With summer just around the corner, the Town Board last week granted several contracts to local organizations to run seasonal programs and activities, including swimming lessons and kayaking, sailing, hockey and basketball camps.
For the 10th consecutive year, the Huntington YMCA will offer sailing and kayaking lessons in July and August at Centerport Beach. Children ages 8-18 are invited to participate in the camp, where they will learn basic kayaking and sailing skills as well as boating and water safety.
Under the contract, the YMCA will pay the town a $5,100 license fee to use the beach from July 1 through Aug.16 and to store equipment in the beach boathouse from June 18 through August 23.
Across town, at the Dix Hills Ice Rink, various boys and girls hockey camps will be held in July and August.
The New York Rangers will run two one-week sessions, starting on July 8 and July 15, where youth players, ages 6-14, will train with the Junior Rangers coaching staff. For a $650 registration fee, campers will receive on and off ice training paired with classroom instruction. The Rangers will pay the town $2,100 each day, or $350 per hour of ice time, for the duration of the camp.
Ashley Wade, a Long Island hockey coach who specializes in teaching young girls, will also run week-long camps at the Dix Hills Ice Rink, starting on July 22 and August 12. The program costs $575 and includes battle drills, competition games and off-ice workouts. Under the agreement, Ashley Wade Elite Hockey LLC will pay the town $1,050 each day, or $350 per hour of ice time, for the duration of the camp.
Famous power skating coach Barbara Williams will offer her “Positive Power” hockey camps on July 29 and August 5. Teen participants will learn various power skating skills, including shooting, passing and agility. The program is scheduled to run from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day and will cost campers $575 per week-long session. As per the agreed upon contract, Ms. Williams will pay the town $1,050 each day, or $350 per hour of ice time, for the duration of the camp.
Next door, at the Dix Hills Pool, participants of Camp W, a day camp in Huntington, will receive swimming lessons from the pool’s water safety instructors. The sessions will be held for one hour each day for seven weeks this summer. Camp W, which is responsible for transporting the campers to and from the pool each day via bus, will pay the town $60 per camper for those participating in two-week sessions, and $30 per camper for those participating in the one-week session.
For youth basketball players, Great Events Solutions Inc. DBA Hoop Dreams, will run an outdoor summer basketball league at Otsego Park, Vets Park and Manor Park. The travel basketball program is for children in grades 3 through 10 and is run by professional coaches. Hoop Dreams already ran a successful pilot program last year, according to town officials. As per the contract, the town will collect 20 percent of all money generated.