After a summer packed with field trips, new experiences, and plenty of time to play, HFH Summer Day Camps closed out the 2026 season with one last celebration: the annual end-of-summer Carnival!
Throughout the summer, campers ventured out on field trips to places like the Bronx Zoo and TreEscape Aerial Adventure Park, took part in weekly Belongo music classes and Drizzle Weather STEM lessons, and headed to Goldfish Swim School and Saf-T-Swim for swim lessons, where they practiced water safety, built new skills, and gained confidence in the pool.
To celebrate everything they accomplished, campers from Allie’s Place, Prospect, and Saratoga Summer Day Camps gathered at Hempstead Lake State Park, with families from Williamsbridge and Clinton Recreation joining the fun.
Thanks to the ongoing support of our partners at Stifel, who once again hosted the Carnival and volunteered throughout the celebration, campers and families had a full day of fun. There was face painting, a photo booth stocked with props and Polaroid cameras, arts and crafts, and plenty of chances to make a keepsake from the day, including colorful sand creations and bracelets.
An exciting new addition to this year’s carnival was a ride on Hempstead Lake State Park’s carousel. Kids also tested their skills at classic carnival games for the chance to win plush prizes and enjoyed lunch options from Auntie Anne’s and El Toro, and sweet treats like cotton candy and a Ben & Jerry’s ice cream bar. There was even a magic show.
“Because I’ve never seen magic before,” one camper said when asked why the magic show was their favorite part of the day.
Another camper had a few favorites to choose from.
“My day has been really good so far because I’ve eaten a lot of food and also a lot of ice cream,” they said. “We also did the drumming.”
Throughout the summer, Belongo led weekly Afro-Latin percussion classes for campers at Allie’s Place and Prospect. The kids learned about different percussion instruments and their origins while exploring rhythms and music from Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and beyond.
At the carnival, campers had the chance to show everyone what they had learned, coming together for an end-of-summer performance for fellow campers and families.
“We have a lot of children of Afro-Latino culture, African Caribbean culture, so it was really great for us to incorporate that,” said Tierra Gunther, HFH Partnerships Manager. “They’re learning and they’re having fun at the same time.”
Experiences like these are at the heart of HFH Summer Day Camps.
“We want the kids to just worry about being a child,” she said. “When they go back to school in September, they have something—a memory, a moment, an experience—that they can go back and share with their teachers and their friends as well.”
Thank you to Stifel, our summer partners, staff, volunteers, and everyone who helped make the HFH Summer Day Camps season one to remember!
