Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/514590
In researching summer camp options, the amount of information available can take hours to sift through. Many programs provide plenty of activi- ties for elementary school children but are disappointingly light on offerings for tweens and teens. Children's Island Camp is an exception. Located on a 25-acre island one mile off the coasts of Salem and Marblehead, and run by the Lynch/Van Otterloo branch of the North Shore YMCA, the camp offers an impressive range of ac- tivities for children ages 5 through 15. Kids are spirited away by ferry to the camp's unique setting to unplug and make lifelong connec- tions. There's sailing, swimming off the island beaches and in the pool, arts and crafts, snorkeling, archery, rock climbing, and even wake boarding. Established in 1955, the camp is in its 60th summer season. The camp's director, John Brinkman, has an infectious enthusiasm for the North Shore YMCA. It's clear he found his calling while working at the Y in college. His involvement with Children's Island Camp is a natural extension of that time. And 36 | JULY 2015 nshoremag.com photographs courtesy of North Shore YMCA BY ELIZABETH NAPOLITANO Children's Island Camp continues to make life- long memories for happy campers of all ages. Neverland PLACES Children participate in diverse, age- appropriate activities in the day camp as well as specialty camps. after college he continued to work on the Y's camping programs. He has spent many summers as a camp counselor and worked his way up to directing the Counselor-in-Train- ing (CIT) program. This summer will be his fifth year as director. According to Brinkman, "The suc- cess of the camps is team-based. We do things as a team [to create the best programs]." Brinkman and other staff feel honored by many returning out- of-state camp families and inter- national campers from China and Russia. Many have camp alumni parents who have roots in the area and want their kids to experience the camp for themselves. The island is accessible by sever- al ferries including those departing from Manchester-by-the-Sea, Salem, and Marblehead. Enrollment each summer is typi- cally over 200. The largest enroll- ment segment is the standard day camp, which accepts children ages 7 through 11 and is organized in two- week sessions. On even-numbered weeks, there is a one-night sleep- away option. And every Tuesday night is family night, when parents can join the campers for a cookout, campfires, and s'mores. In addition to the day camp, Children's Island boasts an array of specialty camps for a wide range of ages, from kindergarteners to tweens and teens. Of special note is the islanders camp, which centers around island exploration with a higher degree of independence than is granted to younger campers. Teens can kayak around the island or to the surrounding islands and learn survival skills. Kids ages 14 and older are eligi- ble to apply for the CIT program. "We have revitalized the CIT pro- gram, and we usually get around 20 CITs," says Brinkman. It's some- thing the kids need to apply for. It involves an interview and a written application, which Brinkman feels prepares teens for the job applica- tion process. Day camp costs, like any other child-care costs, can be prohibitive for some. The Y strives to curb the costs of all their programs, particu- larly summer camps. Financial aid is available, as are scholarships. The North Shore Y recently partnered with Nancamp, an organization that raises funds to pay for weeks of camp for children in need. CONTACT Children's Island Camp northshore ymca.org Camp begins June 22 and runs through September 4.