About Driftwood

In 1958, Sue Kuznetz, affectionately known as "Miss Sue," opened a small nursery school in the basement of her family home in Plainview, New York.

With a genuine love for children and a forward-thinking approach to early childhood education, Miss Sue created an environment where children could learn, explore, develop confidence, and, most importantly, feel loved.

What started as a handful of children quickly grew as families throughout the community discovered something special about Miss Sue's approach to education.

As demand increased, so did the dream. In 1968, Miss Sue's Nursery School expanded into a dedicated facility on Old Country Road in Plainview.

That same year, Miss Sue's son, Ronnie Kuznetz, joined the family business, bringing fresh ideas, boundless energy, and a passion for creating meaningful childhood experiences.

Ronnie would eventually take the reins, continuing his mother's legacy while dreaming of opportunities to reach even more children.

What began in a basement would become the foundation for generations of unforgettable childhood memories.

Ronnie believed that the same nurturing environment that helped children thrive during the school year could become something even more extraordinary during the summer.

That vision led to the creation of Miss Sue's Summer Fun Day Camp, expanding the family's educational philosophy into the world of summer camping.

With a focus on personal growth, friendship, exploration, and fun, the program became a natural extension of Miss Sue's commitment to helping children reach their full potential.

But the family's passion for camping didn't stop there.

The family's journey into camping continued with Camp Tioga, a sleepaway camp in Pennsylvania.

Camp Tioga represented another chapter in the family's dedication to providing children with extraordinary summer experiences. The traditions, friendships, independence, and incredible sense of community associated with sleepaway camping helped shape a vision for what a truly exceptional camp could be.

The experience reinforced a philosophy that would eventually become central to Driftwood:

In 2008, the family, spearheaded by Ronnie and Mike, affectionately known as "Wags," took their passion for children and summer camping to an entirely new level with the acquisition of Driftwood Day Camp in Melville, New York.

Originally established in 1959, Driftwood already had a long history of providing summer experiences for Long Island families.

But Ronnie and Mike "Wags" saw an opportunity to create something truly extraordinary.

Their vision was ambitious: to combine the warmth, personal attention, and family values of Miss Sue's Nursery School with the energy, spirit, traditions, and excitement of a premier sleepaway camp—all within a magnificent day camp setting.

They weren't simply interested in operating another "summer camp."

They wanted to redefine what a summer day camp could be.

What happened next was nothing short of extraordinary!

With a shared vision and an unwavering commitment to excellence, Ronnie, Wags, and their incredible team embarked on what can only be described as an EXTREME CAMP MAKEOVER!

The mission? To completely reimagine Driftwood's magnificent 22-acre campus and create a summer camp experience that would set a new standard on Long Island.

And they didn't hold back!

What followed was an incredible transformation of the property, with extensive renovations, newly constructed facilities, upgraded activity areas, and exciting attractions designed to give campers experiences they could previously only dream of.

From the ground up, Driftwood was being reinvented!

New and improved athletic fields, swimming facilities, adventure courses, climbing attractions, creative arts spaces, and countless other additions began transforming the campus into an extraordinary summer destination.

The goal wasn't simply to build beautiful facilities. It was to create a place where every camper, regardless of age, interests, or abilities, could find something they loved, discover something new, and experience the very best camp had to offer.

And the transformation didn't stop after the first summer.

Year after year, Driftwood continued to grow, innovate, and introduce exciting new experiences. The philosophy was simple:

As Driftwood's campus transformed, so did its reputation.

Families quickly discovered that Driftwood offered something truly unique: an extraordinary variety of activities, exceptional facilities, experienced leadership, and a camp community where every child is known, valued, and encouraged to succeed.

The combination proved to be something special.

Over the years, Driftwood has earned widespread recognition, including being named Best of Long Island by the Long Island Press for 17 consecutive years, a testament to the dedication of our staff, the loyalty of our families, and the incredible experiences we create each summer.

But while the awards and recognition are wonderful, our greatest accomplishments have never been measured in trophies.

They're measured in the smiles of campers, the friendships that last a lifetime, the confidence gained from trying something new, and the generations of families who proudly call Driftwood their summer home.

More than six decades after Miss Sue first welcomed children into her family's basement, the values that inspired her remain at the heart of everything we do.

Today, Driftwood continues to carry forward the family's commitment to providing children with an environment where they feel safe, supported, challenged, and inspired.

While our facilities have grown and our programs have evolved, the foundation of Driftwood remains exactly what it was when Miss Sue opened her doors in 1958: a genuine love for children and a belief that every child deserves the opportunity to thrive.

It's a philosophy that connects our past, present, and future.

From Miss Sue's Nursery School to Camp Tioga and ultimately Driftwood Day Camp, each chapter has helped shape the extraordinary camp experience we are so proud to offer today.

At Driftwood, we are incredibly proud of where we came from—but we've never been a camp that spends too much time looking backward.

Our commitment to innovation, improvement, and creating unforgettable experiences continues to drive us forward.

Every year brings new ideas, new opportunities, and new ways to make the Driftwood experience even more extraordinary.

Because we believe that no matter how incredible last summer was, the best summer should always be the one that's coming next!

From a small nursery school in 1958 to a magnificent 22-acre summer camp, our journey has been nothing short of remarkable.

And the most exciting part? We're just getting started!