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At the Southampton Fresh Air Home we believe that children are truly limited only by their imagination. With a wide range of adaptations and specially designed equipment, campers enjoy the range of activities provided at other American camps.
Swimming
Campers swim every afternoon in two heated pools. The large pool is a comfortable, normal pool temperature, while the smaller pool is around 96 degrees, for those campers who need an especially warm water environment.
Each pool is monitored by an American Red Cross certified lifeguard, and all campers are assigned to individual staff upon entering the pool. Afternoons in the pool are a favorite camp activity, with both games and general swim sessions.
On special occasions campers enjoy a nighttime swim, with the pool area lit with torches and candles.
The Courts
SFAH has developed a wide range of adapted games that we play on the courts. This includes tennis, dodge ball, steal the bacon, baseball, hockey, lacrosse and many more this allows campers to enjoy lots of different sports even with their physical limitations.
We have a variety of equipment that allows our campers to join in with whatever's going on despite their disability.
SFAH veterans are experts in these games, and pass the rules along to new and younger campers each year.
Basketball
The basketball court is a favorite area of the camp, and one which sees a lot of action! Our court has two adaptive nets that can be adjusted as low as three feet in height to meet many of our campers' needs. Additionally, we have a selection of free standing nets that allow campers of all abilities to play. You may see the highlights of a SFAH basketball game on our DVD, available in another area of our web site.
Baseball
Adapted baseball games, with bunks playing each other as teams, bring this American favorite to our campers. We have a large, open field area and a selection of bats, t-ball stands and other equipment, to allow all campers to participate in a game with adaptive rules.
Hockey
We have a selection of padded equipment to allow wheelchair users and ambulatory campers to enjoy hockey each summer.
Golf
Golf in Southampton is a special treat for campers and staff. Each year the Physically Challenged Golf Association visits the camp with a selection of clubs including many shortened to allow wheelchair users to play the game from a seated position.
On Golf Day, interested campers use the camp field as a driving range in the morning, using small plastic balls to develop their basic skills. After lunch our golfers move to the local driving range where they will play with regular golf balls. Later in the afternoon our keenest golfers visit the Shine Hills Golf Club, the sight of the 2004 U.S. Open, to play a round on one of the greens.
Horseback Riding
We make a trip to the Pal-O-Mine stables, a Long Island center for adaptive horse riding. Campers will use special equipment to mount a horse and with the team of trained assistants, even campers with minimal range of movement will be able to experience the special childhood joy of riding a horse.
Sailing
In a wonderful collaboration with Sea legs, an organization of disabled veterans who love the sea, we offer a sailing program in the Bay near the camp. Sealegs' adapted sailboat, the Sara C, is staffed by SFAH sailing instructors and is moored at Bullhead Yacht Club. Bullhead's floating dock allows wheelchair users to position themselves boat side and transfer into the sailboat. Campers don life preservers and are harnessed into a special chair that moves slowly with the motion of the boat. This allows our campers to experience sailing without the necessity of physical strength or balance.
SFAH campers sail with one of our specially trained lifeguards and our sailing instructor. While sailing around the local bay, campers learn skills including manning the sails and even steering the boat!
Archery
Archery is a very popular activity we employ archery instructors that go through the basics of learning how to handle a bow. Then as everyone improves there are some games to play with prizes to win.
There is some special adapted equipment the we have made to ensure that all of our campers can be included in this activity
Color War
Color War is a noisy, fun-filled day when the entire camp is split into two teams and each will wear only their team’s colors for that day. The two sides spend the day competing against one another in relays, watermelon eating, paint-the-counselor sessions, pool games and other silly pleasures. In the evening there is a ceremony and the presentation of the award to this year's Color War winners!
Arts and Crafts
The Otto Arts and Crafts Studio affords all campers an opportunity to explore their own creativity. With the help of our art teacher, campers can undertake projects ranging from the small and neat to the large and very messy! For particularly artistic campers who want to work on a special project they enjoy, there is an opportunity for extra time with the art teacher to design and create a special piece to take home.
Computers
The Mulholland Computer Center offers options for all SFAH campers. Campers have both free time to explore computer technology on their own, and lesson time addressing specific skills. In their free time campers are able to spend time on the web, play games or check their email.
Lessons are structured so that campers are assigned to one of three levels according to information we gather prior to camp. Level I campers focus on opening and closing programs, writing e-mails, copying and pasting and other basic skills. Level II campers use templates in programs, create files, and reach a higher level of proficiency than they had when they arrived at camp. Level III campers use PowerPoint to prepare presentations, create web pages and work with HTML software.
With the large range of adaptive equipment at SFAH, including adaptive keyboards and "mice", every camper is able to thoroughly enjoy their time in this program, and hopefully learn new skills that will help them during the next school year and beyond.
Clubs
Every rest hour SFAH has a selection of clubs. These are chosen by the campers at the start of each session and often are run be a counselor-camper team. Clubs in past years have included magic, music, tennis, basketball, singing, art, music, chess, drama and comedy clubs. Some of these clubs form part of the performance at the camp's annual Open House in August.
Open House
Each summer we open our doors and present a show for the Southampton community, to showcase the amazing talents of our campers that summer. Open House has a different theme each summer; past themes have included Round the World, The Oscars and Desert Island.
Evening Activities
Each evening there are special activities as campers and staff come together around the outdoor stage, and spend some time in fun and often crazy activities. Games such as Scavenger Hunt, Wet Quiz, Sing Down, Night at the Races, Jeepers Creepers, Prom, Family Feud, Bring It On! and Survivor have become camp favorites. Traditions that recur each year include the ever popular Camper Talent Show and Talent less Counselor Show!
Check out other areas of the website to read more about the fun of a summer vacation at SFAH!!
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