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TRANSPORTATION OPTIONSOak Crest Day Camp: Voted Best Camp in NJ
Explorers (1st & 2nd Graders) Summer Camp near Basking Ridge
At Oak Crest, situated in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, our camp program adapts as campers grow older. The Explorer program, similar to the Munchkin program, concentrates on improving abilities in various athletic and creative pursuits, honing swimming skills, and fostering social and emotional intelligence.
For first-grade participants, they get introduced to exciting elements such as the Climbing Tower, Zipline, Giant Swing, and engage in the Oak Crest tradition of GAGA. As they transition into second grade, campers benefit from a CHOICE period in their schedules, enabling them to select activities each week, resulting in a dynamic and engaging camp experience.
Explorer Athletics
In Basking Ridge, New Jersey, our first and second-grade campers partake in modified adaptations of traditional sports. Through the use of appropriately sized fields, courts, and age-appropriate equipment, this approach fosters a sense of accomplishment among the campers while they acquire fundamental sports skills. Our Athletic Specialists, who supervise these activities, are trained to allocate a portion of each session to teach a new skill, followed by gameplay that reinforces that skill.
Furthermore, Oak Crest counselors actively engage in these activities alongside the campers, working in collaboration with the specialists to create and validate opportunities for success for our young participants.
Creative Arts
In Basking Ridge, New Jersey, your child can explore a wide array of artistic pursuits within air-conditioned classrooms, guided by seasoned art instructors. On a weekly basis, campers participate in sessions covering diverse disciplines such as Ceramics, Music, Mad Science, Cooking, Drama, Nature, Dance, Digital Photography, Jewelry Making, Computers, and more.
Additionally, all Explorer Girl groups take part in a dance routine as an integral component of our annual Showcrest, a prominent Dance and Drama Production. Showcrest is a substantial production typically held during the sixth week of camp in the evening at a local venue, featuring professional-grade sound and lighting.
Learn to Swim
At Oak Crest in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, our Learn-to-Swim Program holds a pivotal role in the Oak Crest experience. Our aquatic facility is exceptional, featuring a cutting-edge 12,000 square foot Aquatic Complex meticulously tailored for children aged 3-8. The Aquatic Complex offers water depths ranging from 1 to 6 feet, allowing us to initiate instruction in shallower water and progress to deeper levels as our young swimmers enhance their skills.
Each morning, our Explorers participate in a 40-minute swim lesson led by certified swim instructors, with group counselors offering assistance. In the afternoon, the groups return for open swim sessions. Notably, our swim lessons are tailored to individual skill levels rather than age groups, ensuring that we can challenge and support swimmers of all proficiencies.
Our instructors undergo annual training, drawing from the expertise of the American Red Cross and over 25 years of hands-on experience in teaching children to swim.
Learn to Ride a Bicycle
Mastering the skill of riding a bicycle has become a significant childhood milestone, and at Oak Crest, situated in Basking Ridge, NJ, we provide an ideal environment for this achievement through our newly established Bicycle Village. This village includes a 1/4-mile training course, a state-of-the-art pump track, and a mountain bike preparation trail. Cycling not only encourages independence in children but also imparts valuable lessons in balance, posture control, coordination, and the development of motor skills.
Our experienced instructors offer individualized attention, allowing novice riders to build the confidence necessary for success. Oak Crest ensures that appropriately sized bicycles and helmets are readily available to facilitate the learning process.
Ropes Course and Low Ropes Course
In Basking Ridge, New Jersey, Oak Crest has introduced a low ropes course with a dual purpose: to enhance the gross motor skills of our 1st Grade Explorers and equip them with the necessary skills for navigating our Climbing Tower. Activities on the Low Ropes Course for 1st Grade Explorers include climbing, exploration, and swinging, all conducted just inches above the ground. When campers progress to 2nd Grade, they have the opportunity to experience the Climbing Tower and Zipline for the first time. The design of the Ropes Course allows campers to advance at their own pace, with access to higher and more challenging elements as they gain comfort and confidence.
Before each season, our ropes courses undergo rigorous safety inspections and certification by the company responsible for their construction. In addition to this, certified ropes instructors, who also guide the groups through all ropes courses, conduct daily safety checks.
Social Development
In the Explorer Division at Oak Crest in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, our primary emphasis is on nurturing collaborative skills within a group dynamic. Throughout the day, campers are engaged in activities that require collective effort and the cultivation of mutual support. This group-oriented structure, combined with the active participation of counselors, plays a pivotal role in fostering strong bonds and friendships among campers.
Our counselors also guide campers in practicing respectful interactions with their peers and effective communication with both their fellow campers and the staff. Oak Crest offers a nurturing environment where children acquire vital emotional and social skills that are integral to their success in life.
