Staff Spotlight International Edition: Alice Walker

Meet Alice Walker, senior counselor at DPF 4-H!

We are lucky enough to have people from all over the world come to stay with us during the summer at camp. One of the highlights of having international staff is allowing our campers to know about other cultures and countries, as our staff bring many traditions, accents, and walks of life with them to share! Last summer we brought Alice over from England to work with us and she did a phenomenal job! The kids absolutely loved getting to know her inside the cabin as well as in her self-defense classes! We heard so many campers reflecting on how much they loved hanging out with Alice and how well they bonded with her. We're happy to share that she'll be back this summer and we know you can't wait to see her! We touched base with Alice across the pond to talk about her experience last summer and share what she's excited for this year.

How was your experience with us last year as a first time counselor? 

I had such a good first summer at camp; I came without really knowing what to expect and with pretty much no warning before I flew out. The first few weeks were fairly over-whelming; learning the day-to-day routine as I went along whilst having to be in charge of campers who knew a lot more about how things run than I did! Once I’d got into the swing of things time seemed to go so quickly. I made some amazing friends, some of whom I can imagine knowing for a very long time. 

What are some of your favorite memories from last year?

There are definitely too many to list; my friends at home are sick of hearing about camp stories! I remember having some rather hilarious nights, dancing like an idiot during every coed, sock wrestling in self defense classes, and even dressing up as a gangster bride during one unit night. Things that I definitely didn’t imagine I’d be doing when I came to camp.

What are you doing in the off season (school, jobs, hobbies, etc.)?

Back in England I’m at the University of Nottingham (in the middle of the country), studying math and economics in my second year; apart from studying I do regular studenty things (going out with friends, shopping, sleeping etc). I also train in Aikido (martial arts) a couple of times a week, and am the president of the club at my university.

What are you looking forward to most about returning this summer?

Probably getting to see all the other counselors and campers I met last year. I’m looking forward to not being the ‘newby’ so I’ll actually know what I’m doing from week one this time, and know what to expect. I can’t wait to have another amazing summer and have a laugh with good friends.

We can't wait to have you back Alice! 

First Open House Update

We are proud to report that this past weekend's Open house was a huge success! The sun was shining and we had over 20 families come out to visit us and met with over 30 prospective campers! What an exciting time for us! All of our staff members and leadership weekend participants did a fantastic job on the tours speaking with all of the parents and campers that came to visit us. We got reports that they were very helpful and informative while answering questions and showing the facilities. We even treated them to Snowflake's homemade ice cream afterwards for doing such a great job. Way to go guys!

For anyone that missed this open house, never fear! We will be having 3 more open houses this season before camp starts. You can check out the following dates to plan a visit with us:

• Saturday, April 25th
• Saturday, May 16th
• Saturday, June 6th

If you attended our open house and had a positive experience, be sure to tell other families that are thinking about coming! 

4/11/15 Open House

Spring is here and the snow is FINALLY gone!! That means camp is finally going to be accessible to the public! This weekend we will be hosting our first of 4 leadership weekends and open houses before camp starts for the summer. Many of our leadership campers will be heading out to camp Friday night and waking up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed to ready the camp for visiting families! We've gotten a lot of feedback from new families informing us they will be in attendance and we can not WAIT to show you what DPF is all about.

Here are some of the things you can expect from the open house:

• Meeting the camp director and some of our leadership staff: Our camp director will be waiting eagerly to meet each of our visitors in the lodge. You will also have the opportunity to meet Traci Prevost and Brandon Lomuto, the assistant directors for the 2015 summer encampment.
• Literature, pictures, and media: We will have a multitude of brochures available, as well as different articles and flyers that give further insight into our program. We will also be running videos and slide shows to highlight activities at camp. We have many photos from previous summers to view as well!
• A guided tour: We will have a number of older campers, counselors in training, as well as staff that are extremely knowledgeable and friendly that will be able to escort you and your family around the grounds. You will have the opportunity to see the cabins, bathroom facilities, main buildings, and a few of the program areas within the general vicinity of the main area of camp. All of our tour guides will have a wealth of information for you about activities, daily camp life, and their personal testimonies about their own experiences on camp. Where better to get the inside information than right from the kids?
• Enrollment opportunities: We will have hard copies of our application as well as a computer so parents can access our online registration system. If you like what you see, take the opportunity to sign your child up for the summer! Staff will be on hand to assist you through the process if you have any questions or difficulties. You would be able to submit an application, make a payment, or submit forms at this event so be sure to come prepared!
• And of course, refreshments! We will have snacks, juice, water, and coffee available for all visitors. If you have some time before your tour, grab a cookie and a beverage and watch our video! Running low after a walk around the property? Refuel with some snacks before hitting the road! 

Make sure to bring your questions and concerns! We will do our best to answer anything that comes to mind and help you to feel at ease with our program. We hope to be a great fit for your child! There is no need to RSVP to this event, you are able to just show up within the 11-3pm time frame and we will provide the rest! This event will happen rain or shine, but the weather is looking great! Please ensure you wear appropriate and comfortable footwear, as you will be walking through wooded areas. Additionally, it has rained recently and the ground will likely be a bit muddy. Be sure to bring along a sweatshirt, it can get a little breezy! We will have a limited quantity of DPF merchandise available for purchase at this event. 

Camp Address and directions to the property:

Dorothy P. Flint 4-H Camp

3186 Sound Avenue

Riverhead, NY 11901 

- Take the LIE to Exit 71 (Hampton Bays/Calverton).

- Turn left at bottom exit ramp, cross the railroad tracks through light at route 25 and continue north until you reach traffic light at Sound Avenue (approximately 2.9 miles from LIE to Sound Avenue).

- At traffic light turn right and continue east for 2.5 miles until you see the 4-H Camp sign at the West Entrance on the left side of the road.

- Turn left at the sign. Continue to drive into camp and park in the designated visitor parking.

We hope to see you there!!

Program Spotlight: High Ropes Adventure

Are you ready for some high altitude fun? DPF 4-H has it's very own High Ropes adventure course! Comprised of over 7 different elements, this specialized program is one kids keep coming back for. Campers signed up for High Ropes will have over 8 hours of the activity week dedicated to team building exercises and element conquering action. This program takes up 2 of the 4 daily activities a camper will get, taking up a full morning or full afternoon so they can make the most of their time on the course. Our course  includes a 35-foot rock climbing and rappelling wall, zip line, cat walk, and much, much more. We also offer a movable “vertical playpen” that allows a pair of climbers to work together along obstacles to reach the top. This program highlights the importance of team work, communication, and support. Each class spends time problem solving and mastering team building activities in the beginning of the week before entering the course to ensure maximum cohesion. Get a little nervous with heights? Your friends, classmates, and counselors will be there to cheer you on and help you so you can achieve success! Some of our staff have overcome fears of heights themselves and can relate well to the campers that may need a little push. Never fear, they won't leave you hanging (well, only if you enjoy being suspended in the air)!

All of our high ropes staff engage in pre-season training and receive certification for skills and emergency protocols to ensure maximum safety on this course. Children are always required to wear helmets while climbing and are instructed in the appropriate calls and harness information.

There is a special program fee of $100 if you choose to incorporate this activity into your child's stay with us. The double class feature ensures your child gets as much exposure to the program as possible and has the potential to engage in the elements they desire. Our staff work hard to keep a time table that allows for all elements to be tried at least once during the week. There is still space available in each of our sessions for campers to sign up for one of the most thrilling experiences of anyone's summer!

So are you climbing? Climb on!