Campers are Flipping for Chelsea Piers

By Leslie Yager

Summer camps are in session at Chelsea Piers in Stamford and, you name it, a kid can specialize in it or sample it.

Summer at Chelsea Piers takes on a different vibe than during the school year when parents populate the comfy upholstered armchairs and have the option of watching their children or using the wifi to catch up on work.

Come fall, the vast carpeted expanses that connect public areas between field house, gymnastics area, pool and squash courts and ice rinks, are flooded with kids stretched out to do homework before or after lessons, games or practice.

But summer is a different story. Each morning from June through August, a stream of SUVs drop off energetic children and Chelsea Piers and young athletes make friends and bond over their love of sports.

Screen Shot 2014-07-16 at 7.33.50 AMEveryone is accommodated, from “little athletes” to elite competitors. Kids can sign up for one or more weeks and sessions run from June 16 through August 29.

Even the youngest campers have a host of options. The Little Athletes half day camps for ages 3-6 have a choice of gymnastics, ice skating, hockey, lacrosse, swimming or tennis. There is also a multi-sport option.

According to marketing director Erica Schietinger, the lacrosse camp is a big draw for Greenwich kids. Lacrosse Director, Scott Bulkley, who is also the Greenwich High School boys varsity lacrosse head coach, works in small groups with campers and even makes time for occasional silliness.

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In the cool field house, Chelsea Piers campers enjoy a laugh with instructor Scott Bulkley, the Greenwich High School lacrosse coach. Credit: Leslie Yager

Screen Shot 2014-07-16 at 7.48.00 AMFor ages 5-18, there is a full day Intensive Sports Camp option with choice of basketball, gymnastics, hockey, lacrosse, soccer, squash, synchro-skating, tennis or volleyball. Also there is all manner of multi-sport or dual sport camps, Specialty and Elite camps accommodating a variety of ages.

Screen Shot 2014-07-16 at 7.48.58 AMAll summer, both of Chelsea Piers ice rinks are full of campers transported from the heavy muggy air outdoors to crisp energizing rink temps.

The aquatics center has an Olympic size pool, warm-water instructional and exercise pool and 6,000 square ft Splash Zone with three slides and a water play area for toddlers.

Screen Shot 2014-07-15 at 10.48.54 PMOn a typical day of summer camp at Chelsea Piers, the vast gymnastics training center, a full 15,000-square foot space with start of the art equipment, deep foam pits an in-ground trampolines, teemed with gymnasts of all ages and abilities.

It’s possible to sign up for a week of gymnastics camp at a time and even combine gymnastics with ice skating or swimming camp.

There is a low camper to instructor ratio and campers rotate through appropriate men’s and women’s Olympic gymnastic events.

Campers are divided into groups by age and skill level.

Rotations include tumble tracks, in-ground trampolines and deep foam pits. Staff work with small groups to identify individual strengths, teach proper technique and help campers reach their highest potential.

Screen Shot 2014-07-16 at 7.47.23 AM417,000 sq. ft of Air Conditioned Facilities Accommodate Members & Campers Alike

With the vast facilities, members come and go for lessons and workouts without campers being in the way. There is a full 417,000 square feet of space and that doesn’t even include the new 65,000 sq. ft. athletic center due to open in December 2014.

IMG_8003Related Story:

Construction Has Begun on Chelsea Pier’s New Fitness Center

Chelsea Piers is located at 1 Blachley Rd in Stamford, a block from exit 9 on I-95.
Tel (203) 989-1000
Camp Hotline (203) 989-1100

A camp overview is available online.

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