Sand Man Comes To Seashore Day Camp
International Sand Sculpting Champ Teaches More Than 500 Seashore Campers To Build Castles On Beach In Long Branch
LONG BRANCH, July 27 – Building castles in the sand will take on new meaning for children at Seashore Day Camp July 27. More than 500 boys and girls will learn the science of sand sculpting from world renowned Sand Sculpting Champ John Gowdy, who has come all the way from Italy to teach them his craft as part of International tour. The event will take place on the Great Lawn beach (Ocean Avene and Greenley Terrace between Rooney’s and the Ocean Place in Long Branch) from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30a.m. and from 12:45 to 3 p.m.
Gowdy, who has been competing at the professional level for 25 years, holds many national and international titles – including North American Sand Sculpting Champion, American Sand Sculpting Champion, International Championship of Jesolo Italy, International Champion of Hardelot France and the People’s Choice World Championship in British Columbia, Canada.
In addition to Seashore, he has been commissioned to create sculptures for Monmouth Park, Harley Davidson, Sands Hotel Casino in Atlantic City, along with schools, shopping centers and restaurants throughout the world. Gowdy also recently started an international tour for his new performance art venture known as “Flying Colors,” where he paints portraits to music on a spinning canvas upside down and sideways.
“We are excited to give children an opportunity to learn from someone as accomplished as John (Gowdy),” said John Villapiano, Director of Seashore Day Camp. “For the past 12 years, he has stopped at Seashore as part of his tour to teach our campers to build something bigger and better than the year before.”
“Since Seashore is a block away from the beach, this activity is a natural,” said Villapiano, who is known for bringing in unique large-scale special events. “Each group will select a team captain and make a plan on how they are going to start building, while John shows teaches them the skills he has mastered traveling around the globe.
“Children not only learn how to keep the sand standing and how to use tools to create something they would have never thought possible, they learn how to work together to get to the finished product. It is a great teambuilding project.
Seashore, which first opened in 1926 with seven campers, has the distinction of being the first day camp in New Jersey and the pioneer of an industry that has benefited hundreds of thousands of children in Monmouth County. Over the last eight decades, it has grown to become one of the largest day camps in the country, providing innovative recreational activities for approximately 600 boys and girls each year, employing a summer staff of more than 100 counselors and setting the standard of what camping should be.
While many things have changes since its inception, the camp’s commitment to providing programs that take fun to new heights remains the same. In addition to its unique water sports, recreation and special event schedule, Seashore is known for producing some of the strongest, most accomplished swimmers and athletes at the Jersey Shore.