Oak Crest Day Camp: Voted Best Camp in NJ
Limited Spots Left for Summer 2024
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Transportation
Oak Crest provides Bus Transportation to dozens of nearby towns.
Transportation
Oak Crest provides Bus Transportation to dozens of nearby towns.
New to Camp?
Learn more about how we tailor our program for each age group.
New to Camp?
Learn more about how we tailor our program for each age group.
Explorers (1st & 2nd Graders) Summer Camp near 08852
Explorer Athletics
Located in 08852, New Jersey, our summer program for 1st and 2nd graders takes a unique approach to sports. We offer modified versions of traditional sports, utilizing scaled-down fields and courts with age-appropriate equipment. This approach is designed to help campers achieve success while acquiring fundamental game skills.
Our dedicated Athletic Specialists oversee these activities and are trained to allocate a portion of each session to instructing a new skill, followed by gameplay that emphasizes the newly acquired skill. Oak Crest counselors actively engage in these activities alongside the campers, working in collaboration with the specialists to establish and reinforce opportunities for success for our young participants.
Creative Arts
In 08852, New Jersey, your child can enjoy a wide array of artistic activities in air-conditioned classrooms, led by experienced art teachers. Each week, campers have the opportunity to participate in sessions encompassing various disciplines, including Ceramics, Music, Mad Science, Cooking, Drama, Nature, Dance, Digital Photography, Jewelry Making, Computers, and more.
Furthermore, all Explorer Girl groups participate in a Dance routine as an integral part of our annual event, Showcrest. Showcrest is a significant Dance and Drama Production, typically held during the sixth week of camp in the evening at a local venue. This production boasts professional sound and lighting, making it a remarkable showcase of our campers’ talents and creativity.
Learn to Swim
At Oak Crest, situated in 08852, New Jersey, our Learn-to-Swim Program holds a central role in the Oak Crest experience. Our aquatic facility is truly exceptional, boasting a state-of-the-art 12,000 square foot Aquatic Complex designed specifically for children aged 3 to 8 years old. This Aquatic Complex offers varying water depths, ranging from 1 to 6 feet, enabling us to initiate instruction in standing-depth water and progress to deeper levels as our young swimmers advance in their skills.
Every morning, our Explorers partake in a 40-minute swim lesson led by certified swim instructors, with group counselors providing additional support. In the afternoon, the groups return for free swim sessions. Our swim lessons are skill-based rather than age-based, allowing us to effectively challenge swimmers at various proficiency levels. Our instructors undergo annual training, and our swim techniques draw from not only the American Red Cross but also more than 25 years of practical experience in instructing children in swimming.
Learn to Ride a Bicycle
Mastering the skill of bicycle riding has become a significant childhood milestone, and Oak Crest, located in 08852, New Jersey, offers an ideal environment for this achievement through its newly established Bicycle Village. This village comprises a 1/4-mile training course, a state-of-the-art pump track, and a mountain bike preparation trail. Cycling not only promotes independence in children but also imparts essential lessons in balance, posture control, coordination, and the development of motor skills.
Our experienced instructors provide personalized attention, which is instrumental in helping novice bikers build the confidence needed for successful bicycle riding. Oak Crest ensures the availability of appropriately sized bikes and helmets to facilitate the learning process, ensuring a safe and supportive atmosphere for this vital childhood skill acquisition.
Ropes Course and Low Ropes Course
In 08852, New Jersey, Oak Crest has recently introduced a low ropes course designed to serve a dual purpose. It focuses on enhancing the gross motor skills of our 1st Grade Explorers while equipping them with essential skills for navigating our Climbing Tower. Our 1st Grade Explorers engage in a variety of activities on the Low Ropes Course, which include climbing, exploration, and swinging, all conducted just inches above the ground. When they progress to 2nd Grade, Oak Crest campers have the opportunity to experience the Climbing Tower and Zipline for the first time.
The Ropes Course is thoughtfully designed to allow campers to advance at their individual pace. As they become more comfortable and confident, they gain access to higher and more advanced elements of the course. Safety is of paramount importance, and prior to each season, our ropes courses undergo rigorous safety inspections and certification by the company responsible for their construction. Furthermore, our certified ropes instructors, who also guide the groups through all ropes courses, conduct daily safety checks to ensure a secure and enjoyable experience for our campers.
Social Development
In the Explorer Division at Oak Crest in 08852, New Jersey, there is a strong emphasis on nurturing collaborative skills within a group setting. Throughout the day, our campers are actively engaged in tasks that require teamwork and the development of mutual support among their peers. The group structure, combined with the active involvement of counselors, plays a vital role in fostering strong bonds and lasting friendships among campers.
Counselors also take on the important role of instructing campers on the principles of respectful interaction with others and effective communication with both their peers and the staff. Oak Crest creates a nurturing environment where children have the opportunity to acquire the emotional and social skills that are essential for success in life.