"Riverweek is the best camp on the Hudson."

A strong claim, indeed, but it's straight from the mouth of a young environmentalist who recently took part in Historic Hudson Valley's Riverweek summer camp at Van Cortlandt Manor.

A new program launched this year, Riverweek was designed by HHV's camp gurus to complement the organization's existing Summerweek programs, which are for children ages 9-11 and take place at Sunnyside and Philipsburg Manor, as well as Van Cortlandt Manor.

Riverweek, however, which is dedicated to the history of the Hudson and Croton Rivers as well as modern lessons about conservation and preservation, is for the 11- 13-year-old set.

"So many of our students who stay with us for three years in Summerweek asked us for a camp for older kids that we just had to respond," said Danielle Fontaine, camp manager. "They wanted something that was different and challenging but still featured the historic immersion experience that defines Summerweek."

This year's pilot Riverweek program, a collaboration with Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, was by all measures a huge success, said Danielle, who you can see in the top photo (she's the one with the ponytail.)

In an exit survey, a whopping 100% of the campers (yes, that means all of them) said they would want to return and repeat the program next year and would highly recommend the program to their friends.

Now that's impressive!

Activities ranged from the artistic (like creating the brightly colored carp shown above) to the crafty (like building wooden boats, also shown above).

More on Riverweek to come...

The weather held and folks came out for a little sunshine and history at Friday's Independence Day celebrations at Van Cortlandt Manor and Sunnyside.

In the top photo are gentlemen from Doughty Artillery Company, military re-enactors who wowed the crowds at Van Cortlandt Manor, and in the bottom photo, some spirited country dancers at Sunnyside.

Hundreds of visitors came out for both events, and the press came, too. Here's a piece from the Journal News.

Were you there? Leave a comment and tell us what you thought!

Yes, HVBlogger acknowledges the 50% chance of  a shower, but c'mon, you can't just sit inside on the start of a long holiday weekend! HHV has two offbeat events today -- Independence Day 1808 (Van Cortlandt Manor) and Independence Day 1858 (Sunnyside). How often do you get to choose your own time period?

The Journal News saw fit to publish a cover story on today's events, featuring the most clever lede (the opening sentences, for you non-journo types) HVBlogger has seen in quite some time:

Cannnon-wielding soldiers and hotheaded debaters might seem like a dangerous combination. Luckily, they're miles apart.

Oh, and Crotonblog had a few things to say about us, too.

Click here to buy tickets online. (Psst...used discount code USA and your 5-17 year olds get in free.)

And in our final installment about the joys of Summerweek, Danielle Fontaine has some good news for Web-overloaded older kids, too.

As you know, all of the Summerweek camps are for kids aged 9-11 and run from 9:30 until 3:30.

Slightly older than 11-year-old: "But wait, I'm too old to go to Summerweek, and I want to go!"

Me: "You're stuck in the 21st century I guess. Nothing to do except comment on MySpace and watch Britney videos on YouTube."

Slightly older than 11-year-old: *shudders to think*

Me: "No worries! A whole bunch of Summerweek campers who loved camp and realized that they'd ‘aged out' called me with the same problem sooooo..."

Riverweek was created! This is a never-been-done, one-of-a-kind camp that combines the history of Van Cortlandt Manor with the environmental activism of the Sloop Clearwater. Taking place Aug. 4-8, just after Van Cortlandt's River Day extravaganza on Aug. 3, Riverweek lets campers ages 11-13 step into life on the river back in the early 19^th century. You can learn how our history was shaped by the Hudson and Croton Rivers and then take a GIANT step into the present to see how we, as stewards of the river, can affect the future in a positive fashion. Talk about time travel!

We'll spend a whole day at the banks of the Hudson doing water testing, seining, and beach combing; we'll look through the eyes of the Hudson River School of artists, build boats, tie knots, hear tales of river pirates and, oh, yeah, make music!

Whoa! I'm seeing a lot of the past in your future! There's still time to sign up and join in on the historic happenings at Summerweek and Riverweek! Link up to the flyer here and call me at 914-631-8200 Ext. 643 to reserve your place in history.

Part two of our miniseries on the pleasures of Summerweek, courtesy of Danielle Fontaine, camp administrator. This time, she talks about the programs at Sunnyside and Van Cortlandt Manor. Take it away Danielle!

***You're on the lavish lawns of Sunnyside, the home of famous writer Washington Irving (the guy who wrote The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and a lot of other great stories). Ladies in hoop skirts and gents in top hats welcome you to the cottage where the story was written. Just like "Uncle Wash," you'll feel your creative juices flow on the hills of Sunnyside, over looking the Hudson River.

Walk away from the TV - we're creating and producing our own shadow puppet shows! Quill pens replace IMs! Leave your iPod at home and make your own kite, design a fantasy garden, listen to stories and sketch on the lawns surrounding the cottage, crank ice cream, and spend some time in the coolest amusement park ever - your imagination! Sunnyside's camp runs from July 14 until July 18. If you're up to some good old fashioned dirty work set your sites on the year 1800 and...

Meet me in the clay pits at Van Cortlandt Manor where you'll be making bricks that will help the country rebuild after the Revolutionary War. We have a lot of work to do on the shores of the Croton River: besides brick-making, there's tin punching, blacksmithing, and candle making. You'll learn a lot of necessary skills like making medicine out of stuff from the garden, cooking lunch on an open hearth (yum!), how to spin yarn and weave cloth to make clothes and quilts, and (whew!) haul water and go fishing.

Characters step out of the history books and tell about what's happening in the New Nation. Hey, there's fun to be had too - you'll play (and make your own) games like the Van Cortlandt children did. This camp takes place July 21-25.***

Ready to sign up or at least get sign up info? Click here.

Got a question for Danielle? E-mail her.