(914) 949-2636; www.purchasedaycamp.com
Lockdown your inner helicopter parent before heading over to Purchase Day Camp (PDC), a place where your child will be encouraged to make mistakes and even fail (or succeed) without the safety net of a parent. “Failure without fear is how kids learn and grow,” says Camp Director Jim Kelly, and this is why the professional staff at PDC focus on providing a sensitive, encouraging environment where campers can try new things and take risks. “We believe in participation over outcome, in process over product. It isn’t about winning the game, it is about playing the game,” Kelly concludes.
Located on eight acres in Purchase, PDC’s campus features an 18-hole mini-golf course, four heated pools, Zip Line and challenge course, nature trails, a driving range, and a gaga pit to name just a few.
PDC offers an extensive array of sports, computer, and swimming programs but also has an equally broad list of enrichment programs like rocketry, woodworking, cooking, theater and improv, arts and crafts, and more. “We believe that our job is to help every camper find something they can enjoy, that they can excel at and then go home at the end of the day feeling good about themselves,” Kelly says.
Many Happy Returns
Camp Director Jim Kelly has spent 39 summers working at Purchase Day Camp–and he’s not alone. “We have more than 1,100 combined years at Purchase Day Camp. That really speaks to the atmosphere,” Kelly says of his staff.
Ages: 3 to 15. Dates: June 27 to August 19 (2-week to 8-week sessions). Fees: From $4,000 (2 weeks) to $7,900 (8 weeks). Transportation: Free.
