Summering with Rumson Country Day

Looking for a way to fill those long summer days? The Rumson Country Day School (RCDS) Summer Camp is offering a fun and flexible way for your child to learn new skills and strengthen existing ones in a safe and nurturing environment.

Open to both RCDS students and beyond, the camp has a multitude of one and two week specialized programs, allowing parents to customize schedules and children to sample a variety of summer programs from knitting to robotics.

“Whether you spend one week, two weeks, or the entire summer, we want to make lasting summer memories for your children,” said Joy Rathemacher, who runs the RCDS summer program.

Other recreational and educational programs include: art; science; math; music; drama; photography and sports. Students approach new experiences and build confidence in their ability to navigate school subjects, take on new challenges and make new friends.

Even the youngest learners — ages four and five — participate in carefully crafted programming that is designed to build confidences by focusing on cognitive, motor and social skills.

Children entering pre-kindergarten and kindergarten can sign up for developmentally appropriate courses: Backyard Games, Dino-Mite (Dinosaur fossils and crafts), Great Works of Art (learn about the great masters and create your own); Adventures under the Big Top (circus fun); Explorations Under the Sea; Fun with Fitness (yoga, aerobics and homemade fruit and veggie smoothies); Blast Off! (become astronauts for the week); Stars and Stripes (fly the grand old flag and learn about Uncle Sam through crafts, games and songs); The Lorax (learn how to reduce, reuse and recycle to protect the “truffula trees”); and Let’s Party! (campers plan the perfect summer bash with food, dancing and games).

Budding artists in kindergarten through second grade can take Modern Masters, where they will learn about Henri Matisse, Paul Klee and Claude Monet and create their own art inspired by famous works of art.

Art Safari will also be offered at this age group where campers will explore animals and art through works by Henri Rousseau, Albrecht Durer and Pablo Picasso, using a variety of media including drawing, printmaking and collage.

Children entering first through third grades can participate in the following courses designed for their age group: Dinosaurs and Fossils (investigate scientific principles, experiment and make models); Let’s be Crafty (immersion in kid-friendly projects creating t-shirts, friendship bracelets, bird feeders); and Volcanoes and Rocks (investigate scientific principles, experiment and make models).

In addition, children entering first through fourth grades can sign up for the following courses: Robotics; and Multicultural Adventures (travel around the world through music, language, art and food).

Starting from second grade and up, students can participate in the following courses: Glee (perform in a show choir with small percussion, hand bells and choreography); Photo Safari (learn techniques to compose better photos, paint with light and edit on iPhoto); Glittering Shards (create an original mosaic piece of art using handmade tiles, crushed glass and found objects); and Let’s Paint! (composition techniques and color theory using light and shadow).

Second through fourth grade can participate in: Math! Math! Math! (building skills through games and hands-on experiences) and children entering third grade and beyond can learn how to knit.

There are also a variety of athletic camps including: Girls’ and Boys’ Lacrosse for first through fourth graders; Girls’ and Boys’ Soccer for first through eighth graders; and Mixed Sports Camps for first through fifth graders.

For children who are interested in performing arts, RCDS offers a variety of courses including: Band Camp (fourth grade and up); Percussion Ensemble (second and up); String Sensation (Violinists third grade and up); Songwriting 101 (second grade and up); Dramatic plays for Kindergarten and up (Snow White, Mary Poppins, and You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown).

Summer staff consists of experienced RCDS faculty who are considered positive role models specializing in teaching children at this age in development and  highly skilled in the courses they teach.

With the RCDS approach, summer learning is fun and engaging and provides excellent opportunities to build existing skills and acquire new ones.

“Children love trying something new, and the summer is the perfect time to branch out,” said Rathemacher. “Our summer academic opportunities help children keep up with their studies and strengthen their skills, giving them an advantage in the coming year. It is also a comfortable place where they develop new friendships and deepen existing ones."

Morning and afternoon sessions are available. 

Enrollment is ongoing, however, there is limited space.  In order to get the best selection, please register as soon as possible.  

If you have any questions, contact Joy Rathemacher at jrathemacher@rcds.org.

To view the full brochure and register, visit the Summer Camp page on the RCDS website at www.rcds.org/student life/rcds summer camp.  

* Provided by Rumson Country Day School.