Camp Jefferson Summer Day Camp           returns for its 7th season!

The Jefferson Township Recreation Department is excited to announce that its seventh season of summer day camp at Camp Jefferson will run from June 21 through August 20 for a total of nine weeks in a safe and natural environment at the township’s 94-acre facility on Weldon Road in Lake Hopatcong, NJ.

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

Camp fees are $185 for a five-day week and $145 for a three-day week – you choose the days!  Special early bird prices offer a significant discount and are $155 for a full five-day week (9 AM to 3 PM) and $115 for a three-day week (9 AM to 3 PM) if registration is received by April 9.  Early Bird rates will be locked in only until Thursday, May 27 and only for campers registered by Friday, April 9.  Any new registrations or the addition of weeks received after April 9 will incur the regular fees of $185 and $145 respectively.   Campers who are Jefferson Township residents will receive a $10 per week discount and each additional sibling registered within the same five-day program week will be entitled to a $10 discount per week.

The program is open to all children 4 years old as of June 21 and completely potty trained, those children entering Kindergarten through 6th grade in September 2010, and a teen program for children entering 7th and 8th grades in September 2010. 

Before and/or after camp care, electives, special trips, and morning only bus transportation will be available for an additional charge.  Bus stops are at PNC Bank parking lot at 5708 Berkshire Valley Road in Milton/Oak Ridge (the “old” A&P parking lot), the Skyline Drive parking lot (between Hunters Ridge & Vail Pass in The Peaks development) in Lake Hopatcong, and the Jefferson Township Health Center parking lot at 57 Minnisink Road in Lake Hopatcong.

There will be exciting camp themes each week, i.e., Wild Thing, Transformers, Wet ‘n Wacky, and That’s Puzzling and exciting activities at no extra charge such as rock wall climbing, a magic show, water inflatable water activities, a barbeque, special treat days, and an outrageous animal show.  Camp Jefferson offers lunch options twice a week for Chow Down Thursdays and Fun Food Fridays at very reasonable prices.

Special optional off-site trips are offered including bowling, the movies, Frog Falls Water Park, Camel Beach Water Park, The Museum of Natural History, Mt. Olive Township Carnival, Space Port, Skylands Ice World, and Giggles Play Station.  Trips would incur additional fees for admission and busing.   

Students in the pre-teen (5^th and 6^th graders) and teen (7^th to 8^th graders) program will be offered the opportunity to participate in additional special trips geared just for them including Laser One, The Funplex, and Ripley’s Believe It or Not.

The Teens will also have the opportunity to travel to Hit & Run Sports Center, TerraBite Cyber Café, rafting on the Delaware, the movies, and Clubhouse Golf Center

Typical camp activities would include Golf, Archery, Boating, Fishing, sports activities, High and Low Ropes Challenge Courses, Trangle Ball, Baggo, Frisbee, Skillastics Fitness Games, GiveaGetta Character Development, Ping-pong, Foose Ball, Pool, Air Hockey, morning and afternoon snacks, group lunch times, playground activities, outdoor field activities, over 100 board games plus GIANT-sized board games, Tetherball, Croquet, Shuffleboard, Hopscotch, Horseshoes, Bocce Ball, Creative Arts & Crafts, Science & Nature activities, Leather works, Inflatable Water Slide activities, Slip ’n Slides, water sprays, weekly themed activities, special programs, live entertainment, Wii, PlayStation, a library of video games, Story Time at the Library Cabin, Movie Time in the Theater, Face-0ff competitions, AM/PM snacks, group lunch times, special guests, and bus trips!

Elective programs are optional and include such activities as Glitz and Glamour, Critters and Stuff, guitar and piano lessons, cooking (cooking without a stove, international cooking, just desserts), Hip-Hop dancing, skate park, tie dying, Karate, horsemanship, fitness is fun, create-a-plane, Lego’s, cake decorating, chocolate making, martial arts, gymnastics, and specialty arts and crafts as well as optional sports-specific clinics such as basketball, cheerleading, volleyball, football, lacrosse, etc.  These activities will incur nominal fees.

Brochures have been distributed through the Jefferson Township school system, and 2009 campers have been mailed a brochure.   The 2010 color brochures and full registration packets are now available in person through the Recreation Department at Camp Jefferson (81 Weldon Road), in the brochure racks at both the Jefferson Township Municipal Building and the Public Library, and online at www.jeffersontownshp.net  (Forms Center).  Parents can also call the Recreation Department at 973-663-8404 or e-mail CPUNTURIERI@jeffersontownship.netwith their name and address to request that a packet be mailed to them.  Packets and brochures cannot be faxed. 

A $30 non-refundable registration fee must accompany each registration packet along with full payment for one 3-day or one 5-day week along with a completed health history form, a signed discipline policy, and copies of the child’s most up-to-date immunization records and health insurance card.  All accounts must be completely paid in full no later than May 27 or the camper will not be allowed to start their camp program.  Additional weeks and activities can be added at any time after May 27 without any penalty but fees will be at the regular rates.

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

Three year olds will be considered for Camp Jefferson’s summer day camp program

Due to an overwhelming interest, the directors at the Camp Jefferson Summer Day Camp are considering accepting children who are presently 3 years old but will not be 4 years old by the start of the camp season on June 21, 2010.  Requests will be handled on a case-by-case basis provided the child is fully potty trained.

Each request to enroll a 3 year old who is fully potty trained will be considered following a personal interview with the parent/guardian, the child, and a camp director.  Parents should be aware that all campers use both indoor restroom facilities as well as outside port-a-john facilities.  This might be an important issue to consider with a very young child.

The parent or guardian will be asked to provide a copy of the child’s birth certificate and sign a waiver that the child is fully potty-trained and does not wear diapers and/or pull-ups during the day along with all other required documents for camp registration.

The camp fees will be the same as all summer day campers.

For information, please contact the Jefferson Township Recreation Department office at 973-663-8404 or email CPUNTURIERI@jeffersontownship.netVisit the township’s website at www.jeffersontownship.net, look at the left hand side of the homepage, click on the yellow link box entitled “Departments”, and then scroll down to “Recreation Department” for more information about the summer day camp program.

Tour Camp Jefferson's facilities during
Summer Day Camp’s 2010 Open House on March 21

            Tour Jefferson Township’s 96-acre facility at Camp Jefferson on Sunday, March 21, 2010 and learn firsthand what it has to offer your child this summer during the Recreation Department’s seventh annual summer day camp program!  The facility is located at 81 Weldon Road in Lake Hopatcong, NJ, easily accessible via Route 80, Route 15, and Route 23 at Oak Ridge Road.

            Drop in anytime between 1 and 4 PM to tour Camp Jefferson’s spring-fed lake for boating and fishing, outdoor sports facilities, open grass fields, amphitheater, fire pit with seating, skate park, numerous themed cabins, main community lodge with full kitchen, recreation hall, basketball courts, movie theater, picnic pavilion, high and low ropes courses, archery range, and a state-of-the-art playground.  Summer Camp offers ping-pong, foose ball, pool, air hockey, tetherball, croquet, shuffleboard, trail walks, hopscotch, horseshoes, bocce ball, and so much more. Camp Jefferson’s Summer camp directors will be on hand to answer questions, and summer day camp brochures and registration forms will be available. 

The 2010 Jefferson Township Recreation Department’s summer day camp program at Camp Jefferson will run from June 21 through August 20 for a total of nine weeks in a safe and natural environment.  Early bird registration price specials will be offered again this year but only until April 9!

Visit www.jeffersontownship.net, Departments’ link, then Recreation and/or Form Center as all summer day camp registration materials will be available to view or download prior to the Open House.  You can call the Recreation Department office at 973-663-8404 for more information. 

In the event of inclement weather, the Open House will be held on Sunday, March 28.