Making What is a monetary bargain for parents and a joy and recipe for excitement, fun and fond memories for children this summer thrives and continues to offer innovative programs as the Atlantic Highlands Recreation’s summer camp continues its five day a week program through mid-August.
Camp Director Meg Fisher is taking Summer Camp by storm as she serves as Camp Director for the borough program for the first time. But she comes into the position well-armed with both experience and education, both of which are obvious in the daily schedules for the children in the program ranging from kindergarten through fifth grade. The program, held both indoors and outdoors at the Elementary School plus off premises outings runs Monday through Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon for six weeks, with registration $200 per child for Atlantic Highlands residents.
Meg has been involved with summer camps for most of her life, she laughs. Recalling she started as a Counselor-in-training and worked her way up through a variety of leadership roles over the years. She also holds an undergraduate degree in education and psychology and a master’s degree in educational leadership. Meg also completed additional post master’s training in educational therapy. She has worked as an elementary school teacher, an educational therapist and a camp leader before coming into this program. Meg serves on the Borough’s Recreation Department as a resident of the borough.
As Director, Meg oversee all aspects of the camp, from planning activities, supervising staff, communicating with families to ensuring camper safety, coordinating special events, and managing the day-to-day operation of the program.
She’s confident she can handle it all with the same professionalism she has always given to her work, she said. As an example, as Director of Staff for a camp in Washington, D.C, she had more than 3,000 campers. She has also worked with Girl Scouts of Greater New York helping support eight Urban Day Camp sites throughout the city. But she was more excited to head the program hers since she is a resident of the borough, and with fewer than 175 youngsters, she gets to know every child by name and treat them as the neighbors they are.
“We can create a close-knit camp community and offer experiences that simply aren’t possible in a very large program,” the director said. “ Just last weekend, I ran into several camp families while walking around town with my son. That’s something really special.”
The program includes ten counselors and another seven Counselors-in-Training (CITs), ranging from rising high school freshmen through college students. Counselors are paid Borough employees, while CITs receive a weekly stipend. Before camp begins, every one of the staff completes orientation, CPR and First Aid training, safety training, and background checks for staff who are 18 and older.
Meg heads the full team of 19 employees who work with the children during Summer Camp including Assistant Director Casey Forbes whom Meg describes as “ fantastic.” Casey has been a staff member for camp for six years, the second in her family to hold the position, and she had been a camper herself before that . “She is truly an invaluable resource for our community,” Meg brags, “ she is studying Education at the University of Delaware. The team work extremely closely in heading the team of counselors and in-training co9unsellors ensuring a program which enables every student to be guaranteed of all the assistance or additional help they may need.
“We spend a lot of time helping our staff become leaders, not just counselors.,” Peg explained,, as reasons for the success of Summer Camp. “ I hope to be a reference and mentor for them as they continue their education and careers. If they leave camp with stronger leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills—and they had fun doing it—then I feel we’ve been successful.”
While a lot of her ideas for the varieties of offerings the camp has comes from her background in education, Meg credits “some of the best ideas come from the campers themselves.” But because she also loves I also love partnering with local businesses and community members so the children can have additional experiences, she also has set another goal for herself and the program: My goal is for everyone—campers, staff, parents, and the community—to wake up thinking, “I wonder what my favorite part of camp is going to be today?” It’s the “weird, silly, “campy” moments that are as important as the structured activities. “ Camp gives children permission to be playful in ways they might not experience during the school year, and I think those unexpected moments often become the memories they keep forever,” she said.
As an example,. Just this week during this Summer Camp there was a trip to Fair Mountain Coffee Roasters on W. Garfield Avenue, …which also involves the Atlantic Highlands Police helping the groups cross the street safely in their walk….. to see how coffee beans are ground, and the different types of beans used in making coffees. Owner of Julio’s Restaurant is making two visits to the school to help the campers and explain what it takes to own their own business as well as how to make pizza dough. “they’ll be able to take home the dough they’ve made,” Meg says with fervor,” It’s been wonderful seeing the community embrace the camp this summer. Highlander Bicycle Co is also coming in to let the children know what they do, perhaps ensure their know all the safety habits of having bikes, and so much more. We are trying to have something “cool” every day!
In talking with Meg, it’s hard to tell who enjoys the summer program the most. She especially likes watching campers build confidence, make new friends, and discover new interests. She also loves creating opportunities where we can say “yes.” to a camper’s idea—as long as it’s safe, moments she believes the campers remember most. Her biggest challenge is balancing all the logistics while making sure every single child feels seen, included, and has a great experience.
Once the summer program ends next month, Meg she will return to her educational therapy practice, EduMindedLearning. In that program, she works one-on-one and in small groups with students with learning differences, ADHD, dyslexia, and executive functioning challenges. She also runs a “Back to School Jumpstart” program that helps students get organized, complete summer work, build study strategies, and begin the school year feeling confident and prepared before school opens in September. Throughout the school year she still maintains her own private practice full time,, helping students become more confident, independent learners by teaching them how to learn—not just what to learn. “Watching students realize they can succeed is one of the most rewarding parts of my work,” she said.
On the home front, in spite of hectic and busy schedules, Meg thrives of the love and attention of husband Patrick and son Cal and candidly admits she could not do it with them. She and her husband both own their own businesses, she laughs, adding” that’s a blessing, but does come with challenges for sure!” Still, she continues, “We have a lot of fun as a family.”
“One of my goals has been to make camp about more than just keeping children busy,” this busy and zealous educator said. “I want campers to leave each day having learned something new, built confidence, made friends, and felt connected to the Atlantic Highlands community. That’s why we’ve partnered with local businesses, invited community experts and created experiences that campers will remember long after summer ends. I hope children leave camp with new skills, great memories, and an even greater appreciation for the town they call home.”
There’s every indication she has accomplished all of that and so much more.
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