What do kids do all summer? Learn!

Between long warm days, no school, and more freedom than ever, there’s no season a kid loves more than summer — that is, if they have something to do. Malverne and West Hempstead’s summer camps have made sure that the children in their communities are having the fun, safe, enriching summer that they deserve.

SUB: West Hempstead

This is West Hempstead’s first year offering its own summer camp. In past years Summer Camp Opportunities Promote Education, or SCOPE, would offer a summer camp in lieu of one by the school district. But this year, thanks to a 5-year grant called 21st Century Community Learning Centers, West Hempstead has been able to host its own.

The camp includes reading and math programs, as well as several opportunities for enrichment — music, sports, theme weeks and more.

“It’s an opportunity to grow and develop with their peers and make stronger connections,” Dina Reilly, West Hempstead’s assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, said. “And to have a hands-on, minds-on approach because they get to learn from real-world, authentic experiences, and have fun.”

The camp even partners with local organizations like Crossroads Farms. Consultants regularly come work with students, and have shown them how to plant sunflowers, lavender, basil and more.

“We want to address the whole child,” Reilly said. “So it has a well-rounded, holistic approach.”

The grant allows the 50 K-8 students attending the summer camp to do so at no cost to their families. The camp has been a hit, especially in its first year. In the future, the West Hempstead summer camp hopes to expand to grades K-12, and offer their services and benefits to as many kids as possible.

“West Hempstead, we’re always exploring, looking to create new pathways for students to learn and grow and thrive,” Reilly said. “We were very excited when we received this grant because we have another opportunity to create a pathway and continue to foster their love of learning.”

SUB: Malverne

Malverne’s Camp Curiosity — Ready To Rise is fostering that love of school and learning at a time when it is perhaps most critical. The program, which is offered to kindergarteners and first graders, is provided to make sure that those young kids are comfortable with the skills they’ll need in the school year ahead.

“That’s what we want for this community and this district, is to push these children forward and give them the confidence,” said Emily Valentino, who is the camp coordinator and a kindergarten teacher for Maurice W. Downing School. “We always want to set them up for success with the tools they’re going to need for the next school year.”

The children learn reading, writing, math, technology and more — all while having fun doing it. The youngsters put on a play at the end of every summer based off a book with a good message that they enjoyed reading together at camp. This year was “Clark the Shark.”

“It really is adorable because you get to hear them reading with emotion and feeling, and that’s what this program is all about,” Valentino said. She added that her favorite part is watching the 4-6 year olds get enough confidence to be a little sassy with their line delivery and acting.

“Obviously we’re here to help teach these children to read, and improve their reading skills. But our true goal is helping their confidence. We want them to soar. So when you see them being sassy, being emotional through it, it truly shows what we’re doing is working.”

Both Malverne and West Hempstead summer camps come at no cost to the parents, and are focused on continuing the track of learning and engagement that students are on during the school year. This year’s batch of summer camp participants are entering school this September with comfort, confidence, and the skills to succeed.