NEW HORIZONS
DAY CAMP

Goals for each individual camper at New Horizons Day Camp can vary, but there are several key, foundational goals for all campers including the most important: Personal Growth. All campers will have the opportunity to create new friendships and connections, explore new activities and build on existing interests, & push themselves to grow as individuals and as citizens of our camp community. Finally, the challenge and focus for our entire staff is to help campers build memories that will last a lifetime!

Children entering Pre-K through 9th grade attend New Horizons. Our Pre-K, Kindergarten and 1st graders enjoy their camp day in a safe and nurturing self-contained setting. Second through ninth graders are in grade-level groups but have “choice” options for each of the activity periods.

Every Grade Group Head and Activity Head is an 18+ Adult. They are supplemented by our Assistant Counselors who are rising high school sophomores to seniors - the vast majority of our assistants are graduates from our CIT Program. Many of our activity specialists are experienced teachers. All have had experience working at camps, and undergo extensive preseason training. We conduct background and reference checks on all camp employees. We have a 3.5:1 Camper to Staff Ratio.

Our activities are led by school teachers, professionals, and college students who have a specialty and desire to help and motivate the campers in a unique and enjoyable way. Groups and activities are led by 18+ adults at all times. 

Yes! Each prospective CIT is taught by our key staff. One period is devoted to training in this program every day where they learn important techniques for becoming an effective assistant counselor.

Yes! New Horizons will provide your child with five camp t-shirts, in addition to a backpack to carry their belongings at camp. Campers must also wear sneakers every day.

Swim is offered daily and required for campers PreK-4th Grade. Swim lessons are also required for campers in grades PreK-2nd Grades. Once campers enter 3rd Grade they are able to opt in/out of daily swimming lessons. Swim Periods are “double periods” - Younger Groups are “Half Lesson/Half Recreational Swim”. Older Campers can opt for “Full Recreational Swim”. All campers are swim tested and go through our graduated lesson programs. 

Swim staff have experience teaching lessons and are led by our Aquatics Director. Lifeguards are always on duty whenever campers are in the water.

Yes! New Horizons has an optional lunch program that is offered on a weekly basis that is included in the tuition (Monday through Thursday). There are daily hot and cold lunch options you can pre-order online no later than the Thursday prior to the week attending. Friday is our all-camp pizza day.  Otherwise, campers can bring lunch.

Yes! Every afternoon campers are offered ice cream, ice pops or frozen fruit bars for a snack.

Yes! New Horizons has a certified nurse at camp throughout the camp day. Our nurses handle everyday occurrences and the dispensing of medication. A medical history and a medical release form authorizing our nurse to dispense medication are included in the information packet you will receive in the spring after you register for camp or can be downloaded from our website. If your child receives medicine at camp, the medicine release form will need to be signed by your doctor.

In an emergency, our nurse will contact you and the Florham Park Rescue Squad. A staff member will accompany your child to St. Barnabas Medical Center and will stay with your child until you arrive.

Campers gather for a daily morning meeting during which grade group counselors take attendance and we process any schedule change requests.  We also discuss any special programs for the day and engage in fun activities with the campers.  After morning meeting, the 2nd through 9th grade campers follow their selected schedules and meet with their grade groups for lunch, snack, and team activities at mid-day and mid-afternoon.  Pre-K/1 campers follow their pre-established schedules with their groups, with lunch at 11:55 am and a mid-afternoon snack break at 1:40 pm.  At the end of the day we hold a closing meeting where we make announcements and enjoy more fun activities before dismissing campers.  The regular camp day ends at 3:45.

Yes! We have extended hours available, with before care starting at 7:45 am and after care available until 6:00 pm. Before care is $75 per week and after care is $100 per week.  

Unfortunately, due to capacity limits, we’re not able to offer partial weeks/days.

Yes! We host exciting age-appropriate professional shows such as musicians, magicians, and other entertainers.  We also have “inflatable fun” days with bouncy mazes and water slides and visits from the Game Truck, Movie Night, and Laser Tag.

Our goal is to expose campers to a wide variety of activities. Some popular activities will be offered throughout the summer; however, we encourage campers to try new things in order to gain new experiences.  Every week we refresh the schedule with a new set of options and camper feedback helps us to decide which activities to offer.

Yes! If campers want to change an activity, they must have a note from a parent giving permission for the change. Changes must be made before Period 1 and will take effect immediately. No changes can be made after Wednesday morning before Period 1 begins.

Yes! New Horizons has transportation available within our geographic locations at  CENTRAL BUSSING PICK-UP LOCATIONS. We offer transportation from western Essex County, northern Union County and eastern Morris County. All of our buses are air-conditioned with passenger seat belts and the camp counselor assists campers to ensure their safety on the bus. (This is an additional cost of $125 per week).

All of our drivers are over 21 years old, have met all of the requirements of the New Jersey State Commercial Driver's License (CDL) and are licensed with CDLs.  Most drivers and all bus counselors are also part of our New Horizons staff throughout the camp day.

Yes! All of our buses are staffed with a camp counselor as well as a driver.

Our bus usually picks up our campers between 8:00 and 8:30 am and drops the campers off between 3:55 and 4:30 pm.  More precise pick-up and drop-off times will be provided before the camp season begins by bus driver based on your camper’s specific pickup and drop off location.

The early pick-up procedure is quite simple. In the morning, if your child is on a bus, please give the bus counselor a note with your child's name and time of pick up. Early pick-ups must be no later than 2:45 pm.  Please email or call the main office to let us know what time your child is being picked up.  If you are authorizing someone to pick up your child, please provide the name of that person in your note. Please also tell the person to bring identification with them. We will have your child waiting in the office at the desired time. Your child must be met and signed out at the security desk in front of the camp entrance. Safety, as always, is our main concern.

If your child takes the bus, please call the main office in the morning by 7:30. If you do your own driving and your child will not be in camp, we appreciate a call to the office to let us know. In either case, if your child is coming to camp late, please bring your child to the front desk in front of the building. Your child will be brought to his or her scheduled activity from the front desk.

Other than our travel days during Week 1, campers will be onsite at the Ridgedale Middle School campus or at the Madison Municipal Pool for all activities.  During Week 1, we are planning 5 travel days and the cost of the trips is included in camp tuition.  7-9th graders have the option to attend a travel day on Thursdays. Past trips have included Six Flags, Funplex & Sky Zone.

ABSOLUTELY! You and your child will love it!