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Nickelodeon Universe is one of the can't-miss destinations at American Dream Mall in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Photo courtesy of the venue
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At Tenafly Nature Center Camp, kids experience the natural world. Photo courtesy of the nature center
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Guests experience the safari at Six Flags Great Adventure from the privacy and safety of their own vehicles. Photo courtesy of Six Flags
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New Jersey kids can find free fun climbing the pirate ship at the free Garden State Plaza Westfield mall. Photo by Mommy Poppins
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Top Summer Day Camps for New Jersey Kids

Jeff Lake Day Camp in Sussex County offers tons of water fun and lots more.
Jeff Lake Day Camp in Sussex County offers tons of water fun and lots more.
3/7/21 - By Laurie Rein

While summer and warm weather may feel like a lifetime away, it's not too early to start exploring summer camp options. New Jersey is home to awesome summer day camps that offer a wide variety of activities within one campground. Traditional offerings at these camps include sports, swimming, and arts, while unique selections include zip lines, laser tag, cooking, gymnastics, and rope courses.

While these all-encompassing camps are quite large, many offer great counselor-to-camper ratios with additional support from adults for younger groups. Most camps are taking added safety precautions for the summer of 2021, including masks and small groups.

Read on for the top summer day camps in New Jersey, many of which have had entire generations of families pass through. Find more New Jersey summer camps in our Camp Guide and Full Directory of Listings. You can also learn more about local and virtual summer camps with our upcoming Online Camp Fair where you can visit virtual booths and watch live camp demos.

 

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Apple Montessori Camp offers daily swim lessons with Red Cross-certified instructors. Photo courtesy of the camp
Apple Montessori Camp offers daily swim lessons with Red Cross-certified instructors. Photo courtesy of the camp

Summer Day Camps in Northern New Jersey

VSA Future Learning Center

Morris Plains
Ages 4-14
VSA Future offers enrichment classes and academic support throughout the year, plus a summer day camp program for kids from pre-K through grade 8. The fun and educational summer camp is in partnership with Huckleberry Family Entertainment Center, offering a unique blend of academics and creative activities. Campers study language arts, practice public speaking, write essays, perform science experiments, hone math skills, and more through different guided activities. Each camp week features a self-contained, independent curriculum. READ MORE

Apple Montessori Schools & Camps

Multiple Locations
Ages 3-6
Campers ages 3-6 enjoy educational adventures through music, art, and STEAM projects (STEM + Art), plus swimming and splash pads in select locations. Virtual programs are available as well. READ MORE

Harbor Hills Day Camp

Mendham
Ages 3-13
Harbor Hills campers experience all the excitement of summer camp, including sports, creative arts, performing arts, aquatics, and outdoor adventures, with overnight trips for teen campers.  READ MORE

Jeff Lake Day Camp

Stanhope
Ages 4-15
The scenic 50-acre lake features water trampolines, a climbing wall and slide, stand-up paddleboards, sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, and canoeing. The 350-acres of dry land includes tennis courts, rope courses, sports fields, art studios, and heated pools. READ MORE

Meadowbrook Country Day Camp

Long Valley
Ages 6-12
Meadowbrook offers an innovative and exciting day camp program focused on youth development for grades 1-6. Adventures include sports, boating, creative and performing arts, and an aquatic complex. READ MORE

New Horizons Day Camp

Florham Park
Ages 5-15
At New Horizons Day Camp, campers can choose from a variety of activities in the fields of sport, science, technology, creative arts, performing arts, innovations, academic enrichment, and media. READ MORE

Oasis Day Camps - New Jersey

Madison
Ages 3-15
Oasis Summer Camps offers three different types of programs: a traditional summer day camp program for children, a Teen Travel program with daily destinations for young adults, and a modified day Early Start Imagination Camp for preschoolers. READ MORE

Palisades Country Day Camp

Closter
Ages 3-8
PCDC offers daily instructional and recreational swim, daily electives, and weekly themed activities and special performances. PCDC has six crystal blue heated pools, a splash park, a nature center, arts and crafts activities, plus ceramics and sports.  READ MORE

Camp Riverbend

Warren
Ages 3-14
Situated on 30 acres of riverfront property along the Passaic River, Camp Riverbend offers a full range of team and individual sports, arts and crafts, daily swimming lessons, an adventure course, cooking, nature exploration, and more.  READ MORE

Spring Lake Day Camp

Ringwood
Ages 3-16
Spring Lake Day Camp spreads across a 30-acre campus that includes a five-pool complex, a 5-acre lake with zip line, two hockey rinks, baseball and soccer fields, a gymnastics pavilion, an indoor dance studio, a ropes course, a climbing tower, and more.  READ MORE

Steve & Kate's Camp - NJ

Montclair
Ages 4-12
Steve & Kate's summer camp empowers your kids to make their own choices, setting them up for a fulfilling and creative future. Activities include baking, sewing, crafting, media lab, sports, karaoke, and so much more.  READ MORE

Tamarack Day Camp

Randolph
Ages 3-15
Tamarack's mission is to create a unique atmosphere allowing campers to develop skills in a variety of activities while gaining life skills. Facilities include an Olympic-sized pool, pro-turf sports complex, creative arts studio, skate park, and ropes course.  READ MORE

Willow Lake Day Camp

Lake Hopatcong
Ages 3-15
Willow Lake offers young sports enthusiasts a variety of athletic activities, like basketball, soccer, gymnastics, martial arts, tennis, archery, pedal karts, and more. Water sports, arts, zip lines, and special events round out the fun. READ MORE
Black Bear Lake Camp in Millstone Township allows campers to create their own personalized schedules. Photo courtesy of the camp
Black Bear Lake Camp in Millstone Township allows campers to create their own personalized schedules. Photo courtesy of the camp

Summer Day Camps in Central New Jersey

Black Bear Day Camp

Millstone
Ages 3-15
Situated on a 5-acre lake, Black Bear Lake Camp offers a progressive program. Black Bear campers create their own daily schedules, with options like sports, fine arts, cooking, science, drama, laser tag, and frolicking in a water park.  READ MORE

Frogbridge Day Camp

Millstone
Ages 3-13
Frogbridge has an amusement park feel, with 86 acres of boating, tubing, go-karts, bumper cars, inflatables, trampolines, laser tag, and more. Plus, there are four heated pools, air-conditioned indoor facilities, and an ice cream parlor. READ MORE

Gill St. Bernard's School - Hi Hills Camps

Gladstone
Ages 3-17
Combine academics and sports with day camp activities; a camper can take a science enrichment camp in the morning and then enjoy the afternoon swimming and playing with friends.  READ MORE

JCC Camp Ruach

Bridgewater
Ages 3-15
Located on 14 beautiful acres, Camp Ruach offers flexible day programs for preschoolers to ninth graders, plus LIT (leadership in training) and special ed options. Activities include swimming, ropes courses, karate, theater, dance, cooking, zip line, mini golf, and archery. Teens can hit the road at travel camp. READ MORE

LakeView Day Camp

East Brunswick
Ages 3-15
LakeView's impressive array of activities includes zip lines, a rock wall, archery, go-karts, trampolines, ceramics, drama, robotics, and creative play. Four heated pools, lake activities, sports, and special events round out the fun. READ MORE

MCCC Camp College

West Windsor
Ages 6-13
Camp College has academic programs, plus Sea Camp, golf, visual arts, and more for nine fun weeks. READ MORE

Oak Crest Day Camp

Somerset
Ages 3-15
Oak Crest campers experience a range of adventures, from the soccer field to the climbing tower, in the ceramics studio, and on the stage in the camp show. READ MORE

Rambling Pines Day Camp

Hopewell
Ages 3-17
This family-owned camp offers a variety of activities, including swimming, art, dance, gymnastics, computers, boating, ceramics, tennis, archery, horseback riding, and an adventure course.  READ MORE

Camp Sacajawea

Farmingdale
Ages 3-15
At the Girl Scout-run Camp Sacajawea, young girls are well-cared for, happy, and engaged. Campers discover the wonders of nature, try new things, make friends, and more. Girls spend their summer outdoors, exploring while developing positive self-esteem, leadership skills, and social skills. READ MORE

YMCA Camp Mason

Hardwick
Ages 3-14
Whether you’re looking for a traditional overnight camp, day camp, ranch camp, adventure trips, or a counselor-in-training program, Camp Mason has something for every camper from ages 5-14. Day campers participate in trips, talent shows, and weekly theme days. READ MORE
Performing arts is part of the fun at Rolling Hills Country Day Camp. Photo courtesy of the camp
Performing arts is part of the fun at Rolling Hills Country Day Camp. Photo courtesy of the camp

Summer Day Camps in South Jersey and the Jersey Shore

Allaire Country Day Camp

Wall
Ages 2 1/2-14
Located at the 11 acre GoodSports USA complex, this camp's outdoor facilities include pools, a splash park, archery, basketball courts, gaga ball, and a kickball stadium. The climate-controlled indoor space houses astroturf fields and activity rooms. READ MORE

Camp Amity Acres

Barnegat
Ages 3-15
Camp Amity Acres offers a variety of safe, enriching outdoor summer camp experiences for girls ages 3-15, helping them develop positive self-esteem, leadership skills, and social skills, all while having the time of their lives. READ MORE

Rolling Hills Day Camp

Freehold
Ages 3-16
Fun, friendship, and growth are the cornerstones of a Rolling Hills summer. The enthusiastic and nurturing staff, top-notch facilities, and incredible range of activities create every imaginable possibility for summertime fun. READ MORE

Tall Pines Day Camp

Williamstown
Ages 3-14
Summertime fun at Tall Pines includes sports like swimming and soccer, performing arts, crafts, cooking, rope courses, boating, fishing, zip towers, and more.  READ MORE

Camp Tuscaloosa

Hammonton
Ages 3 1/2-14
Established over 60 years ago, this South Jersey camp includes swimming, archery, crafts, team sports, cooking, gaga ball, science, mini golf, and much more. Campers can also look forward to special theme days. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Camp College at Mercer County Community College