6 New Jersey Summer Camps With Elective Activities

4/10/14 - By De'On Mallory

Kids generally spend their summer camp days participating in an array of structured activities; some camps, however, are switching things up and allowing children to pick and choose the activities where they'd like to place more of their focus. These customizable, "pick-your-own-program" camps give kids a sense of responsibility and accountability, because they have some say in their camp scheduling and can choose a little tennis, a lot of horseback riding, or a whole bunch of theater games. And to find a full range of summer camp options in our fair state, check out our New Jersey Summer Day Camp Guide.

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Black Bear Lake Day Camp  (Millstone Township, NJ)
At Black Bear Lake Day Camp, campers choose their favorite of a variety of elective activities each week for a customized camp experience. They can stay with that activity the next week, or decide to go with another. Some of the available electives are baseball, outdoor laser tag, ziplining, horseback riding, cheerleading, DJ class, chess, Edge Fitness, and many more. They also participate in group activities such as swimming, group choice and special event activities. There are programs for kids entering pre-K up to grade 10. Transportation is included in tuition. For more information, call 609-259-1777.

Campus Kids (Blairstown, NJ)
Located on the campus of Blair Academy, Campus Kids is a weekday sleep-away camp that offers a huge selection of activities such as individual and team sports, arts & crafts, creative writing, drama, dance, drums, guitar, swimming, skate boarding, fishing, and more. Every day, children get "Camper Choice" programming which lets them decide what they'd like to try out, as well as activities they already know they enjoy. They can concentrate individually on sports, fine arts, performing arts, aquatics, nature, or choose a combination of activities. Campus Kids is open to kids ages 8 to 15 . A Weekend Adventure program is also offered for campers entering 7th grade and older. Bus service is available at no extra cost from Bergen, Passaic, Essex, Morris, Somerset, Union, Middlesex and Monmouth Counties. For more information, call 973-845-9260.

MKA STAR Camp and JR STAR Camp (Montclair, NJ)
MKA (Montclair Kimberley Academy) offers a JR STAR Camp (grades Pre-K - 2) and a STAR Camp (grades 3-8). The camps feature sports, arts, cake decorating, dance, theater, swimming, science, computers, edible art, LEGOmania, video production and more. Personalized scheduling in these programs allow kids to explore their interests. Campers at STAR Camp choose five activities per week, while JR STAR campers participate in swim and sports/games, then pick their activities for the remainder of the day. MKA also offers a Summer Skills for Success program which focuses on reading, writing and mathematics for those looking to advance and develop those skills. For more information, call 973-233-3001.

Camp Liberty (Jersey City, NJ)
The Educational Arts Team, a nonprofit that offers a variety of educational in-school and after-school workshops, operates Camp Liberty. The program accepts children ages 6-15 and has 4 two-week sessions. Kids get to pick from gardening, music, storytelling, softball and other activities, and also join in on collaborative events like plays, talent shows or art exhibits. Transportation is available for those enrolled in the camp's regular hours program. For more information, call 201-432-1911/1912.

Morristown-Beard Day Camp (Morristown, NJ)
A more traditional day camp program, with flexible scheduling available on special events days. Camp activities develop skills in sports, arts and crafts, drama, swimming and science, while specialty programs consist of activities like ceramics, digital photography, writing and biking. For more information, call 973-539-3032.

Tamarack Day Camp (Randolph, NJ)
Another camp that offers a "choice" period in which campers are allowed to determine the activity they'll take part in. Each week, the kids are allowed to either select a new activity, or stick with one they've chosen in the past week(s). Tamarack is full of creative and athletic activities such as soccer, mountain biking, jewelry making, and video editing. The camp philosophy stresses a concern for nurturing children's "real life" skills like independence, confidence, social interaction and emotional intelligence. The camp is open to children ages 3-15. Door-to-door transportation is provided in certain areas. For more information, call 862-244-4422.

 

 

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