Specialties
Now in its 69th season, Deerkill Day Camp is a very popular local camp option. This third-generation family-owned and -operated camp is located on a beautiful wooded 15-acre site and brings a community feel to the summer camp experience for campers age 3 to 15. The diverse program includes professional swim instruction in large heated pools, an array of athletics on fields sized for younger and older children, creative and performing arts such as arts and crafts, ceramics, woodworking, dance, theater, and digital photography, and specialties such as cooking, karate and nature, among other activities. Deerkill offers door-to-door daily transportation on mini air-conditioned buses, staffed with professional drivers and bus counselors. The Directors are on the grounds everyday and accessible day and night and all the individual group leaders are adults, many of whom are teachers. Tuition includes transportation, hot lunch, towels, trips and complimentary access to the weekend pool club.
History
Established in 1958.
Deerkill was founded in 1958 by Irwin and Midge Rhodes. At the time, it was called Deerkill Park Country Club and was a weekend getaway for Manhattan families who stayed in the bungalows adjacent to the camp. Deerkill Park Country Club became Deerkill Day Camp in time and the camp was passed from Irwin and Midge to their son Bob and his wife Karen who directed the camp for 30 years. Bob and Karen's daughter Rebecca and her husband Todd took over in 2007 as the 3rd generation of owners/directors at Deerkill.
Meet the Business Owner: Todd R.
Todd Rothman
(B.A. Tufts University, M.B.A. NYU Stern School of Business) Prior to joining Deerkill as a Director in 2007, Todd's camping experience included seven summers as a camper and counselor at an overnight camp in Cape Cod. Todd runs Deerkill's operations in the offseason. Todd enjoys playing basketball, doing triathlons, and watching his hometown Boston sports teams but his favorite activity is dancing to and singing oldies with his and Rebecca's sons Isaac and Henry.
Rebecca Rhodes Rothman
(B.A. Washington University in St. Louis, M.S. Teachers College, Columbia Univ.) Rebecca started at Deerkill as a camper when she was 3 years old and is now a 3rd-generation Director. She has worked at Deerkill as a counselor and waterfront director among other positions. Rebecca is also a speech-language pathologist who works with children of all ages. Rebecca enjoys swimming, skiing, and hiking but her favorite pastime is playing with her and Todd's sons Isaac and Henry.