Jewish Sleepaway Camp: One-Day & Introductory Programs for Central New Jersey Campers

Are you thinking about sleepaway camp, but not sure if you–or your child–are quite ready? Or maybe everyone in the family is totally on board but not sure which kind of camp experience might be the right fit.

Well, you’re in luck–all of the camps listed below have opportunities to provide you and your prospective camper with an introduction to camp without signing on for a full session.

Some camps offer one-day experiences and open houses that give prospective campers (and their parents) a taste of camp life with camp activities, a chance to meet campers and counselors, and to get a taste of camp cuisine.

But if you want more than a day-long visit, but aren’t quite ready to commit for an entire month, an introductory mini-session might just be the thing for your camper-to-be. Some programs are three days and two nights, while some go as long as a week (or two), but all of them give participants the opportunity to live, eat, and breathe camp.

Make sure you start planning ASAP—these programs are usually high in demand and fill up early.

Need the inside scoop on the different camps listed below and what they have to offer? We’ve got you covered. We know that the majority of these camps aren’t located in New Jersey, but they are listed here because they serve families in Middlesex & Monmouth counties. Visit One Happy Camper NJ to find information about additional camp options.

Open Houses

Camp Kinder Ring – Rookie Day (Co-ed)
335 Sylvan Lake Rd, Hopewell Junction, NY 12533
Affiliation: Non-denominational
Food at Camp: Kosher-Style
A full day of camp fun including sports, swim, arts & crafts, and lunch. Parents will tour camp and then have some time to explore Dutchess County. For prospective campers ages 6 – 9 years, RSVP required.
Saturday, July 8, 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Camp Harlam Rookie Day (Co-ed)
575 Smith Rd, Kunkletown, PA 18058
Affiliation: Reform
Food at Camp: Kosher Style
Spend a full day at camp participating in group activities like art and sports, eat lunch in the camp dining hall, and get the inside scoop on camp from peers. Parents can take a camp tour and get answers to all of their questions during a Q&A session with the camp directors. For prospective campers entering grades 2 – 5. Advance registration requested.
Sunday, July 16, 2017

Camp Ramah in the Berkshires (Co-ed)
91 Ramah Road, Wingdale, NY, 12594
Affiliation: Conservative
Food at Camp: Kosher
Kids experience a mini camp day while parents tour camp, meet staff, and attend an info session. Everyone comes back together for a BBQ lunch. Advance registration requested.
Sunday, July 16, 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Camp Louemma – Open House (Co-ed)
43 Louemma Lane, Sussex, NJ 07641
Affiliation: Non-denominational
Food at Camp: Kosher
Enjoy a BBQ lunch, take a tour of camp, and learn more about the camp program. Advance registration requested.
Sunday, July 30, 1 – 3:30 p.m.

Camp JRF – Rookie Days (Co-ed)
108 Rabbi Jeff Way, South Sterling, PA 18460
Affiliation: Reconstructionist
Food at Camp: Kosher
Prospective campers entering grades 2 – 5 get a taste of camp activities and camp food while parents tour camp and learn more about camp life.
Sundays, July 2 & 30, Noon – 5 p.m.

Short Stay & Weekend Programs

Camp Louemma – Try-It-First Weekend (Co-ed)
43 Louemma Lane, Sussex, NJ 07641
Affiliation: Non-denominational
Food at Camp: Kosher
A weekend full of camp fun, camp food, and special events. Meet current campers, other prospective campers, and camp staff. The weekend concludes with a parent open house and BBQ lunch for everyone. Limited space available, advance registration required. $200
Friday, July 7, 2 p.m. – Sunday, July 9, 3 p.m.
Friday, July 28, 2 p.m. – Sunday, July 30, 3 p.m.

Camp Nesher – Taste of Camp (Co-ed)
90 Woods Rd, Lakewood, PA 18439
Affiliation: Orthodox
Food at Camp: Kosher
All the fun camp has to offer, in a shorter time period. For prospective campers entering grades 3 – 6. Longer first-time experience also available – see below. $400
Tuesday, July 25 – Friday, July 28

Camp Shoshanim – A Taste of Shoshanim (Girls Only)
119 Woods Rd, Lakewood, PA 18439
Affiliation: Orthodox
Food at Camp: Kosher
Sleep in bunks, try out one of the many camp electives and other fun activities. For prospective campers entering grades 3 – 6, transportation provided from Long Island and New Jersey. $400
Tuesday, July 25 – Friday, July 28

Camp Kinder Ring – KRJR (Co-ed)
335 Sylvan Lake Rd, Hopewell Junction, NY 12533
Affiliation: Non-denominational
Food at Camp: Kosher Style
Experience all aspects of camp life. Sleep in bunks, have fun at camp activities, eat in the dining hall, meet the counselors, and make new friends. For prospective campers ages 6 – 9 years. Advance registration required, limited space available. $300
Friday, July 28 – Sunday, July 30

Camp Moshava – Mini Mosh (Co-ed)
245 Navajo Rd, Honesdale, PA 18431
Affiliation: Orthodox, Zionist
Food at Camp: Kosher
A four-day, three-night introduction to camp life for prospective campers entering grades 3 – 5. Limited space available. $500
Monday, August 7 – Thursday, August 10

Camp Galil – Taste of Galil (Co-ed)
146 Red Hill Road, Ottsville, PA 18942
Affiliation: Non-denominational, Zionist, pluralistic
Food at Camp: Kosher
Spend four days at camp enjoying traditional camp activities, explore the organic garden, meet the chickens and the lambs, bake challah, and learn some new Hebrew words. For rising 3^rd graders, two-week option also available. $600
Wednesday, August 9 – Sunday, August 13

Camp Nah-Jee-Wah – First Step (Co-ed)
570 Sawkill Rd, Milford, PA 18337
Affiliation: Pluralistic
Food at Camp: Kosher
Experience camp life and activities include sports, waterfront, adventure, science, and more. Choose from either a two-night or five-night experience, for prospective campers entering grades 1 – 5.
2-night experience: $50, 5-night experience: $200
2 Nights: Friday, August 11 – Sunday, August 13
5 Nights: Sunday, August 20 – Friday, August 25

Camp Harlam – Taste of Camp Weekend (Co-ed)
1 Smith Rd, Kunkletown, PA 18058
Affiliation: Reform
Food at Camp: Kosher Style
Meet counselors and make new friends, check out camp activities and experience a Shabbat celebration at camp. For prospective campers in grades 2 – 5.
Friday, Oct. 20 – Sunday, Oct. 22

One-Week & Two-Week Experiences

Camp JRF – Rishon (Co-ed)
108 Rabbi Jeff Way, South Sterling, PA 18460
Affiliation: Reconstructionist
Food at Camp: Kosher
Rising 2^nd graders can attend a one-week session, and first-time campers entering grades 3 – 10 can pick from the first two weeks of either camp session. Campers explore all camp activities and experience living in a Jewish community 24/7.
Rishon Aleph: Sunday, June 25 – Sunday, July 9
Rishon Bet: Sunday, July 23 – Sunday, August 6

Camp Young Judaea Sprout Lake – Taste of Sprout Lake & Nitzanim (Co-ed)
6 Sprout Lake Camp, Rt. 82, Verbank, NY 12585
Affiliation: Pluralistic
Food at Camp: Kosher
Experience camp life for a week or two weeks during either first or second session. Virtual open houses, parent orientation and the “Camp Mom” help new campers acclimate. For new campers entering grades 2 – 4. Taste of Sprout Lake (1 week): $1,430, Nitzanim (2 weeks): $2,870
Taste of Sprout Lake (1-week experience)
First Session: Wednesday, June 28 – Wednesday, July 5
Second Session: Wednesday, July 26 – Wednesday, August 2
Nitzanim (2-week experience)
First Session: Wednesday, June 28 – Wednesday, July 12
Second Session: Wednesday, July 26 – Wednesday, August 9

Eden Village Camp Exploration (Co-ed)
392 Dennytown Rd, Putnam Valley, NY 10579
A six-day introduction to Eden Village for campers entering grades 3 – 5 and a 2-week option for campers entering grades 3 – 9. Campers enjoy traditional camp activities along with organic farming, survival skills, herbalism, and other signature Eden Village experiences.
6-day experience: $1,285
Affiliation: Non-denominational, pluralistic
Food at Camp: Kosher
First Session: Tuesday, July 4 – Sunday, July 9
Second Session: Tuesday, July 25 – Sunday, July 30
2-week session: Wednesday, July 26 – Sunday, July 9

Camp Zeke – Taste of Zeke (Co-ed)
31 Barry Watson Way, Lakewood, PA, 18439
Affiliation: Non-denominational, pluralistic
Food at Camp: Kosher
Sample Camp Zeke’s healthy and active elective-based program including sports, swimming, culinary arts, running, dance, and more. Transportation provided. $1,530
First Session: Sunday, July 2 – Sunday, July 9
Second Session: Monday, July 24 – Sunday, July 30

Camp Nesher – Taste of Camp (Co-ed)
90 Woods Rd, Lakewood, PA 18439
Affiliation: Orthodox
Food at Camp: Kosher
Eleven days of camp fun for prospective campers entering grades 3 – 6. $1,100
Tuesday, July 25 – Friday, August 4

Camp Galil – Taste of Galil (Co-ed)
146 Red Hill Road, Ottsville, PA 18942
Affiliation: Non-denominational, Zionist, pluralistic
Food at Camp: Kosher
Spend two weeks at camp trying out all of the activities, explore the organic garden, meet the chickens and the lambs, bake challah, and learn some new Hebrew words. For campers entering grades 3 – 5, choose from first or second session.
Mini Session Alef: Sunday, June 25 – Sunday, July 9
Mini Session Bet: –Wednesday, July 26 – Wednesday, August 9

Camp Nah-Jee-Wah (Co-ed)
570 Sawkill Rd, Milford, PA 18337
Affiliation: Pluralistic
Food at Camp: Kosher
Spend two weeks at camp during first or second session and experience all aspects of camp life. Parents can check in by email and with counselors to see how new campers are acclimating. One week option also available through Total Specialty Camps. For new campers entering grades 1 – 6. Nah Jee Wah: $2,150, Total Specialty Camps: $1,100
First Session: Tuesday, June 27 – Sunday, July 9
Second Session: Monday, July 24 – Sunday, August 6
1-week Total Specialty Camp: Sunday, August 6 – Friday, August 11

Cedar Lake Camp (Co-ed)
570 Sawkill Rd, Milford, PA 18337
Affiliation: Pluralistic
Food at Camp: Kosher
Make new friends while exploring your own interests with Cedar Lake’s elective program for campers entering grades 7 – 9. One week option also available through Total Specialty Camps. First-time two-week campers from Essex, Morris, Somerset, Sussex, & Union counties are eligible for an additional discount. $1,450 (with discount), $2,150 (without discount), Total Specialty Camps: $1,100
Thursday, July 24 – Sunday, August 6
1-week Total Specialty Camp: Sunday, August 6 – Friday, August 11

Camp Moshava – Kaytana (Co-ed)
245 Navajo Rd, Honesdale, PA 18431
Affiliation: Orthodox, Zionist
Food at Camp: Kosher
An introductory, two-week camp experience for campers entering grades 3 & 4. Transportation from the New York area is included. Limited space available. $1,750
Sunday, August 13 – Tuesday, August 22

Camp Ramah in the Berkshires – Ta’am Ramah (Co-ed)
91 Ramah Road, Wingdale, NY, 12594
Affiliation: Conservative
Food at Camp: Kosher
Rising third graders get an eight-day taste of the Ramah experience. Choose from three sessions, transportation from the New York area included. $1,275
Ta’am 1: Monday, July 24 – Sunday, July 30
Ta’am 2: Monday, July 31 – Sunday, August 6
Ta’am 3: Monday, August 7 – Sunday, August 13