The Shibley Glossary – Part 2 – Special Events

A Closer Look at the Signature Shibley Special Events

The Shibley Day Camp 2026 calendar is packed, but certain events stand out as defining moments of the summer. These are the days where camp is full of even more energy, creativity, and tradition than other days at camp.

Here’s a closer look at some of the most anticipated highlights.

Green Friday at Shibley! 

Show your camp spirit by wearing all the creative green flair you’ve got—think bright, bold, and fun! Throughout the day, we celebrate our Shibley Green Values, with special shout-outs to campers and counselors who lead by example.

Shibley Olympics
The biggest and most exciting week of camp! Shibley transforms into an all-out team competition as campers and counselors are divided into Green and White. Throughout the week, teams rotate through organized challenges, games, and competitions, all while showing off team colors, chants, and nonstop camp spirit. Every single camper and counselor is part of the action, making it an unforgettable, high-energy experience from start to finish.

Carnival Day
Camp transforms into a full carnival experience with inflatable rides, interactive games, music, and themed stations. Campers rotate through activities and enjoy a high energy atmosphere. Booths are run by senior campers, adding to the excitement, along with many interactive stations throughout camp. Of course, no carnival is complete without fun treats. Campers can enjoy snacks like cotton candy and sno cones along the way!

Lip Sync Battle Finals
Get ready for one of the most electric events of the summer! Campers hit the stage with epic lip sync routines to their favorite songs, performing in front of the entire Senior Camp. The finals bring the best of the best together for a crowd cheering showdown packed with music, costumes, and big stage moments. It’s an instant camp favorite that brings groups together right from the start whether you’re performing, dancing along, or cheering your friends on!

Shibley 500 (3rd & 4th Grade)
A beloved Shibley tradition, the Shibley 500 is a race-themed event just for 3rd and 4th graders. Campers design, decorate, and name their own wooden race cars, getting them ready for the big day. When it’s time to race, cars zoom down the famous Senior Camp hill while the excitement builds. The event is announced by Senior Camp group leaders, adding to the energy and fun, as campers cheer each other on in this fast-paced, can’t-miss competition.

Shibley Fashion Week
A creative, style-filled event where campers dive into fashion, design, and self-expression. In collaboration with My Style Camp, custom creations brought to life with their individual style, colors, and decorations. The week builds to fun styling moments and group presentations, with coordinated outfits and plenty of creativity on display.

SCOPE: Shibley Gives Back
A meaningful, camp-wide initiative where campers take part in activities centered around giving and community support. Shibley partners with SCOPE, helping provide children with the opportunity to attend camp. Through a camp-wide event, our campers see how their participation contributes to something bigger extending beyond our camp “walls.” It’s a powerful way our Green Values come to life in a real and tangible way.

Sleepaway Week: “Club Getaway” (Grades 3–8, Optional)
An unforgettable experience where campers head to a sleepaway camp setting with their Shibley friends and counselors. During this special week, campers get a true taste of sleepaway life—spending extended time together, building deeper connections, and enjoying unique activities and events designed just for Club Getaway. It’s a full week of bonding, fun, and making memories with their favorite people from Shibley.

Solid Gold Show
A long-standing Shibley tradition, our dance recital Solid Gold is a highlight of the summer. Campers spend weeks practicing and rehearsing their routines, building toward this special performance. Each year features a unique theme that ties all of the dances together, creating a cohesive and exciting show. Families are invited to attend and enjoy the energy, creativity, and hard work brought to life on stage.

READ THE SHIBLEY GLOSSARY – PART 1

The Shibley Glossary – Part 1

The Shibley Glossary

At Shibley Day Camp, sometimes we use our own language! Here is a glossary of words you might hear around camp or read in camp communications.

  • “Shibley Shibley”
    • This is our “Aloha” – it can mean: “Hello”, “Goodbye”, “Good Morning”, “Have a good night” or “See you tomorrow”.
  • “Happy GREEN Friday” or “Have a GREEN Friday”
    • This is our way of reminding everyone in our community to show or recognize Generosity, Respect, Endurance, Empathy & Nurture.
  • Camp Grade
    • The grade a child will be in after camp ends.
  • Junior Camp
    • Camp Grade = Nursery, Pre-K, Kindergarten or 1st grade.
    • Groups are broken up by age and grade.
    • Group names will start with Nursery (N) for Nursery and Pre-K and Junior Girls (JG) or Junior Boys (JB) for Kindergarten and 1st grade groups.
  • Senior Camp
    • Camp Grade = 2nd through 8th grades.
    • Groups are broken up by camp grade.
    • Group names will start with Senior Girls (SG) or Senior Boys (SB).
  • Super Seniors
    • A subset of senior camp.
    • Camp Grade = 5th through 8th grades.
    • Group names will start with Super Senior Girls or Super Senior Boys.
  • Sleepaway Week
    • This is an optional one week trip for 3rd to 8th grade campers to Club Getaway in Kent, Connecticut. 
    • Campers stay overnight in bunks with Shibley counselors. Shibley directors, lifeguards and health center staff accompany the campers as well.
  • CIT or Counselor in Training
    • An extension of senior camp.
    • 9th & 10th grade campers who assist children under the supervision of trained counselors.
    • CITs also participate in activities with their peers each day at camp.

  • Squad
    • A smaller set of campers within the group generally supervised by one specific staff member in the group.
  • GL or Group Leader
    • The adult in charge of one specific group at camp.
  • AGL or Assistant Group Leader
    • A second adult responsible for supporting the Group Leader, who is training to assume a Group Leader role in the future.
  • Counselor
    • Staff member assigned to oversee a squad of campers within their group.

  • Specialist
    • Staff member assigned to work in one activity area in camp – for example: Arts & Crafts, Adventure Park, Junior Drama, Athletics, etc.
  • Instructional Swim
    • All campers participate in one daily 30-minute period of American Red Cross swim instruction taught by Water Safety Instructors and supervised by Nassau County certified lifeguards.
  • Free Swim or Recreational Swim
    • All campers participate in one daily 30-minute (junior camp) or 45-minute (senior camp) swim period that is purely for enjoying the pools with friends.
    • Pools are overstaffed and supervised by lifeguards, group leaders and counselors.
  • AirGoBeach
    • A group will be assigned to Air Bungee, Go Karts and Beach Volleyball at the same time so that all campers are active. This is our top priority when it comes to programming at Shibley.
    • These activities are all next to each other making supervision and organization simple.
  • Options
    • Senior campers have “Options” in their schedule as they progress through senior camp and become super seniors so they can do more of what they love or try something new if they feel so inclined.
  • Leagues
    • Senior campers participate in intramural style athletic “Leagues” intentionally programmed to include and encourage campers with all levels of athletic ability.
  • Tournaments
    • In Senior Camp we have a few traditional tournaments that we hold at the end of the summer.
      • 2nd Grade – World Cup – Soccer
      • 3rd & 4th Grade Girls – Jeannie Cup – Newcomb
      • 3rd & 4th Grade Boys – Goose Cup – Field Hockey
      • Super Senior Girls – Kulchin Bowl – Flag Football
      • Super Senior Boys – World Series – Softball
    • Our oldest campers in Junior Camp will participate in a tournament called the “Kickball Cup” to get them started.
  • Special Events:
    • Additional activities, dress up days and events that take place in addition to the daily program of awesome activities i.e.,
      • Carnival Day, GREEN Fridays, Olympics, Show Week, dress up days and more!

READ THE SHIBLEY GLOSSARY – PART 2 – SPECIAL EVENTS