Popular songs, from “See You in September” to “June, July and August” and Alice Cooper’s raucous “School’s Out,” have always celebrated the notion that schools are closed for the summer.  Parents learn to adjust their schedules, those yellow buses all but disappear, and before long, houses are ringing with choruses of “I’m bored!”  But that’s all cliché.  At RCDS, anyway.  Our campus remains a lively place, and not only because faculty and staff need at least part of those months to prepare for the year to come.  It seems that every year, when summer rolls around, we hardly skip a beat.  And in 2010 we’re upping the ante.

Summer Studios, our day camp rooted in the arts and nature, debuts in July.  This collaboration with the Nature Place Day Camp will feature four weeks devoted to visual arts, music, drama, the art of food — and the ways in which all of these are entwined with the natural world that surrounds us.  Add in storytelling, photography, organic gardening, field trips and a few surprises — and no one is going to be bored.  For children entering kindergarten through eighth grade.

Billy Roues’ Blues Rock Workshop camp returns for its fourth summer at RCDS,  offering students the opportunity to learn to play as a band, solo behind a singer and accompany each other in a jam.  Billy, a published songwriter and seasoned performer, teaches guitar and songwriting at RCDS, has the students perform their own original compositions at RCDS’s Blue Light Cafés, and gives private lessons in guitar and bass.

The New York Giants Youth Football Camp is a week-long, full-day camp for children ages 6-14. The non-contact camp offers comprehensive instruction in football skills, led by a staff of professional educators and heroes from the NFL’s New York Giants.  Sure, the Giants missed the playoffs this year, but that doesn’t mean aspiring gridiron players can’t learn a whole lot from these professional athletes.  Just standing next to one of them is enough to give you butterflies.

Rockland Country Day School is pleased to announce the return of the Rockland Country Day Camp under the guidance and care of Susan Torreano.  The camp begins, when school ends and continues until the “traditional” camp season commences.

Learn the secret of Juggling, the art of Equilibristics, dance on a Rolling Globe, find your grace on the Tightwire, learn classic clown routines and how to build Human Pyramids at Circus Camp. All camp sessions taught by Mr. Amazing (aka, Carlo Pellegrini), Circus Director of Rockland County’s own Amazing Grace CIRCUS!, former Ringmaster and Clown with Big Apple Circus and lead dancer with Nikolais Dance Theater. AGC! helps children learn the art of C.I.R.C.U.S. in their lives and education:  Confidence. Imagination. Respect. Cooperation. Understanding. Success.

An Invitation to Write is designed to encourage self-expression, build skills and support the confidence of young writers. Curiosity, contemplation and inquiry will be encouraged as they explore a variety of genres and interests. Techniques that provide a foundation for future writing will include: pre-writing and planning, observation, brainstorming and making connections. Students will draw upon personal experience, nature, imagination and memory to write poems, narratives, and journal entries. Music, photography and nature will serve as inspiration for the writing process.

This summer USA Chess is offering a fun and entertaining chess camp at Rockland Country Day School.  Children ages 5-16, from beginner to advanced are all welcome! USA Chess is the largest and premier chess camp organizer for children in the United States. Their staff is comprised of the finest children’s chess instructors in North America.

Video Game Creation starts with basic commands and campers ages 8-15 will be taught, in a step-by-step progression how to build a game that they design. Camp begins with an introduction to Game Maker software including adding rooms, building walls, adding backgrounds, warping to new levels, music, sound effects and many other great techniques.

3D Animation Creation involves using Scratch software developed by MIT, participants, ages 8-15, are guided step-by-step through the basics while creating their own 3D animated story, with a focus on fun.

We are currently developing several other summer programs.  Please check this space for updates.