Students explore creativity at CAPE Camp

Children from East Meadow and the surrounding areas get the chance every year to choose what classes they want to take at the Creative Arts Program of East Meadow, the school district’s year-round program and summer camp.

Summer CAPE is a program where children ages 4 through twelve go to Mcvey Elementary School and participate in three classes: all of which are their choice. One hour, a child can learn the piano, the next, they can be playing with chocolate play dough and, in the last hour, they can play with their American Girl Doll.

“We get to do these crafts and American Girl, we get to do a different cupcake every day,” said Ave Sinatra, a student who was making a cupcake in the class, “Cupcake Wars”, which is meant for children ages six to seven.

“It’s like really fun! All the crafts are so fun that my mom just loves it all!” added student Kaily Ramnarine.

High school students are hired as paid aids to the younger students. Their jobs consist of walking the campers to class and assisting the teachers of the classes. Most of the 110 high school students working this summer were former campers, said the CAPE Director Linda Lynch.

This year, approximately 750 children were enrolled in CAPE, participating in athletic classes, computer and education classes, food classes and performing arts. Specific classes, such as karate, gymnastics, robotics, guitar and so much more, are also offered.

“The kids love it! We have many of the kids repeat from when their four all the way up to sixth grade,” Lynch said.

This year, students attended the camp on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings.

Summer CAPE came to a close on July 27, during which students put on a show for their parents. Shows included dancing, singing, cheerleading, robotics, zumba, computer and rocket launches. When the campers left, the high school students had their own activity.

Camp tuition is $385 dollars, which covers each class and a camp t-shirt. CAPE also offers options to take individual classes, which is $145 dollars for a single, one-month long class. CAPE also offers fall and spring programs.

“The camp is for the campers,” Lynch said. “It’s a place for them to meet kids from the community, try classes that they otherwise might not get an opportunity to do because it ranges from not only sports but also cooking classes and arts and crafts. It gives kids an opportunity to really try out classes before parents are committing to long term programs.”