Abuzz every day for five weeks is Massapequa’s Teen Center, the middle school-age piece of the district’s Summer Recreation Program. There are about 125 sixth, seventh and eighth graders at the Ames Campus on a typical day, along with college-age counselors and building directors.
Teen Center runs from July 1 to Aug. 1 and is open to students entering grades 6-8. The program is far less structured than the elementary camps and is designed to promote increased independence as students reach middle school age. Participants can choose their activities as there are rooms for arts and crafts, games and movies, as well as both gymnasiums and the outside fields for sports. Counselors are assigned to each location.
Campers also get to participate in special events and field trips. At Ames, there was a Tropical Smoothie Day, a beach glass art session with DeeSigned by Me and the popular Camper Games, which included a dunk tank, snow cones, relay races and a tug-of-war. Field trips included bowling, the movies, Round 1 arcade and SkyZone.
Rising seventh grader Mia Arnone attended the Teen Center for the second year and came for four of the five weeks.
“It’s fun,” she said. “You can be with your friends, and all of the directors and counselors are nice.”
Emma Bosman enjoys going on field trips and also likes how the camp is structured, so she and her friends can decide how their day is spent. Lucas Jardine said his favorite daily activities are playing basketball in the gym and cards in the game room.
“You can go to whichever room you want,” he said. “I like the choice.”
