Welcome to the Dr. Recess Games Program for Camps...a new and exciting way to help children learn, grow, develop, and live healthy lives through play.

What is the Dr. Recess Games Program for Camps?

The Dr. Recess Games Program for Camps is an on-site instructional games event that promotes the importance of being active and living a healthy life by using fun, developmentally appropriate games to teach social/emotional skills, thinking skills, and motor skills to children. It was created by award-winning teacher and author, Curt Hinson, Ph.D., as part of the Trouble-free Playground program. Dr. Hinson’s Trouble-free Playground program is currently being implemented at schools in all 50 states. The Dr. Recess Games Program  for Camps allows camps to improve the health and fitness levels of children by teaching them fun, appropriate games and activities to play while at camp.

Who is it for?

The Dr. Recess program is for any camp with kids aged 5 to 14 years.

How does it work?

The Dr. Recess representative comes to your camp and conducts a 45-minute instructional program that teaches your campers fun, high-energy games and activities.  Most of the games will be games that your campers have never heard of or seen before, such as:  Guard the Cookie Jar; Keep Away; Knockdown; Hoop Ball; Team Touchdown; and many others.   Following the games demonstration, the Dr. Recess instructor will set up the games and activities for your campers to play and enjoy. 

Why participate?

The goal of most camps is to offer their campers fun, motivating activities throughout the day to help them not only grow and develop physically, but also to provide them with opportunities to expand their social/emotional and cognitive skills as well.  The Dr. Recess Games Program for Camps provides camps with a variety of research-supported games and activities that make each day at camp a rewarding experience for all children.  The games included in the program provide opportunities for all children to participate and succeed, regardless of skill level or ability.  The games are specifically designed and set up so that there are more children participating; less conflict among players; and more fun for everyone.

Many camps offer a variety of sport-type games to their campers such as soccer, football, softball, basketball, hockey, and more, which they often modify to some degree so younger, less skilled children can play them.  The Dr. Recess Games Program provides camps with new and exciting ways to modify these sports so younger, less skilled children not only can play them, they can excel at them.  Kids that are actively engaged in fun, motivating games that offer unlimited opportunities to participate enjoy camp more and go home happier at the end of the day.  

What are the benefits of the program?

Camp Benefits

• Less conflicts during games and activities
• Better use of play/activity time at camp
• Reduction in BULLYING at camp
• Fewer children being reprimanded for behavior
• Games are safer with fewer injuries
• Improved morale and motivation among campers
• Campers not complaining about being bored with the “same-old” games
• New fun and exciting games to play at camp
• Improved fitness and skill levels
• More participation; less standing around and waiting to play
• More game choices to select from
• Improved self-esteem through active participation at one’s individual level

Camper Benefits

Does the camp have to provide anything?

No. The Dr. Recess instructor will show up with all the equipment necessary to teach the games to dozens of campers at a time.

How many campers can participate?

The introductory instructional program can be done for hundreds of campers at one time. However, some larger camps prefer to divide their campers into two groups by age level and have two separate instructional programs.  Either way is fine and there’s no additional charge for the second program.  After the instructional program, the Dr. Recess instructor can spend time meeting with your campers in smaller groups; giving them a chance to play the games they just learned.

How much does it cost?

To bring the Dr. Recess Games Program to your camp for a day, the cost starts at $495.00 plus travel expenses (see below) for the instructor.  The fee includes both the large-group instructional program and the small-group game follow-up.  Call us at 302-438-3257 to get a specific quote to your location.

Note:  Travel expenses vary and are based on your camp’s location from the instructor.  There are no travel expenses incurred if you are located less than 100 miles from the instructor.  Typical travel expenses include things like airfare, hotel, and/or rental car and can range from $150 to $600 depending on your location.  Contact us for a specific quote for travel expenses to your area.

How do I arrange for the Dr. Recess Games Program to come to my camp?

Call us at 302-438-3257.  We’ll be happy to discuss possible dates and times with you. And, if you have any questions, we’ll be glad to answer them for you as well.

Who created the Dr. Recess Games Program for Camps?

The Dr. Recess Games Program was created by award-winning teacher and author, Curt Hinson, Ph.D., in 1997 as a follow-up program to his Trouble-free Playground training.  Originally the program was called Project PlayFit, but as Dr. Hinson traveled around the country to schools, teaching children how to play the games, he began to be referred to as “Dr. Recess” by the students and staff at every school he visited.  The name stuck and today there are hundreds of thousands of children across the country who have learned games from Dr. Recess.

Curt Hinson, Ph.D., (also known as Doctor Recess) has been teaching for over 34 years.  He taught at the elementary school level for 16 years and at the college level for over 18 years.  He currently works as an educational consultant for PlayFit Education Inc., presenting staff-training workshops, instructional programs, and play events for school districts, camps and corporations.  In addition, he teaches in the on-line graduate program at Canisius College in Buffalo, NY and is an adjunct professor at Rowan University in New Jersey.  He holds a Ph.D. in Kinesiology from Temple University, a Masters of Education degree from Widener University, and a BS degree in Health & Physical Education from West Virginia Wesleyan College.

Dr. Hinson is the author of three books, Fitness for Children; Games Kids Should Play at Recess; and 6-Steps to a Trouble-free Playground.  In addition, he has published over 50 articles related to teaching and is the creator of the “Trouble-free Playground” recess program for elementary schools.

Dr. Hinson has made presentations in all 50 states, as well as in Washington, DC, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Mexico.  His practical, hands-on teaching techniques, along with his enthusiasm, make him one of the most dynamic educators in the country.  He was the 1992 National Association for Sport and Physical Education Eastern District Teacher of the Year and the 1991 Delaware PE Teacher of the Year.  He is a member of the Society of Health and Physical Educators of America (SHAPE America); the National Association for Sport and Physical Education; and the American Association for Physical Activity and Recreation.  Dr. Hinson has been featured in the Wall Street Journal; Disney’s Family Fun magazine; and on the Fox News Network.  His Trouble-free Playground program is currently being implemented in schools in all 50 states.