North Castle Recreation Offers Host of Programs
By Liz Susman Karp • North Castle Recreation Photos
At last, the warm weather is here, and the North Castle Recreation Department is gearing up to make the most of the summer season.
Serving residents of Armonk, North White Plains and Banksville, Matt Trainor, M.S.C.P.R.P., Superintendent of Recreation & Parks, says, “Summer is more than just camp.” There are now programs before and during the camp season for pre-school and school-age children, in addition to a host of varied offerings for them and adults extended throughout the summer.
This is also the first year North Castle Recreation will run the Anita Louise Ehrman Pool at Greenway Road. According to Trainor, who has an extensive aquatic management background, it will be run like a true municipal facility with a reasonable and varied fee structure for residents and non-residents. Open from Memorial Day through Labor Day–weekend hours of 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m. through June and then every day from 9 a.m.-7:30 p.m. through Labor Day–he encourages all to come out and enjoy the pool.
Passes were available at the Hergenhan Recreation Center, 40 Maple Ave, the first week in May. As of this writing, rates will range from $200-$600 for resident individuals and families and up to $950 for a non-resident family barring any late registration fees. Those interested in working as a lifeguard can download an application at www.northcastleny.com.
The camp season runs from June 30th-August 7th, with two popular traditional day camps and a teen tour option. Now in its fourth year, Camp Kick-a Poo, held at Coman Hill School, serves up to 120 pre-schoolers age three to five (age three by Dec. 1st, 2015 and toilet-trained) with two three-week sessions for three-year-olds, and up to six weeks for four-and-five year olds. Children can get acquainted with the school they will attend before the first day of kindergarten, easing that transition.
Bus transportation is available for most areas of town for children grades K-8 who attend Camp Chippewa, held at Wampus School. This longstanding program accommodates up to 330 children for up to six weeks. Activities at both camps include swimming, arts and crafts, water play, sports, music and special events in outdoor and indoor facilities if necessary to beat the heat.
For those who’ve completed grades 6-10, Trainor recommends the exciting four-week teen tour program, which alternates weekly overnight and day trips; some upcoming highlights are a visit to Hershey Park, white water rafting in the Lehigh Valley, and attending a Mets game and Wicked on Broadway.
Programs offered before camp and throughout the summer include youth tennis and basketball and US Sports Institute soccer for pre-schoolers, with and without their parents, which are “insanely popular during the year and we’re hoping that trend continues into the summer,” says Trainor.
A range of week-long camps are available after August 7th, including tennis for children entering grades K-5, TGA Premier Golf for those who have completed grades K-8, Mad Science programs Secret Agent Lab, Red Hot Robots and Eureka! Invention for children entering grades K-4 and First Play Soccer by US Sports Institute for ages 5-11.
For the first time, Pilates classes at Hergenhan Rec Center, and tennis clinics at Lombardi Park will run for adults throughout the summer. As in the spring, all tennis courts will be available on a first-come, first-served basis in one hour increments.
Special events for seniors include a trip to Belmont Race Track on June 18th, and to see the classic musical, West Side Story, at the Westchester Broadway Theater on July 1st.
Other events of note: family bingo nights are June 5th and 19th at the North Castle Community Center (10 Clove Road, White Plains), a daylong New York State Boating & PWC/jetski safety certification (licensing) course is offered on June 27th and July 25th at the Hergenhan Center (register at safeboating.com) and four summer concerts, including a Broadway revue, are planned by the Small Town Theatre Company (visit www.SmallTownTheatre.com for schedule and venues).
Walking trails, playgrounds and fields at all 13 parks are open for use; park or recreation facilities are available for rental, for recreational purposes or for commercial use with special permission. Forms are available on the recreation department’s website at www.northcastleny.com or by calling 914-273-3325. Trainor praises the convenience of the department’s online registration system at recreation.northcastleny.com and encourages all to always register early so a class is not cancelled due to low enrollment. Financial aid forms for Camp Kick-a-Poo or Chippewa can also be obtained at the center.
To stay up to date with recreation news, visit www.northcastleny.com, click on e-services and then on e-news to sign up for their email list.
Liz Susman Karp is a freelance writer and public relations specialist. The mother of two teenage boys, she and her family live in Briarcliff Manor.
