Our Philosophy
Camp SOAR opened its doors at the Nazareth Borough Park in the Summer of 2019. We wanted to develop a summer activity program like the one we were raised with. In order to do so, we needed to bring our program back to nature. Technology-free and fun to be had for all who join us. Each of the 6 weeks is a different theme. Each day is a new adventure. SOAR stands for STEAM, OUTDOORS, ARTS, and RECREATION. In a day, each child will participate in an art activity, an educational activity, and a gross motor movement activity geared toward the theme of the week.
We are staffed with educators, future educators, and teenage volunteers working for community service hours. We have an amazing team of fun, energetic, caring, respectful, and responsible people. We invite all children ages 5-12, grades Kindergarten through 6th to join us.
We are a non-profit camp, and use the cost paid for tuition by families to help fund the program and the staff. We work in conjunction with Nazzy Moms Unite to organize ways to support the students, campers, and families within our own Nazareth community.
In the past 6 years, we were able to pay for the Clipper Organization to refurbish their field house. We have been able to set up scholarships for 11 graduating NAHS Seniors in the past 3 years, and give over $9000 in college assistance. We have supplied families with camp tuition, helping families who have suffered losses with mortgage payments, grocery bills, and Thanksgiving meals. We have given to local sports teams, sponsored local programs and churches, and because of stay-and-play programs, we have been able to donate to 12 different booster clubs across the Nazareth School District. Our goal is to give back in as many ways as possible to our community of Nazareth.
Through your tuition, we have been able to provide employment to atleast 100 different local high school students, college students both going into the field of education and or working with kids. We often employ teachers whom work in our in our community. Over the last 6 years, we have been able to provide over $250,000 in employment.
To date, we have been able to provide countless dollars towards the assistance to local needs. Last year in 2023, we gave $5500 in scholarships, many donations to to High School Sports Teams, and assistance in miscellaneous giving throughout the community, including feeding 75 meals to the community and local law and fire departments on Thanksgiving day, and $500 to the Lymphoma and Leukemia foundation.
Our Staff
& Directors
Camp Directors
Camp Nurse
Erin Banghart
Art
Emma Fritz
Gianna Marchese
Rose Lasso
Jerrah Eldridge
Lila Heimbach
Gym
Jordain Piazza
Brady Pidgeon
Chase Clifford
Dom Pilla
Frankie Mroz
Jed Bendekovitz
Substitutes
Camille Clark
Karen Landes
Jillian Rissmiller
Jessica Wilvert - nurse
Tammy Wells - nurse
Treasurer / Bookkeeper
Karen Landes
Kindergarten
Margherita Gallina - Lead
Kierstyn Suhr
Andrew Zachmeyer
Logan Hilarczyk
Connor Daley
First Grade
Sarah Osmun - Lead
Jaxon Pidgeon
Guiseppi Gallina
Ava Petruska
Hailey Hatfield
Tony Pilla
Second Grade
Abby Marchese - Lead
Colin Kaniper
Mila Wasilewski
Carli Kaniper
Jason Pierillo
Jake Trach
Addison Marstellar
Jillian Rissmiller
Third Grade
Kristen Stoudt - Lead
Kalyn Guierri
Mena Kazista
Tyler Marstellar
Ryan Golinsky
Xavier Clark
Casey Reavis
Fourth Grade
Evan Sulwalski - Lead
Hailey Mehig - lead
Ellie Suborski
Owen Banghart
Aiden Lipsky
Kendra Duzant
Fifth Grade
Megan Nagy - Lead
Bella Garcia
Luke Ament
Jack Signarvitz
Harleen Grewal
Dom E
Sixth Grade
Emily Witmer - Lead
Kolby Landis
Finn Hogan
Sophie Cole
Jake Englehart
12
Issac Kutzera - Lead
Cody Witmer
Symone Clark
Park Info
475 North Broad Street @ Nazareth Borough Park
Drop-off & Pick-up
Drop-off is between 8:55 – 9:10 AM each morning. Please pull up at the assigned bridge or pavilion. If there are siblings, go to the oldest siblings' drop-off! No parents have to get out of their cars and pick-up will be the same. The kids will be ready at noon and will stand waiting for your vehicle.
Kindergarten + First Graders: Drop-off for K/1 is by the concession stand of the pool by the first bridge.
Second + Third Graders: Drop-off for 2/3 is by the third bridge by the back pavilion
Fourth + Fifth + Sixth Graders: Drop off 4/5/6 will be on Morris Street (the street behind the park. Turn on Hill Street across from Schoeneck Moravian, right on Morris Street, pulling up by the bridge to drop off).
Pick-up - Camp ends at 12:00 p.m. Pick-up is the same way. Parents and caregivers drive up and we put them in the car and the family pulls away.
Stay-and-Plays: Pickup at 3:00 p.m.
Our 2024 Sponsors
481 Wellness Pilates & Nutrition
A Rise Above OT Therapy Services
Bickert's Heating & Air Conditioning
Birch and Willow Hair and Skin