Hayground is not your ordinary summer camp. Here, a closer look at the organization’s commitment to creating a confident community of kids.
A Hayground camper performs a jump on the pump track.
Nestled on 13 acres of farmland in Bridgehampton, Hayground (haygroundcamp.org) brings more than just a summer camp to the Hamptons community. Founded on the conviction that all children can create meaningful work in their own lives and valuable contributions to the lives of others, the year-round Hayground School empowers young minds to follow their passions, bridging cultural, ethnic and socioeconomic gaps through shared experiences.
Hayground Camp and its summer campus activities serve as a vital source of funding for the school’s ongoing diversity initiative. The Hayground skateboarding and biking program, led by renowned BMX stunt rider Russell Barone, started as a camp elective. By popular children’s demand, Hayground began offering evening and weekend lessons. It wasn’t long before summer skating and biking became a year-round endeavor with three different “pump tracks,” handsculpted obstacle courses made from dirt, somewhat symbolic of life’s twists and turns.
Annelise Peterson
“Once they learn to ride and skate on their own, they feel a sense of freedom. It’s up to the kids how far they want to take it,” shares Barone, whose passion lies in building confidence in children. “And that’s what they love,” he continues, “overcoming fears and conquering something they never thought about doing or didn’t know they could do.” Working with the Bridgehampton Child Care & Recreational Center and other local agencies, Hayground offers biking sessions to kids who would otherwise be unable to afford them. “All of our profits go toward the school and the local community.”
As Hayground’s camp and summer activities continue to expand and thrive, it serves as a reminder of the incredible possibilities that emerge when a community comes together to listen to and empower its youngest members. “We feel that biking and skating occupy a unique space for kids who may not connect with traditional sports,” Barone says. “Both give kids a way to challenge themselves and be a part of something while retaining their individuality through expressing themselves on the bike and the board with certain tricks or style.”
Through pedaling and shredding, Hayground not only shapes the lives of individual children but also cultivates a brighter, more resilient and diverse future for the entire Hamptons community. After all, learning to ride a bike or skateboard is not just about mastering a physical skill; it’s about gaining the confidence to embrace new challenges and navigate the road ahead.
Photography by: PHOTO COURTESY OF: HAYGROUND, PHOTO COURTESY OF: ANNELISE PETERSON
