BUSINESS AT A GLANCE: MAGIC DAY CAMP

Name of Owners: David, Brett, Daniel and Jesse Tawil
Name of Business: Magic Carpet Day Camp
Address: P.O. Box 171, Fort Tilden NY 11695
Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., Monday through Friday during the summer months.
Phone Number: 718-634-8109
Website: www.magiccarpetdaycamp.com
E-mail: contactus@magiccarpetdaycamp.com

*We have owned the camp for almost 7 years

HOW DID YOU START/GET INTO THIS BUSINESS?

The Tawil family, which has always been in the camping business and grew up going to camps, was looking to get into a camping business of their own and heard about a reputable day camp that had already been around for 10 years and was for sale. They decided to purchase it seven years ago. Brett Tawil said, “It´s been running smoothly, every year getting better.”

What do you do?

Magic Carpet Day Camp serves children between the ages of 4 and 14. Children take part in a variety of activities, including hot meals, special trips, entertainment, arts and crafts and swimming, among others. The camp also provides door-to-door transportation. All activities are supervised by a specially trained and caring staff. The camp assists in developing the individual character of its children, with each activity acting as a learning experience.

What is special about your business?

Along with having a safe, fun environment with personalized attention, Tawil also said that, “In a short amount of time we give the kids a very complete day. We´re a camp that´s always meeting the needs of our children.”

What is your business motto?

“To have fun in a safe environment, making sure that every child feels good about every day he or she spends in the camp. A lot of time goes into that. Our focus is the children. We all get personal satisfaction out of the fun that we see kids having,” Tawil said.

THE QUEENS COURIER: STAR OF QUEENS

Brett Tawil
Owner/ C.E.O
Magic Carpet Day Camp

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:

A sports enthusiast and all-around athlete, Tawil manages to find time between his two jobs to work with the Rockaway Little League as well as teach and instruct at West End Temple a JCC basketball program.

PERSONAL:

Born and raised in Belle Harbor, Tawil still resides in Belle Harbor with his three children and wife, Daniella Van Graas, who works as a Ford model and actress. In April, Van Graas will make her big-screen debut in Perfect Stranger, a movie starring Bruce Willis, Halle Berry, and Giovanni Ribisi.

JOB:

Tawil is a Health and Physical Education Teacher at Beach Channel High School, where he coaches the school´s softball and basketball teams. In addition, he owns and serves as the CEO of Magic Carpet Day Camp in Bayside, a summer camp that provides swimming lessons, arts and crafts, and field trips to children ages 4 to 14. Tawil has been involved in the camp industry for over 25 years, and became the owner many years ago.

PROUDEST MOMENT:

“The birth of my three children,”  said Tawil.

BIGGEST CHALLENGE:

Tawil said that his biggest thrill in running the camp is “hiring the best counselors and supervisory staff to care for every child at the camp.”

FAVORITE MEMORY:

“I have special moments every day at the camp,” Tawil said, describing field trips to Adventureland amusement park in Farmingdale, L.I. and the laser tag arena at New Roc City in New Rochelle. In particular, Tawil remembered working with a camp participant, who has Down syndrome, and making sure that the child had fun and felt included in all of the camp activities.

INSPIRATION:

“Seeing the final product,” Tawil said. “In the years I have owned the camp, we have begun new and better programs for the children and gotten better buses for when we go on trips.”