©ISTOCKPHOTO.COM / BESJUNIOR
​​​

GAME CAMP NATION

375 Corporate Dr., Mahwah
888-663-9633

Choose from eight programs with day or overnight options for your kids ages 7-17. The kiddos will love exploring the great outdoors while you score flexible dropoff and pickup times at the day camp, or make it an around-the-clock experience at the overnight camp. With a five-to-one student to instructor ratio, campers get personal attention in programs catered to their respective age groups. Classes offer a myriad of education and skills, like creating video games, writing source code, printing 3-D models and more.

HIGH TOUCH HIGH TECH

24 Lindy Pl., Old Tappan
201-847-0199

These 90-minute programs for pre-K through sixth grade offer exploration, education and entertainment without committing a huge amount of time. Camps range from Lab 101, where kids use chemicals to create slime and learn about the pH system; Nutty Newton, where the laws of motion come to life through experimentation; Rock ‘n’ Roll, where the kiddos can classify rocks and gems and Totally Tasty Science, where they can create and taste their own creations.

INTERNATIONAL IVY

Locations vary
908-899-1338

There’s so much for your young scientist to choose from. Classes include 3-D Printing, where she can design her own phone case using design software; Anatomy and Surgical Techniques, where she’ll perform dissections, conduct simulated surgeries and perform biopsies; App Design Using App Inventor, where she’ll create Android apps and code; Chemical Engineering—Polymers & Bioplastics, where she’ll learn to save the Earth from plastic, and Civil Engineering, where she can construct and test her own bridge. Classes range by age group.

NEWARK ACADEMY SUMMER ACADEMIES

91 S. Orange Ave., Livingston
973-992-7000

From first to twelfth grade, kids of all ages can enroll in intensive workshops designed to prep them for standardized tests and future careers. First and second graders can head to Jump Start for help with basic skills in math, technology and more. Grades 3-8 can collaborate and experiment in enrichment STEAM courses, where they’ll learn about engineering, coding, robotics, game design and drones. Courses include pre-algebra through calculus, biology, chemistry and physics. Specialized workshop offerings include SAT/ACT test prep.

NEW JERSEY AUDUBON

Various locations
908-204-8998

Campers at Lorrimer’s Sanctuary can learn about Mother Earth through STEM activities, games and crafts. Camps are divided by age and have multiple sessions, like Tadpole Camp (ages 4-6), Junior Naturalists (ages 7-11), Reptile and Amphibian Camp (ages 8-12), Fishing Camp (ages 8-12) or Advanced Fish Skills Week (ages 12-15). The Scherman Hoffman Sanctuary offers weeklong sessions for grades 1-6 (and four-day camp for grades pre-K to K). Overnight camps for tweens and teens at Sedge Island and the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Mohican Outdoor Center promote hands-on exploration.

PLAY-WELL TEKNOLOGIES

Locations vary
415-578-2746

This LEGO-filled engineering camp encourages kids in grades K-8 to build, create and learn. While the camp is primarily focused on teaching building techniques, lessons also foster engineering, architecture and physics concepts, problem-solving and critical thinking. Campers will work on two projects a day and have access to 20,000 LEGOs per class while learning about timing mechanisms, inertia and stress testing.

SCIENCE CAMP WATONKA

Hawley, PA
570-226-4779

For two weeks, he can whip up fun experiments and don safety goggles as he explores his interests (and potential career paths). If he’s interested in biology

(human, aquatic or nature studies) he can visit a “living classroom,” where he’ll observe and learn firsthand by collecting river samples. Future chemists can experiment with acids and bases, bonding, reactions and more, while computer lovers can try their hand at web development and game programming. If you’ve got a lil’ dreamer, he can shoot for the stars in programs that teach astronomy, basic electronic theory, physics and robotics.

SCIENCE EXPLORERS

Haddon Heights and Moorestown Twp.
877-870-9517

Budding marine biologists can get up close and personal with the inner workings of oceanic creatures at Take a Dive camp. They’ll dissect a shark and examine fish anatomy, plus participate in a fishing challenge, learn how to survive at sea and make their own submarines. In Haddon Heights, they can learn about physics, robotics and chemistry in Fizz, Bang, Boom, Bot!, or explore habitats like the rainforest and arctic in Jr. Explorers.

SUPER KIDS CHILDCARE AND LEARNING

2 Broad St., Summit
908-598-8383

Campers will visit local police and fire departments, organizations like The Seeing Eye Dogs in Morristown and environmentally-friendly spots like the Raptor Trust in Millington. There’s a big emphasis on nature, especially while visiting wildlife trusts, parks, museums, local arboretums and historic sites. Superpartners will help your kids understand the importance of volunteering and how their actions affect Mother Nature, plus what they can do to make a difference.

WILLIAM PATERSON UNIVERSITY SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMS

300 Pompton Rd., Wayne
973-720-2000

Middle schoolers can get their hands dirty in Bridge Builders, Robotics, Trash to Technology and other offerings that teach 3-D printing, coding and game design. High schoolers can jump into programs that cover anatomy and physiology, neurobiology, pharmacology, virtual reality and computer programming. There are also college-level classes that give teens a chance to test out potential career paths.

THE WINSTON SCHOOL

30 East Ln., Short Hills
973-379-4114

Choose from Creative Tech or LEAPS (Literature, Engineering, Arts, Problem Solving and Science). The former will teach your budding techies new ways to use iPads for digital arts, 3-D sketching, photo editing and video. LEAPS gives kids the chance to explore robotics, engineering and coding while implementing investigative and collaborative skills to solve challenges.

WOW SCIENCE CAMP

Marlton and Wall Twp.
877-541-2267

Kids can sign up for Butterfly Haven to learn about life cycles and migration patterns through STEM-themed crafts, plus go on field trips to the Lepidoptera Garden at the University of Delaware and Insectropolis in Toms River. The kids will visit STEM hubs like the M.J. Tobias Adventure to Health Center in Freehold, the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, Seven Arrows East in Rumson and Liberty Science Center in Jersey City. They’ll get their hands dirty on the daily with courses like Soaps and Lotions (this teaches chemistry principles while they play with ingredients, textures and fragrances). Balance summer fun with Makerspace, a workshop designed for experimentation and invention. Tech camps include Coding, Robotics and Technicator (a mix of projects from 3-D design to electricity). All session themes and field trips are grouped by grade.