Camps 'R' Us

Long Island Exclusive is excited to work with Camps 'R' Us, a wonderful local camp with multiple locations all throughout Long Island.

How did Camps 'R' Us get started?

Long Island natives Joanne and Gary Turnier started Holy Family Summer Camp in 1993 with the vision of providing the highest quality summer camp programs at the most affordable price for families on Long Island.

Since then, Joanne and Gary have opened 11 additional campuses and officially organized them as Camps ‘R’ Us in 2005. The family now had a thriving family business, and in 2007 all Camps ‘R’ Us campuses opened under our new name.

From our humble beginnings, our mission and core values have remained steadfast. For many families, it is a constant struggle to live, work and raise a family on Long Island. We are dedicated to taking the worry out of summer planning by providing the most fun, safe and affordable camp experience possible.

Today, Camps ‘R’ Us’ award-winning camps are among the best summer camps on Long Island, built upon a community of thousands of children whose summers will be among their most treasured memories for their entire lives.

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What are the different programs Camps 'R' Us Offers?

Camps 'R' Us offers a variety of programs for kids from 3 years old through 8th grade:

Tiny Tots® Early Childhood Program Tiny Tots is designed to complement the unique complexities of early childhood, and introduces Nursery and Preschool age children to their first camp experience in a warm, caring, and supportive environment. 

Camper Program Our grade-based groups, for Campers who are completing grades K through 4, have a camp experience that includes an array of structured activities, special events, theme days, camp traditions, swimming, and field trips.

Explorers® Teen/Tween Trip & Travel Program

Introducing the Camps ‘R’ Us Explorers® program for campers completing 5th through 8th grade! This exciting new offering combines three off-campus trips each week with a mix of engaging on-campus activities, special events, and performances. Best of all, all trip fees are included in the camp tuition, so there are no extra costs for families.

Explore Camps 'R' Us Programs Here

What is the one thing Camps 'R' Us is known for?

We are the most affordable private, accredited day camp on Long Island. We are known for providing a high quality camp experience for a fraction of the cost of most other camps.

Wow that's amazing? How do you do it?

We've achieved this reputation through deliberate choices in our business model. While other camps increase fees to cover elaborate facilities or trendy programs, we focus on delivering core camp experiences exceptionally well. We maintain low overhead by operating on a beautiful but efficiently-run campus, carefully managing our staff-to-camper ratios, and investing primarily in quality programming and safety rather than costly amenities. Our accreditation ensures we meet the highest standards of camp operation and safety, proving that affordable doesn't mean cutting corners. Parents consistently tell us they choose our camp because their children get the same enriching activities, caring counselors, and lasting friendships they'd find at more expensive camps, but at a price that makes summer camp accessible to more families.

What would you want current or potential future camp familes to know about Camps 'R' Us that they may not know already?

While we're known for being affordable, what many families don't realize is the extensive background of our leadership team. Our directors and program leads have over 75 combined years of experience in childhood education and camp management. Most have advanced degrees in education, child development, or recreation therapy. This expertise allows us to design age-appropriate activities that aren't just fun, but also support crucial developmental skills. For example, our arts and crafts projects are carefully structured to build fine motor skills in younger campers, while our team sports programs incorporate leadership training for older kids. We're not just a place for summer fun – we're educators who understand how to weave valuable learning experiences into every activity while keeping it enjoyable and engaging for the children.

Has Camps 'R' Us won any awards?

Our camp has earned several distinguished recognitions in the camping industry. We hold accreditation from the American Camp Association and maintain active operating licenses from both Nassau and Suffolk County Departments of Health. We've received an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and were recognized in Newsweek's prestigious "Top 200 Camps in America" list. We were also honored with the Best of Long Island award, reflecting our commitment to excellence in our community. Our leadership maintains active memberships in both the New York State Camp Directors Association and the Association of Long Island Camps and Private Schools, ensuring we stay at the forefront of best practices in camp management and youth development.

Is Camps 'R' Us involved in any community groups or charity organizations? 

Camps 'R' Us is deeply committed to community engagement and charitable partnerships. We actively collaborate with several impactful organizations across Long Island, including the Adventureland's Helping Hands Foundation, which supports local students in need. We maintain strong partnerships with Kiwanis International to serve local youth, and work closely with Long Island Cares to address food insecurity in our community. Our ongoing relationship with ACLD (Adults and Children with Learning Disabilities) helps promote inclusive programming and support for diverse learning needs. These partnerships reflect our belief that summer camps play a vital role in strengthening community bonds and creating opportunities for all children to thrive.

Tell us about Camps 'R' Us' successes-

Our most significant achievement has been successfully transitioning to second-generation ownership while modernizing our camp to meet the evolving needs of Long Island families. Under the leadership of Cheryl and Jason Turnier, we've undertaken a comprehensive transformation that goes beyond typical business succession. We recognized that today's working parents face unique challenges - from extended work hours to the need for enriching, educational summer experiences that complement their children's academic development.

This strategic evolution led us to redesign our programs and expand our locations, making quality summer camp experiences accessible to previously underserved communities across Long Island. By carefully analyzing demographic shifts and family needs, we've created flexible scheduling options and introduced innovative programs that balance traditional camp activities with modern educational elements. The result has been transformative - we've seen a significant increase in enrollment from diverse communities and consistently receive feedback from parents about how our adapted model has made quality summer care both accessible and enriching for their children.

This successful transformation represents more than just business growth; it demonstrates our ability to honor our camp's legacy while evolving to serve the next generation of Long Island families.

It seems Camps 'R' Us has deep roots on Long Island. Tell us about that-

Camps 'R' Us is woven into the fabric of Long Island's community, with roots dating back to our founding in 1993 by Long Island natives Joanne and Gary Turnier. What began as a single location has organically grown into a network of ten family-owned and operated campuses strategically positioned across Nassau and Suffolk counties. Our locations in Baldwin, Bellmore, East Rockaway, Farmingdale, Hicksville, Kings Park, St. James, Syosset, and Williston Park each reflect the unique character of their communities while maintaining our core commitment to quality and affordability.

As we prepare to launch our newest campus in Massapequa in Summer 2025 we're reminded of our fundamental mission: to serve Long Island families by providing enriching summer experiences that are both accessible and exceptional. Our expansion has always been guided by community needs, choosing locations that allow us to serve families where they live and work. Over three decades, we've become more than just a summer camp - we're a Long Island institution that has helped shape the childhood memories of thousands of local families, while contributing to the economic and social vitality of each community we serve.

That's awesome! A new location in Massapequa is very exciting!

What’s the biggest risk taken by Camps 'R' Us?

Our defining moment came in 2005 when we made the bold decision to fully incorporate Camps 'R' Us and establish complete ownership of our intellectual property, which had previously been distributed among various campus hosts. This wasn't just a simple rebranding - it was a fundamental restructuring of our entire business model. The stakes were incredibly high: we risked losing established relationships with host facilities, confusing our loyal customer base, and potentially damaging the trust we'd built within our communities. A misstep in this transition could have fractured our market presence and undermined years of reputation building.

However, through careful planning and a methodical multi-season rollout strategy, we successfully unified our brand identity and operations under the Camps 'R' Us banner. This calculated risk ultimately became the foundation for our subsequent expansion across Long Island, allowing us to standardize our high-quality programming across all locations while maintaining consistent brand values.

If you could do it all over again, what one thing would you do differently, and why?

Looking back, we would have implemented a more aggressive cost-control strategy in our early years through strategic infrastructure investments. While we've always prioritized affordability, we've learned that early investments in efficient operations and scalable systems can help buffer against future economic pressures. Although we've had to adjust our rates in response to economic realities, we remain committed to maintaining accessibility. Each rate adjustment is carefully calculated to balance operational sustainability with our core mission of providing affordable, high-quality summer experiences. This insight has shaped our current approach to growth, where we now proactively plan for long-term cost management to help maintain stable pricing for our families.

Thank you so much for giving us a glimpse into Camps 'R' Us, it's history and its focus on providing a high quality camp experience for a fraction of the cost of most other camps.