Unlock an unforgettable summer for your child at the Summit Area YMCA Summer Camp! Our camps offer a vibrant and enriching experience, packed with exciting activities, new friendships, and opportunities for growth. From exhilarating outdoor adventures and creative arts to engaging games and educational experiences, we provide a safe and supportive environment where campers can explore their interests, develop new skills, and make lasting memories. Give your child the gift of a summer filled with discovery, laughter, and endless possibilities!
Designed for younger campers, The Learning Circle Camp provides a safe, fun, and engaging environment with a mix of games, crafts, and outdoor activities to inspire creativity and teamwork.
The perfect camp experience, Traditional Camp combines a variety of activities such as swimming, hiking, arts & crafts, and team-building exercises, offering a well-rounded summer adventure for all ages.
Focused on specific interests, Specialty Camp offers themed programs such as sports, arts, or outdoor skills, allowing campers to dive deeper into their passions and develop new talents.
For adventurous campers, Travel Camp takes kids on exciting day trips and overnight excursions to explore new places, challenge themselves, and make lasting memories while on the go!
Give the gift of an unforgettable summer to a child this year! Your contribution to the Summit Area YMCA helps provide enriching experiences and lasting memories through our impactful camp program. Click below to make a difference in a child’s life this summer.
Click here to download a PDF of all the camp options with the above filters.
Location: TLC
Week: 1-10
Ages: 3 - 4
Time: 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM
The Young Explorers is a first summer experience for preschool children. Each week the explorers will investigate a new theme in a fun, exciting way that combines activities and special events. The children will swim at the Summit YMCA and enjoy daily water-play.
Location: TLC
Week: 1-10
Ages: 4 - 7
Time: 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Children experience the summer in a fun, supportive environment with experienced teachers. The children will swim at the Summit YMCA and enjoy daily water play. Daily activities include arts and crafts, talent shows, dance, soccer and baseball clinics, gardening, hiking, summer reading club, writing club, STEM activities and games.
Location: BH & SU
Week: 1-10
Ages: 3 - 16
Time: 8:00-8:30 & 4:00-4:30
Transportation to and from the bus stop at the YMCA brings campers to camps located at the Watchung Reservation.
Early Bird Price: $50
Regular Price: $50
Location: BH & SU
Week: 1-10
Ages: 3 - 16
Time: 7:00-8:30 & 4:00-6:30
Extended care for pre-camp & post-camp is available every week at the Berkeley Heights YMCA and the Summit YMCA.
Price: $90/105
Location: SCP
Week: 4
Ages: 6 - 12
Time: HALF DAY - AM
Campers will focus on a variety of art topics such as drawing, painting, sculpting and printmaking! Led by experienced art instructors, the children will learn about some of the most influential artists of the past and present to recreate some of their most famous works of art. Each day campers will create and explore their newly discovered creativity in Art Adventures!
Early Bird Price: $345
Regular Price: $360
Location: BH
Week: 2
Ages: 6 - 12
Time: HALF DAY - AM
Students will explore different digital arts techniques while using their creativity in a fun way:
• Using amazing brushes and symmetry, students will sketch and draw beautiful artworks.
• Students will create short animations.
• Students will learn to alter images to create surreal effects.
Early Bird Price: $370
Regular Price: $385
Location: SU
Week: 1
Ages: 6 - 12
Time: HALF DAY - AM
This interactive class gets kids engaged in Science Technology Engineering and Math through a fun and exciting Star Wars theme. Over the eight weeks students will be introduced to jedi engineering to build a droid and pieces of the Star Wars galaxy, use coding to help a droid pick up scrap metal on tatooine, get a chance to race droid robots, and engage in science experiments to create Star Wars landscapes.
Early Bird Price: $370
Regular Price: $385
Location: SU
Week: 6
Ages: 6 - 12
Time: HALF DAY - AM
Students are introduced to video game design where they will combine their creativity, storytelling skills with coding and strategy in order to create their world and characters create original games that are fun to play, not too easy to win, not too hard to lose and pleasing to the eyes.
Early Bird Price: $370
Regular Price: $385
Location: BH
Week: 7
Ages: 6 - 12
Time: HALF DAY - AM
Students learn the basics of programming at their own pace as they are introduced to MIT’s Scratch. Scratch is designed specifically for ease of use by children, employs click-and-drag colored command blocks to program simple animations, music, or games.
Early Bird Price: $365
Regular Price: $385
Location: SU
Week: 8
Ages: 6 - 12
Time: HALF DAY - AM
Have fun with Pokémon while developing STEM skills, they design their own PokeBall and Pokémon characters, and improve your logic, critical thinking and strategy with game and cards.
Early Bird Price: $370
Regular Price: $385
Location: BH
Week: 1-10
Ages: 3 - 5
Time: FULL DAY
A first summer experience for preschool children, chance to make new friends, swim three days a week, arts and crafts, STEM, story time, sports, group games, field trips/special events and more! Campers must be 3 years old by June 1, 2025 and fully toilet trained. Parents can drop off each day knowing their children will be safe and engage in exciting daily activities. Counselor to camper ratio is 1:6.
Early Bird Price: $385
Regular Price: $400
Location: SCP
Week: 2-10
Ages: 5 - 13
Time: FULL DAY
Join us at the beautiful Springfield Community Pool for a summer full of camp fun and adventures under the sun. Campers will swim daily, participate in sports, group games, arts and crafts, STEAM activities and more. Extended hours for Pre and Post Camp are available onsite. Each week's activities are planned around a theme including a weekly enrichment or special event. Half day options also available: 9AM-12PM or 1-4PM.
Early Bird Price: $370
Regular Price: $385
Location: WR
Week: 1-10
Ages: 5 - 13
Time: FULL DAY
Making friends, learning new skills, understanding more about the natural world and good old fashion fun is what Camp Cannundus is all about. Hosted outdoors at the Watchung Reservation, each day offers many enjoyable activities to choose from including arts and crafts, nature hikes, games and swimming at the Summit YMCA. Cannundus campers participate in theme day, STEM day and field trip day every week!
Early Bird Price: $370
Regular Price: $385
Location: SU
Week: B
Ages: 7 - 13
Time: FULL DAY
This travel camp blasts off and ends summer with a bang! Children enjoy whole days of field trips to state parks, the beach, museums, fun centers and other exciting locations like Jenkinsons Aquarium, Brnachburg Sports Complex, and Funplex!
Early Bird Price: $505
Regular Price: $520
Location: BHCP
Week: 1-10
Ages: 5 - 8
Time: FULL DAY
Lagoonland campers get the best of both worlds, swimming everyday at our outdoor pool (except on scheduled trip days), in addition to games, arts and crafts and field trips to local attractions. Field trips may include state parks, sporting events, movies, mini-golf and more.
Early Bird Price: $390
Regular Price: $405
Location: SU
Week: B
Ages: 4-7
Time: FULL DAY
Looking for a camp option for the weeks that transition into summer and then back to school, well look no further! Camp-A-Palooza campers will build, create arts and crafts, explore S.T.E.A.M. experiments, play games as well as take local walking trips to the playground to local eateries in downtown Summit. Swimming, gym and playground time is also part of the daily schedule!
Early Bird Price: $360
Regular Price: $375
Location: BH
Week: 4
Ages: 6-12
Time: HALF DAY - AM
Full STEAM Ahead Science Camp provides an extraordinary atmosphere for students to build unique creations, play games and have loads of fun experimenting with a wide variety of STEAM activities. Activities are designed to trigger the lively imaginations of children and build their self-confidence. We'll explore exciting topics such as skyscrapers, flight, chemical reactions and much more!
Early Bird Price: $345
Regular Price: $360
Location: BH
Week: 5
Ages: 6 - 12
Time: HALF DAY - AM
Our mission is to connect campers to nature and food through farm-based education! Campers will grow, learn and play through creative, hands-on projects, visiting the farm each day to see how farms function. Campers will visit the animals, learn about planting seasons and have fun while doing it!
Early Bird Price: $370
Regular Price: $385
Location: WR
Week: 2-8
Ages: 7-8
Time: FULL DAY
Jr. Travelers Camp offers the perfect mix of traditional camp activities, swimming at the Springfield Pool, and exciting weekly trips, all based out of the scenic Watchung Reservation. Each week brings fresh adventures and endless fun! Previous trip destinations have included the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, Circle Line Cruise, Wild West City, Medieval Times, Branchburg Sports Complex, Pt. Pleasant, and more!
Early Bird Price: $415
Regular Price: $430
Location: SU
Week: 1
Ages: 6 - 12
Time: HALF DAY - AM
Ever wonder how your favorite pizza pie is made? Or what goes into the cream to make it your favorite sundae? How do you hand roll a bagel? Join us in this week long adventure to some of our favorite local restaurants as we explore how these creations come to life. Not only will campers get to eat a variety of amazing food but they’ll get a complete behind-the-scenes tour and learn kitchen secrets from some of our area’s greatest chefs.
Early Bird Price: $370
Regular Price: $385
Location: BH
Week: 2
Ages: 6 - 12
Time: HALF DAY - AM
Ever wonder how your favorite pizza pie is made? Or what goes into the cream to make it your favorite sundae? How do you hand roll a bagel? Join us in this week long adventure to some of our favorite local restaurants as we explore how these creations come to life. Not only will campers get to eat a variety of amazing food but they’ll get a complete behind-the-scenes tour and learn kitchen secrets from some of our area’s greatest chefs.
Early Bird Price: $370
Regular Price: $385
Location: WR
Week: 1-8
Ages: 14 - 16
Time: FULL DAY
Leaders in Training is a great program for teens to develop leadership skills, learn how to work with children of all ages, and have fun at the same time. LITs receive weekly leadership lectures, practical skills training and performance evaluations. LITs accompany Camp Cannundus on weekly trips and gain opportunities to become future Summer Camp Counselors.
Early Bird Price: $245
Regular Price: $260
Location: BH
Week: 8
Ages: 6 - 12
Time: HALF DAY - AM
During this action-packed camp kids explore chemistry in a safe manner. With spectacular hands-on activities and amazing demonstrations, kids will both learn and apply the concepts, tools and techniques of real chemists. Campers will start by learning lab techniques and safety procedures, and then use these to mix crazy concoctions and chemical combos. Kids even get fun lab gear to take home!
Early Bird Price: $360
Regular Price: $375
Location: BH
Week: 6
Ages: 6 - 12
Time: HALF DAY - AM
Get ready for a week of scientific exploration, mystery solving, and hands-on discovery in the fascinating worlds of biology, chemistry, and forensic science. Campers will start by exploring the amazing human body, getting an up-close look at the circulatory, respiratory, digestive, skeletal, and muscular systems. The excitement continues as campers take on the role of detectives in a mock crime scene investigation. They'll apply scientific methods like observation and data analysis to sift through clues, using forensic techniques to solve the mystery. But that's not all! Campers will go even deeper into the microscopic world by studying cells. To cap off the adventure, campers will unleash their inner Mad Scientist by diving into the world of chemistry. They'll explore chemical reactions that heat things up, cool them down, and even go "too far"! Science Sleuths is the ultimate science camp for kids who love hands-on learning, solving mysteries, and discovering the magic of chemistry and biology. Join us for a week where science comes to life in the most fun and exciting ways possible!
Early Bird Price: $365
Regular Price: $380
Location: SU
Week: 4
Ages: 6 - 12
Time: HALF DAY - AM
Kids put on their engineer's hats for this exciting week of science activities. They also learn about chemical reactions that they might encounter in their daily lives and the nature of birds and beasts, as they take a walk on the wild side of science.
Early Bird Price: $365
Regular Price: $380
Location: BH
Week: 4
Ages: 6 - 12
Time: HALF DAY - AM
From our Earth's atmosphere yo the oter reaches of our solat system, this hands-on program sends children on a quest for exploration! Comets, planets, stars and more are all waiting to be discovered. Set your future space explorers on a trajectory from our Earth's atmosphere to the oter reacher of our solar system.
Early Bird Price: $365
Regular Price: $380
Location: SU
Week: 5
Ages: 6 - 12
Time: HALF DAY - AM
Children learn about the uses of robots in our world and spend time experimenting with super cool red-hot robots. They discover the science of circuits and how robots use sensors to explore things around them. They build their very own working robot to take home with them!
Early Bird Price: $365
Regular Price: $380
Location: SU
Week: 2
Ages: 6 - 12
Time: HALF DAY - AM
Blast your way into rocket science! Learn about Space travel; build your own rocket made of recycled materials. Investigate anti-gravity and Newton’s Laws of Motion first-hand. Learn about propulsion with air propelled miniature rockets. Make your own comet and create bubbling potions with Dry Ice. Learn about parachutes, streamers, helicopters, and other types of recovery systems in this fun-filled day. Demonstrate the rocket principles that you have learned all week with a launching finale!
Early Bird Price: $365
Regular Price: $380
Location: SCP
Week: 7
Ages: 6 - 12
Time: HALF DAY - AM
Obstacle Warrior camp combines inspiration from the popular TV show American Ninja Warrior along with Physical Education class games. Campers will face challenging obstacles and learn how to blow by them with ease! Obstacle Warrior Camp is perfect for children who are looking to have fun, stay active and improve their agility and speed!
Early Bird Price: $345
Regular Price: $360
Location: BH
Week: 1
Ages: 6-12
Time: HALF DAY - AM
Does your child love the ooey gooey things? Would you prefer they didn’t create them at home? Send them our way to Slime Time where we'll explore the science behind all things slimey and gooey - think slugs, chewing gum and marhmallow fluff, and experiment with a variety of ingredients to make a number of slime based creations every day in this week long exploration of sticky icky things!
Early Bird Price: $345
Regular Price: $360
Location: WR
Week: 1-9
Ages: 5-14
Time: HALF DAY - PM
The perfect afternoon compliment to any morning specialty camp! Sidekick campers join Camp Cannundus at the Watchung Reservation for a half day of activities outdoors. Specialty Sidekick is available as an add-on only to campers enrolled in our half day specialty camps. Transportation for Specialty Sidekick is included between campsites. This Camp also includes swimming!
Early Bird Price: $225
Regular Price: $240
Location: WR
Week: 1-10
Ages: 7 - 12
Time: FULL DAY
Designed for the sports enthusiast and using the Y Super Sports Model, campers will develop fundamental athletic skills and techniques for a variety of sporting activities, while learning the value of teamwork, sportsmanship and fair play. Sports camp is held outdoors at the Watchung Reservation and each day includes drills, skill development, learning the rules, game time & open play. Sports camp partakes in weekly field trips, swims three times a week at the Summit Y and participates in theme days with Camp Cannundus!
Early Bird Price: $370
Regular Price: $385
Location: WR
Week: 1-9
Ages: 11 - 14
Time: FULL DAY
Teen Trek Camp is one of our most popular camps, offering teens daily excursions throughout New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. It’s all about adventure, cultural exploration, pushing comfort zones, making new friends, and having tons of fun! Campers enjoy late nights on Tuesdays and swimming every Friday at the Berkeley Heights YMCA pool. Last year’s trips included Seven Presidents Beach, Six Flags, outdoor laser tag, Tomahawk Lake, Dorney Park, TreEscape Aerial Adventure Park, Medieval Times, American Dream Water Park, and Dave & Buster’s—just to name a few.
Early Bird Price: $490
Regular Price: $505
Location: WR
Week: 2-8
Ages: 9-10
Time: FULL DAY
Travelers Camp combines traditional camp activities, pool days, and thrilling trips, creating a summer full of adventure and fun! Each week offers something new and exciting for campers to experience. Previous destinations have included Dave & Buster’s, Branchburg Sports Complex, Wild West City, Liberty Science Center, Tomahawk Lake, iPlay America, Funplex & Splash Zone, Medieval Times, Castaway Cove Mini Golf, laser tag, and more!
Early Bird Price: $415
Regular Price: $430
Location: WR
Week: 4
Ages: 8-12
Time: FULL DAY
Children will explore the Watchung Reservation each day to learn learn fundamental wilderness survival techniques... like how to read and use basic maps and compasses, emergency fire making, locating and purifying water in the field, reading and creating emergency signals, understanding common wilderness emergencies and take part in an introduction to wilderness first aid course.
Early Bird Price: $380
Regular Price: $395
AM Camps: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Sidekick: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM (Lunch will be eaten here when all campers arrive by 12:30 PM)
Busy Bees: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Dial the phone number below and reach out to the appropriate extension for your camp.
| Camp Name | Contact Person | Extension |
|---|---|---|
| BH Pre/Post Camp | Carolyn Beechner | 2032 |
| Busy Bees | Carolyn Beechner | 2032 |
| Camp -A-Palooza | Carolyn Beechner | 2032 |
| Camp Enterprise | Carolyn Beechner | 2032 |
| Cannonball | Kelly McHugh | 2027 |
| Cannundus | Kelly McHugh | 2027 |
| Jr. Travelers | Carolyn Beechner | 2032 |
| Lagoonland | Kelly McHugh | 2027 |
| Leaders in Training | Lillie Jn Baptiste | 5318 |
| Obstacle Warriors | Kelly McHugh | 2027 |
| Specialty Camps: All Locations Morning Specialties | Carolyn Beechner | 2032 |
| Mad Science Camps | Carolyn Beechner | 2032 |
| Montclair Learning Company | Carolyn Beechner | 2032 |
| Specialty Sidekick | Kelly McHugh | 2027 |
| Sports Camp | Kelly McHugh | 2027 |
| Summit Pre/Post Camp | Carolyn Beechner | 2032 |
| Teen Trek | Carolyn Beechner | 2032 |
| Transportation | Kelly McHugh | 2027 |
| Travelers | Carolyn Beechner | 2032 |
| Wilderness Adventure | Kelly McHugh | 2027 |
Registration for camp at the Summit Area YMCA is quick and easy. For more information on how to register and any additional policies, click here!
You may reserve a space for your child by paying the full camp fee or with a non-refundable $50 deposit for each week of camp. Payments due June 1, June 15, July 1, and July 15 will automatically be charged to the credit/debit card on file unless alternative arrangements are made with the Camp Registrar. We determine refunds and credits on a case by case basis. For more information visit our payment policies page.
Your child can wear their camp t-shirts anytime but must wear them on ALL field trip days as our brightly colored camp t-shirts help us easily and quickly identify and keep track of our campers when we are traveling. Each camper is provided with two camp t-shirts. Extra t-shirts may be purchased for an additional cost.
Parents will receive an email from their child’s camp director the Thursday before the camp week begins and following camp to share what they’ve done. This email will provide information that pertains to the upcoming week’s events. Once camp begins, parents can also view a general daily schedule and a trip calendar for camps at thesay.org/camp.
Parents may drop-off and pick-up campers directly from their campsite, including off-site locations like Sports Camp, Camp Cannundus, LIT, Specialty Sidekick, Travelers Camp and Teen Trek held at the Watchung Reservation. The SAY offers transportation to and from off-site locations and the YMCA for an additional fee.
Directions to the Watchung Reservation can be found here: http://ucnj.org/parks-recreation/trailside-nature-science-center/directions/.
Yes, please send a lunch for your child every day as we do not provide lunch. For summer camps that are located outdoors, we strongly recommend that you include an ice pack to keep the food cool.
Per child safety guidelines, we are not permitted to apply sunscreen for your child. However, we will teach your child how to correctly apply and reapply sunscreen and remind them periodically during the day to protect themselves from the sun at summer camp. Please remember to pack sunscreen for your child.
Summer camp deposits are non-refundable. Camp fees may be refunded before May 1 at the discretion of the Camp Director and/or Registrar. View our Camp Cancellation Policy for more information.
The Learning Circle YMCA is open 51 weeks of the year for children ages 6 weeks through 6 years. We also provide an age-appropriate month-long camp experience during the months of July and August for children ages 3 through 7.
As a nonprofit, the Summit Area YMCA is committed to enhancing the lives of individuals and families in our community. We do so by offering financial assistance to those with demonstrated need so that they may enjoy all the Y has to offer, regardless of their ability to pay. This helps us ensure that everyone, regardless of age, income, or background has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. Families with low or moderate household income or those who are experiencing financial hardship are encouraged to apply. Applicants must live or work in the Summit Area YMCA service area which includes Berkeley Heights, Gillette, Millburn, New Providence, Short Hills, Springfield, Stirling and Summit.
