World of Discovery

Why Outdoor Play is Crucial for Child Development

Why Outdoor Play is Crucial for Child Development

At World of Discovery Day Camp in Queens, we believe that outdoor play is an essential part of every child’s growth and development. Whether children are running around in the fresh air, exploring nature, or engaging in creative outdoor games, outdoor play offers a multitude of benefits that can’t be replicated indoors. In this blog, we’ll explore why outdoor play is so crucial for child development, and how World of Discovery Day Camp provides a safe and enriching environment for children to reap these benefits.

Why Outdoor Play is Crucial for Child Development - A photo of day campers from World of Discovery Day Camp in Queens

One of the most obvious advantages of outdoor play is the physical development it promotes. At World of Discovery Day Camp, we provide kids with ample space and opportunities to run, jump, climb, and explore, all of which are vital activities for building strength, coordination, and motor skills. These physical activities help children improve their balance and flexibility while also encouraging cardiovascular health. Running, climbing, and playing ball games also improve hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills, which are essential for tasks like writing, drawing, and even socializing. When kids are outdoors, they are less likely to be sedentary, and this active play contributes to long-term health and fitness.

In addition to the physical benefits, outdoor play plays a significant role in a child’s cognitive development. At World of Discovery Day Camp, we provide children with an environment that encourages problem solving, decision-making, and creativity. Whether they are building a fort out of sticks, navigating a nature trail, or figuring out how to work together as a team in a game, kids are constantly engaging their minds.

Nature itself offers endless opportunities for learning. Children can explore different textures, observe wildlife, and interact with natural elements like water, plants, and soil. This kind of hands-on learning sparks curiosity and helps children develop critical thinking skills. In fact, studies have shown that children who spend more time outdoors tend to have better attention spans and problem-solving abilities. The stimulation from varied environments, such as the park-like setting at World of Discovery Day Camp, also fosters creativity and imagination.

Outdoor play at World of Discovery Day Camp is not just about physical activity and learning—it’s also about building strong social and emotional skills. When children play together outdoors, they are more likely to interact with their peers, learn how to share, resolve conflicts, and cooperate. These social skills are essential for success in school and later in life.

Outdoor play also provides children with the freedom to express themselves emotionally. Whether they are laughing while playing tag, navigating group dynamics in team sports, or feeling a sense of accomplishment after building something with their friends, outdoor activities help children process and manage their emotions in a positive way. This is particularly important for building self-esteem and resilience. The freedom to explore and make mistakes in an outdoor environment allows kids to develop confidence in their abilities.

At World of Discovery Day Camp in Queens, we are passionate about the power of outdoor play in supporting children’s physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development. By providing a wide range of outdoor activities in a safe, stimulating environment, we ensure that kids not only have fun but also develop skills that will benefit them for years to come.

Whether through building relationships with peers, exploring nature, or simply enjoying the fresh air, outdoor play is an essential component of healthy child development. If you’re looking for a camp that prioritizes the well being and growth of your child, look no further than World of Discovery Day Camp—where kids discover the world around them and grow into confident, capable individuals!

Give us a call today at 718-229-3027 for further information!

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How Camp Can Transform Your Child

From Shy to Confident: How Camp Can Transform Your Child

As a parent, you want your child to create friendships that last a lifetime. At World of Discovery Day Camp in Queens, that is one aspect of camp that our staff puts a ton of emphasis and value on, and can help show how camp can transform your child. Being that a child can come to our camp at only four years old, a summer camp could be the best time for them to meet new people and establish these exciting bonds. Children are so special and unique, which makes it exciting for us who work at a summer camp to try and help them cultivate new friendships. A child may come to World of Discovery Day Camp a little shy, but we try our absolute best to open them up to new ideas, and to new people that can have such a positive impact on their lives!

From Shy to Confident: How Camp Can Transform Your Child - Summer day camp photo from 2023

At World of Discovery Day Camp, a child gets put in a group with other children that are either the same age, or very close in age to one another. The reason for this is because a lot of these children could end up being in the same school together, which most of the time could mean they are in the same grade or class together. We want children to be able to form a friendship, and be able to take that friendship through the school year as well, not just summer camp. Through many activities and trips we participate in at World of Discovery Day Camp, children are always together to experience these different activities. Some of them could be team building, while others may be intended to teach a new skill. Whatever the activity is, we want our campers to experience it together, to be able to share memories together, which in tune will help form friendships.

A popular question we get from parents is, “My child is very shy, how do you think they would be in your camp?” It’s actually a fun question we get, because many of us who work at World of Discovery Day Camp, have also been campers there as well! So it helps us understand more what a child may be thinking when they come to camp for the very first time, and may be shy. From the moment that child gets to camp for the first time, our staff is greeting them with an abundance of smiles, and helping them get acclimated to the environment. We not only group the children together, but we play a ton of icebreaker games to help the children get to know one another. As a staff, we are constantly preaching enthusiasm and a great team-first attitude, to help campers be more willing to communicate with one another throughout the camp day. Our flexible-week program also helps parents to pick out which specific weeks they want their child to attend. Maybe they have a friend or sibling that can only go to camp during a certain time period? Maybe they want them to be together when going to camp for the first time? That is absolutely fine with us! Whatever the parents would like from us in regards to their child, we at World of Discovery Day Camp try our absolute best to make sure they get everything they need from us!

Children go through all different phases of social growth. Being shy is completely normal, and part of the growing process. A summer camp can help expose the child to not only new people, but help cultivate long lasting friendships. If you are interested in hearing more about the steps we take to help campers make new friends at World of Discovery Day Camp, please give us a call at 718-229-3037. We are always happy to help!

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Summer Day Camp Tips

Summer Day Camp Tips

Tips for Packing the Perfect Camp Bag for Your Child

At World of Discovery Day Camp in Queens, one of our most popular questions from parents before each summer is, “what should I pack in my child’s bag?” Since we go swimming and on a ton of field trips throughout Queens and Long Island, packing the proper items in your child’s bag adds to the importance of making sure your child has everything they need to have an amazing summer camp experience. Below are some helpful tips on what to pack in your child’s bag each day before their day’s adventure begins at World of Discovery Day Camp in Queens! Please note, all of the items we list throughout we already have at our campsite each day. But like we tell all of our camp families, it is a great idea to pack these items for your child, just so they have their own!

Being that our camp is outdoors at various times throughout the day, two of the most important things to pack in a child’s bag would be water and sunscreen. We consider ourselves a “traveling day camp,” which means that we have our campers explore so many different places and activities throughout each camp day. It’s important throughout all of the day’s events, campers stay hydrated. If your child runs out of water at any point throughout the day, don’t worry! We have plenty of ice water at camp so that campers can refill their water bottles as many times as needed. We want all of our campers to be active when we play sports, go on trips, and have different activity specialties such as gymnastics, dance, and martial arts to name a few. That alone makes having water at all times essential for our campers. Our staff stresses the importance of drinking water throughout the day, just in case our campers forget about it because they are having so much fun!

In addition to water, sunscreen is an item that our staff emphasizes to parents when it comes to packing their child’s bag. Not only when we go swimming, we always help children reapply the sunscreen throughout the day when necessary. Our staff recommends that parents pack their child with a spray sunscreen. This way, our staff can easily apply and reapply the sunscreen on the child. We get a lot of beautiful sunny days at camp, which is wonderful for our campers to get the most out of the camp day. However, we understand that their safety is of the utmost importance, and that is why we take measures to ensure the child has a proper amount of water throughout the day, as well as monitoring their level of sunscreen that is needed.

Two other important items to pack in a child’s camp bag that our staff discusses with parents would be a change of clothes, as well as lunch. When it comes to a change of clothes, most of the time parents will pack that if their child is going swimming on that particular day. We do have extra clothes on site, but it is never a bad idea to pack your child with extra clothing, just in case they are needed. Lunch is also something that we provide every day at World of Discovery Day Camp in Queens. Our lunch is provided to us by the NYC Department of Education. That lunch is available to your child everyday they are at camp. Now we understand that some children might like a certain kind of lunch, and that is why parents can absolutely pack their child with their own lunch! Even if they eat their own lunch and are still hungry, they are more than welcome to eat the lunch that we provide at camp.

These are some important items to pack in your child’s camp bag, but as always, you can give us a call at 718-229-3037 to ask us any questions regarding items to pack in your child’s bag to help them have a great summer camp experience!

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The Benefits of Swimming for Kids:

The Benefits of Swimming for Kids:

Why we include it at World of Discovery Day Camp

So many things come to mind when thinking of summer. Going to the beach, jumping in the pool, and playing water games with your friends. What do all of those activities have in common? Swimming! Lets learn more about the benefits of swimming for kids. 

At World of Discovery Day Camp, swimming is an important aspect in the day camp experience for all of our campers. On a hot, beautiful sunny day, nothing is better then soaking up rays of sunshine in the pool. 

Kids enjoying swimming at The World of Discovery Day Camp in Queens - Blog image: The Benefits of Swimming for Kids.

One of the many benefits of swimming is the great endurance and strength it builds for kids as their bodies constantly grow. As children are constantly growing, swimming can help develop muscle movements that they might not have experienced before. Keeping children active is crucial to their physical development, and swimming is a great way to keep a healthy level of physical activity. 

For kids at our summer camp in Queens that are as young as four years old, we understand that not every kid is a strong swimmer, or might not even know how to swim at all just yet. That’s why it’s so important to us at World of Discovery to offer swim lessons to all of our campers. Whether you are just starting out in your swim journey, or want to advance your skills in the water, the swim instruction program we offer is tailored towards any swim skill level! Licensed swim instructors issue our program, and we always adhere to the guidance of the Red Cross program. At World of Discovery Day Camp, we want all of our campers to not only have fun in the pool, but to be safe and comfortable as well!

Another benefit of swimming for kids is that it gives them more opportunities to play with their friends! It’s one thing to be able to play with your friends outside at the playground, or inside playing video games. But when you can jump in a pool and splash around with your friends, the opportunities are endless! Swimming in a pool is synonymous with summer, and at World of Discovery Day Camp, we make sure to offer lots of it! 

More About The Benefits of Swimming

While we want the pool to be a great experience for everyone at World of Discovery, we also understand that safety is of the utmost importance. On staff we not only have an aquatics director, but we have numerous amounts of lifeguards and swim counselors that are both in the pool and on the pool deck, supervising every child in the pool to ensure they are safe at all times. 

Being a summer day camp in Queens, we have so much diversity in our camp, and every child is unique in their own ways. A huge part of World of Discovery Day Camp is giving children the opportunity to learn something new each day. This is why we make sure the ability to go swimming is not only offered, but also attainable for every child in camp. 

Another benefit for kids are the socialization skills they gain from being able to swim. It brings a sense of confidence that children can take with them throughout their lives, especially when communicating and meeting other people. It opens up all the possibilities when playing in the water, for children to use their imaginations, and develop strong, lasting friendships. At World of Discovery Day Camp, we want to give children a summer camp experience that they will never forget, one where they find themselves furthering their growth as people.  Swimming at a summer camp is a huge part of that growth for many children. It builds on so many characteristics, as children continue to develop.

For us as staff members at a summer day camp in Queens, we love the sight of children laughing and playing with their friends in the pool. We strive to continue that trend!

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Top 10 Reasons to Send Your Child to a Summer Day Camp in Queens

Top 10 Reasons to Send Your Child to a Summer Day Camp in Queens

Summer camps are a great way for children to meet others and go through fun experiences that will create lasting memories! A strong characteristic that helps make World of Discovery Day Camp so enriching is its location, Bayside, Queens. For summer camps in Queens, there are a ton of great qualities in Queens that help shape the experiences for campers. Here are 10 reasons of why you should send your child to a summer day camp in Queens:

  1. Diversity

Queens offers such a diverse population, and it allows campers to meet other children who might share in the same interests as them, or share in new experiences together. A primary goal of World of Discovery Day camp to help children form long lasting friendships, and the diversity of Queens plays an integral role in that goal!

  1. Location Proximity

Whether we are going to a trip on Long Island or in Manhattan, being a summer day camp in Queens allows us to travel to different trip sites in reasonable amounts of time. While we have many great trips very close to us, we love giving campers the opportunity to explore new trips in places they may haven’t been to yet!

  1. Outdoor Experience

World of Discovery Day camp offers a nice balance of indoor and outdoor activities, but the beautiful greenery and plants in the park allows campers to enrich their environmental knowledge. Our certified science specialist incorporates the gorgeous attributes our park has to offer in their teachings to campers about nature!

  1. Access to other Parks and Facilities

Queens has an array of different parks and facilities that campers can use to enhance their camp experience. These can include, but are not limited to, playgrounds, basketball courts, obstacle courses, and fields to play sporting activities on!

  1. Local Attractions

Queens has a variety of museums, zoos, and cultural centers that are campers get to experience each summer. While we make sure we focus on the fun aspect of what a summer camp is, we also want campers to gain some extra bits of knowledge through these different learning environments!

  1. Safety

The parks in Queens are always well supervised by the respective parks department throughout the duration of the camp day. With our summer camp in Queens, that proves to be the case. We have developed an amazing relationship with the park department, and they do an exceptional job making sure the park is safe at all times for our children!

  1. A Strong Sense of Community

The borough of Queens has a rich history of building a sense of community. Having a summer day camp in Queens helps our campers to learn the importance of teamwork and respect, which are two essential qualities when building a sense of community!

  1. Convenient Transportation Options

World of Discovery Day Camp offers bus transportation all throughout Queens. Not only does having a summer day camp in Queens mean that there are plenty of options for transportation, but Queens makes it easy for our buses to pick up children to bring them to camp, and drop them off after the camp day is finished!

  1. Abundance of Respected Schools

World of Discovery Day Camp partners with a variety of local high school guidance departments in Queens that send us students each summer who they think would be great candidates to work at our camp. We are extremely selective when it comes to who we hire to work with our campers, but with the amount of great schools in Queens, it makes it easier for us to hire the best possible candidates!

  1. Diverse Food Options

As a daily lunch is by World of Discovery day Camp, Queens offers many different food establishments and varieties that give our campers plenty of options of what they would like to eat each day. Being a summer day camp in Queens means parents can rest easy knowing there are many lunch options for their children!

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A Day in the Life of a Camper at World of Discovery Day Camp

A Day in the Life of a Camper at World of Discovery Day Camp

A Day in the Life of a Camper: Sitting in class on the last day of school, watching the clock tick down to its final bell, waiting for that instant feeling of joy and enthusiasm. What could this mean? Summer camp is about to begin!

Excitement is one of the many emotions that rages through the core of a soon to be camper at World of Discovery Day Camp in Queens, NY. At World of Discovery Day Camp in Queens, NY, children are transported to an unforgettable summer experience, which includes swim instruction, trips, sports, lunch, arts and crafts activities, and most importantly, friendships to last a lifetime!

Children enjoying Day Camp.

On the first day of camp, campers are greeted by a bright yellow school bus, with a smiling bus driver and bus counselor, eager to start the camper on a thrilling summer journey. Located at Crocheron Park in Bayside, NY, the campsite has tons of greenery and space that makes it an ideal spot for campers to explore. From ages 4-15 years old, campers are placed in divisions that group them with other children that are typically no more than six months older or younger than one another. At World of Discovery Day Camp in Queens, NY, we want children to be able to get a thrilling summer camp experience with other campers very close to their age. 

As buses pull into the campsite each morning, campers begin the day by being escorted by a staff member to their division and greeting their friends and camp leaders. Depending on the schedule, a camper goes swimming two-three times per week  at our private

pool facility located in Roslyn, NY. What could be more exciting than jumping into a vibrant blue pool on a beautiful sunny day! At World of Discovery Day Camp in Queens, NY, we understand the importance of safety throughout the camp day, and the pool is no exception. Lifeguards are positioned inside and outside of the pools, along with our staff members to help supervise the campers. Each section of the pool is roped off to ensure a child does not accidentally swim to the wrong section. A goal of many parents in the summertime is that they want their child to learn how to swim. At World of Discovery Day Camp in Queens, NY, we offer an enriched swim instruction program, designed to help campers learn a variety of swimming skills.

A Day in the Life of a Camper

In addition to swim, campers will travel throughout Queens and Long Island to visit a variety of trips. Trip sites could include trampoline fun, amusement parks, arts and crafts, jungle gyms, laser tag, speedboat, and much more. Campers are given the opportunity to experience all different kinds of fun activities.  At World of Discovery Day Camp in Queens, NY, our staff understands the importance of encouraging a camper to engage in all activities, even if the camper has never done it before. We want all campers to expand their knowledge, and learn something new that they can take with them for the rest of their lives.

Teamwork is one of the core values at World of Discovery Day Camp, and a camper will engage in sporting activities as well as team-building exercises that will help them learn how to work together with other campers to accomplish a goal.

A Day in the Life of a Camper at World of Discovery Day Camp blog post.

We always preach good sportsmanship, as well as making sure campers understand that no matter what activity they engage in, it’s important to always maintain a positive attitude with one another.

So what can a camper expect after a long fun day at camp? They may feel a bit tired after all the experiences they got in just one day. But the best part is, when they wake up the following morning, that bright yellow school bus will be there, with the smiling bus driver and bus counselor, ready to take them through another thrilling adventure at World of Discovery Day Camp!

Ready to give your child an unforgettable summer camp experience? Give us a call at 718-229-3037 to learn more about our program, and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have!

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