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NORTH SALEM, N.Y. - Mountain Lakes Day Camp wound up its 2011 season last week, to the sorrow of campers, and even the counselors too.
Although the camp is located in North Salem and run by the North Salem Recreation Department, kids come from all over.
Angela, a ten-year-old from Brewster, said, I like everything here. Other camps are indoors, but here you get to experience the woods and all the natural stuff. Its so beautiful. Today we found some water lilies.
Another ten-year-old, Julia from North Salem, said, Theres always something to do. We never get bored. With all this nature surrounding us, trees and plants, its really pretty.
During their five-week sojourn campers did karate, dance, music and art. They played basketball, baseball, kickball and got to swim in the pool every day. Ten-year-old Sara from Somers added, We get to go fishing and we deal with nature. They teach us what to do if were lost in the forest.
The camp begins annually at the end of June and runs for five weeks, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is open to children from kindergarten age through seventh grade. They are grouped by grade.
Fees are approximately $610 per camper for North Salem residents, $685 for School District residents, and $850 for out-of-district campers. Registration is usually held in late March.
Supervisor Warren Lucas noted that there were 120 camp employees, caring for 360 campers this year. That was a high enrollment, he added, maybe because of the economy. People are not going on vacation.
The bittersweet final day at camp was celebrated with a talent show and an awards ceremony. Awards were presented for Best Dressed, Best Eyes, and many other categories, including Most Likely to Say I didnt do it. Even before the ceremony, many of the campers seemed to know that nine-year-old Alex, of Somers, would be the winner.
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