Greetings Parents,

Welcome to Greene Towne’s 2026 Summer Camp blog series.

As Summer Camp began, the children were excited to reunite with classmates and make new friends. They joined their new cohorts, with our school day toddlers led by Miss Veny and our school day primary classrooms guided by Mr. Patrick and Mrs. Buonadonna.

Our summer schedule mirrors many aspects of the school year, providing children with the consistency of their familiar Montessori routine while adding plenty of seasonal fun. The campers enjoy special activities including soccer, gymnastics and art. They enjoy the fresh summer air during recess while cooling off with water play, and they refresh themselves with popsicles, fresh melon and cool water.

Here are some highlights from our first two weeks of Summer Camp!

Mad Science

The Primary children enjoyed a visit from our friends at Mad Science of New Jersey. During their workshop, “Digging for Dinos,” the children and scientists discussed the differences between carnivorous and herbivorous dinosaurs. Each child created a cast from a dinosaur tooth mold to take home as a special keepsake.

Soccer Shots

The children were introduced to dribbling, control, and balancing while learning from their coach. They also reviewed the three rules of Soccer Shots:

• Listen to your coach
• Believe in yourself
• Try your best

The children had a wonderful time practicing their skills, especially scoring goals, while building confidence. Also cheering each other on in the spirit of teamwork and camaraderie.

Toddler Art

Our toddlers explored the concept of tints using butterflies as a nod to our nature theme. Through this project, the toddlers explored how to create tints by mixing colors with white paint. They began by choosing a base color and applying it to a butterfly-shaped paper. The same color was then mixed with white paint twice, increasing the amount of white each time. This process allowed the children to observe how colors gradually become lighter, creating a beautiful tint effect across the series of butterflies.

Primary Art

The Clay Studio returned to work with our Primary children. Following our nature theme, the children participated in a collaborative process art project. Each child received several balls of clay to create an impression and then added their piece to a giant clay sea turtle. Their creations included “stones,” “barnacles,” “hats,” “pancakes” and many other imaginative additions. Together, they transformed the turtle into a beautifully textured work of art completely covered in clay.

Gymnastics

National Kids Gym joined us for the first time this session, and it was a huge hit! The children eagerly removed their shoes and got right to work. They began with stretching exercises before navigating an exciting obstacle course that included climbing ramps, walking across balance beams, and jumping on a trampoline.

Gentle Reminders

Lunch Reminder: We are a nut-free program. We thank you for excluding nuts, nut butters and nut based milk from packed lunches. On another note, if you plan to pack grapes in your child’s lunch, please remember to cut them in half, as whole grapes can pose a choking hazard.

Please label everything—every sock, water bottle, swimsuit, and towel. This helps us quickly return misplaced items to their owners.

Arrive early whenever possible. Many of our special presentations begin as early as 8:30 a.m., and we don’t want your child to miss out on any of the fun and learning opportunities.

Shoes on Fridays: Every child participates in Soccer on Fridays. Closed-toe athletic shoes are recommended, as sandals and open-toed shoes are not ideal for kicking balls and playing safely.

Session One has come to a close! Stay tuned for our next blog post as we begin exploring Music as the theme for Session Two of Summer Camp.

Stay cool!

Best regards,

Cherise