Summer Camps Your Kids Will Love
Now that spring is here, it’s time to consider what activities the kids will want to be involved with in the summer. Seven Mile Beach offers a wide variety of camps. From the beaches to the sports field, they can stay entertained and busy all season.
Avalon Surf Camp
Dates: June 26-Aug. 23
Location: 12th Street beach, Avalon
Time: Monday-Friday, 9-11am
Cost: $475 a week or $150 a day
How to register: avalonsurfcamp.com
Ages: Girls & boys, age 7 or older (must be comfortable in the water)
Skill level: Beginner to advanced
Equipment required: Wear a bathing suit; the camp will provide surfboards, wetsuits, and all other equipment.
What to expect: Campers surf with professional instructors who are ISA (International Surf Instructors) certified. Campers will be categorized into colored jerseys according to their surfing ability and experience. Expect a full two hours of fun in the ocean with a 3:1 student-to-instructor ratio.
Highlights: Campers won’t just learn how to surf but also acquire waterman skills including knowledge of rip currents, undertows, and other harsh ocean conditions that can occur. Campers will enjoy the ocean in the summer and catching their first wave!
Recess NJ
Dates: Stone Harbor, July 29-Aug. 1, Aug. 5-8; Sea Isle City, July 22-25, Aug. 12-15
Locations: Stone Harbor, Stone Harbor Recreation Fields, 81st Street Sea Isle City, Dealy Field
Time: Monday-Thursday, 9am-noon. There is an option to stay until 1pm for an extra $10 (bring own lunch).
Cost: Stone Harbor, $325; Sea Isle City, $299
How to register: recessnj.com
Ages: Girls & boys, 4-9 years old
Equipment needed: Labeled bottle of water
What to expect: A high-energy outdoor summer camp that keeps the kids moving, playing and healthy. Campers can expect a lot of exercise, games, sports, new friends, and amazing counselors.
Highlights: Campers can enjoy water fun on Thursday that ends with a pizza party!
Summer Nature Camp at The Wetlands Institute
Dates: Weekly, June 26-Aug. 21
Location: The Wetlands Institute, 1075 Stone Harbor Blvd., Stone Harbor
Time: Ages 5-13, 9:30am-2pm; Age 4, 9:30am-noon
Cost: Ranges from $130 to $300 per 1-week session
How to register: wetlandsinstitute.org
Ages: 5-13; Age 4 features special programming on select dates
What to expect: Get back to nature with the kids this summer with the popular Summer Nature Camp at The Wetlands Institute. Kids will enjoy a week (or more) of activities geared to each weekly theme. Activities include hands-on science experimentation and exploration, games, field trips, beach visits, arts and crafts, and more. Each week’s theme varies with exciting new activities and exploration opportunities including Color my World with Nature, Becoming a Naturalist, Explore the Shore: Wetland Warriors, and more.
Highlights: For children ages 5-13, programs include field trips and beach days, so kids can enjoy the sun, sea, and toes in the sand, all while learning about the environment around them. Class space is filling up quickly, so register today!
Casiello Basketball Camps
Dates: Avalon, July 1-4 and Aug. 5-8; Stone Harbor, July 22-25; Sea Isle, June 24-27 and July 29 - Aug. 1
Time: Avalon Week 1, 9:30-11:30am; Avalon Week 2, 5-7pm; Stone Harbor, 11:15am-1:15pm; Sea Isle 9:30-11:30am
Location: Avalon 8th Street courts; Stone Harbor 82nd Street complex; Sea Isle JFK Boulevard Park Courts
Cost: Avalon $215, Stone Harbor $195, Sea Isle $190
How to register: casiellobasketball.com/avalon; casiellobasketball.com/stoneharbor; casiellobasketball.com/seaisle
Ages: Grades 3-8, girls and boys
Skill level: All skill levels.
Equipment needed: A drink to stay hydrated!
What to expect: Join T-John Casiello and his USA Basketball-certified team for this summer’s premier basketball camp. With a primary focus on having fun, campers will enjoy a modern approach to instruction with unique skill training and drills that will focus on player fun and improvement. Live play games will be the backbone of camp, with small-sided 3-on-3 and full-court 4-on-4 and 5-on-5 games for each age level. Participants will receive a camp shirt, wristbands, player badges, social media pictures and more.
Highlights: Campers will learn directly from the professionals during this basketball camp, with the opportunity to hear from professional guest speakers.
Black Bear Lacrosse
Dates: Avalon, July 1-5; Aug. 5-9 | Sea Isle City, July 22-26; Aug. 12-16
Location: Avalon, 9am-noon; Sea Isle City, 9-11:30am
Time: Avalon, 10th Street Fields; SIC, Dealy Field
Cost: Avalon, $275; SIC, $195
How to register: blackbearlacrosse.com/camp-registration
Ages: Girls & boys, 4-14 years old
Skill level: Beginner to Intermediate
Equipment required: Girls must bring a mouthpiece, lacrosse stick, goggles, and a reversible pinnie (can be purchased for $20 at registration). Boys must bring a mouthpiece, helmet, shoulder pads, gloves, stick, and a reversible pinnie. Any boys’ equipment other than a stick can be rented for an additional $90 a week and the pinnie can be purchased.
What to expect: Campers can expect to learn the skills and fundamentals of the sport in a fun-filled environment. Camp curriculum is broken down into four areas: FUN in fundamentals, Speed and Agility Sports Training, Position-Specific Training, and Team-Specific Skill Development. Each one will help the campers to learn the proper technique, fundamentals, and further develop their lacrosse IQ.
Highlights: Black Bear Lacrosse Camp is run by top local coaches and college players. The owner of the camps is Jon Heisman, who is in the Eastern Pennsylvania Lacrosse Hall of Fame and the winningest coach in the state’s history. Co-directors of the camp are Haverford High coach Bryan Arra and former Oakcrest coach Brett Hoffecker. The girls’ director is Oakcrest coach Justine Chishko.
Shore Multi Sports Camp
Dates: Stone Harbor, July 8-11, July 15-18; Avalon, July 29-Aug 1; Sea Isle July 8-11, July 15-18
Time: 9am-noon
Location: Avalon and Stone Harbor recreation fields; Sea Isle 59th & Central Recreation Field
Cost: $199-$220
How to register: shoresportscamps.com
Ages: 5-14, boys and girls
Skill level: All skill levels are welcome.
Equipment required: Water bottle and sneakers
What to expect: Shore Sports Camps continues to be the largest and longest-running camp at the shore. This year is their 36th anniversary! All skill levels are welcome, and campers can enjoy fun activities, character development, and instruction by certified Positive Coaching Alliance coaches. The primary purpose of this camp is to create an appreciation and enjoyment of athletics, a sampling of multiple sports, teamwork, social skills, leadership, sportsmanship, and character development.
Highlights: Enjoy nationally ranked guest coaches in a variety of sports including soccer, basketball, team handball, touch football, rink soccer, yoga, tennis, baseball, ultimate Frisbee, rink hockey, volleyball, track and field, fitness, and speed training, capture the flag, and other sports as well as gross motor skill activities.
Shore Soccer Camp
Dates: July 22-25
Time: 9am-noon
Location: Avalon 11th Street Recreation Field
Cost: $220
How to register: shoresportscamps.com
Ages: 5-14, boys and girls
Skill level: All skill levels are welcome.
Equipment required: Water bottle, soccer ball, shin guards, cleats, or soccer shoes.
What to expect: Shore Soccer Camp returns to Avalon for its 36th season, structured to teach individual technique and small-group tactics. Campers will have hands-on demonstrations, drills, and exercises created to further enhance game play and skill level. The activities are designed to reinforce daily teaching themes, and campers will also enjoy small-sided league games.
Highlights: Campers will enjoy daily awards and prizes, league games, and fun award ceremonies throughout the week. Sign up now, this camp sells out every year!
Shore Basketball Camp
Dates: July 1-4
Time: 9am-noon
Location: Sea Isle Recreation basketball court, 60th & Central (younger kids); JFK courts (older kids)
Cost: $199
How to register: shoresportscamps.com
Ages: 5-14, boys and girls
Skill level: All skill levels are welcome.
Equipment required: Water bottle, sneakers, and age-appropriate sized basketball
What to expect: The basketball camp is designed to teach fundamental skills and strategies. Specific drills designed to enhance daily teaching themes will be organized as well as halfcourt and full-sided games.
Highlights: Campers will enjoy daily awards and prizes, league games, and fun award ceremonies throughout the week.