Spectacular Sports Camps for Summer

It's hard to create a truly comprehensive list of summer camps—there are so many genres: sleepaway, toddler, arts, theater, day camp, science and exploration.

So this week, we're focusing on just one area: sports.

If you live in the Montclair area, there are a number of sports-centric camps available for your budding athlete. If we've missed your favorite here, please add it in the comments!

• Pirate Sports Camp at Seton Hall University makes use of Dvision I-level facitilies to host a multi-sports co-ed sports camp for children ages 7-12. The camp runs just two weeks: August 1-5 and August 8-12. You can sign up for one or both camps. But don't wait too long! This camp is popular. Kids enjoy basketball, swimming, soccer and more. Plus some arts & crafts and group competitions. A nice feature is that the camp is indoors — so kids don't get sunburned or overheated.
• Seton Hall also offers more specialized basketball and baseball camps for older children (11-17) featuring sessions with Division I coaches.
• Any local YMCA is a great place to check for summer sports camps. The YMCA in Montclair offers general day camps and many, many genre camps (including the popular Camp at the Lake), plus a number of sports camps. Registration for most camps is on March 26. For more information go here.
• Surf and Turf offers a wide range of camps with lots of sports thrown in. My three kids have all done this camp and loved it. Camps are all day and last one week and cost around $375. Each week is a different theme. For example, there's Jock Week from Aug. 1-5 that includes an overnight trip to Pennsylvania. For more information go here.
• Montclair Kimberley Academy offers a whole host of camp options as well including sports for grades Pre-K through 8. For more information go here.
• The U.S. Sports Institute has so many sports camps it's impossible to list all the info here. There's a Multi Sport Camp that offers children aged 5-14 the chance to try over 15 sports from around the world during one week of camp. There's a Single Sports Camp that lets players specialize in the sport of their choice: Soccer Camps, Tennis Camps, Golf Camps, Lacrosse Camps plus many more! And there's a Sport Squirts Camp designed to allow the youngest participants aged 3-7, to develop in a safe, fun packed sports environment. For more information go here.
• If your budding Sampras or Sharapova is getting serious about tennis, check out Centercourt in Chatham where every level is taught from QuickStart, to Tournament Level to High Performance. It's pricier than local rec department options but invaluable for serious little tennis stars on the rise.
• Fairleigh Dickinson is known for its very serious, professionally run summer sports camps for girls and boys in sports such as tennis (girls and boys, ages 5-17), basketball (ages 7-17, girls and boys), soccer (girls and boys 10-13), field hockey (girls 12 and older), football (ages 14-18) and lacrosse. They offer separate lacrosse overnight camps for boys and girls ages 8-18.
• The Newark Academy Summer Sports Institute offers camps weekly from June 20 through August 5 for grades 5 through 12. Contact: Liz Bona-Beach (973) 992-7000 ext.212, or go here.
• To check out what the Montclair Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department will be offering this summer go here.
• The Sports Domain Academy summer soccer camp will begin in Montclair's Brookdale Park on June 27. To register and for more information go here.
• The MVP sports camps are located at Glen Ridge High School. All sports camps are a variety of games and activities including soccer, basketball, baseball, team dodgeball, team handball, and much much more. A wonderful, well rounded sports experience. Boys and girls 6-14 years of age are eligible to attend. The most important goal is to put " FUN " back into playing sports! For more information go here.
• Floyd Hall Arena offers some incredible skating camps this summer starting June 27 and ending Sept. 2. The goal is to improve individual skills and develop a well-rounded skater. For more information go here.