The adventure begins with Birdie!

Join her this summer as she creates magic and finds the purpose in play in her newest adventure ... summer camp! In our whole-child approach to learning, we will provide enriching and child-centered games that promote social-emotional growth, cognitive thinking skills and creativity. The children will be engaged, supported, and challenged ... all while having fun and enjoying the art of play.

A Typical Day for Birdie

9:30–9:50 **Arrival and Table Time**
play dough, kinetic sand, legos, puzzles
9:50–10:10 **Circle/Snack**
10:10–10:30 **Movement**
10:30–10:50 **Art**
10:50–11:10 **Enrichment**
11:10–11:30 **Free Play/Dramatic Play**
costumes, fort building, camping adventures, imaginative play
11:30–12:00 **Story/Lunch**
12:00–12:30 **Golf**
12:30–1:00 **Water Play/Free Play**
water tables, sprinkler

Each day young minds and bodies will be inspired as we rotate through structured times such as circle, project centers, creative movement games, and golf, as well as some unstructured free play to allow for exploration.

**Meet Birdie’s Assistants**

**Kate**, **Kerry**, and **Meredith** have a combined 50 years of teaching experience. We started teaching together at a private nursery school on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in 2004 where Kate was the creative movement teacher, and Meredith and Kerry were co-teachers in the 3’s class. We hold the same passion and philosophy towards teaching and always find the joy in learning.

We have been dreaming up this collaboration and this camp for many years now and after settling here in Connecticut, we’ve realized the time is now!

Kate Tempesta’s education, and early career, focused on exercise science and fitness. She later transitioned to the educational arena where she created and taught the movement education program at St. Thomas More Play Group for ten years. After becoming an LPGA T&CP member, she founded the Urban Golf Academy to combine her passions for golf, early childhood education, and movement. She is the Creator of Birdie Basics™, a golf program specifically designed with the child in mind. She moved to New Canaan in March of 2020 where she teaches group classes for ages 3-8. Kate has one son (Charlie 3).

Kerry Sweeney is a certified teacher specializing in early childhood. She received her master’s in elementary education from Long Island University, C.W. Post, and has 17 years teaching experience in both NYC private schools and in Fairfield, Connecticut. Kerry is now working independently as a tutor at Early Childhood Skills, with emphasis on kindergarten readiness and preschool enrichment. She also has experience in ERB preparation and phonemic and phonological reading awareness. She is trained in the Orton-Gillingham Approach and Learning Without Tears. Kerry has two daughters (Jessica 10 and Anna 7).

Meredith Gray is a certified teacher specializing in early childhood. She received her master’s in elementary education from New York University and has over 16 years teaching experience in NYC private schools, Darien schools and Birdie Basics. She is trained in Learning Without Tears and has tutored children for the ERBs. Meredith has three daughters (Reagan 10, Hayden 8, and Parker 2).