A Montessori Summer

The word summer triggers a sense of freedom in children, a chance to play and learn in a more relaxed and fun atmosphere. A Montessori Summer offers a variety of exciting and stimulating choices, encouraging children to discover new friendships and explore new experiences, while creating an environment that allows them to feel safe enough to be themselves and to follow their personal path of creativity and curiosity.

When BHMS closes its academic doors in June, those same doors quickly re-open to welcome campers to A Montessori Summer. This program offers a rich variety of activities including swimming instruction, athletics, visual and performing arts, and outdoor adventures. A Montessori Summer emphasizes nature and the environment, those things that the summer itself offers in abundance and full splendor. Each week provides the students with a trip day; typical outings might include a museum, the aquarium, the beach, the park, a wildlife preserve or the botanical gardens. Whether they are outdoors on the go, inside our cool and air-conditioned Montessori facility, or on the camp’s rooftop playground, campers are always under the experienced care and guidance of our counselor staff. A Montessori Summer is the perfect place for campers to enjoy and share new experiences; it provides unforgettable memories and solid friendships, which they carry with them throughout the school year.

Camp Sessions

A Montessori Summer is for children ages 3 -12 and is divided into two sections, Preschool and Elementary. Each division has a “home base” within our beautiful and spacious facility, a comfortable and welcoming place where campers begin each morning and end each afternoon.

Session I: June 23 - June 27*
Session II: June 30 - July 18 (No camp July 4)
NOTE: As of 2/27/08 Session II Intermediate Division is closed
Session III: July 21 - August 1
NOTE: As of 3/10/08 Session III Intermediate Division is closed

*please note that Session I is only one week this year due to the BHMS school schedule

Preschool Division

Juniors

Juniors are campers ages 3 -5 (born 10/31/04 or before) who will have completed one year of preschool by June 2007. Juniors attend camp Monday through Friday, 9 A.M. to 3 P.M.

Morning activities for Junior groups typically takes place in their home base of our air-conditioned facility, and here, as elsewhere, many activities - from planting seeds to recycling to creating art - have an environmental theme.

In the afternoon, Juniors have the choice of a variety of activities on the BHMS campus and beyond:

• Games, sports skills, and free play in our full-size air-conditioned gymnasium
• Instructional swimming and free swim at nearby facilities, taught by lifeguards trained in WSI (Water Safety Instruction)
• Art workshops that include painting, mask-making, print-making and collage
• Hands-on music classes
• Planting and maintaining a garden on the BHMS deck
• Creative movement
• Cooking
• Wildlife instruction with Carmelo the Science Fellow

Typical field trip destinations include the beach, city parks, and botanical gardens.

Elementary Division

Intermediates and Seniors

Intermediates are campers who are entering grades 1 – 3 in September 2008. Seniors are campers who are entering grades 4 – 6 in September 2008. Intermediates and Seniors attend camp Monday through Friday 9 A.M. to 3:15 P.M. While Intermediates and Seniors have the same class offerings and schedules, they are rarely together. When Seniors are in the park, Intermediates are at BHMS, and vice versa. Campers in this division follow a weekly schedule as listed below:

Activities for two days on our reserved playing fields at Prospect Park:

• Team sports
• Drama
• Photography
• Water Games
• Outdoor Skills
• Workshops led by park rangers
• Art Projects
• Field Day Games
• Exploring Nature
• Science
• Super Soccer Stars

Activities for two days based at BHMS:

• Team Sports and in-line skating in our full-size gymnasium
• Multimedia Art Workshops which include printmaking, mask-making, painting, paper-mache, sculpture, ceramics, and jewelry making
• Digital and Film Photography
• Drama
• Camp Newsletter Production
• Cooking
• Hands-on Music Workshops
• Computer Workshops
• Dance
• Yoga
• Movie-making
• Chess
• Martial Arts

In the mornings, swim instructors are provided from nearby St. Francis College and the new Dodge YMCA. Swimming activities at both facilities will include exclusive use of their full-size pool, instructional swim taught by lifeguards trained in WSI, and free swim.

Every Friday is Trip Day! Typical trip destinations include Riis Park Beach, exploring a wildlife preserve, the New York Aquarium, the Central Park Zoo, and the American Museum of Natural History. For Seniors, there is also an optional overnight camping trip.

Other Programs

Early Morning Drop-off

As a service to working families, and because we understand life sometimes does not run on an exact time schedule, Early Morning Drop-Off is provided from 8:15 to 9 A.M. There is no charge for this service.

After Camp

After Camp, from 3:15 to 6 P.M., is also available to all campers in need of a relaxed and nurturing environment in which to unwind. After Camp activities include art, board games, computer games, movies, free time, sprinklers on the roof, and the use of our full-sized gymnasium for free play.

Price Schedule (Summer 2008)

June / July Camp

Session I: $425 June 23 - June 27
Session II: $1080 June 30 - July 18 (No camp July 4)
NOTE: As of 2/27/08 Session II Intermediate Division is closed
Session III: $830 July 21 - August 1
NOTE: As of 3/10/08 Session III Intermediate Division is closed

After Camp

For campers who attend the After Camp program, the fee is $10 per hour. Payment in full is due the last day of each session. Parents are given a five-minute grace period at 6 P.M., but after that, a $1 per minute late fee will be assessed. This charge is in respect for our hard-working and dedicated staff.

Due Dates

Full payment is due June 1. Families who pay in full by March 1st will receive a 5% discount. You will receive a bill prior to June 1st along with permission, medical, emergency contact, friend request and activity preference forms. These forms must be completed and returned at least one week before your child’s first day of camp. Only children for whom we have full payment and full paperwork will be allowed to attend camp.

For more information, contact Molly Davis, Director of After School & Summer Programs at 718-858-5100 x19 or mdavis@bhmsny.org or Christine Abelman, Assistant Director of After School & Summer Programs at 718-858-5100 x18 or mailto:cabelman@bhmsny.org