Bergen Camps Cater To All Kids

Is your child a budding athlete, chef or scientist? These options will keep them enriched and entertained all summer.

If Memorial Day snuck up on you, the end of the school year may catch you off guard too. With that in mind, it’s not too late to start thinking about how your kids can stay active and busy this summer.

In Bergen County, there are camps that have rolling registration so your child can join the summer action. Below are a few options.

For the kid who creates:

Does your child love art, from sketching with old-fashioned pencils and paper to drawing with the latest digital tools? One River, with locations in Allendale and Englewood, has a variety of design camps for all ages, including Digital Character Design, Street Art Painting, Comic Book Illustrating, Digital Graffiti and more. Morning and afternoon sessions are available. Registration is underway, and the first week starts June 24.

For the kid who dances:

Kids who love performing on stage will enjoy bergenPAC Performing Arts School’s Summer Dance Intensives. The curriculum, taught by Artistic Director of Dance Roberta Mathes, covers classical ballet, contemporary, modern, jazz and conditioning. Students not enrolled in the school’s program will be required to audition for placement. The first session begins July 15.

For the kid who loves science:

An unscientific poll says nine out of 10 kids agree that science class isn’t fun without the lab. That’s why Kaplen JCC on the Palisades in Tenafly holds a two-week STEAM Camp for ages 8 to 12. Campers will explore the world of STEAM—science, technology, engineering, arts and math—through immersive activities and traditional camp exercises. Session one begins June 24.

For the kid who makes music:

Taylor Swift and John Mayer both started somewhere, and your budding musician can learn to hit the right notes this summer through camps and workshops at the School of Rock. With locations in Carlstadt, Cresskill, Maywood and Waldwick, your kid can find the right summer session right in their backyard. Learn to play instruments and sing in workshops like A Taylor Swift Tribute, Best of the ’90s and Songwriting. The first session starts June 24.

For the kid who cooks:

Does your child want to be the next top chef? Get them started at Ridgewood-based HealthBarn USA’s summer camp for ages 4 to 13. Each week beginning June 17 has a specific theme intended to teach campers various ways food is grown, sold, prepared and more. In addition, the Summer Seedlings program for children ages 3 to 5 rotates between harvesting and planting in their organic garden, helping to prepare nutritious recipes from scratch and trying a variety of fresh foods.

For the kid who loves sports:

For children who want to throw, hit, kick, swing and more, Sports Camps at the Superdome has it all. Campers can play football, soccer, lacrosse, dodgeball, kickball and other sports throughout the day and participate in non-sport activities, such as crafts, as well. Want to create a specialized program or focus on a specific sport? A variety of create-a-clinic options are available too. Half- and full-day camps are offered, and the first week starts June 17.

Which camps do you recommend for Bergen children? Tell us on Instagram @bergenmagnj.