Hang out with life-size superheroes made out of balloons during Cranford's Superhero Stroll. Photo courtesy of Downtown Cranford
MLK Weekend 2026 in New Jersey: Best Things To Do With Kids
Admission to the Cohanzick Zoo in Bridgeton is completely free. Photo by Lisa Warden
100 Free Things To Do in New Jersey with Kids
Cruise in the Playmobil Fire Truck during your trip to Toys
23 Free Things To Do Indoors in New Jersey: Free Places To Play Indoors on Cold and Rainy Days
New Jersey kids can find free fun climbing the pirate ship at the free Garden State Plaza Westfield mall. Photo by Mommy Poppins
GUIDE
Guide to Free Fun Things To Do with NJ Kids
The New Jersey State Museum is always free and houses artifacts, natural and cultural history, dinosaurs, and fine art. Photo courtesy of the museum
Free Museum Days (and Always Free Museums!) in New Jersey
Disney on Ice's newest show,
Best Things To Do with Kids in New Jersey January 2026, from Mommy Poppins Editors
Check out ice skating, go-karts, bumper cars, and the marketplace at Newark Winter Village. Photo courtesy of Newark Winter Village
24 Best Winter Day Trips from New Jersey for Families
Hit the slopes in NJ this winter. Photo via Mountain Creek Facebook
Ultimate Winter Bucket List: 35 Best Things To Do with Kids in New Jersey
Get drawn into the art at the Morris Museum next time you're looking for indoor activities for kids in New Jersey. Photo by Kaylynn Chiarello Ebner
40 Things To Do Indoors in New Jersey on a Rainy Day
GUIDE
NJ Winter Vacation Guide: Best Getaways and Activities for Families
Romp with the triceratops and other dinos at Field Station: Dinosaurs in Leonia. Photo by Janet Bloom
Ultimate New Jersey Bucket List: 100 Things To Do with Kids in NJ
Get ready for back to school with all the right supplies, classes, and tips.
GUIDE
Back-to-School Guide 2025-2026
The Rainforest Cafe has two family-friendly restaurants in New Jersey. Photo courtesy of Rainforest Cafe
Themed Restaurants in New Jersey for Family-Friendly Interactive Dining
Cruise in the Playmobil Fire Truck during your trip to Toys
23 Free Things To Do Indoors in New Jersey: Free Places To Play Indoors on Cold and Rainy Days
Make a splash at a Jersey Shore waterpark, like Ocean Oasis at Morey's Piers. Photo by Kip Dawkins
100 Things To Do at the Jersey Shore with Kids in 2025
Attractions at Morganville's Play Big Zone include arcades games and a 2,000-square-foot obstacle course.
20 Best Kids' Indoor Playgrounds and Play Spaces in New Jersey
GUIDE
Summer Camps Guide for New Jersey Kids
The Battkeship New Jersey is an amazing hands on experience for families. Photo by Lisa Warden
Best NJ Children's Museums in South and Central Jersey
GUIDE
Guide to Indoor Play Spaces for New Jersey Kids
At Genius Gems in Millburn, kids under 2 get in free with an older sibling.
Budget-Friendly Indoor Play Spaces in New Jersey: Drop-in Play for $25 or Less
Hang out with the giant hippos at Camden's Adventure Aquarium. Photo by Kaylynn Chiarello Ebner
The Best New Jersey Zoos and Aquariums to Visit with Kids
The accessible playground at Watsessing Park works for children of all abilities. Photo by Margaret Hargrove
Best Playgrounds in New Jersey Worth the Drive
Pet baby goats on a visit to Brookhollow's Barnyard in Boonton. Photo by Kaylynn Ebner
Meet the Animals at these New Jersey Petting Zoos and Animal Farms
Beyond the casinos, Atlantic City is an all-ages playground, with Island Waterpark, boardwalk amusements, beach access, and more fun.
Atlantic City with Kids: 34 Top Things To Do in Atlantic City, NJ
The Funplex has two New Jersey locations for families to explore and enjoy.
Best Family Fun Centers & Indoor Amusement Parks in New Jersey
Palmer Square is a great place to relax in the heart of Princeton. Photo courtesy of Palmer Square
22 Best Things To Do in Princeton, NJ, with Kids
At a Bach to Rock birthday party, kids can sing karaoke or record their own CD.
18 Top Birthday Party Places in New Jersey for Kids
Nickelodeon Universe is one of the can't-miss destinations at American Dream Mall in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Photo courtesy of the venue
  VIDEO
Visiting American Dream Mall in New Jersey: 26 Fun Things To Do and Tips For Your Visit
Bounce, climb, and jump at BounceU in Paramus, one of our top indoor play spaces in northern New Jersey.
Top Indoor Playgrounds and Play Spaces in Northern New Jersey
Hike 1.6 miles to reach the dramatic beauty of South Mountain Reservation's Hemlock Falls. Photo by Rose Gordon Sala
Easy Waterfall Hikes in Northern New Jersey for Kids in 2025
Cheesequake State Park in Middlesex County offers hiking, fishing, swimming, boating, and much more. Photo by Ali Chandra
Great Day Trips to New Jersey State Parks and Forests
The Camden Children's Garden offers free admission for children under 2.
Free Admission for Kids at 50+ Top New Jersey Family Attractions
Cruise in the Playmobil Fire Truck during your trip to Toys
23 Free Things To Do Indoors in New Jersey: Free Places To Play Indoors on Cold and Rainy Days
Hop aboard a stagecoach for a ride back in time at Wild West City, one of New Jersey's top attractions.
Top Attractions in New Jersey: Best Things To See and Do With Kids
Creating a baking soda volcano is a classic science experiment for kids. Photo by Sara Marentette Nighswander
67 Easy Science Experiments for Kids To Do at Home
Teach 'em to tie during downtime.
65 Life Skills to Teach Kids at Every Age
These boredom-busting activities turn a stuck-at-home day into a lasting memory.
75 Indoor Activities for Kids on a Rainy Day
GUIDE
New Jersey Amusement Parks and Water Parks Guide

First-Timer Sleepaway Summer Camps near NYC

First-time sleepaway campers at Lohikan will participate in water activities and enjoy a fun in nature. Photo courtesy of the camp
First-time sleepaway campers at Lohikan will participate in water activities and enjoy a fun in nature. Photo courtesy of the camp
3/10/25 - By Rosalind Muggeridge

Many NYC kids spend most of their summer break at sleepaway camp, but if you've got a first-timer, these starter sleepaway camps near NYC all offer shorter summer camp sessions geared toward younger children. For those who have a new (or extra-nervous) camper at home, we've rounded up the best one- and two-week starter sleepaway camps near NYC.

These starter sleepaway camps near NYC all have specific sessions aimed at first-time campers from ages 6-12 years old, ensuring that rookie campers have an amazing first-time sleepaway camp experience. Find all our top picks for sleepaway camps in the Northeast in our Summer Camp Guide for NYC Kids, and be sure to search our Camp Directory for more options. You can search by age, interest, or summer camp type.

Subscribe to our newsletters to get stories like this delivered directly to your inbox.

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

First-Timer Sleepaway Camps Near NYC for Younger Kids

YMCA Camp Mason

Hardwick, New Jersey
Ages 7-15
YMCA Camp Mason prides itself on offering families a unique blend of traditional and adventure summer camp experiences. Whether you’re looking for a traditional overnight camp, day camp, or a counselor-in-training program, Camp Mason has a program that’s right for you. One- and two-week starter sessions for younger campers are available. READ MORE

Becket-Chimney Corners YMCA

Becket, Massachusetts
Ages 7-14
Alongside their four-week, traditional overnight program, Camp Becket (for boys) and Chimney Corners Camp (for girls) both offer a starter program for kids finishing second or third grade. This two-week camp experience aims to help prepare kids for longer camp stays in the future. Young campers stay together in two cabins and are fully integrated into the traditional camp program. READ MORE

Camp Kinderland

Tolland, Massachusetts
Ages 7-14
This coed, progressive, secular Jewish camp was established by union workers in 1923 to offer a refuge for urban, working-class kids. The Berkshire Mountain setting is picturesque, as is the nearby lake. The camp takes social justice seriously, incorporating tolerance and liberal politics into its program alongside summer sports and visual and performing arts. First-timers turning 9 or 10 this calendar year can attend a two-week starter session.     READ MORE

Camp Awosting and Chinqueka

Bantam and Morris, Connecticut
Ages 6-14
Campers as young as age 6 can attend the "rookie" one-week sessions at these long-established brother and sister camps in central Connecticut. Activities include sports, waterskiing, ropes courses, and even go-karts. READ MORE

Shire Village Camp

Cummington, Massachusetts
Ages 8-14
Located in the Berkshires, this small coed camp boasts a 3:1 camper-to-staff ratio. The program has a child-centered philosophy that seeks to empower campers in a noncompetitive environment. In addition to the usual summer sports and arts activities, there are farm animals, like sheep and goats, that the kids care for daily. New campers ages 8 to 12 can attend a two-week introductory session in July or August. READ MORE

Camp Lohikan

Lake Como, Pennsylvania
Ages 6-15
Situated in beautiful Lake Como, this camp offers more than 65 activities, including paintball, sailing, circus arts, scuba, and spy camp. Kids appreciate the warm community and supportive counselors who encourage campers to try new things and challenge their comfort zone. A one-week rookie session only for first-timers is offered during the first week of camp. There are also two one-week-long sessions at the end of August which are open to first-timers and returning campers.  READ MORE

Camp Walt Whitman

Piermont, New Hampshire
Ages 8-15
New Hampshire's gorgeous White Mountains are the setting for this camp, which is situated on a lovely lake. This traditional, coed program offers a week-long Pioneer Camp for kids who've completed first or second grade. READ MORE

Camp Mah-Kee-Nac

Lenox, Massachusetts
Ages 6-10
Many kids spend the full summer in this long-established Berkshires camp that's been around since 1929. First-time campers entering second through fifth grades are welcome to attend a two-week "Mini Mak Rookie Camp." Campers have an option to extend their stay at the end of mini camp. READ MORE

Camp Laurelwood

Madison, Connecticut
Ages 7-15
This coed Jewish summer camp provides an all-around summer experience for day and overnight campers including access to two pools, instructional swim, sports, dance, cooking, nature, woodworking, archery, high and low ropes courses, boating, robotics, martial arts, music, and arts and crafts. A one-week rookie camp explores Jewish identity and values, nature appreciation, and friendship.  READ MORE

Camp Hazen YMCA

Chester, Connecticut
Ages 8-15
This long-running camp—90+ years—ensures that its counselors focus on teaching life-long skills in a fun, enriching environment. For kids entering second through eighth grades there is a one-week "sampler" camp during the third week of August, featuring all the activities of traditional two-week programs. READ MORE

Pine Forest Camp

Greeley, Pennsylvania
Ages 7-16
This coed camp, beloved since its founding in 1931, has been run by the same family for five generations. PFC is located just an hour and a half from New York City and three hours from Philly, or as the campers and staff say, "up where the sky begins." For first to fourth graders not yet ready to make a session-long commitment, there's the two-day, one-night Explorers Program, which allows them to participate in various activities and hang around the campfire. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

About the Author

Rosalind Muggeridge
Rosalind Muggeridge spent 10 years working at non-profit museums in London and NYC before transitioning to freelance writing after having kids. She spent 4 years as the events editor at NY Metro Parents. A long-time Brooklyn resident, Rosalind and her family love calling the borough home.
Recent Articles By Rosalind Muggeridge:
Read more articles by Rosalind Muggeridge.