By Davy James, Staff Writer
As the summer months wind to a close, activities in the township’s summer camp program still are in full swing as campers fill every available space in the Community Center at Woodlot Park with games and activities.
With three two-week sessions throughout the summer, the staff at the camp try to pack as much fun and variety as possible into each session.
”We have a lot of old-school activities for the kids,” said camp Director Marybeth Miele. “This is about being outside, playing and just being kids. I think our counselors enjoy the activities as much as the kids do.”
Each session costs $175 for residents so the township camp program doesn’t come with the same frills as more expensive camps, which leaves the staff to rely on imagination and creativity to give each attendee a memorable experience.
”We don’t have the same resources as other camps so we rely on each other,” Ms. Miele said. “A lot of the special stuff we do comes from the counselors.”
Ms. Miele said the camp is all about getting kids away from video games and computers and into the outdoors. She said the strength of the camp lies in the mix of personalities amongst the counselors.
”We have an eclectic staff that gives every kid someone to relate to,” she said. “Our staff is as diverse as our kids. Some kids love sports, but some kids enjoy things like art and nature so there’s no pressure here to be athletic.”
During the late morning last week, campers were gearing up to participate in color wars. Kids were engaged in activities in almost every room, some working on team-building exercises; others working on dance moves for an upcoming talent show. Ms. Miele said the counselors are able to make strong connections with the campers because almost every counselor was a former camper in the township program.
”We have a balance of work and fun that carries over,” Ms. Miele said. “We’re like a little family.”
Counselor and former camper Becca Dahl, 19, of Dayton, said she wanted to be a counselor at the camp because of the experiences she had as a camper.
”This place is all about how each counselor gets to know each camper,” Ms. Dahl said. “Here there are more personal connections. We don’t have a pool so we have to be creative with what we do have. The counselors get into it and bring a lot of energy here.”
Young campers returning to the program said they look forward to coming back all winter to see their friends and enjoy the experiences.
”I like it here because I can hang out with my friends and the counselors,” said Justin Palyvoda, 11, of Monmouth Junction. “I started at this camp when I was in the third grade. Every year I look forward to having a better time than I did the year before. I want to become a counselor in training when I get older.”
Other campers said the time they spend with the counselors is what they look forward to the most each year.
”The counselors are all really funny,” said Jillian Carbone, 8, of Kendall Park. “Everyday before I come here I like to think about all the great things we’re going to do. It’s really fun.”
The camp focuses on a different theme each day to provide the campers with variety. Themes include Hollywood Day, Disney Day and of course, the traditional Color Wars, which breaks the campers into teams to compete in various activities. Camp staff said the whole idea is to give each child an experience to remember.
”We focus on what each kid enjoys, and they gain a sense of family with us,” said counselor Joe Meyers, 18, of Monmouth Junction. “This is good work experience, but it doesn’t seem like work because it’s so much fun. We just enjoy seeing the kids smile.”
Ms. Miele said the camp sees so many campers return each year and go on to become counselors because of the personal connections each kid takes away at the end of each session.
”They take away a lot of memories, and I think they look forward to coming back each summer as much as I do,” she said. “They think about what they did, the fun they had and seeing their friends, and that’s why so many keep coming back.”
For more information on the township’s recreation programs, visit www.twp.south-brunswick.nj.us and click on the recreation tab.

