Take a Virtual Tour
2025 DATES & RATES
TRANSPORTATION OPTIONSOak Crest Day Camp: Voted Best Camp in NJ 3-5 Year Olds (Munchkins)
3-5 Year Olds (Munchkins) Summer Camp near Basking Ridge
In Basking Ridge, NJ, Oak Crest offers both a 5 full-day program and a 3 full-day program for young campers. Our Munchkin Division maintains an excellent camper-to-staff ratio, typically ranging from 10 to 12 campers supervised by 3 to 4 staff members. Additionally, each activity is overseen by a Munchkin Specialist, specifically trained to cater to the developmental needs of 3, 4, and 5-year-olds.
The Munchkin Program follows a threefold approach, focusing on enhancing gross and fine motor skills through engaging athletic and creative activities, teaching swimming skills, and promoting social development.
Munchkin Athletics
At Oak Crest, we provide modified versions of various sports activities tailored to our youngest campers. Our offerings include mini-soccer, mini-basketball, t-ball, and gymnastics, all designed to ensure that children aged 3, 4, and 5 can experience success in these sports. Our athletic specialists are specifically trained to work with this age group, guiding your child through the fundamentals of these sports in an age-appropriate and engaging manner.
Creative Arts
Located in Basking Ridge, NJ, Oak Crest’s Creative Arts Center serves as a distinguished hub for artistic expression. Your child will have the opportunity to engage in a wide variety of artistic activities in well-appointed, air-conditioned classrooms led by experienced art instructors. Each week, our campers actively participate in activities such as Ceramics, Music, Cooking, Drama, Nature exploration, Dance, Digital Photography, Jewelry Making, Computers, and more.
Adding to the depth of the experience, each Munchkin group contributes to the annual Showcrest, a grand Dance and Drama Production. This is no small event; Showcrest, a tradition during the 6th week of camp, unfolds in the evening at a local venue and features professional-grade sound and lighting, creating a truly remarkable spectacle.
Low Ropes
At our Basking Ridge, NJ location, Climbing and Ropes Courses play a pivotal role in the Summer Camp experience. Oak Crest has developed a low ropes course with dual objectives: enhancing the gross motor skills of our Munchkins and equipping them with the necessary skills for navigating our Climbing Tower. On the Low Ropes Course, our young campers engage in activities involving climbing, exploration, and swinging, all while staying just inches above the ground.
To ensure the utmost safety, our ropes courses undergo rigorous inspection and certification by the construction company at the start of each season. Additionally, our certified ropes instructors, responsible for guiding the groups through all ropes courses, conduct daily checks to maintain a secure environment for the campers.
Learn to Swim
At our Basking Ridge, NJ location, we believe that swimming is not just a life skill but an essential proficiency, best cultivated in our state-of-the-art 12,000 square foot Aquatic Complex. Our commitment to excellence is evident through our annual training of instructors, aligning with American Red Cross guidelines, and drawing from our extensive 25-year experience in teaching children to swim. We confidently guarantee your child’s mastery of swimming at Oak Crest.
For our beginners, our Aquatic Facility boasts two shallow pools, ensuring that even the youngest campers can stand comfortably, enhancing their confidence and initial progress. Every morning, our campers participate in a 40-minute swim lesson led by a certified swim instructor, with assistance from group counselors. In the afternoons, they return to the Aquatic Complex for 40 minutes of free swim, fostering camaraderie with fellow campers and group counselors.
Social Development
An enchanting aspect of the camp experience at Oak Crest is the focus on nurturing children’s ability to navigate group dynamics. This process promotes the development of heightened confidence and independence in our campers. As they transition between various activities, our groups actively encourage the cultivation of friendships, collaborative efforts, sharing, taking turns, and learning to interact respectfully with both peers and staff.
Our dedicated staff plays a crucial role in empowering Munchkin campers to articulate their thoughts using words and guiding them in direct communication. Oak Crest provides a nurturing environment where children acquire the emotional and social skills essential for success in life.
Munchkin Lunch
To cater to the nutritional needs of our preschool campers, Munchkins have a dedicated dining arrangement separate from the rest of the camp, with the advantage of enjoying the first lunch period of the day. The Oak Crest Staff is highly attentive to any dietary requirements your child may have, ensuring a personalized and accommodating approach to their meals.
