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TRANSPORTATION OPTIONSOak Crest Day Camp: Voted Best Camp in NJ 3-5 Year Olds (Munchkins)
3-5 Year Olds (Munchkins) Summer Camp near Franklin Park
In Franklin Park, New Jersey, Oak Crest offers both a 5 full-day program and a 3 full-day program within our Munchkin Division. Our camp maintains an exceptionally favorable camper-to-staff ratio, typically ranging from 10 to 12 campers, accompanied by 3 to 4 staff members. Furthermore, each activity is closely supervised by a dedicated Munchkin Specialist, specifically selected and trained to address the unique needs of 3, 4, and 5-year-olds.
The Munchkin Program follows a threefold approach, focusing on enhancing both gross and fine motor skills through engaging athletic and creative activities, imparting swimming skills, and fostering social development.
Munchkin Athletics
Oak Crest provides modified versions of various sports activities to cater to our youngest campers. These adaptations include mini-soccer, mini-basketball, t-ball, and gymnastics, ensuring that even the youngest participants can experience success. Our athletic specialists are specially trained to work with 3, 4, and 5-year-old campers, guiding them in acquiring fundamental sports skills in a manner that is both age-appropriate and engaging.
Creative Arts
Nestled in Franklin Park, New Jersey, Oak Crest’s Creative Arts Center serves as a distinguished hub for nurturing artistic expression. Here, your child can engage in a wide array of artistic endeavors within well-appointed, air-conditioned classrooms under the guidance of experienced art instructors.
Weekly, our campers actively participate in a diverse range of activities, including Ceramics, Music, Cooking, Drama, Nature exploration, Dance, Digital Photography, Jewelry Making, Computers, and more.
Adding to the richness of this experience, each Munchkin group contributes to the annual Showcrest, an impressive Dance and Drama Production. This event, held during the 6th week of camp, is far from modest; it unfolds in the evening at a local venue and features professional-grade sound and lighting, creating a truly remarkable spectacle.
Low Ropes
Climbing and Ropes Courses play pivotal roles in the Summer Camp experience at Oak Crest’s Franklin Park, NJ location. We have established a low ropes course with a dual purpose: to facilitate the development of gross motor skills in our Munchkin campers and equip them with the necessary skills for navigating our Climbing Tower.
During their time on the Low Ropes Course, our young campers engage in climbing, exploration, and swinging activities, all conducted just inches above the ground. We prioritize safety by subjecting our ropes courses to comprehensive inspections and certification by the company responsible for their construction at the start of each season. Furthermore, our certified ropes instructors, responsible for guiding campers through all ropes courses, conduct daily checks to maintain a secure environment.
Learn to Swim
Swimming is not just a life skill; it represents a vital proficiency that is best acquired at our newly established, state-of-the-art 12,000 square foot Aquatic Complex in Franklin Park, NJ. Our unwavering commitment to excellence is reflected in our annual instructor training, which combines American Red Cross guidelines with over 25 years of practical experience in teaching children to swim. We assure you that your child will master the art of swimming at Oak Crest.
For our beginners, our Aquatic Facility is equipped with two shallow pools, designed to ensure that even the youngest campers can stand comfortably. This greatly enhances their comfort level and initial progress. Each morning, our campers participate in a 40-minute swim lesson led by a certified swim instructor, with the support of group counselors. In the afternoons, they return to the Aquatic Complex for 40 minutes of free swim, promoting camaraderie among fellow campers and group counselors.
Social Development
One of the most captivating aspects of the camp experience centers around fostering children’s proficiency in navigating group dynamics. This transformative process results in the development of increased confidence and independence. As children transition between different activities, the group actively participates in cultivating friendships, collaborative efforts, sharing, taking turns, and acquiring the ability to interact respectfully with both peers and staff.
Our dedicated staff plays a pivotal role in empowering Munchkin campers to express themselves using words and facilitating direct communication. Oak Crest offers a nurturing environment where children acquire the emotional and social skills necessary for success in life.
Munchkin Lunch
In catering to the nutritional needs of our preschool campers, the Munchkins have a distinct dining arrangement separate from the rest of the camp, which includes the privilege of enjoying the first lunch period of the day. Our Oak Crest Staff is highly attentive to any dietary requirements or preferences your child may have, and we take a personalized and accommodating approach to ensure their dietary needs are met.
