Camps reach out to kids from abroad

Wednesday, March 08, 2006 BY VICKI HYMAN Star-Ledger Staff

Qu'est-ce que c'est ... s'mores?

As summer camps become increasingly specialized -- soccer camp, drama camp, adventure camp, and even spa camp, where roughing it means going a day without exfoliation -- the traditional American sleep-away camp experience, complete with swimming lessons in the lake, Sloppy Joes in the mess hall, and ghost stories around the campfire, is become increasingly popular among a new clientele: foreigners.

For years, parents from Europe and Mexico have been sending their kids to America for wholesome summer fun (wrapping toilet seats aside), but camps credit the Internet for a spike in foreign enrollment and interest from more exotic locales, from Colombia and China, Korea and Kuwait.

Parents surfing the Web in Paris or Peru can view snapshots, schedules, even video of prospective camps, and exchange e-mail with administrators before sending their teens and tweens a continent away.

"It's always amazing to me that parents place so much trust in our camps," says Linda Pulliam, a former camp director who is on the steering committee of the International Camping Fellowship, which promotes the export of camping ideals worldwide. "It's a belief in the integrity of the summer camp tradition in the U.S."

Eva Mittag of Vienna worked with the National Camp Association, a referral service, to choose a camp for her son, Alexander, then 13. She selected Camp Regis-Applejack in upstate New York, where rustic cabins with stone fireplaces overlook the pine-sheltered beach and glassy Adirondack lake. The relative proximity to Montreal's international airport didn't hurt.

"To be far away forces him to become more mature and helps him to understand better other cultures," she says in an e-mail. "I think it is important for children to see how people live elsewhere and get appreciation, understanding and sympathy for other traditions. He shouldn't become small-minded -- this is an essential part of our education."

For his part, Alexander educated American bunkmates. Yes, we have refrigerators and microwaves in Austria. No, we aren't communists. Yes, Hitler is dead.

"I hope that the boys and girls I talked to now know more about my country, that Austria is not Australia and Vienna is not Vietnam, as one girl thought," he writes. "I think therefore that it is not only interesting for me to learn how Americans live but also for the Americans to hear how things work overseas."

"That's something that we really cherish," says Mo Barton, the associate executive director at YMCA Camp Ralph S. Mason in Hardwick, Warren County. "Really, I think it makes the world smaller. It makes them understand there's less difference between them and other countries, a greater appreciation for diversity and a greater appreciation for what Americans campers have here."

Few countries have as entrenched a summer camping tradition as the U.S. and Canada, where private boarding schools started taking students into the wilderness for a week of camping in the summer in the late 1800s. More permanent facilities followed, established privately or by youth organizations like the Boy Scouts and the YMCA.

"Other countries, they think we're crazy to send our children away," says Gwynn Powell, an assistant professor at the University of Georgia who specializes in recreation and camp administration. "It's so counter to the culture of valuing family and togetherness. When we think about the American ideals of independence and forging your own future and all those kinds of things, to other countries that's counter to what their cultures would be."

The foremost incentive for many parents is having their children learn American English, so much so that they often look for camps that have few campers from their country. Camp directors usually place campers who speak the same language into separate bunks, and some have even started offering English instruction for an hour or so a day.

Perhaps the biggest adjustment for international campers, other than the food, is the tight scheduling and constant supervision. "At first, it's strange that every five minutes is planned," says Antje Metzler of Bregenz, Austria, whose daughter, Marie-Christine, spent last summer at Maine's Camp OMNI. At home in Bregenz, a small city near the German border that dates to Roman times, Marie-Christine might hop on her bike, not to return for hours, and her mother wouldn't worry.

The Europeans in particular seem a little more sophisticated than their American peers. "You get a 14-year-old girl who thinks she's 21," Barton says.

"The foreign kids are just used to running their own show," says Joel Lavenson, the director of Maine Golf and Tennis Academy, which has hosted campers from 40 countries and is establishing a satellite camp in Beijing next summer. "They're accustomed to either smoking or drinking. They're also used to going to bed when they want to, staying up late. The camps are filled with rules so everybody can stay safe."

The camps try to balance exposure to American traditions (at YMCA Camp Ralph S. Mason, the foreign campers get special trips to New York City, a baseball game and a shopping mall) with an appreciation of the camper's own culture.

At Camp Netimus in Milford, Pa., campers and counselors from a particular country take over the kitchen one afternoon to serve up a sampling of native cuisine. They did drive the dining hall manager crazy with requests for a special cheese for the fondue, and one girl insisted on corn flour for a recipe, says director Jim Kistler. (She meant corn starch.)

Industry groups and camp directors say the 9/11 terrorist attacks and even growing anti-Americanism abroad have done little to stifle the flow of international campers.

Even when the French opposition to the invasion of Iraq prompted the retaliatory "freedom fries," French enrollment at Camp Netimus didn't skip a beat, Kistler says. "A father said to me, 'Jim, I know it's not you, it's your government talking. It's not the people themselves.'"

DAY PROGRAMS

ACADEMIC, ARTS, SPORTS

All Children's Theatre, Clinton, Hightstown, Metuchen, Montville, Parsippany, Roxbury, Sparta, Tenafly, Watchung; (973) 335-5328; www.allchildrenstheatre.org; allchildrenth@aol.com; specialty/theater, coed, ages 6-17. Afternoon program in Parsippany for ages 4-5.

Camp Discovery, Randolph Schools Community Education, 2 Emery Ave., Randolph, N.J. 07869; (973) 361-0808, ext. 212; www.rtng.org; specialty/science and technology, coed, grades 5-8.

Camp Discovery at Fairleigh Dickinson University, Florham-Madison campus, 285 Madison Ave., Madison, N.J. 07940; Teaneck-Hackensack campus, 1000 River Road, Teaneck, N.J. 07666; (800) 338-3887 or (201) 692-6500; general/educational, coed, grades 1-7.

Camp Horizons, 91 South Orange Ave., Livingston, N.J. 07039; (973) 992-7767; www.camphorizons.com; traditional and by choice, coed, grades K-9.

Camp Lou Henry Hoover, Middleville, N.J.; 201 Grove St. East, Westfield, N.J. 07090; (908) 232-3236; www.camphoover.org; Girl Scouts of Washington Rock Council, girls only, grades 2-12.

Community Children's Museum Summer Camp Program, 77 E. Blackwell St. Dover, N.J. 07801; (973) 366-9060; www.communitychildrensmuseum.com; specialty/ art, space exploration, culture and nature and energy, coed, grades 4-9.

Elite Tennis Summer Day Camp, Tiger Tennis & Fitness Center, 42 Fairfield Place, Westfield, N.J. 07006; (973) 575-1000; beginner to intermediate levels, coed, ages 7-18.

Essex Equestrian Center, 12-22 Woodland Ave., West Orange, N.J. 07052; (973) 731-4182; www.essexequestrian.com; specialty/horsemanship, coed, ages 6 & up.

Future Stars, Mainland Regional High School, Oak Avenue, Linwood, N.J. 08221; Richard Stockton College, Jimmie Leeds Road, Pomona, N.J. 08240; (609) 909-1551; www.futurestarscamps.com; sports, coed, ages 4-13.

GSWRC Summer Day Camps, in Elizabeth, Hillside, Plainfield and Roselle; Westfield, N.J. 07090; (908) 232-3236; www.westfieldnj.com; Girl Scouts of Washington Rock Council, girls only, grades 1-8.

The Hun School of Princeton Summer Programs, The Hun School of Princeton, 176 Edgerstoune Road, Princeton, N.J. 08540; (609) 921-7600, ext. 2265; www.Hunschool.org; summer@hunschool.org; academic/theater/ESL, coed, ages 5 1/2-12.

Hyatt Hills Golf Camp, 1300 Raritan Road, Clark, N.J. 07066; (732) 669-9100; www.hyatthills.com/golfcamp1.htm; coed, ages 8-17.

JCC Camp at Westbrook Swim Club, 1775 Oak Tree Road, Edison, N.J. 08820; (732) 494-2290; www.jccmiddlesex.org; coed, ages 5-11.

Kritter Kamp, St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center, 575 Woodland Ave, Madison, N.J. 07940; (973) 377-8877; www.sthuberts.org; animal welfare and education, coed, grades 2-5.

Lenny Armuth Soccer Academy, Drew University, Madison, N.J. 07940; (973) 408-3135; http://depts.drew.edu/ath/soccerm/camps.php; soccer, boys, 6-17.

Mercer Sports Camps, Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor campus, Trenton, N.J. 08550; (609) 586-4800, ext. 3779; www.mccc.edu; sports, coed, ages 7-17.

Morris Museum Summer Day Camp, 6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown, N.J. 07960; (973) 971-3700; www.morrismuseum.org; 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; nature, art, science, music, coed, ages 6-9.

New Jersey Rock Gym, 373D Route 46 West, Fairfield, N.J. 07004; (973) 439-9860; www.njrockgym.com; specialty/rock climbing, coed, 7-14.

NIKE Sports Camps, based in San Rafael, Calif. 94903; (800) 645-3226; www.ussportscamps.com for the 40-plus New Jersey sites; sports (intensive), boys/girls and coed, ages 10-18.

The Peddie School Summer Day School, The Peddie School, Ward at South Main, Hightstown, N.J. 08520; (609) 490-7520; www.peddie.org/community/summer/school.asp; dmartin@peddie.org; specialty/academic, sports, theater and arts; coed, grades 6-12.

Raider Soccer Camp at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, 667 Westfield Road, Scotch Plains, N.J. 07076; (908) 322-6102; raidercamp@comcast.net; specialty/soccer, coed, grades 1-10, novice through advanced.

Ranney-in-the-Summer, 235 Hope Road, Tinton Falls, N.J. 07724; (732) 542-4777; www.ranneyschool.org; specialty sports camps, soccer, tennis and more, coed, ages 8-18.

Science Adventures at parks and facilities; in more than 15 locations around New Jersey, (800) 472-4362 or (800) 4-SCIENCE; www.scienceadventures.com; specialty/science.

S.E.E. Camp, Summer Excitement Experience, 764 Speedwell Ave., Suite 4, Morris Plains, N.J. 07950; campuses in Summit, Mountain Lakes and Franklin/Somerset; (973) 831-7779; www.seecamps.com, coed, grades 1-8.

Strand Theater Youth Camp Workshop, 303 Fourth St., Lakewood, N.J. 08701; (732) 367-7789; www.strandlakewood.com; specialty/theater, coed, ages 8-16.

Summer History Camp at the Museum of Early Trades & Crafts, 9 Main St., Madison, N.J. 07940; (973) 377-2982, ext. 12; www.metc.org; coed, for children who have completed grades 1-6.

Summers Kid, Randolph Schools Community Education, 2 Emery Ave. Randolph, N.J. 07869; (973) 361-0808, ext. 212; www.rtng.org; traditional, coed, kids entering kindergarten and grade 1; Summer Stars, coed, grades 2-4.

Tomato Patch, Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor campus, Trenton, N.J. 08550; (609) 586-4800, ext. 3566; www.kelseyatmccc.org; visual and performing arts, coed, grades 5-12.

TOTL Summer Day Camp Riding Program, Top of the Line Stables, 33 North Ave., Montvale, N.J. 07645; (201) 802-0432; www.topofthelinestables.com; equestrian program, coed, ages 8-15.

Women in Engineering and Technology, NJIT, University Heights, Newark, N.J. 07102; (973) 596-3550; www.njit.edu/precollege; engineering and science, girls, grades 4-8.

SPECIAL NEEDS

Camp Hope, Cedar Street, East Hanover, N.J. 07936, (973) 887-5755; 123 Naylon Ave., Livingston, N.J. 07039; (973) 535-1181; www.arcessex.org; Arc of Essex County Inc., coed, ages 5 to adult.

Camp Sunshine and Summer Fun Camp, Children's Specialized Hospital, 150 New Providence Road, Mountainside, N.J. 07092; (888) 244-5373, ext. 5484; held in collaboration with the Westfield YMCA; special needs, traditional, coed, ages 5-11.

Harbor Haven Day Camp, 1155 W. Chestnut St., Suite G-1, Union, N.J. 07083; camp sites located at 1418 Pleasant Valley Way, West Orange, N.J. 07052; (908) 964-5411; info@harborhaven.com; and 123 S. Main St. (Route 79), Marlboro, N.J. 07746; (908) 964-5560; info@harborhavenmarlboro.com; www.harborhaven.com; special needs, coed, ages 3-15.

The Davis Center Summer Program, 1 Mannino Drive, Rockaway, N.J. 07866; (973) 400-0010; www.thedaviscenter.com; info@thedaviscenter.com; specialty/sound-based therapy, reading and comprehension; coed, ages 7-12.

TRADITIONAL

Blue Mountain Day Camp, Sussex County YMCA, 15 Wits End Road, Hamburg, N.J. 07419; (973) 209-9622; www.sussexcountyymca.com; traditional, coed, ages preschool-grade 8; Turtle Times, coed, ages 3-5.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Union County Day Camps, Union camp, (908) 687-2697, ext. 0; Elizabeth camp, (908) 351-3344; Plainfield camp, (908) 822-8672; Rahway camp, (908) 917-4071; www.bgcuc.org; traditional, includes prevention education, coed, ages 5-13.

Camp Cannundus, 67 Maple St., Summit, N.J. 07901; (908) 273-3330; www.summitareaymca.org; traditional, coed, grades 1-4.

Camp Harmony, P.O. Box 4305, 206 Mount Horeb Road, Warren, N.J. 07059; (732) 469-6900; (800) UGA-BUGA; www.campharmony.com; traditional, coed, ages 3-12.

Camp Merry Heart, 21 O'Brian Road, Hackettstown, N.J. 07840; (908) 852-3896; www.eastersealnj.org; coed, ages 6-12.

Camp Mohawk and Camp Little Bear, Boys and Girls Club of Union County, 1050 Jeanette Ave., Union, N.J. 07083; (908) 687-2697, ext. 101; www.bgcuc.org; traditional, coed, ages 5-13.

Camp Riverbend, 116 Hillcrest Road, Warren, N.J. 07059; (908) 580-CAMP or (888) THE-CAMP; www.campriverbend.bunk1.com; traditional, coed, ages 4-14.

Camp Sacajawea, 242 Adelphia Road, Farmingdale, N.J. 07727; (732) 938-5454; www.mcgirlscouts.org; traditional/innovative themes, Girl Scouts, ages 4-17.

Camp Sacajawea, 3064 Victoria Ave., Newfield, N.J. 08344; (856) 697-3900, ext. 130; www.gssjp.org; camping@gssjp.org; Girl Scouts of South Jersey Pines, girls only, traditional day camp, grades 1-8.

Camp Talamini-Ruach, Shimon and Sara Birnbaum Jewish Community Center, 775 Talimini Road, Bridgewater, N.J. 08807; (908) 725-6994, ext. 207; www.ssbjcc.org; msitrin@ssbjcc.org; age 2 to ninth grade.

Camp Veritans, YM-YWHA of North Jersey, 1 Pike Drive, Wayne, N.J. 07470; (973) 595-0100; www.ymha-nj.org; traditional/Jewish, coed, ages 5-14.

Country Roads Day Camp, 139 Pine Brook Road, Manalapan, N.J. 07726; (732) 446-4100; www.countryroadsdaycamp.com; traditional, coed, grades K-7.

CYO Day Camp, 453 Yardville-Allentown Road, Yardville, N.J. 08620; (609) 585-4280; kwalsh@cyomercer.org; traditional, coed, ages 5-12.

Dwight-Englewood Summer Camps, Dwight-Englewood School, 315 E. Palisade Ave., Englewood, N.J. 07631; (201) 569-9500; www.d-e.org; traditional/academic/sports clinics, coed, ages 3-17.

East Orange YMCA Day Camp, 100 N. Arlington Ave., East Orange, N.J. 07018; (973) 673-5588; www.eastorangeymca.org; coed, ages 5-14.

Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA, 1340 Martine Ave., Scotch Plains, N.J. 07076; (908) 889-5455; www.fanwoodscotchplainsymca.org; coed, 3 years old through grade 8.

Future Stars, Mainland Regional High School, Oak Avenue, Linwood, N.J. 08221; Richard Stockton College, Jimmie Leeds Road, Pomona, N.J. 08240; (609) 909-1551; www.futurestarscamps.com; sports, coed, ages 4-13.

Gesher Summer Program, 110 South Orange Ave., Livingston, N.J. 07039; (973) 597-3699; www.gesherfun.org; gesher@jkha.org; traditional, coed, Jewish, age 3 1/2 to grade 6.

Harbor Hills Day Camp, P.O. Box 215, 75 Doby Road, Mount Freedom, N.J. 07970; (973) 895-3200; www.hhdc.com; info@hhdc.com; traditional, coed, ages 3-14.

Ivy League Day Camp, 140 Gordon's Corner Road, Manalapan, N.J. 07726; (732) 446-7035; www.ivyleaguedaycamp.com; traditional, coed, ages 2-15.

JCC Camp Deeny Riback, 208 Flanders Netcong Road, Flanders, N.J. 07836; 901 Route 10 East, Whippany, N.J. 07981; (973) 929-2911; www.jccmetrowest.org; camps@jccmetrowest.org; JCC of MetroWest, traditional/Jewish, coed, grades pre-K-10.

JCC Day Camp of Greater Monmouth County, 100 Grant Ave., Deal Park, N.J. 07723; (732) 531-9100; www.jcc.yehud.com/camp; Jewish, coed, age 2 1/2 to grade 10.

JCC MetroWest Summer Camps, Leon and Toby Cooperman JCC, 760 Northfield Ave., West Orange, N.J. 07052; Lautenberg Family JCC, 901 Route 10 East, Whippany, N.J. 07981; (973) 929-2901; traditional, coed, Jewish, 15 months to grade 12.

Jefferson Lakes Day Camp, P.O. Box 426, Stanhope, N.J. 07874; (973) 347-1230; www.jefflakecamp.com; traditional, coed, ages 4-13.

Lake View Day Camp, 505 Riva Ave. East Brunswick, N.J. 08816: (732) 821-8933; www.lakevu.com; coed, ages 3-15.

Lake Rickabear Day Camp, 95 Newark-Pompton Turnpike, Riverdale, N.J. 07457; (973) 248-8200; www.gfllc.org; Girl Scouts, Lenni-Lenape Council, traditional, girls only, ages 5-17.

Meadowbrook Country Day Camp, 73 E. Valley Brook Road, Long Valley, N.J. 07853; (908) 876-3429; www.meadowbrookdaycamp.com; traditional, coed, for children in nursery school through grade 9.

Metro YMCAs of the Oranges; Sussex County YMCA Day Camp, (973) 383-8116; West Essex YMCA Day Camps, (973) 992-7500.

Mill Road Day Camp, 74 Davidsons Mill Road, North Brunswick, N.J. 08902; (732) 821-9155; www.millroaddaycamp.com; millroad@millroaddaycamp.com; traditional, coed 3-15.

Montclair YMCA Day Camp at West Milford, 25 Park St., Montclair, N.J. 07042; (973) 744-3400, ext. 116; www.montclairymca.org; traditional, coed, ages 6-14.

Oak Crest Day Camp, 92 Cortelyou Lane, Somerset, N.J. 08873; (732) 297-2000; www.oakcrestdaycamp.com; info@oakcrestdaycamp.com; traditional, coed, ages 3-15.

Oak Spring Day Camp, 108 Church Lane, East Brunswick, N.J. 08816; (732) 469-6061; www.gsofdr.org; Girl Scouts of Delaware-Raritan; traditional, girls only, grades 1-10.

OVAL Day Camp, 120 Valley Road, Montclair, N.J. 07042; (888) 746-8200; www.camp@gscgehc.org; Girl Scout Council of Greater Essex and Hudson Counties, traditional, girls entering grades 1-8 in fall.

Pine Grove Day Camp, 4010 Herbertsville Road, Wall, N.J. 08724; (732) 938-3760; fax (732) 938-2088; www.pinegrovedaycamp.com; coed, ages 4-15.

Pioneer Trails Day Camp, Caldwell College, Ryerson Avenue, Caldwell, N.J. 07006; (973) 994-7160; traditional, coed, ages 3 1/2-grade 8.

Rainbow Academy Child Care Center Day Camp, Cranford, Edison, Iselin, North Brunswick, Rutherford, Summit, Whippany and Woodbridge; (973) 222-3634; www.raindowacademy.com; coed, ages 5-10.

Ranney-in-the-Summer, 235 Hope Road, Tinton Falls, N.J. 07724; (732) 542-4777; www.ranneyschool.org; traditional, coed, ages 3-13.

Somerset Valley YMCA Day Camps, 2 Green St., Somerville, N.J. 08876; (908) 722-4567; 19 E. Mountain Road, Hillsborough, N.J. 08844; (908) 369-0490; www.ymcasomersetvalley.org, coed, grades K-8.

South Mountain YMCA Camps, 13 Jefferson Ave., Maplewood, N.J. 07040; (973) 762-4145; www.smountainymca.org; traditional, coed; Creative Dramatics, grades K-4; SoMapY, grades 1-5; Y Knots, ages 3 1/2-kindergarten; Y Knots 2, grades 1-2; Teen Adventure, grades 6-8; CIT, grades 9-10.

Spring Lake Day Camp, Conklintown Road, Ringwood, N.J. 07456; (973) 831-9000; www.springlakedaycamp.com; traditional, coed, grades 3-10.

Stonybrook Day Camp, 42 Park Ave., Randolph, N.J. 07869; (973) 584-0078; P.O. Box 156, Livingston, N.J. 07039; (973) 994-3897; www.stonybrookdaycamp.com; traditional, coed, ages 3-15.

Summit Area YMCA Camps, 67 Maple St., Summit, N.J. 07901; (908) 273-3330; www.summitareaymca.org; info@summitymca.org; traditional/sports/specialty camp options, coed, ages 3-17.

Super Summer Day Camp, West Essex YMCA, 321 S. Livingston Ave., Livingston, N.J. 07039; (973) 992-7500; www.metroymcas.org; traditional, coed, ages 5-13, membership required.

Tall Pines Day Camp, 1349 Sykesville Road, Williamstown, N.J. 08094; (856) 262-3900; www.tallpinesdaycamp.com; fun@tallpinesdaycamp.com; traditional, coed, ages 3-14.

Trinity Camp, Christ Church Campus, 68 Church St., Montclair, N.J. 07042; (973) 783-1010, ext. 279; www.christchurchnj.org; religious, coed, ages 2 1/2-10.

Weekly Enrichment, Dwight-Englewood School, 315 E. Palisade Ave., Englewood, N.J. 07631; (201) 569-9500; www.d-e.org; todism@d-e.org; traditional, coed, ages 10-13.

Westfield Y, 220 Clark St., Westfield, N.J. 07090; (908) 233-2700; traditional, coed, ages 3-15.

Willow Lake Day Camp, Lake Hopatcong, N.J. 07849; (973) 663-2732; P.O. Box 1266, Highland Park, N.J. 08904; (732) 846-3811; www.willowlakedaycamp.com; traditional, coed, ages 3-15.

Winnewald Day Camp, 21 Cratetown Road, Lebanon, N.J. 08833; (908) 735-8336; www.winnewald.com; winneday@ptd.net; coed, ages 5-12.

The Youth Center Summer Camp, 16 Hampton Road, P.O.Box 92, Glen Gardner, N.J. 08826; (908) 537-4594; www.theyouthcenter.net; coed, ages 3 1/2-15.

YM-YWHA of Greater Clifton-Passaic, 199 Scoles Ave., Clifton, N.J. 07012; (973) 779-2980; coed, traditional; Camp K'ton Ton, preschool-kindergarten; Kindercamp, first-graders; Y Day Camp, grades 2-6.

YM-YWHA of Union County, 501 Green Lane, Union, N.J. 07083; (908) 289-8112; general, coed, ages 2-15, and early childhood program.

RESIDENTIAL CAMPS

ARTS, ACADEMIC, SPORTS

Appel Farm Summer Arts Camp, 457 Shirley Road, Elmer, N.J. 08318-0888; (856) 358-2472, ext. 110; (800) 394-8478; www.appelfarm.org; appelcamp@aol.com; residential arts program, coed, ages 9-17.

Dwight-Englewood, 315 E. Palisades Ave., Englewood, N.J. 07631; (201) 569-9500, ext. 3504; www.d-e.org; specialty/academic, skills, ESL and sports programs, coed, ages 3-adult.

ECOES: Exploring Career Options in Engineering and Science, Stevens Institute of Technology, Castle Point on Hudson, Hoboken, N.J. 07030; (201) 216-5035; www.stevens.edu/undergrad/precollege.html; specialty/science and engineering, coed, high school sophomores, juniors.

Future Stars, Mainland Regional High School, Linwood, N.J. 08221; (609) 909-1551; P.O. Box 778, Conshohocken, Pa. 19428; www.futurestarscamps.com; (610) 825-4610; traditional/sports, coed, ages 9-18.

The Hun School of Princeton, 176 Edgerstoune Road, Princeton, N.J. 08542; (609) 921-7600, ext. 2265; www.hunschool.org; summer@hunschool.org; residential and day programs, traditional/academic, various programs including theater, coed, ages 13-18.

Lindley G. Cook 4-H Camp, 100A Struble Road, Branchville, N.J. 07826; (973) 948-3550; www.nj4hcamp.rutgers.edu; leadership development, sports, arts & crafts, coed, grades 4-10.

RELIGIOUS

Aldersgate Center, P.O. Box 122, Sprout Hill Road, Swartswood, N.J. 07877; (973) 383-5978; www.aldersgatenj.com; Christian, United Methodist Churches, coed, grades 1-12.

Presbyterian Camp and Conference Center, P.O. Box 475, Johnsonburg, N.J. 07846; (908) 852-2349; www.campjburg.org; Presbyterian Church, coed, ages 7-17.

SPECIAL NEEDS

Camp Chatterbox, Children's Specialized Hospital, 150 New Providence Road, Mountainside, N.J. 07092; (908) 301-5451; www.campchatterbox.org; campchatterbox@earthlink.net; for children with communication disabilities.

Camp Merry Heart, 21 O'Brien Road, Hackettstown, N.J. 07840; (908) 852-3896; www.eastersealnj.org; Easter Seal Society of New Jersey, traditional residential camp for people with disabilities, coed, ages 6-adult.

Camp Nejeda, P.O. Box 156, 910 Saddleback Road, Stillwater, N.J. 07875; (973) 383-2611; special needs, coed, diabetes only, ages 7-15.

Camp Oakhurst, 111 Monmouth Road, Oakhurst, N.J. 07755; (732) 531-0215; oakhurst06@aol.com; www.campchannel.com/campoakhurst; New York Service for the Handicapped, special needs, physical disabilities, coed, ages 8 and older.

Happiness Is Camping Inc., 62 Sunset Lake Road, Blairstown, N.J. 07825; (908) 362-6733; www.happinessiscamping.org; special needs, cancer, coed, ages 6-16.

Kiddie Keep Well Camp, 35 Roosevelt Drive, Edison, N.J. 08837; (732) 548-6542; www.kiddiekeepwell.org; Middlesex County Recreation Council, Middlesex County residents only, coed, ages 6-15.

New Jersey Camp Jaycee, 985 Livingston Ave., North Brunswick, N.J. 08902; (732) 246-2525; www.campjaycee.org; Arc of New Jersey, special needs, coed, ages 7-adult.

TRADITIONAL

Camp Dark Waters, P.O. Box 263, Medford, N.J. 08055; (609) 654-8846; www.campdarkwaters.org; traditional, coed, ages 7-14.

Camp Louemma, 43 Louemma Lane, Sussex, N.J. 07461; (973) 316-0362; (973) 875-4403 during the summer; www.camplouemma.com; Jewish orientation, coed, ages 7-15, three 2 1/2-week sessions.

Camp Lou Henry Hoover, Middleville, N.J.; 201 Grove St. East, Westfield, N.J. 07090; (908) 232-3236; www.camphoover.org; Girl Scouts of Washington Rock Council, girls only, grades 2-12.

Camp Sacajawea, 3064 Victoria Ave., Newfield, N.J. 08344; (856) 697-3900, ext. 130; www.gssjp.org; Girl Scouts of South Jersey Pines, girls only, grades 1-8.

Camp Vacamas, 256 Macopim Road, West Milford, N.J., 07480; (973) 838-1394; info@vacamas.org; multi-cultural camp with a noncompetitive philosophy for low- and moderate-income children, coed, ages 7-16.

Campus Kids, P.O. Box 1058, Chatham, N.J. 07928; (973) 635-2300 or (800) 633-7350; www.campuskids.com; traditional, weekday sleepaway, coed, ages 7-15.

Coyote Tracks Program, Tom Brown Jr.'s Children of the Earth Foundation, P.O. Box 65, Ship Bottom, N.J., 08008; (609) 494-4200; www.cotef.org; survival camp, coed, ages 7-17.

Eagle Island Camp, 442 Gilpin Bay Road, Saranac Lake, N.Y. 12983; Girl Scout Council of Greater Essex and Hudson counties, 120 Valley Road, Montclair, N.J. 07042; (973) 746-8200, ext. 122; www.camp@gscgehc.org; girls only, grades 3-12.

Frost Valley YMCA Camps, 2000 Frost Valley Road, Claryville, N.Y. 12725; (845) 985-2291; fax (845) 985-0056; 298 Claremont Ave., Montclair, N.J. 07042; (973) 744-3488; www.frostvalley.org; coed, ages 7-15.

Lindley G. Cook 4-H Camp, 100A Struble Road, Branchville, N.J. 08726; (973) 948-3550; www.nj4hcamp.rutgers.edu; traditional, coed, grades 3-10.

YMCA Camp Bernie, 327 Turkey Top Road, Port Murray, N.J. 07865; (908) 832-5315; www.campbernieymca.org; Ridgewood YMCA, traditional, coed, ages 7-17.

YMCA Camps Ockanickon (boys) and Matollionequay (girls), 1303 Stokes Road, Medford, N.J., 08055; (609) 953-5663; www.ycamp.org; traditional, ages 7-16.

TRAVEL CAMPS

Camp Sacajawea, 242 Adelphia Road, Farmingdale, N.J. 07727; (732) 938-5454; lalvarez@mcgirlscouts.org; www.mcgirlscouts.org; traditional/innovative themes, Girl Scouts, ages 4-17.

JCC Camp Deeny Riback, 208 Flanders-Netcong Road, Flanders, N.J. 07836; 901 Route 10 East, Whippany, N.J. 07981; (973) 929-2911; camps@jccmetrowest.org; JCC of MetroWest, traditional/Jewish, coed, for grades 8-10; travel program options: daily and extended trips.

Lake-Vu Day Camp, 505 Riva Ave., East Brunswick, N.J. 08816: (732) 821-8933; www.lakevu.com; coed, grades 7-9; three- or four-day camps.

Meadowbrook Country Day Camp, 73 E. Valley Brook Road, Long Valley, N.J. 07853; (908) 876-3429; www.meadowbrookdaycamp.com; traditional, coed, ages 3-14, teen travel program, day trips, optional overnight trips, coed, grade 7-9.

Pine Grove Day Camp, 4010 Herbertsville Road, Wall, N.J. 08724; (732) 938-3760; www.pinegrovedaycamp.com; traditional, coed, ages 4-15, two-week sleepaway option for grades 3-10.

Teen Adventures, YM-YWHA of Greater Clifton-Passaic, 199 Scoles Ave., Clifton, N.J. 07012; (973) 779-2980, ext. 106; coed, grades 7-10, daily trips, as well as a five-day, four-night trip.