Right before the holiday break, the Town of Islip released its famous Recreation News – a catalog containing the many activities, educational opportunities, and perks of being an Islip Town resident.
This issue offers residents an array of winter and spring programs, while also giving families the opportunity to start planning their summer the Islip way.
“When I first got this, I was a little overwhelmed by everything the Town offers and all the information it has in it,” said Patricia Johnson of Islip. “But when you take a minute to go through it, you just cannot believe all the things to do for adults and even more for kids. And the price is completely unbeatable! Now, when I see this in the mail, I get excited. There’s no place that will offer all of this for such a low price.”
Firstly, one must attain a Town of Islip Resident Card. To do so, you must be a Town of Islip resident, provide a copy of your driver’s license, submit either a copy of tax, utility or insurance bill or car registration, and pay the low $30 fee. After one gets their card, they hold the key to the many competitive amenities the Town offers.
Adults have an impressive lineup at their disposal. From horseback riding, dinner night cruises, dance lessons, boater safety certificates, volleyball leagues, yoga and tennis, to lady’s DIY nights, this array of activities will keep couples entertained or give someone much-needed “me” time.
However, kids undoubtedly will benefit more from all the programs that Islip is offering.
For example, Tiny Tots, a three-day, roughly three-hour program, runs the length of a school year and is only $1,200 per year. While Tiny Tots is for 3-year-olds, other programs are offered for 2-year-olds and 4-year-olds. Toddlers can also benefit from other kids’ clubs and craft time programs the town is offering.
Islip’s LEAP program ($1,380 per year) is ideal for working parents. From 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, children are bussed to the nearest Islip location.
In addition to the extensive list of sports programs and camps being offered to children, community service programs and cooking programs are popular options. No matter what program one signs up for, these summer perks are where it’s at for kids living in the Town of Islip.
Islip offers three Pool Camps for grades 2-7, which are ten days long, run from 8:15 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. and include a local trip. Some sessions are as low as $180.
The Expanded Playground Program, at different locations but at the same time, offers nearly the same amenities for as low as $300 a session. Seventh, eighth and ninth-graders also earn the opportunity to become a camper’s aide, but must first complete an interview process. Kids are also welcome to complete a Junior Lifeguard Program on Fire Island.
Although an East Islip Marina Camp seems rather enticing, perhaps the most enticing of all is the Patricia Ann Mooney Memorial Beach Camp at Fire Island’s Atlantique Beach for grades 6-9. At this Fire Island Camp, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., middle schoolers take a ferry over to Atlantique Beach and spend the day on Fire Island for only $360 a week. This is one of the Town’s most popular camps that fills up rather quickly.
Most of these programs are mail-in lottery-based, as many people have come to learn of Islip’s appreciation for its inhabitants and desire to get in before registration maxes out. By offering these wonderful programs, children are being given opportunities in-town that truly set Islip apart from any other township.
If you have not yet received your copy of Recreation News, visit islipny.gov or stop in one of the recreation centers located in Bohemia, Greenbelt (Holbrook), Brentwood, Ronkonkoma, Central Islip, West Islip or at the Cape Cod Learning Center at Brookwood Hall (East Islip).
