The City of Dunkirk is proud to announce registration for the annual Summer Better Than Others Day Camp at Camp Gross is now open. Every week day from 1:00 to 5:00pm the recreation office is open on the first floor of the Stearns Building for parents or guardians to register. Dunkirk residents are urged to register by June 10, 2024. Non-Dunkirk residents are able to register beginning Monday June 17, 2024 during the same times.

The camp is sponsored by the Dunkirk Youth Bureau and Recreation Commission. Kids ages 5 through 11 years are eligible to register.

Located in the beautiful confines of Camp Gross in Cassadaga, New York, this summer recreational day camp features daily activities such as sports, arts and crafts, lifeguard supervised swimming, special events, nature classes, theatre and much more. Fun and interactive indoor camp activities are also held during rainy days.

Each year over 200 campers enjoy up to two weeks of camp. At the end of each week campers have the opportunity to perform a skit they created with the other members of their group and counselors to visiting family members.

We offer five, one-week sessions for all age group. Camp sessions will run Monday through Friday (rain or shine) with pickup times starting at approximately 8:05 a.m. and drop off by 3:55 p.m.

When registering please have two weeks chosen at first and second choices. Below is a list of all sessions: Session I (July 8- July 12), Session II (July 15- July 19), Session III (July 22- July 26), Session IV (July 29- August 2) and Session V (August 5- August 9).

Camp fees include lunch, afternoon snacks, and supervised bus transportation with stops at four central locations throughout the city, with route information distributed after registration is complete.

The cost for Dunkirk residents is $50.00 per child, and $40.00 for every additional child within the family. For Non-Dunkirk residents the cost is $60.00 per child, and $45.00 for any additional children in the family. You must register only those children in your immediate family. Checks can be made payable to City of Dunkirk/Summer Camp.

Scholarships are available for those in need, on a first come first serve basis. A benefits card can be brought to registration to satisfy all requirements for a scholarship. If all scholarships are awarded a wait list will be in place for any additional funding.

Local residents or businesses may also sponsor a child to send them to camp for one to two weeks. If interested, please contact Alexis Tofil at the City of Dunkirk Youth and Recreation Department.

Dunkirk residential children ages 12 through 15 are able to register as junior counselors at no charge. Throughout the week junior counselors work with one age group and assist the counselors with daily tasks. Residents ages 16 and up are welcome to apply for counselor positions for all sessions of camp. Applications are available for pick-up on the second floor of the Stearns Building, and can be returned to the Personnel Department also on the second floor.

After registration is complete, campers will receive their session information, necessities for camp, bussing information, and health forms to complete prior to their first day of camp.

For more information about Dunkirk’s Summer Better Than Others Day Camp, please call Alexis Tofil at (716) 366-9877 or e-mail at atofil@cityofdunkirk.com.