Parents and kids -- summer is right around the corner! Whether its arts and crafts or sports your child is looking for, there is camp nearby that will turn your child's summer days into an opportunity for fun and friendship.
Though it's nearly impossible to list all of the local day camps available to children in Essex County, here is a list that should get you started. If you see anything we missed, feel free to add it in the comments section!
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Belleville
Ladybug Montessori Learning Center in Belleville offers day camp for children aged 2 ½ to 6.
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Camp Belleville has a day camp for grades K through 6 with games, activities, arts and crafts.
The Newark YMCA has a camp in Belleville for ages six through 12 with arts and crafts, games, talent shows and guest speakers.
Bloomfield:
New Jersey School of Dramatic Arts offers a day camp for children in grades 3 to 12, including specialty camps for older children in acting in film and TV, improv comedy and musical theater.
Caldwell
Pioneer Trails Day Camp, held on the campus of Caldwell College for kids grade K through 8, offers a wide variety of programs including swimming, drama, sports, games and crafts.
Camp Caldwell offers pool time, arts and crafts, games and sports for children aged 5 to 12
North Caldwell
Camp Caldwell offers pool time, arts and crafts, games and sports for children aged 5 to 12
West Caldwell
Essex County College in West Caldwell, hosts a summer camp for kids aged 10 to 15 at the West Essex campus.
Camp Caldwell offers pool time, arts and crafts, games and sports for children aged 5 to 12
East Orange
East Orange YMCA hosts a day camp for children as well as cheerleading, gymnastics and sports clinics.
Essex Fells
The borough of Essex Fells hosts a summer camp for children in preschool through 8th grade.
Fairfield
The township of Fairfield hosts a summer camp for children in grades K through 6.
Glen Ridge
Gas Lamp, a community theater group, offers camp for children entering grades 1-8 as well as a technical theater program for older children.
Glen Ridge hosts a summer camp for youth aged 5 to 12.
MVP Sports camps are held in Glen Ridge.
Livingston
Gesher Summer Camp is for kids in pre-K to 10th grade and offers music, sports, Israeli culture, arts, crafts, music and sports.
Newark Academy offers camps for both academics and sports for children in grades 3 through 12.
Camp Horizons in Livingston offers camps for children in grades K through 9th grade with sports, arts, swimming, dance and games.
West Essex YMCA hosts several of its camps in Livingston.
Maplewood
Performers Theatre Workshop Broadway Showcase and Training Program for kids aged 10 to 18 features classes in voice, acting and comedy.
Children’s Summer Program at The Adult School for kids in grades 1 through 12 offers more than 100 classes in academic enrichment, arts and sports.
12 Comics Academic Superhero Camp for 1st grade to 12th grade focuses on both creative and academic skills by creating comic book heroes.
The Girl Scouts have a day camp featuring hiking and nature study at the South Mountain Reservation.
South Mountain YMCA hosts a day camp for tots to teens with camps that focus on drama, environmental awareness, sports, global arts and golf.
It’s Sew Crafty hosts a sewing and crafting camp for children aged 11 to 13.
Express Yourself Studios offers a summer art workshop for children aged 5 to 12 to learn about famous artists and make their own art.
Geralyn’s Art Studio has camp for children aged 4 to 17 in mediums from pencils and pastels to gardening and puppetry.
Millburn
TGIS Day Camp for Millburn residents is at Gero Park for children aged 10 to 14.
Montclair
YMCA of Montclair has a wide variety of camp options for all ages, from age 2 to teens, from performing arts camps, to science camps.
School of Rock, Montclair, offers many camp choices.
Language Workshop for Children offers language immersion camps for children aged 3 to 9 in French, Spanish or Chinese.
Montclair Kimberly Academy offers campers programs in sports, arts, theater and recreation for kids in pre-k to grade 8.
Bass Arts Studio offers camps for kids and teens with a wide variety of topics including architecture, mosaic, fabric design and mixed media.
The Handwork Studio offers camps at Montclair State University in practical arts like knitting, sewing and quilting.
The Montclair Art Museum offers summer camps for children aged 5 to 12 with special emphasis on art in the movies and abstract art.
StudioKidsArt offers a summer camp program with special weeks that focus on fashion, architecture, comic books and photography.
Sew Montclair has a program for children aged 10 to 15 to learn several different sewing techniques.
Rock Paper Scissors offers crafting classes for kids aged 6 to 12 and sewing camp for children aged 10 to 15.
Magic for Muggles magic camp for Harry Potter fans who are aged 7 to 13.
Newark
Newark Academy Day Camp offers sport camps for children aged 5 to 14.
Newark YMCA offers a camp for kids aged 6 to 12 with arts and crafts, games, sports, talent shows and guest speakers.
Nutley
The Community School in Nutley offers a day camp for older children.
Orange
Metro YMCAs of the Oranges offers a variety of day camps for children of all ages.
West Orange
Metro YMCAs of the Oranges offers a variety of day camps for children of all ages.
JCC MetroWest offers a wide variety of camps at its West Orange location for children of all ages, from early childhood camps to theater camps
Essex County Turtle Back Zoo offers Zoo Camp, which includes games, teacher-led lessons, up-close animal encounters, hands-on science, and fun crafts for pre-kindergarten to 4th grade.
Figure Skating camp is available for children of all ages and skill levels at Essex County Codey Arena in West Orange.
The West Orange Community House Boys and Girls Club hosts a summer camp
South Orange
Children’s Summer Program at The Adult School for kids in grades 1 through 12 offers more than 100 classes in academic enrichment, arts and sports.
Congregation Beth El offers a preschool camp for children from 18 months old to five.
Roseland
Essex County has a wide variety of camps for children of all ages.
Have you heard about another wonderful day camp? If so, email the local editor listed at the top of the home page, or feel free to mention it in the comments section. We look forward to hearing about your favorite summer camps
Belleville
Ladybug Montessori Learning Center in Belleville offers day camp for children aged 2 ½ to 6.
http://www.ladybugmontessori.com/
Camp Belleville has a day camp for grades K through 6 with games, activities, arts and crafts.
The Newark YMCA has a camp in Belleville for ages six through 12 with arts and crafts, games, talent shows and guest speakers.
http://www.newarkymca.org/summercamps.cfm
Bloomfield
New Jersey School of Dramatic Arts offers a day camp for children in grades 3 to 12, including specialty camps for older children in acting in film and TV, improv comedy and musical theater.
http://www.njactors.org/summercamp.html
Caldwell
Pioneer Trails Day Camp, held on the campus of Caldwell College for kids grade K through 8, offers a wide variety of programs including swimming, drama, sports, games and crafts.
Camp Caldwell offers pool time, arts and crafts, games and sports for children aged 5 to 12
http://www.caldwell-nj.com/content/79/default.aspx
North Caldwell
Camp Caldwell offers pool time, arts and crafts, games and sports for children aged 5 to 12
http://www.caldwell-nj.com/content/79/default.aspx
West Caldwell
Essex County College in West Caldwell, hosts a summer camp for kids aged 10 to 15 at the West Essex campus.
Camp Caldwell offers pool time, arts and crafts, games and sports for children aged 5 to 12
http://www.caldwell-nj.com/content/79/default.aspx
Essex Fells
The borough of Essex Fells hosts a summer camp for children in preschool through 8th grade.
http://www.essexfellsboro.com/Departments/Recreation/
Fairfield
The township of Fairfield hosts a summer camp for children in grades K through 6.
http://www.fairfieldnj.org/dept-recreation_main.html
Glen Ridge
Gas Lamp, a community theater group, offers camp for children entering grades 1-8 as well as a technical theater program for older children.
http://gaslampplayers.org/summer_program_2012
Glen Ridge hosts a summer camp for youth aged 5 to 12.
Gesher Summer Camp is for kids in pre-K to 10th grade and offers music, sports, Israeli culture, arts, crafts, music and sports.
Newark Academy offers camps for both academics and sports for children in grades 3 through 12.
http://www.newarka.edu/podium/default.aspx?t=120879
Camp Horizons in Livingston offers camps for children in grades K through 9th grade with sports, arts, swimming, dance and games.
West Essex YMCA hosts several of its camps in Livingston.
http://www.westessexymca.org/camp/west-essex-ymca-day-camps.html
Maplewood
Performers Theatre Workshop Broadway Showcase and Training Program for kids aged 10 to 18 features classes in voice, acting and comedy.
http://www.ptwonline.com/classes-private-lessons/classes-info-downloads/mid/767.aspx
Children’s Summer Program at The Adult School for kids in grades 1 through 12 offers more than 100 classes in academic enrichment, arts and sports.
http://www.ssreg.com/som/page.asp?page=Child+Summer&element=6
12 Comics Academic Superhero Camp for 1st grade to 12th grade focuses on both creative and academic skills by creating comic book heroes.
http://www.12comics.com/programs/summer-camp
The Girl Scouts have a day camp featuring hiking and nature study at the South Mountain Reservation.
South Mountain YMCA hosts a day camp for tots to teens with camps that focus on drama, environmental awareness, sports, global arts and golf.
http://www.smountainymca.org/camp/camp.html
It’s Sew Crafty hosts a sewing and crafting camp for children aged 11 to 13.
http://www.itssewcrafty.com/location.html
Express Yourself Studios offers a summer art workshop for children aged 5 to 12 to learn about famous artists and make their own art.
http://www.expressyourselfstudios.com/default.html
Geralyn’s Art Studio has camp for children aged 4 to 17 in mediums from pencils and pastels to gardening and puppetry.
http://www.geralynsartstudio.com/
Millburn
TGIS Day camp for Millburn residents is at Gero Park for children aged 10 to 14.
http://twp.millburn.nj.us/Recreation
Montclair
YMCA of Montclair has a wide variety of camp options for all ages, from age 2 to teens, from performing arts camps, to science camps.
School of Rock, Montclair, offers many camp choices. http://schoolofrock10.reachlocal.com/?scid=2387484&kw=16585522&pub_cr_id=8524245771
Language Workshop for Children offers language immersion camps for children aged 3 to 9 in French, Spanish or Chinese.
http://www.languageworkshopforchildren.com/index.php
Montclair Kimberly Academy offers campers programs in sports, arts, theater and recreation for kids in pre-k to grade 8.
http://www.mka.org/page.cfm?p=384
Bass Arts Studio offers camps for kids and teens with a wide variety of topics including architecture, mosaic, fabric design and mixed media.
http://www.bassartsstudio.com/
The Handwork Studio offers camps at Montclair State University in practical arts like knitting, sewing and quilting.
http://www.thehandworkstudio.com/kids-needle-arts-fashion-camp/locations/
The Montclair Art Museum offers summer camps for children aged 5 to 12 with special emphasis on art in the movies and abstract art.
http://montclair-art.calls.net/summerartcamp/
StudioKidsArt offers a summer camp program with special weeks that focus on fashion, architecture, comic books and photography.
http://studiokidsart.myshopify.com/
Sew Montclair has a program for children aged 10 to 15 to learn several different sewing techniques.
http://www.sewmontclair.com/sewmontclair/Welcome.html
Rock Paper Scissors offers crafting classes for kids aged 6 to 12 and sewing camp for children aged 10 to 15.
http://www.rockpaperscissorsnj.com/index.cfm
Magic for Muggles magic camp for Harry Potter fans who are aged 7 to 13.
http://montclairmagiccamp.com/
Newark
Newark Academy Day camp offers sport camps for children aged 5 to 14.
http://www.newarka.edu/summersports
Newark YMCA offers a camp for kids aged 6 to 12 with arts and crafts, games, sports, talent shows and guest speakers.
http://www.newarkymca.org/summercamps.cfm
Nutle
The Community School in Nutley offers a day camp for older children.
http://www.communityschoolnutleynj.com/default.html
East Orange
East Orange YMCA hosts a day camp for children as well as cheerleading, gymnastics and sports clinics.
http://www.eastorangeymca.org/camp/camp-main-page.html
Orange
Metro YMCAs of the Oranges offers a variety of day camps for children of all ages.
http://www.metroymcas.org/camp/summer-camp-at-the-y.html
West Orange
Metro YMCAs of the Oranges offers a variety of day camps for children of all ages.
http://www.metroymcas.org/camp/summer-camp-at-the-y.html
JCC MetroWest offers a wide variety of camps at its West Orange location for children of all ages, from early childhood camps to theater camps.
Essex County Turtle Back Zoo offers Zoo Camp, which includes games, teacher-led lessons, up-close animal encounters, hands-on science, and fun crafts for pre-kindergarten to 4th grade.
Figure Skating camp is available for children of all ages and skill levels at Essex County Codey Arena in West Orange.
The West Orange Community House Boys and Girls Club hosts a summer camp.
South Orange
Children’s Summer Program at The Adult School for kids in grades 1 through 12 offers more than 100 classes in academic enrichment, arts and sports.
http://www.ssreg.com/som/page.asp?page=Child+Summer&element=6
Congregation Beth El offers a preschool camp for children from 18 months old to five.
http://www.bethelnj.org/education/preschool.shtml
Roseland
Essex County has a wide variety of camps for children of all ages.
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