Oak Knoll Announces Virtual, Outdoor Day Camps for Summer 2020

oak knoll summer, virtual and outdoorsThose lazy, hazy days of summer are looking a bit different this time of year for many New Jersey area children.

School is almost out for the summer, but due to COVID-19, many area day camps have closed due to health and state-wide restrictions.

Oak Knoll School, however, has implemented a variety of online day camps, academic options and even a condensed outdoor day camp in July so that children can enjoy their summer while navigating state and local health restrictions.

Virtual Day Camps
Oak Knoll’s Summer Adventures Day Camp Goes Virtual program has switched to an engaging seven-week, virtual platform as New Jersey continues to balance being able to provide children with summer socialization with coronavirus concerns.

“We continue to live in uncertain times and Summer 2020 is going to be different than anyone had anticipated,” said Dawn Cullinan, Summer Adventures Camp Director since 2005. “We are, however, committed at Oak Knoll to still offering campers opportunities to have fun, relax and enjoy spending time with their friends.”

Beginning the week of June 22, 2020, campers in grades 1-8 will be able to log on from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and engage in five different structured activities each day. Pre-K and Kindergarten campers will have an abbreviated day from 9 to 11 a.m.

All activities will be run by returning staff who are certified teachers with experience providing remote learning programs. Some of the activities include, coding for kids, dry swim lessons, mindfulness, martial arts, music, drama and makerspace.

In addition, each day camp instructor will take daily attendance at 9 a.m. and provide a morning greeting, a break and a closing activity. The goal is to engage campers without a great deal of involvement from parents, leaving parents time to complete their own work.

Each week, the Summer Adventures Virtual Day Camp will focus on a different theme starting June 22 and ending the week of August 3. Some of the themes include Fun in the Sun, Superheroes, Halloween in July and Around the World.

Oak Knoll is also offering an additional, virtual one-hour Sports Skills and Drills camp Monday through Friday, which allows campers to focus on a specific sport each week.

“The kids love camp,” said Kim Miele, parent of rising second and third graders who are currently attending Oak Knoll’s two-week jumpstart to summer, Virtual Mini Camp, from June 8-19, 2020. “They are totally engaged for the entire two hours and are super excited about the games and projects. The teachers are keeping them excited and engaged. We cannot even imagine how hard it is to come up with activities that keep kids happy virtually — in the summer — but (Oak Knoll has) cracked the code.”

Outdoor Camp
For those day campers hoping to step away from the screen, they will be able to enjoy Oak Knoll’s Summer Adventures Day Camp Outdoors from July 6 to August 7, 2020, at the school’s 11-acre Summit campus.

The Summer Adventures modified outdoor day camp will adhere to the local and state health guidelines surrounding COVID-19 – campers must remain six feet apart and wear masks.

Outdoor campers may register for a half- or full-day schedule filled with activities for boys and girls in grades 1-8, with age-appropriate activities including dance, art, archery, science/STEM, yoga, sprinklers and more.

Oak Knoll’s Summer Adventures Program is accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA).

Academic Camps
In addition to Summer Adventures’ virtual and modified outdoor day camp options offered at Oak Knoll, students hoping to brush up on academics may choose from a variety of online classes via the Summer Scholars program.

Coeducational for those entering grades 6-12, and taught by Oak Knoll faculty, students may choose from summer academic programs to prep them for fall including business, English, History, Math, Politics, Business and Science.

Oak Knoll’s youngest students (boys and girls age 5) set to enter Kindergarten this fall may also register for the school’s Kindergarten Ready online program from July 6-30, Monday-Thursday, from 8:30-10:30 a.m. Through this academically based program, students will begin to socialize with their peers as well as gain skills necessary to emerge as readers.

To learn more about the many offerings during Oak Knoll’s summer program, visit www.oakknoll.org/summer. There’s something for everyone this summer at Oak Knoll!

Joan Paster retires after 30 yearsAdragna sisters create bracelets to donate to organizations in need.