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Manitoga's 2007 Summer Nature & Design Camp to Hold Open Day on May 6
Manitoga's 75 acres of woods and streams will once again host a season of summer fun and learning when the annual Manitoga Summer Nature & Design Camp swings into action from July 9 through August 10. Campers ages 5 to 12 will enjoy a mixture of naturefocused hiking, arts and sporting activities on the beautiful grounds of Putnam County's only National Historic Landmark.
Once the property of pioneer Modern designer and environmentalist Russel Wright, Manitoga provides the setting for five separate, full day, oneweek sessions, each with its own theme. This year's sureto be popular sessions include: reptiles & amphibians, water worlds, theater, ecosystems and animals. Campers may enroll in one session or more. Manitoga will hold a Camp Open Day on Sunday, May 6, from 2 until 4pm - raindate is May 20, same time. Open Day offers a chance to meet the staff, learn about the program, see the site and participate in a sample camp activity. Families are welcome to hike the trails before or after and are invited to learn about other Manitoga programs. No reservations are required and both new and returning campers are welcome.
"We're looking forward to our best season yet at Manitoga, said Executive Director Kitty McCullough. "Our theme this season is Nature, Design, Community. We hope local families will visit us and learn about Manitoga's expanding menu of rewarding experiences and programs."
Camp Director Mark Wick holds a Masters in Environmental Education and is a 4th grade teacher at Haldane Elementary in Cold Spring. Mark is eager to share his passion for the outdoors and wildlife in a summer program devoted to it. An avid hiker and backpacker, Mark notes "I use my knowledge of nature to inspire and motivate my students and I'm really looking forward to expanding on this throughout the summer." Animals, reptiles, birds and amphibians will be a special focus of the entire summer this year.
Mark will be joined by an artist-in-residence who will link each week's themes with creative art projects using the outdoor environment. Along with committed and energetic counselors and various guest educators, they look forward to engaging the children in a wide variety of activities, backed by the Manitoga philosophy that promotes teamwork, cooperation and creativity. The program is small by design, with lots of individualized attention.
The Camp is located at Manitoga, and makes ample use of the many trails, ponds, streams and meadows that dot the hillside. Manitoga's trails are part of the Hudson River Greenway Trail System and link to the Appalachian Trail. The Camp brochure and more information about Manitoga's programs can be found online at
www.russelwrightcenter.org,
or by calling Manitoga at 845- 424-3812. Manitoga is located at 584 Route 9D, 2.5 miles north of the Bear Mountain Bridge and 2 miles south of the Route 403 intersection.
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