Here at Camp Hillard we take great pride in our 81 year history as a leader in sports skills development. Our winning formula is a result of excellent instruction, quality of our facilities and the variety of sports offered.

Each day, our campers are developing their athletic skills in a positive and healthy setting, where fun and learning go hand in hand. The improvement of sports skills is fostered through lots of encouragement and individual success.

Campers receive excellent instruction in the proper fundamentals in each sport from an exceptional team of experienced individuals comprised of some of the finest coaches in the area.

Our program is built around success so whether your child is a beginner, intermediate or more advanced they will thrive. Our goal is always on skill development but with a priority on safety, fun, and teamwork.

The variety of activities includes: soccer, softball, basketball, baseball, tennis, field hockey, street hockey, lacrosse, newcomb, volleyball, flag football, capture the flag, archery, new games and the batting cages. Campers also participate in boxball, miniature golf, gymnastics, group games, pony rides and horseback.

Boys and Girls entering 1st grade and older are participating in clinics, sports leagues, sports challenges and tournaments.

Boys and Girls entering 3rd grade and older participate in more advanced clinics, sports leagues and sports choice periods, and have the opportunity for additional instruction in Tennis, Gymnastics and Horseback.

Once Campers enter the 4th grade and older they can choose to participate in our Sports Specialization Programs. These programs allow our older campers to spend more time focusing on advanced skills and game play in a sport of choice.

 

BASKETBALL

Basketball is one of our most popular sports at Hillard. The program focuses on teaching the fundamentals of the game. Our facilities include 6 outdoor courts all with adjustable height baskets allowing success for all ages.

Specifically our campers are learning shooting, passing, dribbling, defense and offense. We utilize mini, junior or intermediate size balls depending on the age and the skills being taught. Our philosophy is everyone makes a basket at Camp Hillard! Our adjustable height baskets allow campers to achieve success, and learn proper shooting form for various shots at challenging heights.

As campers get older they have opportunity for more basketball through choice periods, league play and our sports specialty basketball program.

 

BASEBALL and SOFTBALL

Our baseball and softball programs are built around teaching the fundamentals, rules of the game and success. We use specially designed training equipment that is age-appropriate for each division of camp. We also incorporate live pitching for all ages in camp and only utilize batting tee’s to teach mechanics or when appropriate. Our sports staff is trained to properly pitch the ball to the right spot so that each camper is having success!

Junior Camp utilizes specially designed equipment including safety balls, bats and gloves. Middle campers learn with light weight aluminum bats, proper sized gloves, safety baseballs and softballs. Senior campers progress to more advanced equipment including larger bats, gloves and bigger fields. The girls play with training softballs and the boys play with training baseballs.

Boys and Girls entering 2nd grade and older are scheduled weekly for batting stations. This unique training facility allows our campers to improve their grip, stance and hitting mechanics such as eye-hand coordination, bat speed and most importantly a level swing.

As campers get older they have opportunity for more baseball or softball through choice periods, league play and our sports specialty baseball and softball programs.

 

SOCCER

Our soccer program focuses on improving the fundamentals of dribbling, shooting and passing, positioning and rules of the game. Each lesson starts with our “Pele Warmup” a three station circuit performing the three main skills of the game.

Junior and Middle camp practice with a size 3 ball while senior campers practice with a size 4 and size 5. Each lesson also incorporates various soccer training aides which help to build skills and make it fun!

As campers get older they have opportunity for more soccer through choice periods, league play and our sports specialty soccer program.

 

TENNIS

Learning tennis at Camp Hillard is fun. Individual and small group instruction begins for all full day campers. Campers entering nursery school are learning introductory skills. Campers entering Kindergarten and 1st Grade participate in our Mini-Tennis program; using properly sized equipment these campers learn to master the main skills of the game.

Entering second graders and older play on our larger courts and receive more advanced instruction. Entering fourth graders and older may play both at camp and at Westchester Indoor Tennis Club, where USTA certified instructors provide additional opportunity to improve skills.

 

GYMNASTICS

Located in our 3,000 square foot Gymnastics Pavilion. Campers are given instruction in the various events such as balance beam, even and uneven parallel bars, low bar, vaulting, floor exercises and tumbling skills. Our program also fosters physical development on apparatus such as horizontal and vertical ladders, rings, ropes and tumble track. Older campers are offered the opportunity for additional instruction during weekly Individual Activity Choice. All equipment is scaled down for each age group allowing our campers to learn the sport of gymnastics safely and correctly.