The New Weis Center offers weekly nature day camp programs at our beautiful Ringwood location in the Highlands region of northern NJ! The 152-acre property features a historic main building, picnic grove, large recreational field, covered pavilion, fire circle, hiking trails, raingarden, and a brook for nature programs and exploring. Our site is also ideally situated adjacent to the Highlands Natural Pool for swimming and Norvin Green State Forest for additional explorations!
Our mission is to create a safe and supportive space for our campers to express themselves, build confidence and social skills, grow friendships - and learn some cool science along the way. By engaging campers in outdoor learning, we strive to provide them with an unforgettable summer camp experience and a lifelong connection to the world around them.
2019 Weekly Day Camp - Ages 6-12
Starts Mon, Jul 8 - Ends Fri, Aug 16 | 9:00am-3:00pm, Mon-Fri
This year we will offer 6 weeks of awesome camp for ages 6-12! We encourage you to sign your child up for multiple weeks to give them the best camp experience and time to grow and learn.
Older kids? Sign up for our NEW 1-week Highlands Expedition camp for ages 12-14!
Each day incorporates fun and immersive experiences and a variety of nature-focused activities, to enhance your child’s enjoyment and understanding of the wonderful world around them.
The featured daily activity, nature-based arts and crafts projects, hiking, field and forest games, and teambuilding exercises will incorporate ecology, science, flora and fauna and the environment.
Weekly special guests will enhance the camper experience, and are always a big hit!
STAFF
- Staffed by our Camp Director, professional adult educators from our partnership with Ramapo College and trained Weis staff.
- Certified by the State to meet all NJ Department of Health Youth Camp standards.
- Counselors are CPR/AED and First Aid certified.
- Low Counselor to Camper ratio 1:8 ratio provides a safe and attentive environment for all campers.
DETAILS
- Ages 6-12, July 8-Aug 16, 9:00am-3:00pm Signup for individual weeks - or the whole summer!
- Enrollment is limited to 25 campers per week.
- Partial week enrollment and pricing may be available upon request (3 or 4 days/wk).
- Before and after care will be available if we have enough interest! Please let us know what weeks and times you would need!
- Camp fee includes a New Weis Center t-shirt!
2019 CAMP FEES (per camper, per week)
$240 - Standard weekly rate (M-F)
$225 - Early bird (on or before March 31), siblings, multiple week signups, and current members of The Highlands Natural Pool
$210 - Current 2019 members of The New Weis Center/Highlands Nature Friends*
*Membership at the "Supporter" level or above is required to take advantage of camp and program discounts. Membership is a tax-deductible donation with year-round benefits, and is non-refundable. Not sure if you're a member? Contact Us or Join/Renew NOW!
REGISTRATION & PAYMENT
Once we receive your online registration, we'll email an invoice with instructions for how to pay by mail or online by credit card. Your registration is not complete until payment in full is received!
Upon receipt of payment, you'll receive a confirmation email, which will also contain a parent handbook, a health form, waiver and photo release form. The handbook explains what campers should bring, how to dress, directions for drop off and pick up, camp rules, and other useful information. All forms must be completed and returned one week prior to your child's first day at camp. If you are a returning camper from 2018, your confirmation will contain any previously submitted forms; we ask that you take the time to review the information and confirm that it is still up to date or make appropriate changes.
CANCELLATION & REFUNDS
- A $25 processing fee applies to all refunds.
- Full refunds (minus the $25 processing fee) will be given for cancellations on or before June 15.
- A 50% refund (minus the $25 processing fee) will be given for cancellations between June 16-30.
- No refunds will be given for cancellations after June 30.
- Late registration are subject to the refund schedule above.
- In cases of cancellation due to major illness and/or family emergency, refunds will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
>We reserve the right to remove any child without refund due to unacceptable behavior, and to reschedule, or change programs as needed.
Thank you for joining us for a summer of fun, learning, friendship and memories! Details and registration for summer 2020 opens in February.
"The building blocks of self-esteem are belonging, learning, and contributing. Camps offer unique opportunities for children to succeed in these three vital areas and even beyond home and school."
Michael Popkin, Ph.D., family therapist & founder of Active Parenting
Featured Daily Activities
Adventure & Exploration
- Hike to High Point, the ruins of Winfield farm, a waterfall or the iron mines. Search for blueberries, invasive plants or wild mushrooms. Explore the Blue Mine brook and learn to 'Leave No Trace', prepare for adventure, trail markers and navigation.
Maker Day
- Food - Wilderness cooking (pasta, garlic-mustard pesto, ice cream)
- Art - Paper making, forest jewelry, sundials, rope making, tie dye t-shirts, rock and landscape painting
Wilderness Survival Skills
- Shelter building, fire making, wilderness first aid, camouflage, natural navigation, survival scenarios, wild edibles, water sourcing, forest movement and awareness
Highlands Ecology
- Decomposers, aquaponics, butterfly garden & pollinators, stream study, plant and animal ID, lifecycles and metamorphosis, and a NEW camper garden (herbs, native plants and vegetable gardening)
Special Guests!
- NJ Search & Rescue (and K-9 dog Zippy), Totes Goats and their farm animals, Iron Mountain Stage Company, Earth Living Skills, Temple Qinesis (natural obstacle course), Doc Baynes (former naturalist and ranger from Sterling Forest) and more!
Swimming
2-3 times per week we'll swim in the Highlands Natural Pool. The pool is adjacent to our property, and is an olympic size, chemical-free, mountain stream fed, with experienced, certified lifeguards.
Sample Daily Schedule (9:00am - 3:00pm) Please contact us if you are interested in before/after care!
9:00 am - Camper drop off at The New Weis Center's main gate
9:30 am - Daily welcome, review of the day ahead, camper garden
10:00 am - Featured daily activity
12:00 pm - Lunch - campers will eat at various locations throughout the week
12:30 pm - Open rec time - field activities, arts & crafts, individual learning and education
1:00-2:30 pm -
Pool days: (2-3 times/wk): swimming and games at the adjacent Highlands Natural Pool
Non-pool days: Teambuilding, adventure challenge games, nature-based art, science projects
2:30 pm - Daily recap, journaling, cleanup and prep for the next day
3:00 pm - Camper pickup
Note: the schedule above may be rearranged or updated to accommodate the weather, site conditions and special guests
2019 Summer Nature Camp
Be sure to check out our other day camp sessions!
NEW! 1-Week Camp for Ages 12-14
By popular demand, we are introducing a 1-week Highlands Forest Expedition Camp for ages 12-14. August 19-23; 9:00am-3:00pm