Peekskill Day Camp Enjoys Summer of Games, Trips...And Beyonce

Peekskill Day Camp campers are having a summer to remember despite the brutally high temps.

Led by high-school age counselors, the children have been enjoying trips to the Depew Park pool, as well as indoor activities such as bowling and shows at Peekskill’s Paramount Theater. They have been making crafts and playing games at Woodside School, where the camp is held from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day. And they have been preparing for their annual camp parade, when they will march through Peekskill and perform a "flash mob" dance to the song “Move Your Body” by Beyonce.

Camp director Jim Tosto, who runs the camp with the help of his wife and good friends, says the day camp attracted about 225 kids ages 3 - 11 this year.  Though there are several other camps to choose from in town, the Peekskill Day Camp remains a top choice for parents who are looking for an affordable all-day option.  There were two three-week sessions held this year with a cost of $225 per session.

"The city Peekskill tries to keep the prices low and they're always scrounging around looking for scholarship money and ask for donations so that they can defray the costs," Tosto said. "We had a pretty good fund this year, so people could pay $125 dollars instead of $225. For working families, it's a big help."

Tosto, who has been running the camp for 23 years now, says that as the camp experience continues to improve as the years go by, "We get better with our activities and we are a bit more organized."

"We have tried different things and now we know what works...When the kids go home and they say [they're tired and they had fun], then we have done our jobs."

The final day of camp is August 5. That's when the children will march through Peekskill during a parade with the theme "The Games People Play." The campers will wear costumes based on different board games at the parade, which kicks off at 10:30 a.m. At around 10:35, the children will be passing by the Peekskill Chamber of Commerce on Division Street, where they will stop to do their group dance to the Beyonce Knowles'  fitness anthem "Move Your Body."

After the parade, they will have a pizza party at the riverfront park, ending another exciting year at day camp. And for camp regulars, the fun resumes next year.

To learn more about the Peekskill Day Camp, call 914-734-7275 or visit this webpage.