Summer Camps for Every Kind of Kid – NJ Family

The many options for camps can be overwhelming at first glance. Do your research now (and call for dates, prices and deadlines) and your child is bound to have an unforgettable summer!

ACADEMIC CAMPS

The Elisabeth Morrow School
elisabethmorrow.org
Englewood
Camp meets classroom at Summer Explorations (kids age 2 through grade 9), with selections that delve into genetics, chemistry, mythology, history, astronomy and more.

The Writers Circle
writerscircleworkshops.com
Madison
Teen scribes honing their craft at WC’s week-long Summer Writing Intensive at Drew University focus on genres like poetry, playwriting or memoirs, enjoying support, feedback and literary fun along the way.

International Ivy
iisummer.com
Multiple locations
Hands-on, in-person STEAM (think engineering, math, programming) learning will keep your child age 3-15 in peak performance mode (full and half days available).

iD Tech
idtech.com
Multiple locations
Typically held at one of 150+ campuses nationwide, iD Tech’s summer camps focus on favorite STEM obsessions such as coding in Roblox and Minecraft. iD Tech will be back on campus this summer.

Morristown Beard
mbs.net/about/summerprograms
Morristown
Classes designed to pique campers’ curiosity have included Strategy Gaming, Electronic Music Immersion, Constitutional Debate and more. Middle school courses are open to rising sixth through eighth graders, with more courses for high schoolers.

Newark Academy
newarka.edu
Livingston
Top-notch academics and enrichment for young scholars grades K-12 meet classes for thinkers like podcasting and financial literacy. Classes such as Jump Start and Mott-Leeney Baseball Camp are held on the school’s gorgeous campus.

Oak Knoll
oakknoll.org/summer
Summit
This co-ed summer program offers prep classes for kids entering kindergarten to get them ready for their first day of school and has offerings for elementary students. Middle schoolers through high schoolers can focus on classes like geometry, physics and SAT prep.

Summer Imagineering
summerimagineering.com
Montvale
This STEM-centered academic enrichment program for creative and curious 13 and 14-year-olds will have kids designing and building working models to solve problems using simple materials. It’s a chance to step away from the computer and create!

Tessa International School
tessais.org
Hoboken
Native Spanish, French or Mandarin speakers immerse kids ages 2.5-8 in their choice of language through interactive activities, crafts and whimsical themes such as Space Explorer, On a Pirate Ship and Hollywood.

Pingry Summer
pingrysummer.org
Basking Ridge
An academic mix of core and enrichment classes (language arts, math, engineering, architecture and more) will keep minds sharp whether for credit or the competitive edge. Add a half-day of sports or day camp to round out the camp experience.

Wardlaw + Hartridge
whschool.org
Edison
The Brain Boosters Junior Academics (grades 1-5) is a three-week program focused on using technology and hands-on activities to develop math, writing and reading skills. The Summer Scholars (grades 6-12) program offers college prep-style courses.

Winston Preparatory School
winstonprep.edu
Whippany
The month-long Summer Enrichment Program boosts language facility, math aptitude, executive functioning and independence through small classes grouped by skill level and learning style, plus daily 1:1 instruction targeting the area of greatest need. Culinary arts, photography, social pragmatics and other activities are offered.

ART CAMPS

Arts Council of Princeton
artscouncilofprinceton.org
Princeton
Join for 11 weeks of camp for kids ages 5-16 led by incredible teaching artists. Kids can try their hand at painting, mixed media, fiber arts, clay and more.

Art Sparks
artsparksstudio.com
Hopewell
Kids can explore a variety of media such as acrylics, collage, watercolors, pastels, charcoal, printmaking, sculpture, photography, colored pencils, clay and much more.

The Center for Contemporary Arts
ccabedminster.org
Bedminster
Get her wheels spinning at this state-of-the-art studio’s ceramics camp, where she can throw and glaze her own creations. If pottery isn’t her thing, there’s also mixed media offered (which explores everything from painting to sculpture) and various projects that change each week.

Visual Arts Center of New Jersey
artcenternj.org
Summit
Camps for kids ages 5-9, tweens ages 10-12 and teens ages 13+ provide youngsters with the chance to explore art media and techniques with weekly themes and small class sizes.

COOKING CAMPS

Classic Thyme
classicthyme.com
Westfield
Put their culinary skills to the test in one of these of multi-day, mini-camps focused on things like baking, vegetarian cooking and pizza-making. Fun classes like “Edible and Living Garden School Yard Farm to Table,” allow for children as young as four, to plant and harvest their own ingredients.

HealthBarn USA
healthbarnusa.com
Ridgewood
This is a camp where they can eat, plant, cook and play! Summer Camp (ages 4-13) and Summer Seedlings (ages 3-5) are both hands-on experiences that take place in a test kitchen and organic teaching garden.

DAY CAMPS

Camp Riverbend
campriverbend.com
Warren Township
Kids play sports and try their hand at woodworking and jewelry-making in small, same sex groups broken down by age. They can also explore nature by canoeing and rope climbing.

The East Orange YMCA
metroymcas.org
East Orange
Campers spend the summer swimming in an indoor pool, playing games and engaging in activities centered on a new theme every week. Teens can participate in the CIT program, where they plan different activities for younger kids.

GSB Summer Camp
gsbschool.org
Gladstone
Formerly Hi Hills, this camp provides preschoolers through 8th graders with fun-filled, age-appropriate experiences to connect with nature, explore new passions and build social skills in a safe environment.

Kent Place Summer Camp
kentplace.org
Summit
Little explorers ages 3–5 spend their days crafting and playing games, while junior and senior campers (ages 5–10) play sports, explore the outdoors and even participate in dance and musical theater. Passport Camp lets kids ages 11–13 take creative arts classes and help out with service projects.

JCC Camp Ruach
jcccampruach.org
Bridgewater
Eight weeks of fun from June 27-August 19 include three heated pools and a splash pad, baseball and soccer fields, NINJA warrior course, a ropes course, an air-conditioned building with an arts room and gymnasium and so much more.

Palisades Country Day School
palisadescountryday.com
Closter and Fort Lee
Campers can choose two electives to dive into per day, work on swimming skills, play sports (even cheerlead) and monkey around on the playground.

Camp Veritans
campveritans.com
Haledon
This full-service day camp lets campers participate in daily Red Cross instructional swim as well as a variety of fun activities including sports, arts & crafts, archery, go carts, woodworking, ropes & challenge course, cooking, drama, gymnastics, free swim, game center and more.

GIFTED AND TALENTED CAMPS

Heroes Academy for the Gifted
giftednj.org
Monroe Twp.
This enrichment program feeds their intellectual appetite all summer long with exposure to advanced topics like computer science and complex essay writing at an accelerated pace.

Montclair State University Gifted and Talented Program
giftedstudy.org
Montclair
Kids can reach above and beyond academically and pursue their passion either on campus or online in this three-week-long enrichment program.

Summer Institute For the Gifted
giftedstudy.org
Various locations
Experience life as a college student while studying various topics in humanities, arts, math, science and performing arts at this three-week intensive program. Kids pick from topics like “Scriptwriting, Page One, Rewrite!” or “Medical Biology,” and take off-campus trips on the weekends.

HORSEBACK RIDING CAMPS

Essex Equestrian Center
essexequestrian.com
West Orange
Novice riders learn the ins and outs of grooming in the morning and get a hands-on introduction to arena riding in the afternoon. More advanced equestrians can work on their trot or canter at the in-depth full-day program.

Frost Valley YMCA
frostvalley.org
Claryville, NY
Girls spend half of the day perfecting their technique on the trails and then hike, swim and rock climb at Mustang Village during this two-week program. Plus, there’s a camp exclusively for boys at Durango Village (ages 7–11) and sessions for more seasoned riders ages 12 and up.

Seaton Hackney Summer Stables Program
seatonhackney.com
Morristown
Horseback riders of all skill levels spend the day either in the ring or in the barn at this equestrian camp. Beginners learn the basics of riding and horse management, while advanced riders work on their jumping and canters. There’s also a weekly field trip to various shows and clinics.

OVERNIGHT CAMPS

Cohen Camps
cohencamps.org
Wellesley, MA
For more than 85 years, Camp Pembroke, Camp Tel Noar and Camp Tevya—three Jewish camps – have welcomed young people and their families. Campers explore and celebrate shared values, traditions and love of Israel.

Maine Camp Experience
mainecampexperience.com
Portland, ME
MCE is a community of summer camps for boys and girls with strong traditions and so much natural beauty for kids to thrive in. Some camps are co-ed while others are single gender. Explore options for the full summer or just a few weeks.

Surprise Lake Camp
surpriselake.org
Cold Spring, NY
SLC is one of the nation’s longest running Jewish sleepaway camps and is located on 400 beautiful acres in Cold Spring. Camp here is about unplugging, growing and exploring Jewish values in a serene setting.

PERFORMING ARTS CAMPS

All Children’s Theatre
allchildrenstheater.org
Locations Vary
Future stars of the big screen earn their time in the spotlight while studying comedy, drama and musical theater and end the summer with one or more live performances.

Class Act Performing Arts Studio
classactpas.com
South Orange
Triple-threats in-training, tiny performers (ages 3–6) pick from themes like Frozen and Sofia the First, before showing off what they’ve learned. Older kids (ages 7–14) meet every day for two weeks to put together a Broadway-inspired number.

Theater Camp at Elks Lodge
taubenslagproductions.com
Edison
Kids shine in several original productions while learning from seasoned pros over this camp’s two-month duration. Plus, there’s time to swim, play games and even catch a Broadway show.

The Moderne Academie of Fine Arts
moderneacademie.com
Scotch Plains
Ballerinas in training spend the mornings on their tippy-toes followed by movies, arts and crafts and snacks. More experienced dancers (ages 8–18) choose from different workshops and learn the basics from in-house teachers and guest instructors from NYC.

The New Jersey Workshop for the Arts
njworkshopforthearts.com
Westfield
Grade-school-aged thinkers take three-week-long classes like “Broadway Dance” where they learn choreography or “Engineering” where they can explore and build machines using the “LEGO Engineering Program.” There are also options for pre-K and kindergarten students where they socialize through hands-on group play.

SPECIAL NEEDS CAMPS

Easter Seal’s New Jersey Camp Merry Heart
easterseals.com
Hackettstown
There’s tons of swimming, biking, fishing and zip lining across the wooded, 123-acre campground at this program for kids with autism and mental and physical disabilities. Campers will be under the supervision of trained caretakers focused on their social development.

Harbor Haven
harborhaven.com
West Orange
This 7-week program designed for kids with mild special needs promises an action-packed summer while improving social and motor skills. Campers spend time outdoors, swim, dance and have an “Olympic” sports competition every Wednesday.

Hybridge Summer Program
hybridgelearning.com
South River
Children with autism spectrum disorders play games, spend time outdoors, participate in team sports and music lessons. Campers receive one-on-one and small-group instruction that helps hone their social and play skills.

SPORTS-SPECIFIC CAMPS

AFFA Fencing & Fitness Academy
affafencing.com
Garwood
This camp will teach and reinforce basic techniques, rules and strategies of fencing.

Montclair State Ice Arena
montclairstatearena.com
Little Falls
Aspiring Wayne Gretskys develop stick skills on the ice and improve stamina with hockey camp. There is also a figure skating camp offered for all ages.

Heron Club Junior Golf Camp
heronglen.com
Ringoes
This camp, led by former PGA tour instructors, helps your junior golfers sharpen their drive, regardless of skill level. There’s also a “Birdies” camp for younger putters, for ages 7–11.

NJ Jackals’ Nike Baseball Camp
ussportscamp.com
Little Falls
They’ll get one-on-one time with semi-pros players while improving their batting and fielding skills at this five-day camp.