Summerfare 2016 Packs the Student Center at Greenwich High School

Bravo to the Greenwich High School PTA who sponsored Summerfare 2016 on Wednesday night. Shout-out to Lu Ann Schiff and Mary Childs for co-chairing the event and all the student volunteers. Parents and their children streamed into the student center at Greenwich High School Wednesday night from the get-go.

Student volunteers in bright yellow t-shirts greeted families as they streamed into the student center, and handed out a list of about 100 exhibitors.

Exhibitors who shared literature and answered questions about their camps, sports programs, enrichment activities, internships and even study abroad programs.

From Zaniac, Laura Finn (Greenwich campus manager) and George Ridgway (GHS senior/Zaniac instructor) were on hand to talk about full day and half day camps beginning June 6. Programs nurture children K-8 and their love of math and technology.

If your child is interested in Robotics, game design, 3D printing, computer programming or Minecraft, and want to explore right here in Greenwich, Zaniac at 644 West Putnam Ave might be the answer.

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If you’re interested in rowing this summer, consider Greenwich Crew summer rowing programs. If you’re a beginner you can learn the sport of rowing and  in a fun, friendly active environment.

With summer camps running June 27-Aug 5 campers can choose a two week camp in an morning or afternoon session. The camp is targeted to 12-18 year olds (Children entering 6th grade are eligible). There is also Competitive Development Team option for to rowers with at least a year of competitive rowing. Third, there is a High Performance Team option for rowers with coaches’ recommendation.

The Greenwich Crew boathouse features a workout room with 45 Cocept2 Indoor Rowers, stationary bikes and fa full set of weights to train with. They have high definition video review for technical feedback, a training barge, rowing dock and a fleet of 60 state of the art rowing shells.

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From writing the next great app to filming tomorrow’s Best Picture, Summer Tech has a variety of courses, all held at SUNY Purchase.

Campers age 8-17, can explore the world of code, animation, web development, film, and more. Summer Tech has a 3:1 camper to staff ratio, curriculum featuring java, Python, HTML, CSS, Film Editing, Animation and more.

The camp includes  outdoor recreation, gaming and tournaments, and features a home grown staff. The camp is family operated with 15 years of experience. Register by Jan 31 and get $100 off per week. Questions? Tel. 866-814-TECH (8324) or email [email protected]!

Are you interested in immersing yourself in a different culture and staying with a host family? Are you interested in learning a new language? Immersion is the best way to learn.

Studying abroad is a transformational experience. (Read our recent interview with Sydney Heath just after her return from Argentina: From Argentina with Love: Greenwich Academy Junior is Transformed by AFS Experience)

AFS has one of the largest networks of its kind and is able to provide support to participants 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by both experienced staff and trained local volunteers in the host community.

Jessica Greenstein, Community Developer for AFS-USA Inc. was on hand to answer questions about the intercultural exchange program that has been around for over 65 years. Contact: [email protected]

Looking for a traditional camp? Consider the camps of the Aloha Foundation. At Aloha Camps, children have a choice of attending three-1/2 weeks or a full seven-week experience. Students wear simple uniforms of white t-shirts and green shorts and sleep in spacious tents on wooden platforms rustic cabins.

On the water, campers enjoy motor-and fuel-free canoeing, kayaking, rowing and sailing. The camp is free of cell phones, computer games, CD or video cameras, or other electronics or devices that distract from the camp experience.

Aloha Camps, for girls 12-17, have devoted more than 25 years to developing and refining a comprehensive program of staff training and camper guidance called Success counseling, which focuses on self evaluation and creative problem solving rather than ineffective reactions to personal problems such as blaming,shaming, excuse-making or inappropriate anger.

ARCC has both summer and Gap programs between high school and college.

For over 30 years ARCC has offered summer travel programs for teens, and currently offer 18 sum mer programs on six continents.

On an ARCC Gap Semester, is life changing. It is an opportunity to reach out and experience both life and the world from a different perspective. ARCC offers gap semesters between high school and college in Asia, India & Nepal, Latin America and Africa. Each program is an academic semester (3 months) in a small group setting with a defined curriculum and leadership development component. College credit is available. The ARCC Gap year programs are an opportunity to live, work, learn and explore in some of the greatest classrooms on earth. ARCC Summer programs take place between June and August and last from two to five weeks.

For 33 years ARCC has offered summers of meaningful service, with over 20,000 having participated in six continents. They have an impeccable safety record and send students to Places like Peru, Cuba, Australia, Costa Rica and California.