The healthy, happy, sun-tanned children that live in Gerritsen are very active. The smaller ones dig in the sand while their older brothers and sisters are swimming in the privately owned community beach. There is a snack bar - and the G.B. Property Owners Ass'n now own a bungalow on the beach which they expect to convert into their own snack bar and rest rooms, in place of the rented portable rest rooms they now use. By the age of six most children can swim, and they have instructions and contests yearly. The best swimmers in the local high school pool are always from Gerritsen.
Some youngsters own rowboats, or boats with outboards, and begin fishing while they are young.
The modern Gerritsen Beach School built in 1953 during the Wagner Administration is attended by the children. A park, playground and recreation field are located by the school. Men in the community cleared the land for them and erected bleachers and fences, and marked the field out for sporting activities.