The Perfect Day Camp Experience is Close to Home

A camp experience is beneficial to children for so many reasons—it teaches children independence, helps develop self-esteem, and allows a child to take healthy risks in a safe and nurturing environment. If your family determines that a sleep-away camp may not be the right fit for your child, there is a place that provides the benefits of camp without an overnight stay—day camp. Day camp is an excellent camp option available to families because it provides children with the opportunity to experience camp close to home.   And Jefferson Township residents and families in surrounding communities are fortunate in that they have such an option.

The Jefferson Township Recreation Department is excited to announce that its ninth season of summer day camp at Camp Jefferson will run from June 25 - Aug. 24 in a safe and natural environment at the township’s 94-acre facility at 81 Weldon Road in Lake Hopatcong.

Camp Jefferson’s facilities include a spring-fed lake for boating and fishing, open grass fields, an amphitheater, fire pit with seating, numerous themed cabins, a main community lodge with full kitchen, a recreation hall with table games, basketball courts, picnic pavilion, high and low ropes courses, archery range, and a state-of-the-art playground.

Camp fees remain unchanged since 2010 for a five-day week or a three-day week (both 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.)—you choose the days! Special early bird prices offer a significant discount of $30 per week if registration is received by April 18; and a discount is offered for campers who are Jefferson Township residents and each additional sibling registered within the same five-day program week. 

The program is open to all children three years old as of June 25 and completely potty trained, those children entering kindergarten through sixth grade in September, and a teen program for children entering seventh and eighth grades in September. 

Before and/or after camp care, electives, special trips, and morning only bus transportation are available for an additional charge. There are stimulating camp themes each week and exciting weekly age-appropriate group events and activities at no extra charge including inflatable water activities, the Gamin’ Ride Video Trailer, Juggler Bill Ceddia, Rizzo’s Reptile Discovery Show, a buried treasure hunt, camper “wet downs,” the trackless train, the Fun Bus, and special treat days.  Campers will enjoy the patriotic celebration, wear your red/white/blue day, fun and games day, the bake-off contest, create an alien contest, favorite sports team jersey/shirt day, and so much more. Camp Jefferson offers lunch options four times a week at very reasonable prices.

Special optional all camper off-site trips will be offered including bowling, the movies, Frog Falls Water Park, Camel Beach Water Park, Turtle Back Zoo, Land of Make Believe/Pirates’ Cove, and the Mt. Olive Carnival Camp Day.  In addition, there are off-site trips specifically for the younger campers (Giggles Play Station), pre-teen/teen campers (Castle Cove Mini Golf, Laser One, Space Odyssey, The Funplex/Splashplex, Keansburg Amusement Park, and Mt. Creek Water Park), and seventh and eighth grade campers (AMC Theaters and The Crossings Outlets).

Elective programs are optional and include such activities as Glitz and Glamour, Critters and Stuff, guitar and piano lessons, various cooking classes, glee club, tie dying, karate, horsemanship, fitness is fun, create-a-plane, Lego’s, Icing on the “Cake”, chocolate making, martial arts, gymnastics, specialty arts and crafts  as well as optional sports-specific clinics such as basketball, soccer, cheerleading, football, lacrosse, etc.  

Log on to www.jeffersontownship.net and click on the log cabin icon (Camp Jefferson Summer Day Camp) on the navigation bar for the drop-down menu with the program information. Or on the homepage, just click on the “Residents” tab, scroll down to “Forms Center,” and then scroll down to “Recreation” to download a camp brochure, registration packet, and/or the off-site/on-site activities booklet.  All are also available in the display racks of the Jefferson Township Public Library, Municipal Building, and Camp Jefferson office.  Or call the Recreation Department at 973-663-8404 to have a packet mailed to your home. 

Have your child experience Camp Jefferson Summer Day Camp this year—it’s an experience they will never forget!