MetroKids - 0418 SJ CAMP DIRECTORY

APRIL 2018

SOUTH JERSEY

CAMP 2018

GIDDYAP Horseback Riding Camps DOWN AND DIRTY Science and Nature Camps 2018 CAMP DIRECTORY

Camp

GIDDYAP The Thrill and Benefits of Horseback Riding Camp

By Terri Akman As a kid, Mallory Jaskolka was very bright, but she had some learning issues that led to emotional anxiety. Her mom, Maggie, knowing that Mallory loved animals, enrolled her in Ashford Farm horseback riding camp in Miquon, PA when she was 7.

“Everything about it just fit her,” says Maggie, from Elkins Park, PA, who watched her daughter blossom around

horses. “Everything you do is part of a team, either you and your horse or you and the partner you’re sharing that horse with. It allows you to feel a sense of success. It’s really empowering.”

Mallory spent the next seven summers at Ashford Farm learning to ride and care for horses. She then advanced to their residential horseback riding camp in Virginia. Now 24, Mallory is pursuing equine-facilitated therapy as a career.

The benefits of horseback riding

Mallory Jaskolka has been horseback riding since she was 7.

18 MetroKids.com

Horseback riding offers riders physical activity while developing balance, coordination as well as mental and emotional benefits. It’s also an activity people can enjoy throughout their lives.

“It teaches them responsibility for another living thing,” says Caroline Canavan, owner of Ashford Farm, which offers a camp for boys and girls aged 7 to 14 who have a range of horseback-riding ability.

“Kids love animals and have a passion for riding, so it’s an outlet away from school, their telephones and their parents.

“Campers learn how to do a lot of basic flat work (walking, trotting) on the horse and they also learn how to jump,” Canav-

CAMP

an says. “The more advanced children get to take lessons out of the ring. They like to do cross-country jumping.”

Horseback riding is a unique sport where you become one with the animal, says Eleanor Robinson, owner and riding instructor at Pembrook Farm in Woodbury, NJ. “You have to think about what the horse or pony is thinking about, what it is feeling and its needs. It also gives the kids a lot of confidence when they work with the animal and love the animal. That connection is immeasurable.”

Hippotherapy at Quest Therapeutic Services

“Unlike sports and school where kids are competing against other peers, in horseback riding there’s no competition,” says Sue Campbell, owner of Sunset

APRIL 2018

Camp

Choose a camp carefully

As with any camp, a personal visit will allow you and your child to see the facilities and speak with the staff.

“Not all camps are created equal, so parents should really check the camps out,” says Canavan. “Children can get hurt so they have to have good instruction.” Horseback riding is not for everybody, she cautions, so gauge your child’s interest before committing to a camp.

While costs differ depending on the camp, campers will need proper clothing, including a helmet and riding boots or sturdy-heeled shoes. Summer camp at Ashford Farm cost from $1,300 for two weeks to $4,960 for eight weeks, while Pembrook Farm costs $250 per week.

Half-day camp at Sunset Stable costs $200 per week and $300 per week for full day.

Terri Akman is a contributing writer to MetroKids.

APRIL 2018

Hippotherapy and therapeutic riding Literally meaning “treatment with the help of the horse” from the Greek word “hippos,” hippotherapy is how physical, occupational and speech therapists use the movement of the horse as part of their intervention to help achieve their objectives.

“The horse’s movement has a therapeutic effect on the child because it imparts a precise repetitive pattern of movement that’s very similar to a person’s pelvis during normal walking,” says Lisa Newcomb, executive director of Quest Therapeutic Services in West Chester, PA. “It helps with balance, strengthening the core, and sensory input.”

The goal is not to learn to ride a horse, but to use the horse’s movement as a tool. Children sit or kneel on the horse in any direction as three adults guide the horse, provide the therapy and make sure the child is safe. While on horseback, children can also participate in other activities like basketball, putting rings on poles, and working puzzles.

“We’re using the horse’s movement as that tool to facilitate the physical, speech and occupational therapy,” says Newcomb.

Therapeutic riding Unlike hippotherapy, therapeutic riding focuses on using the movement of the horse to give a recreational experience or to teach riding skills to people with disabilities, says Barbara Wertheimer, executive director of Pegasus Therapeutic Riding Academy in Northeast Philadelphia. Through that process the rider derives physical, psychological, mental and emotional therapeutic benefits.

Quest Therapeutic Services

Stable in Bear, DE. “Children who are reluctant to participate in sports feel very comfortable riding. They don’t have that outside pressure.”

“Being on the horse gives the rider the feeling of self confidence, independence, and enjoying an activity that she can call her own,” says Wertheimer.

CAMP

MetroKids.com 19

Camp

DOWN AND DIRTY Learn about science and nature in the great outdoors

By Carol Anne Pagliotti

Nature camps are a good way to get kids away from their screens and off of the sidewalk so that they can explore the great outdoors.

Kids who go to outdoor camps gain some of the traditional wisdom their parents and grandparents learned about plants, birds and insects, including practical lessons such as how to identify poison ivy. Summer days spent in nature also connect kids to the environment and that connection can build empathy and an appreciation for the world around them.

Here in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, kids are close to natural areas where they can take part in a wide variety of nature and environmental camps.

‘Let your kids get messy and dirty’

Images Top: Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education Middle: Whale Camp & Fundy Marine Science Institute Bottom: Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge

20 MetroKids.com

“We’ve seen a lot of research over the last decade that suggests kids aren’t spending enough time outside,” says Courtney McKinley, camp coordinator for the Delaware Nature Society. “The amount of screen time kids have is going up and the amount of time they have outside to play is going down.”

While a kid sitting by a screen in the living room may make parents feel safe because they know where their child is, there are benefits to pushing him out the door.

“Let your kids get messy and dirty,” says Cathy Perrotto, camp coordinator for the Delaware Museum of Natural History.

“Just being outside is such a great thing for children. It allows them to explore without instructions. They can go pick up sticks and try to build something out of it.

“It’s a lot of free activity for them. It not only challenges them mentally, but physically. We hit the gamut of mental, physical and social stimulation.”

Even walking over uneven ground, like kids would do in the woods, as opposed to being on a playground with a paved surface, is really good for their gross motor development, McKinley says.

“Sometimes kids benefit the most from activities where they can just be free to roam and explore, but at camp they get to do it with an adult who is watching out for them,” says Keara R. Giannoti, executive director and director of Eco Studies at Camp Creek Run in Marlton, NJ.

CAMP

Learn lessons from nature

A summer at nature camp will help a child learn how to identify plants and animals, but the lessons go beyond ecosystems.

“The most important piece we focus on is getting kids, especially young children, comfortable with the practices of science,” says Erin McCool, director of education at Riverbend Environmental Education Center in Gladwyne, PA. “Our focus is guiding children through inquiry-based learning on how to explore nature. Kids learn how to talk and think like a scientist.”

Even kids who do not go on to be biologists and naturalists might develop an appreciation for protecting the world around them.

“We’re showing them how to take care of the forest and the soil and prevent pollution and problems in their neighborhood and watershed,” says Aaliyah Ross, director of education at Philadelphia’s Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education. “It has to do with connecting with nature and learning how to be a good environmental steward.”

Explore for the fun of it

Separate from the science and environmental awareness, one of the benefits of an outdoor camp experience is simply the chance to make a discovery.

“Kids experience and discover a lot because we want them to do things on their own; we don’t necessarily want to take them outside and lecture,” says Erin Kiefer, camp director at Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge in Medford, NJ. “We find that they really enjoy what they are doing a lot more when they are discovering it themselves.”

McKinley says the Delaware Nature Society sees a key benefit as simply the “deep experience in just being in nature.”

Parents can encourage a positive experience if they focus on finding an outdoor camp that is suited to their child, says Cailin Burmaster, program director of Whale Camp & Fundy Marine Science Institute in New Brunswick, Canada.

“This improves the likelihood that your camper will be surrounded by like-minded peers with common interests, which makes it much easier to make friends, have fun and be themselves,” she says.

Carol Anne Pagliotti is a freelance writer.

APRIL 2018

NATURE DAY CAMP

for Ages 3- 13 Weekly Day Camps: Walk in the woods, dig in the dirt, and wade in the water during our week-long nature camps.

NEW

“Girls Go Wild for STEM” Camp

Daily activities include:

Hands-on experiences and experiments, visits with native wildlife, and creative play.

Camps run June 25-August 24, 2018 Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge 4 Sawmill Road | Medford, NJ | 856-983-3329

www.cedarrun.org

Philly's, South Jersey's, and the Shore's

#1 Choice for Summer Camp Q,

OPE N H Apri OUS l 4th E •

Open House- April 21 and May 19

• Horseback Riding • Swim Lessons • Over 20 Sports including Golf and Archery • Dual Zip Lines& i� Rope Courses � • Dance& Performing Arts 1 • Crafts and Woodworking · School of Rock I fl un. . Extended Care f met M tl.

A S • ·Teen travel program ft/Yla]J � · A/C Buildings N ew Fam1·1y and s·b1· I 1ng o·ISCOUnts .

A/CTransportation

6:30 Cam Lincoln pm den Coun Hall, Blac ty Coll kwoo d ege,

Convenient South Jersey locations!

Call today 856-262-3900 For registration rates and fees

tallpinesdaycamp.com

IJ -� fl

email: fun@tallpinesdaycamp.com

1349 Sykesville Road, Williamstown, NJ 08094 Lunch and snack provided. Nut-free facility.

Delaware Valley's Premier Day Camp

Ages 5-18

REGISTER NOW!

Mention MetroKids when registering!

Accredited by the American Camp Association. State Certified.

APRIL 2018

NURTURING, FUN, SAFE ENGAGING

CAMP

mainstage.org 856-302-6485

MetroKids.com 21

CAMP 2018

Directory

BURLINGTON

Thrilling adventures are in store for children at summer camps throughout the Delaware Valley in 2018! This camp directory includes an ample array of choices for all abilities, ages and interests.

Navigate the directory by focusing on your preferences for: • Geographic area: Camps are grouped by county & outlying areas.

• Category: Each description is prefaced by camp type — day, program, residential, special needs or travel.

• Special features: Blue icons at the end of each listing indicate if a camp offers extended day care, part-day or part-week schedules, financial aid or transportation. Abbreviations denote whether a camp is ACA accredited, has a counselor-in-training program or may accommodate some special needs. See the key at the bottom of the page.

Find a searchable version at MetroKids.com/camps.

Contact camps to express interest and mention you saw their listing in MetroKids.

Camp Creek Run 199 Taunton Lake Rd., Marlton; 856-596-4250 campcreekrun@yahoo.com Campcreekrun.com

DAY Get close to nature at Camp Creek Run! Located in Marlton on 50 wooded acres, we offer certified teachers; sports, arts & nature programs; fishing & boating; swim instruction; pools; archery range; nature center; hiking trails; basketball, volleyball & gaga courts; challenge course; gardens & butterfly house; and farm sanctuary.

ESF Summer Camps William Allen Middle School 801 N. Stanwick Rd., Moorestown info@esfcamps.com esfcamps.com

DAY Our award-winning programs are filled with the perfect blend of education, sports & fun. With 60+ activities for every interest, we offer the widest variety of experiences for boys and girls, ages 3-15. June 25 Aug. 24, 2018

Future Scholars Early Learning Center 1351 Rt. 38 W., B-1, Hainesport 609-518-1333 admin@futurescholarslearning.com Futurescholarslearning.com

DAY Summer Camp offers full & half days with various schedules available. Activities include field trips & in-house visitors along with moonbounce, water play, cooking classes, music & sports, just to name a few!

We continue to educate your child through our themebased activities & curriculum so your child won’t fall behind this summer. Private tutoring available.

6:30am-6:30pm.

JCC Camps at Medford 400 Tuckerton Rd., Medford 856-751-1666 jcccampsatmedford.org

DAY, TRAVEL JCC Camps at Medford enriches children’s lives by teaching values and life skills in a fun, safe and inclusive Jewish environment while building confidence, sharing successes and creating lasting friendships. Register at Open House on 4/15 ACA CIT SN and save $250 per camper!

Liberty Lake Day Camp 1195 Florence-Columbus Rd., Bordentown 609-499-7820 Libertylakedaycamp.com

DAY Liberty Lake is a truly transformative experience, teaching life skills to inspire children and adults to change the world. Campers expand their talents, make friends and have the greatest summer experience ACA imaginable!

Moorestown Friends School Summer Programs 110 E. Main St. Moorestown 856-914-4493 mcameron@mfriends.org Summer.mfriends.org

DAY Moorestown Friends School offers a number of exciting summer opportunities for children entering grades 1-10. The Summer Scholars Program options include innovative and exciting approaches to science, robotics, technology, STEM, sports, design, thinking, arts, economics and more. In addition, Academic Transitions courses offer the chance for your child to improve in math, writing and study skills. Many Summer Programs Master Teachers are MFS teachers and department heads, most of whom hold advanced degrees from prestigious universities.

Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge 4 Sawmill Rd. Medford, NJ 856-983-3329 cedarrun.org

DAY Walk in the woods, dig in the dirt and explore Cedar Run during our week-long nature camps.

Daily activities include hands-on experiences and experiments, visits with native wildlife, games and creative play. There’s a special session just for you.

Don’t miss out, sign up today! Camp runs weekly June 25-August 24 for ages 3-13. CIT SN

MULTIPLE LOCATIONS

Camp Invention Multiple locations throughout Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey 800-968-4332 campinvention@invent.org Campinvention.org

DAY Camp Invention’s all-new summer program, Fast Forward, shows children that even the wildest and craziest ideas can become reality! Campers in grades K-6 will create a vehicle of the future, design a mechanical robot dog and build futuristic dream homes.

Local educators lead the week of fun, hands-on, STEM activities that encourage children to think big, explore their curiosity and never give up! Visit campinvention. org or call 800-968-4332 to register. Use promo code ThinkBig15 to save $15 (expires 5/4).

iD Tech www.idtech.com 1-888-709-8324

DAY iD Tech is the world’s #1 summer STEM program for ages 7-18 held at 150 prestigious universities including Princeton University, Monmouth University, The Hun School Of Princeton, University Of Pennsylvania, Rowan College- Mount Laurel. With world-class instructors and innovative courses in coding, game development, robotics, and design, our programs instill in-demand skills that embolden students to shape the future.

Learn more at iDTech.com.

ISC Summer Day Camp of Cherry Hill

DAY ISC is the place to be this and every summer!

Open all summer long! June 18-Aug. 31 Roller skating, indoor sports fields, arts & crafts, special guests & so much fun every day! Additional Options: Field trip, swim trips, sports camps and enrichment camps available. Mon.-Fri. 7am-6pm. Flexible scheduling.

Daily rates. Weekly tuition payments. Lunch, drinks and snacks included!

3 Locations (Deptford, Cherry Hill & Mt. Laurel) 856-428-8588 Intsports.com

Lavner Camps!

PA, NJ and DE 610-664-8800 info@lavnercampsandprograms.com Lavnercampsandprograms.com

DAY, RESIDENTIAL Lavner Camps is the Leader in Summer Enrichment Camps. As the #1 CAMP EXPERIENCE IN SPORTS, TECHNOLOGY, & THE ARTS, we have AWARD WINNING SUMMER CAMPS at 14 Philadelphia Metro, New Jersey & Delaware locations, with 35+ Specialty Camps to choose from... an INCREDIBLE summer camp experience awaits for your child! Our Cutting-Edge Summer Camps include Soccer, Basketball, Tennis, Robotics, Minecraft, Coding, Game Design, Culinary Arts, Fashion, Film & Lots More! Our New Jersey location is at the Katz JCC in Cherry Hill. Additional camp locations in NYC, Manhattan, Washington DC, St. Louis MO, Nashville TN & Los Angeles CA! Ages 6-15, Co-ed.

Space is limited, register now!

ACA

CAMDEN COUNTY Early Childhood Camps at the Katz JCC 1301 Springdale Rd., Cherry Hill 856-424-4444 ext. 1242 donnasnyder@jfedsnj.org Katzjcc.org/ecccamps

DAY Early Childhood Camps at the Katz JCC is the place for little campers to have big fun! Children enjoy creative arts, music, sports, swim lessons, cooking and more, supervised by loving and professional staff.

Register at Open House 4/15 and save $100 per new SN camper!

Key: Extended hours Offers financial aid Part-day or part-week sessions Provides transportation ACA: ACA-accredited CIT: Counselor-in-training program SN: Some special needs may be accommodated

22 MetroKids.com

CAMP

APRIL 2018

SUMMER CAMP

NOW ENROLLING June 18th - August 17th

2.5 years - 8th grade Camp offers: PreK, projects, swimming and counselor-in-training (856) 429-6786 | hfsfriends.org | summercamp@hfsfriends.org

47 N. Haddon Avenue, Haddonfield, NJ 08033-2476

The #1 Summer STEM Camp for Ages 7–18 Empower your child to take their STEM skills to the next level. From coding and game development to robotics

Held at 150 Prestigious Universities

and design, your child will develop in-demand skills

Princeton | Monmouth | The Hun School of Princeton UPenn | Rowan College - Mount Laurel

and ignite lifelong passions—all within a fun, inclusive environment. Get ready for the best summer ever!

CAMPS & ACADEMIES

APRIL 2018

Get a brochure and find a camp near you! iDTechCamps.com | 1-844-788-1858

CAMP

MetroKids.com 23

CAMP 2018

Directory

OUTLYING AREAS

CAMDEN COUNTY

Echo Hill Camp 13655 Bloomingneck Rd., Worton, MD 410-348-5303 info@echohillcamp.com EchoHillCamp.com

RESIDENTIAL Echo Hill Camp on the Chesapeake Bay is a traditional, sleep-away summer camp with 2- to 8week sessions. Non-competitive, free-choice program.

Waterskiing, sailing, wakeboarding, crabbing, ropes course, nature, art and much more! ACA

Haddonfield Friends School Summer Camp 47 N. Haddon Ave., Haddonfield 856-429-6786 ext. 211 Hfsfriends.org

DAY All activities are supervised by trained, experienced, certified educators. Each session incorporates an ageappropriate enrichment theme such as music, sports, cooperative games, crafts, drama, computers, science, cultural connections, nature study & water play. Many theme weeks culminate with events, performances & trips.

Pilot Summer Camp The Pilot School, 208 Woodlawn Rd., Wilmington, DE cshivone@pilotschool.org pilotschool.org

DAY Children ages 5-12 will benefit from our multi-sensory approach, which offers them the opportunity to engage in activities while learning.

This fun, hands-on camp focuses on special skills, team building, science experiments and nature while integrating reading and math.

Super Star Summer Camp 5 Larwin Rd., Cherry Hill 856-795-4599 theGCAcademy.com

DAY Super Star Summer Camp is where kids learn how to be awesome. We offer a variety of activities for children to enjoy, including swimming, ninja obstacle courses, flip-training, basketball, soccer, gymnastics, tumbling, cheerleading, arts & crafts and more.

SN

Science Camp Watonka PO Box 127, Hawley, PA 570-857-1401 mail@watonka.com Watonka.com

RESIDENTIAL For boys 8-16. Camper-selected program includes hands-on laboratory experiences in astronomy, biology, chemistry, computers, electronics, earth science, physics & robotics. A wide range of other activities includes ropes, archery, climbing, woodworking, sailing, rocketry, mini-bike riding, sports, windsurfing & trips. 2-, 4-, 6- & 8-week sessions available. CIT SN

Tall Pines Day Camp 1349 Sykesville Rd., Williamstown 856-262-3900 fun@tallpinesdaycamp.com Tallpinesdaycamp.com

DAY Serving Center City/South Jersey/shore points.

State certified & accredited by ACA. 66 acres include 45,000 sq. ft. of A/C indoor space, climbing tower, pedal karts, gymnastics, driving range, horseback riding, 8,500 sq. ft. of pools, soccer & baseball fields, hockey, basketball, tennis courts, arts & music programs. Open houses on Saturdays from 12-3pm, ACA April 21 and May 19.

Whale Camp at the Fundy Marine Science Institute Grand Manan Island, New Brunswick, Canada 888-54-WHALE info@whalecamp.com WhaleCamp.com

RESIDENTIAL, TRAVEL No other marine science camp offers as many face-to-face encounters to closely observe and study whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals and puffins in their own natural habitat. Board our research vessel for unmatched opportunities to observe marine life. Explore beaches, coastal trails and fishing villages on beautiful Grand Manan Island. Ask about our $40,000 College Scholarships, STEM projects & College Credits.

YMCA Camp Conrad Weiser 201 Cushion Peak Rd., PO Box 147, Wernersville, PA 610-670-2267 SMYMCA.org

RESIDENTIAL We welcome you to our 600 mountaintop acres in Berks County, PA. While we offer a variety of session lengths, most campers come for 2- or 4-week sessions. We are a coed program for campers 7-16 years old. Traditional camp programs including horseback riding, swimming, boating, athletics, target sports, mountain biking, creative arts, nature, adventure & teen leadership. We also offer a variety of specialty theme camps, adventure trips and international trips. We can’t wait to see you on the mountain! ACA

Young People’s Theater Workshop (YPTW); Theatre Arts Summer Overnight Camp at Eastern University 363 Radford Ct., Glen Mills, PA 610-558-0988 yptw@aol.com; yptw.org

DAY, RESIDENTIAL Overnight camp for ages 11-18 at Eastern University June 24-29, 2018. Classes include musical comedy, Shakespeare, improv, monologues, dance, characterization, auditions, showtunes. Airconditioned dorms, good food, experienced staff of professional educators.

GLOUCESTER

OUTLYING AREAS Adventure Camp at Roundtop Mountain Resort 925 Roundtop Rd. Lewisberry, PA; (717) 432-9631 skiroundtop@skiroundtop.com Roundtopmountainresort.com

DAY, RESIDENTIAL Book your child’s best week of the summer at South Central PA’s favorite ski resort where campers enjoy a multitude of adventure-based activities including zip lining, rock climbing, boating, paintball and OGO balling all right here on our 1,200 acres. CIT

NEW Camp Haluwasa 377 Ehrke Rd. Hammonton, NJ 08037 877-234-2267 Campingnj.com

DAY, RESIDENTIAL The Ultimate Christian Camping Experience! Exciting overnight & day camp programs for boys & girls ages 6-16 in a Christian environment.

Water park with rope swing, waterslides, zip-line & a sandy beach! Activities include: swimming, obstacle course, climbing walls, field games, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, ropes course, arts & crafts, and a ride-on railroad! Open House: May 19 & June 16, 2018, 10am-3pm with free train tours & BBQ.

Key: Extended hours Offers financial aid Part-day or part-week sessions Provides transportation ACA: ACA-accredited CIT: Counselor-in-training program SN: Some special needs may be accommodated

What are you looking for?

KIDS’ CAMPS

CHECK OUT OUR ONLINE CAMP DIRECTORY

MetroKids.com/camps 24 MetroKids.com

CAMP

APRIL 2018