For children in Newtown Parks & Recreation’s day camp programs at both Dickinson Memorial Park and Treadwell Memorial Park, summer began on June 20, with the first day of camp at each site.

At Dickinson on June 24, Site Director Stephen Pansa shared that the campers “went right into it.” They enjoyed using a waterslide and accessing the site’s skate park all by the fourth day of camp. The tennis courts nearby were in use as he spoke, and a presentation by Day Rock was underway under the site’s pavilion.

According to its website, dayrock.net, Day Rock provides an interactive educational experience with instruments. Bob Angelo and his son Jon Angelo offered their Day Rock program at Dickinson on June 23 and at Treadwell on June 22.

At Dickinson, campers rotated through playing different musical instruments as the Angelos played hit songs for the children to jam along with on speakers. Pansa joined the fun too, by picking up a guitar and later singing alongside campers.

“Finally they can be kids again,” Pansa said, about the summer kicking off and pandemic restrictions being less tight than the last two years.

Across town on the same day, Co-Site Directors Ryan Truchsess and Lauren Wilcox were busy overseeing campers playing on the bright sunny day at Treadwell. Some students were climbing on the site’s playground while others snacked under a pavilion.

Wilcox said the campers in the program were “having fun” already by the third day and the counselors this year are “great.”

This year Newtown Parks & Recreation is offering eight weeks of day camp programs. The programs run from 9 am until 3 pm, Monday to Friday, at both locations. More information about signing students up for the programs, including registration information, is available online at newtown-ct.gov/parks-recreation/pages/day-camp-treadwell-and-dickinson-information.

Education Editor Eliza Hallabeck can be reached at eliza@thebee.com.