Summer at Wagon Road Camp, a mini-world of diversity in the heart of New Castle
Monday, January 30, 2012
by Vince Canziani
One way to help the children of today succeed in the world of tomorrow is to give them experiences of diversity when they are young. Summer camp is one of the best ways to do this, and Wagon Road’s Summer Day Camp, located on Quaker Road, does it right here in Chappaqua.
As the world grows closer together, people who are open to others with different backgrounds will have an advantage in developing relationships in school, at work, and in society in general.
In my 11 years of running our Summer Camp at Wagon Road for The Children’s Aid Society, I have witnessed the joy of friendships created as the children play and grow together. Summer camp is a powerful experience that helps a child grow and mature in remarkable ways. When a summer camp includes ethnic and economic diversity, the children learn not only about the greater world around them, but also about the accessibility of that world through relationships with others, here and now.
The Wagon Road Summer Day Camp brings together children ages 6-13 from diverse communities in Westchester, Manhattan and the Bronx to play sports, ride horses, garden, dance, cook, act and swim—all the while building understanding and sensitivity that children might not otherwise have.
If you are a parent exploring summer experiences for your children and wish to consider including diversity in your plans, here are some things to consider about Wagon Road:
1. We bring the children together in groups of 12 separated by gender and balanced for different ethnic backgrounds so that no camper ever feels isolated. This size group, supervised by two counselors, allows for lots of opportunities for relationships to build through shared activities.
2. Our staff training includes specific games to help build relationships among the children and encourage new friendships. In addition, the staff reflects the diversity of the children, and model positive relationships among a diverse group of people.
The administration of the camp is made up of highly skilled social service and educational professionals, each of whom has at least 20 years of experience with children. All have worked with diverse populations in their careers, and all provide expert guidance for the children and the staff to insure a successful camp.
The positive atmosphere, the fun and exciting activities, and the group camaraderie of summer camp help children make friends and enjoy time together. Children of different backgrounds learn very quickly to look beyond the visible and social differences and see the person, the friend, standing next to them.
Vince Canziani, LMSW, is the Director of Wagon Road Camp which is owned and operated by The Children’s Aid Society in Chappaqua, a non-for profit organization. For more information call 914-238-4761 or visit http://www.childrensaidsociety.org/wagon-road-camp/summer-day-camp.
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