We’re excited to host SHINE at the Museum again this summer! To learn what’s new this season, we chatted with the camp’s founder and director, Aaron Goldschmidt. Check out what he had to say about what campers can expect, field trips they’ve lined up, and the precautions they’re taking to ensure the health and safety of campers and families alike!
We’re delighted to host SHINE for another summer! For those unfamiliar with your camp, what makes it such a great experience?
Part of what makes it so special is the fact that our Summer Camps are a true labor of love for me, and I think that is felt in everything we do. We are also a very small camp, so kids get a lot of individual attention and really develop great friendships and strong bonds. There are planned activities, but we also like to get to know our summer community and create programming based on their individual interests. On top of that, we bring in local artists, performers, and artisans to provide weekly workshops, have an amazing partnership with SoFo that allows us to use their facility and grounds on once a week, take a weekly field trip to iconic East End locations, and have the most amazing host properties!
What’s a typical camp day like?
I think camp needs to be a little less structured than regular programing and allow kids to really feel like they are making choices in how they want to spend their day. I like to combine structured activities throughout each day with opportunities for free choice…whether it’s strolling around LongHouse, playing a round of mini-golf here at CMEE, making a friendship bracelet, or starting up a game of tag. You can be sure that each morning starts with free choice followed by a camp-wide “morning meeting.” This part of the day ends up being one of my favorites. Not only does it lay the groundwork for what’s on the agenda that day, but allows us to have some fascinating conversations. We are then on to whatever weekly activity is scheduled for that day and location. But one thing happens daily…art, crafting, and creative exploration as inspired by the beauty of the East End.
Can you share one of your favorite camp experiences?
I only went to an overnight camp once. It was there I realized I had a taste for a little adventure. I decided to go out on a sunrise sailboat ride around the lake and learn the basics of sailing. It was windy, the water was choppy, and I had never been on a sailboat before. Long story short, I fell out of the boat. The (I’m sure teenage) captain had to turn the boat around and I had to be hoisted onto it by all the kids who didn’t fall out.
Shine campers get to visit different East End locations every Thursday. Where are you headed this summer?
I think our Field Trip days are my favorite because we really get to explore and experience some amazing places here on the East End. I’m always looking to add new places and this year will be the first we do a Southampton walking tour day. On top of that, we will be spending a day at Nova’s Ark, the Wölffer Vineyards and Stables, The Madoo Conservancy, Amber Waves Farm, and going on walking tours of Sag Harbor, East Hampton, and Bridgehampton, and Amagansett.
What precautions are you taking to ensure that campers and their families remain safe during the pandemic?
We were fortunate to be able to run some programing last summer and had to adopt stringent protocols. We will be following those and the protocols of our hosting facilities again this year. That includes limited numbers, daily temperature checks, outdoor programing, cleaning, sanitizing, and lots of hand washing, masks on adults, a vaccinated staff, and plenty of communication. Safety is our number one priority and always has been, even before the pandemic.