time, the riders were rewarded for safe rides while they received penalty time for excess speed. While there were many excellent times recorded, Claire Donfield holds the record with a 3 lap time of 1 minute and 22.4 seconds. The single lap record was recorded by Matt Krinick with a time of 27.6 seconds. A great time was had by all and maybe…. Just maybe hide those car keys!



Don't forget to check out http://www.stonybrookdaycamp.smugmug.com to see all of the pictures from camp!

3, 2, 1...BLAST OFF!!!

Stonybrook Rocketry is shooting for the stars! Rich Gordon has turned down offers from NASA after he showed his expertise in aerodynamics and rocket mechanics.

Rocketry is one of our most popular electives. So many of our campers look forward to participating in the assembly of the rockets. First they design the rocket, then they assemble it. They have choices when it comes to the wing and tail fin configurations. They can see how the different designs effect the flight patterns. Then, of course, there is the painting. Who doesn't love to paint??? They have so much fun, they don't even realize they are learning about physics and aero-dynamics! It is one of our most popular programs.

The campers that do not choose Rocketry as their elective still get the benefit and enjoyment of watching the launch of the rockets. Several groups have successfully launched rockets close to 1000 feet in the air and watched them gently float back to Earth with their carefully packaged parachutes.

Why not get the added enjoyment of making your own rocket, rather than just watching the lauches??!! Three weeks to go!! Make sure you sign up for our Rocketry Elective!!

Don't forget to check out http://www.stonybrookdaycamp.smugmug.com to see all of the pictures from camp!

HAI-YAH!!!

Martial Arts isn't just about kicking and punching! Here at Stonybrook, our Martial Arts program develops life skills. Our campers learn to work on skills individually as well as in teams. Everyone knows that both of these scenarios are important for everyone to embrace. Our campers have the opportunity to develop their teamwork acumen.

The self-confidence our campers build, working with our Martial Arts specialist is invaluable. The campers are presented with a variety of physical and mental challenges, and through the guidance of the instructor, they learn how to overcome these obstacles, building up the child's self-esteem. The campers experience healthy competition, and are pushed to improve everyday. Our campers enjoy playing "Tiger Tails" (A fun, head-to-head competition the kids LOVE). Each camper moves at his or her own pace. The campers have a blast at Martial Arts...who wouldn't!








Don't forget to check out http://www.stonybrookdaycamp.smugmug.com to see all of the pictures from camp!