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 Raritan
At Oak Crest in Raritan, NJ, our program adapts to the evolving needs of campers as they progress through different age groups. The Explorer program, which is similar to the Munchkin program, is designed to focus on skill development in a wide range of athletic and creative activities. It also places emphasis on improving swimming abilities and nurturing social and emotional intelligence.
For first-grade campers, we introduce them to exciting activities such as the Climbing Tower, Zipline, Giant Swing, and the Oak Crest tradition of GAGA. As they move into second grade, campers have the opportunity to enjoy a CHOICE period in their schedule. This allows them to select activities each week, creating a dynamic and engaging camp experience tailored to their interests and preferences.
Explorer Athletics
Located in Raritan, NJ, our program for 1st and 2nd graders involves adapted versions of traditional sports. These modifications involve using scaled-down fields and courts along with age-appropriate equipment, allowing our campers to experience success while developing fundamental sports skills. Our team of Athletic Specialists supervises these activities, ensuring that each session includes instruction on a new skill, followed by gameplay that reinforces that skill.
At Oak Crest, our counselors actively engage in these activities alongside the campers, working closely with the specialists to create and reinforce opportunities for success among our young participants.
Creative Arts
In Raritan, NJ, your child will have access to a wide array of artistic activities that take place in air-conditioned classrooms, led by experienced art instructors. On a weekly basis, campers participate in sessions covering various disciplines, including Ceramics, Music, Mad Science, Cooking, Drama, Nature, Dance, Digital Photography, Jewelry Making, Computers, and more.
Additionally, all the Explorer Girl groups participate in a Dance routine as an integral part of our annual Showcrest event. Showcrest is a significant Dance and Drama Production that usually occurs during the sixth week of camp. It is held in the evening at a local venue and features professional sound and lighting, making it a substantial and noteworthy production for our camp community.
Learn to Swim
At Oak Crest in Raritan, NJ, our Learn-to-Swim Program is an integral part of the Oak Crest experience. Our aquatic facility is exceptional, boasting a state-of-the-art 12,000 square foot Aquatic Complex that is specifically tailored for children aged 3 to 8 years old. This Aquatic Complex offers varying water depths ranging from 1 to 6 feet, allowing us to initiate instruction in shallow water and progressively move to deeper areas as our swimmers advance in their skills.
Every morning, our Explorer campers participate in a 40-minute swim lesson conducted by certified swim instructors, with group counselors providing support. In the afternoons, campers have the opportunity for free swim sessions. What sets our program apart is that our swim lessons are skill-based rather than age-based, ensuring that we can challenge swimmers of all proficiency levels. Our instructors undergo annual training, and our swim teaching methods draw from not only the American Red Cross guidelines but also over 25 years of practical experience in instructing children in swimming.
Learn to Ride a Bicycle
Mastering the skill of riding a bicycle has become a significant milestone in childhood development. Oak Crest, situated in Raritan, NJ, provides an ideal environment for this achievement through its newly established Bicycle Village. This village boasts a 1/4-mile training course, a state-of-the-art pump track, and a mountain bike preparation trail. The act of cycling not only nurtures independence in children but also imparts valuable lessons in balance, posture control, coordination, and the enhancement of motor skills.
Our experienced instructors offer personalized attention, which is crucial for novice riders to develop the confidence needed for success. Oak Crest ensures the availability of appropriately sized bikes and helmets to facilitate the learning process.
Ropes Course and Low Ropes Course
Social Development
The Explorer Division at Oak Crest in Raritan, NJ places a strong emphasis on cultivating collaborative skills within a group context. Throughout the day, campers are encouraged to collaborate and build mutual support within their groups. This group-oriented structure, along with the active participation of counselors, plays a pivotal role in fostering strong bonds and friendships among campers. Counselors also guide campers in practicing respectful interactions with their peers and effective communication with both fellow campers and staff members. Oak Crest provides a nurturing environment where children acquire valuable emotional and social skills that are essential for success in life.