When it comes to a magical time filled with fun, learning, and adventure, no place on Long Island has consistently provided memorable experiences each and every summer for kids of all ages like Kenwal Day Camp of Melville, New York.
Located at 100 Drexel Avenue, Kenwal Day Camp was originally established in 1957; it was later purchased in 1978 by the Feinstein family, and it’s remained in the family ever since.
Kenwal Day Camp is seasonal, and one of the only day camps on Long Island that runs exclusively in the summer, without any winter, spring, or fall programs.
Howard Feinstein, Kenwal’s Director/Owner, describes it as a traditional co-ed day camp, which means that they don’t focus on any particular sport or activity; instead, variety is the name of the game, with numerous fun and exciting things for children to experience, always making a summer at Kenwal Day Camp one to remember.
“We really represent all the sports and all of the arts here at Kenwal Day Camp,” he said. “We have roped courses, bungee trampolines, swimming pools, and Ninja Warrior courses…it’s a little bit of everything, just to keep the kids engaged and teach them how to socialize and how to get along nicely with other people.”
Kenwal Day Camp employs approximately 400 staff members to look after the 750 children that attend each and every day throughout their summer program, which lasts from June 27th to August 19th. The camp is situated upon a massive 20 acres, and the summer program is constantly growing and evolving based on suggestions from campers, Howard said.
“I just listen to the kids. The kids will tell you what they want,” he said. “Currently, we’re in the middle of constructing a Ninja Warrior-style obstacle course that is being overseen by a man who has actually competed on the television show three times. This is something that children have been requesting a lot and we’re really looking forward to providing it for them.”
In addition to the upcoming Ninja Warrior obstacle course, Howard said that two new water slides have been put in for the upcoming season as well.
Like many businesses on Long Island and nationwide, Kenwal Day Camp experienced numerous hurdles as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. But while business was definitely impacted as a result of lockdown measures instituted by local governments, Howard never lost sight of the fact that one day the pandemic would pass and things would slowly return to normal.
“We never shut down during the pandemic, but we probably dropped down to 30 or 40 percent during 2000, and in 2021 we were probably back up to 75 percent,” he said. “This year, we’re finally back to normal, so that’s awesome. But while the first year of the pandemic was terrible, we never ever thought about packing it in.”
Howard noted that one of the biggest hurdles when welcoming children back during the late days of COVID-19 was encouraging them to socialize normally once again after extended periods of isolation during the school year.
“We would be constantly telling the children, yes, you’re allowed to play with your friends again,” he said. “That was the toughest part. It was sad to see the kids were so apprehensive about it, but it was nice that by week three we were able to turn them around and have them enjoy summer camp again.”
Kenwal Day Camp also provides transportation for kids whose parents are not able to get them there themselves.
“We have buses that will pick children up from their front door and drop them off at their front door,” Howard said. “We have nice air conditioned buses so the kids are comfortable, and while some parents drop their kids off themselves, the majority of campers, we do it for them.”
Meals are prepared on site and provided to all 750 children each and every day, ensuring that they have the energy to keep up with the many programs available to them.
Kenwal Day Camp’s workers are extensively trained, but Howard noted that up to 75 percent of them return every year, so the high experience level of the majority of his staff makes running the camp much smoother.
“Our office staff has been with us forever,” he said. “Our head director has been with us for 47 years, our transportation director has been with us for 47 years, our trip Director started as a camper at age 9, and our group leaders have been with us for an average of 12 to 15 years apiece.”
Hard work has been a staple of Howard’s family, he said; his own mother and father worked him hard, and he works his own son hard with hopes that one day he will be taking over the camp and providing summers of fun for future generations of children.
“I started cleaning toilet bowls when I was 15, and I had my son cleaning toilet bowls when he was 15. He’s now 23, and he’s now managing the entire facility in addition to handling sales and tours,” he said. “So I definitely see my younger son Adam taking over when I get old. I’m not old yet, I’m only 58, but one day I definitely envision my son taking over.”
And for those who are thinking that the extraordinary experiences available at Kenwal Day Camp may be financially out of reach, Howard is quick to point out that his camp’s rates are affordable for the majority of parents on Long Island.
Howard said that he is constantly bombarded with requests to have programming in seasons other than the summer, but he said that Kenwal Day Camp is focused on providing the best possible summer experience each and every year, as opposed to turning a quick buck by expanding the program to other seasons as well.
Having provided many supremely memorable experiences for children each and every summer since 1978 has been an extraordinary experience for Howard, who said that it’s something he looks to continue for many years to come.
“One of the greatest joys for me, especially with this year coming up, is that we’re getting third generation children coming in now. Grandpa went to camp here, dad went to camp here, and now their children are coming to camp here. It’s just an awesome feeling,” he said. “I go out to local restaurants and I see waiters that are 23 years-old and they ask me, ‘hey, are you Uncle Howie? I went to your camp 20 years ago and those were the best days of my life.’ So when you bump into people who have been there over the years, it’s just a great feeling.”
To find out more about Kenwal Day Camp, please call 631-694-3399 or visit https://www.kenwaldaycamp.com.
