Issue link: http://hvparent.uberflip.com/i/455311
6 Hudson Valley Parent ■ February 2015 Publisher TERRIE GOLDSTEIN tgoldstein@excitingread.com Editor KATY WEBER kweber@excitingread.com Executive Assistant to the Publisher BRITTANY L. MORGAN bmorgan@excitingread.com Media Advisors KIMBERLY MAYER kmayer@excitingread.com ELIZABETH GRACE egrace@excitingread.com Community Liaison PAMELA PERRY pperry@excitingread.com Web Ad Designer LESLIE CORTES Layout & Design ENGLE PRINTING also publishers of MY TripPlanner.com family MY TripPlanner.com family baby The HUDSON VALLEY G U I D E Hudson Valley Parent is published monthly by: The Professional Image Marketing & Public Relations Inc. 174 South Street • Newburgh, NY 12550 Phone: 845-562-3606 • Fax: 845-562-3681 hvparent.com This publication is copyrighted by the publisher. Reproduction without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Hudson Valley Parent welcomes submissions, although we cannot accept responsibility for work submitted nor guarantee publication. A MEMBER OF I have such fond mem- ories of summer camp as a child. My family could rarely afford it, but there were a few years when my parents scraped together enough to send me to overnight camp. Those memories have stayed with me for a lifetime: horseback riding, swimming, camp songs at the rec hall, boondoggle lanyards — and, of course, making friends and idoliz- ing the teenaged counselors. My husband, on the other hand, has very different memories of sum- mer camp. As a child, he loathed the time away from his home and his family, and begged his parents to never send him again. He had a hard time making new friends, and felt adrift and alone in a camp environment. Naturally, he and I differ as to whether we'll send our own kids to overnight camp when the time comes (they're still too young). We have a few years to cross that partic- ular bridge — and we'll follow their lead and listen closely to their needs and desires. For now, however, we always make room in the budget for spe- cialized, outdoor day camps for both kids. Even at this relatively young age, I notice a tangible difference in both of my kids when they're in summer camp. They are a little wild- er, a little braver, and a lot happier. They come home filthy, exhausted, filled with stories of the day and their imagination is on permanent overdrive. They're more indepen- dent and, best of all, fall exhausted into their beds at night. According to Peter Scales, Ph.D., a noted educator, author, and psychologist, "Camp is one of the few institu- tions where young people can experience and satisfy their need for physical ac- tivity, creative expression and true participation in a community environment. Most schools don't satisfy all these needs." Make sure to check out our annual summer camp guide on page 10 to find the local camp that's right for your child. How do you know which camp is the right fit for your child, or if sum- mer camp is even the right option at all? Read "Happy campers" on page 17, a comprehensive guide to finding the right summer experience for your child. Does your child have special needs? Then perhaps a specialized camp is the best option for your family. Check out "A chance to shine" on page 22 to find out more about the opportunities for your child with special needs to gain independence and get a break from routine. Bounce! Slide! Skate! Wondering where to take the kids on the next cold or rainy day when playgrounds just aren't an option? Look no more! We've rounded up a list of the best indoor playspots in the Hudson Valley, and offer our top 3 picks on page 26. Make sure to visit our website for the complete list of the top indoor playspots in the Hudson Valley at hvparent.com/top-lists. A big thank you to all of our read- ers who shared your favorite play spaces and submitted photos of your adorable kids having a ball indoors! Into the woods KATY WEBER Editor's Journal