Summer starts in a few short months — do you have your summer camps lined up? Mercer County offers an array of summer camp opportunities for area youngsters, but programs are filling up fast. For specific information about summer programs listed below, please use the contact information associated with each camp.
NATURE CAMPS
The Mercer County Park Commission’s Nature Programs will host thrilling and educational summer camps for children ranging in age from pre-K to eighth grade. The summer camps are developed and instructed by the Park Commission’s team of naturalists. Camps are filled on a first-come, first-served basis and spots are limited. The Wild Discovery Camp for children entering pre-K and kindergarten is full for this summer, as are two sessions of Nature Camp I.
- Baldpate Mountain Nature Camp in Hopewell Township is a weeklong camp packed with hands-on nature explorations, science experiments, hikes through the forest and unstructured nature play. Camp days are devoted to a nature-specific topic and may include bugs, forest ecology, birds and tracking. Openings still remain for Nature Camp I, for children entering grades 1-3, weeks of July 16-20 and Aug. 6-10; and Nature Camp II, for children entering grades 4-6, weeks of July 9-13, July 16-20, July 30-Aug. 3 and Aug. 6-10. Camp sessions will be from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and campers have the option to register for one or two weeks of camp.
- The Aquatic Adventure Camp will be held at the Mercer County Park Marina in West Windsor, July 25-29 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Designed to balance the fun of summer with science, Aquatic Adventure Camp will have your child diving into fresh water ecology, testing Mercer Lake’s water, kayaking creeks and coves, and observing wildlife. Aquatic Adventure Camp also includes activities such as fishing, taking a ride on the pontoon boat, hiking and a cookout. Campers will memorialize their week by making a gyotaku T-shirt to take home.
At this time, the Park Commission is unable to provide before- or after-care for children attending camp. For more information and to download summer camp registration forms, please visit http://www.mercercountyparks.org/#!/activities/summer-nature-camps.
HOWELL FARM
Howell Living History Farm in Hopewell Township offers summer farm camp programs for children in age groups 6-8, 9-12 and 13-15 that are offered as day camps scheduled in weeklong sessions. Campers will experience hands-on animal care, helping with chores, feeding, gathering eggs and more. In the garden, campers will plant, cultivate and harvest seasonal vegetables. Each day will focus on a different farm highlight in a 1900s setting. Campers also will discover nature, searching for animal tracks, exploring various habitats and collecting natural treasures. In addition, there will be time for crafts, stories, games and hayrides.
For more information, call (609) 737-3299 or visit www.howellfarm.org and click on “Kids Programs” then “Summer Camps.”
MERCER COUNTY 4-H
Mercer County 4-H, part of Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Mercer County, is offering the following full-day summer camps: “Back to Basics” Cooking and Sewing for children entering grades 4-9; Creative Cooking and Upcycling for children entering grades 4-9; “Get Moving – Get Healthy” Cooking and Sewing for children entering grades 4-9; and Outdoor Adventure for children entering grades 4-8. These camps are held at Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Mercer County, 930 Spruce St., Lawrence, next to the Trenton Farmers Market. Register at www.cpe.rutgers.edu/mercer4hcamp.
Mercer County 4-H also is offering the following STEM camps for grades 3-6 in partnership with Boys and Girls Club of Mercer County: Cooking and Science; Think Like and Engineer; and Science Smorgasbord. STEM camps, which have half-day and full-day options, are held at the Spruce Street Community Center, 1040 Spruce St., Lawrence. Register at www.bgcmercer.org.
For more information, call (609) 989-6830 or visit http://mercer.njaes.rutgers.edu/ and click on “2018 Mercer County 4-H Summer Day Camp offerings.”
TENNIS CENTER
The Mercer County Tennis Center at Mercer County Park in West Windsor is offering a variety of junior daytime and late afternoon/evening summer tennis programs, including the following:
- Quick Start Pee Wee for children ages 5-6;
- Junior Tennis Camp for children ages 7-16;
- Junior Tournament Training for children ages 10-12;
- Junior Tournament Training for teens ages 13-18;
- Junior Pre-Futures Training for children ages 10-14;
- Junior Futures Training for teens ages 13-18;
- Beginner/Intermediate programs in various age groups for children ages 6-12;
- Intermediate programs in various age groups for children ages 6-15; and
- Advanced programs in various age groups for children ages 7-13 and older.
For more information, call (609) 448-8007 or sign in to the CommunityPass website at https://register.communitypass.net/reg/login.cfm.
GOLF ACADEMY
The Mercer County Golf Academy offers summer camps at Princeton Country Club in West Windsor. Offerings include Full Day Camp, Half Day Camp and Future Stars programs. During the camps, golfers are organized by current skill level and age. Instructors and counselors will lead the campers through a series of skills, games and exercises that will develop confidence and passion for the game of golf.
For more information, call (609) 520-0040 or visit http://www.mercercountygolfacademy.com/#!junior-programs/ctxn.
CAMP COLLEGE
Camp College on the campus of Mercer County Community College offers children ages 6-16 an enriching alternative to traditional summer day camp. “Campus Kids” four-week traditional camp sessions offer more than 60 program selections including swim instruction, camp newspaper, creative writing, soccer, juggling and more, in addition to dozens more academic and recreational programs for children ages 6-13. One-week, individually priced full- and half-day accelerated study, academic and recreational programs offer unique opportunities not ordinarily found in elementary and middle school curriculums for children, ages 6-16. Programs include the popular Kids in the Kitchen series, Sea Camp Marine Biology at Sandy Hook, robotics, computers, fishing, rock climbing and adventure camp.
An information session will be held Saturday, April 28, from noon to 2 p.m. at MCCC’s West Windsor campus Conference Center. For more information about Camp College, email [email protected]; call (609) 570-3311 or visit www.mccc.edu/campcollege.
SPORTS CAMPS AT MCCC
Six different camps full of variety and fun open Mercer County Community College’s athletic and recreational resources to sports-minded youth ages 6-13. The following camps are offered: Basketball; Field Hockey; Soccer; Speed, Agility & Quickness; Tennis; and Volleyball and Recreation Sports.
For more information, email [email protected]; call (609) 570-3779; or visit www.mccc.edu/community_youth_sports.
TOMATO PATCH VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS WORKSHOPS
Tomato Patch at Mercer County Community College, the longest-running, most successful multidisciplinary summer arts program in central New Jersey, offers classes covering theater, dance, vocal music and visual arts. Session I is for students entering grades 8-12 in the fall; Session II is for students entering grades 4-7. Also offered is a Master Class for students entering grades 8-12.
For more information, email [email protected]; call (609) 570-3566 or visit www.kelseyatmccc.org/tomato_patch.
