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Every summer morning, I watch camp wake up from my window in the Summer Office. Buses get ready to roll out, staff check in, and our amazing maintenance team gets the grounds ready for another big day. But the best part of my day is getting out of that office. From the pools to the Field of Dreams, the Theatre to the Dining Hall, and the bus line every afternoon, I get to see something special happen across our 20+ acres for eight weeks in June, July, and August.

One of my favorite moments this summer happened up in the trees. During the last few weeks of camp, a younger camper asked to climb the new second level of our Senior Adventure Park. He was younger than the age group we typically schedule up there, but it was safe, so we climbed it together.

When we got to the platform, it was time to jump. He was safely attached to the auto belay, but that first step off the edge is still a big one. I talked him through it nice and slow, and then he jumped! When he got back to the ground, he was absolutely thrilled. And so was I!

Here are a few of the things I watch our campers and staff accomplish every summer. And since I know I’m a little biased, I’ll let our parents and staff back me up!

What I see in our campers:

• At the pool: A camper who wouldn’t let go of the wall in week one, swimming to the instructor by August. “My daughter started the summer nervous in the water, but thanks to the patient and encouraging instructors, she gained confidence and by the endwas swimming on her own.” (Shibley Parent)
• In the Theatre and on Clubhouse Field: Kids trying things they swore they’d never try, then asking to do them again. “I’ve watched my children transform into confident swimmers, athletes, and little artists, coming home singing camp songs and fighting over lanyard.” (Shibley Parent)
• In the Dining Hall: A picky eater taking a bite of something new because a friend did. “He’s even trying foods he never would have tried before!” (Shibley Alumna & Parent)
• In Arts & Crafts and Science & Nature: Kids from Long Island, Queens, Brooklyn, and Manhattan who didn’t know each other in June, saving seats for each other at the table by August. “We love that they bring kids together from different areas all over LI, the boroughs and the city.” (Shibley Parent)
• At 4:15: Tired, happy faces in the bus windows. “He came home tired, happy, and gloriously dirty, the trifecta of a childhood summer done right.” (Shibley Parent)

What I see in our staff:

This is the part people don’t always think about. Our Associate Director, Randi, interviews and hires our counselors, and then I get a front-row seat to watch them grow all summer long.

• Our group leaders and head specialists: Many are parents and teachers who bring their own kids to camp and end up loving it as much as their children do. “I thought I was signing up for a summer job, not realizing I was signing up for a lifetime of memories for myself and my child.” (Shibley Staff)
• Our first-year counselors: Nervous at orientation, but by week three, leading their group, settling disagreements, and planning a rainy-day game on the fly. “Every messy craft, every silly song, every new activity attempted: these are the moments that make camp unforgettable.” (Shibley Staff)
• Our swim staff: Cheering louder than the camper when a little one swims on their own for the first time. “I love teaching the little campers who can’t swim yet how to swim.” (Shibley Staff)
• Our returning staff: Staying in touch all year and counting down the days until they come back. “Shibley quickly became a second home to me. I met amazing people that I talk to all year long.” (Shibley Staff)

Some of my favorite staff stories start in our CIT (Counselor-in-Training) program. I think of one young man who grew up as a Shibley camper, then came back as a CIT, spending his summer helping out with groups and rotating around camp to learn what it takes to care for kids. A few summers later, I looked over at the pool and there he was, sitting in the lifeguard chair, keeping our campers safe. Watching a teenager grow into someone parents trust with their children is one of the best parts of my job.

Come see it with me

If you’d like to experience this for yourself, give us a call at (516) 621-8777 to set up a tour. I’d love to show you around and share a few more of these stories in person.

Shibley Shibley!

Heath

The Fall Festival is Saturday, October 24 from 1:00pm to 4:00pm

• Open to Shibley Families & Staff as well as New Families interested in sending children to Shibley Day Camp next summer.
• RSVP REQUIRED: CLICK HERE.
• Please bring a donation for Island Harvest – CLICK FOR DONATION LIST

Highlights:

• Camp & Halloween themed activities for all ages.
• Pumpkin Picking/Decorating, Face Painting, Green Giant, Zip Lines, Hay Rides,  Playgrounds, Crafts, Gaga, Jiu Jitsu, Soccer, Golf Challenge, Pickleball,  Basketball and more!
• Costumes encouraged.
• Additional entertainment and activities provided by our friends and program partners.
• Set GPS for 50 Pool Drive, Roslyn – Please carpool if possible.
• Overflow parking is at the Roslyn Long Island Railroad Station down the block with a shuttle bus to/from 50 Pool Drive.

 

If you’ve spent any time around camp people, you’ve probably heard the phrase “Living 10 for 2.” It means spending ten months of the year counting down to the two months of summer camp. We get it. Nothing compares to a real camp day. But at Shibley, you don’t have to wait ten months to come back. We welcome families to camp nearly every month between summers.

Our next event is Fall Fest on Saturday, October 24 from 1:00–4:00 PM. We hope to see you there!

Why we do it

Honestly? We miss our camp friends, and we know the kids and staff miss each other too. There’s nothing better than watching campers reunite in the middle of winter like they just saw each other yesterday.

Our off-season events are also the best way for families who are thinking about camp to get to know us. Come walk the grounds, meet our directors and staff, watch your kids play, and see what Shibley is all about for yourself. You’ll get a real feel for who we are, and a chance to ask all the questions that matter to your family. You don’t need to be enrolled to join us. New families are always welcome!

These events also do something important for our newest campers. When a child has already explored the grounds, met a few counselors and made a friend or two, that first bus ride in June feels a lot less scary. They know where they’re going, and they know the friendly faces waiting for them when the bus pulls in.

They’re great for parents, too. Off-season events are a chance to feel the camp vibe for yourself, get to know our leadership team, and meet other Shibley parents. Every year, parents discover that old friends, or neighbors they’ve only ever waved to, are part of the Shibley family too.

What’s on the calendar for 2026–27

• Fall Fest – Saturday, October 24, 1:00–4:00 PM (rain date: Sunday, October 25)
  Games, music, refreshments, air bungee, the Green Giant, zip lining, and a chance to enjoy our 20-acre wooded campus with family and friends.
• Holiday BINGO on Zoom – Sunday, December 20 at 5:00 PM
  Grab your cards and play from home for a chance to win Shibley prizes.
• Winter Wonderland – Saturday, January 9
  Our first in-person winter event! Crafts, games and free play, with morning and early afternoon sessions.
• Super Bowl Pre-Party – Sunday, February 7
  Get in the game-day spirit with themed crafts and games, with morning and early afternoon sessions.
• March Madness Pre-Party – Saturday, March 6
  Hoops-themed fun for campers of all ages, with morning and early afternoon sessions.
• Open Play & Picnic – Saturday, April 24
  Pack a picnic and spend the day playing on our beautiful grounds.
• Family Outing to Citi Field – Sunday, April 25
  We reserve a section at the ballpark and seat families with kids of the same age near each other, so campers can meet future groupmates and hang out with our leadership team and summer staff. Let’s go Mets!
• Spring Fest – Saturday, May 22 (rain date: Sunday, May 23)
  One more big day of camp fun before summer arrives.

Come see us!

Whether you’re a returning family or just starting to think about Summer 2027, we’d love to see you at camp this year. Thinking about enrolling? Our Super Early Bird enrollment deadline is December 1, so now is a great time to reach out. Email info@shibleydaycamp.com or call (516) 621-8777 to learn more.

See you at camp, no matter the season!

CLICK FOR MORE ABOUT OFF-SEASON EVENTS AND PARTIES

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

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

One of the most important questions parents ask when touring a camp is,

“What is your camper-to-counselor ratio?”

Your child’s safety is our top priority. We go beyond standard ratios with a layered supervision system, ensuring constant, high-quality care in every area of camp.

Here is a breakdown of the dedicated staff members who create our strong foundation of supervision:

Group Leadership: The Home Base

At the helm of each group is the Group Leader, the adult in charge. They are the eyes and ears of the group and will be your primary contact throughout the summer. Our Group Leaders work with children during the year—they are truly the parent of the group.

In recent summers, we have also added the extra layer of an Assistant Group Leader to many of our groups, providing even more support and leadership.

Counselors: Big Sisters and Big Brothers

Every group is supported by a dedicated team of Counselors who travel from activity to activity with their specific group. These staff members act as the big sisters and big brothers to our campers.

To ensure no child is ever overlooked, each counselor is assigned a smaller Squad of children within their group. This counselor is responsible for making sure their Squad is:

• Safely getting from one activity to the next.
• Properly applied with sunscreen.
• Drinking enough water.
• Packing up at the end of day.
• Cubby maintenance.
• Supported and encouraged throughout the day.

Specialists: Experts in Every Area

When a group arrives at an activity area, they are greeted by the Head Specialist and their team who run that area. Specialists are experts in their field, leading the instruction and organization of each individual activity. Our Group Counselors then give critical support, maintaining the group’s safety and engagement while the Specialist focuses on the activity itself.

Pool Coverage: Safety in Numbers

Supervision is most critical at the pool, and our procedures reflect that. When a group enters the pool area, the coverage is layered for maximum safety:

• Lifeguards: Two lifeguards are always positioned in the chairs (one at the deep end and one at the shallow end) before any campers enter the water.
• In-Water Staff: Before instructional swim begins, an additional 4–6 lifeguards will enter the pool to create a grid of in-water supervision.
• Group Staff Support: Once the lifeguards are positioned, the Group Counselors enter the water with the campers, and the Group Leader and Assistant Group Leader circle the pool deck, overseeing all activity.

Our Group Ratios (Camper to Counselor)

Our dedication to safety is clearly reflected in our low camper-to-counselor ratios:

• Nursery: 4:1
• Kindergarten: 5:1
• First Grade: 6:1
• Second Grade: 7:1
• Third Grade through Eighth Grade: 8:1

By maintaining these ratios and implementing our system of layered supervision, we ensure that every camper has a safe, positive, and well-supervised experience at camp!