Senior Camp
At Willow Lake Senior Camp, we give campers the keys to their own summer. By blending dynamic activities with increased autonomy and choice, we create an environment where campers entering 3rd through 8th grade can stretch their limits, master new skills, and truly be themselves. It’s the perfect mix of spirited tradition and the freedom to DREAM BIG.
A Day in the Life of Grades Three through Eight
No two weeks are ever the same, but each one is filled with variety and excitement. Our Senior Camp schedule is intentionally designed to balance high-energy athletics and creative discovery with the "chill" moments that make camp friendships so special. Look at how a typical day unfolds with plenty of spirit, sunshine, sports, and adventure!
Campers gather for group cheers and daily announcements.
Lessons focus on advanced stroke development and technique. Red Cross-certified instructors teach small-groups in heated pools, moving through the Willow Lake Fish levels.
A crafting period where campers create their own candles using colorful wax, scents, and molds to design personalized keepsakes.
Instruction and gameplay on our manicured diamonds. Senior campers focus on tactical play, advanced fielding, and situational strategies.
Part of our Elective Program, this period lets campers choose an activity to explore for the week, building new skills and diving deeper into a personal interest with guidance from a specialist.
Lunch is served in our spacious Lunch Pavilion. Campers enjoy the main hot entrée as well as self-serve salad bar, deli counter, pasta bar, fresh fruit and yogurt.
Recreational swimming in our pool complex. Campers have access to our water slides and open swimming with their peers under lifeguard supervision.
Working in a professional studio environment, campers learn hand-building techniques and are introduced to the potter's wheel for more advanced projects.
Held on our pickleball court, this period introduces campers to serving, rallying, and court positioning through lead up activities and game play.
An elective period where campers choose between competitive sports leagues, theatre, art, or discovery – building skills through organized play, rehearsing for the stage, creating art, or exploring the outdoors.
The group gathers for a daily ice cream or ice pop treat before beginning the dismissal process.
Campers organize their cubbies and backpacks before being guided by counselors to their assigned buses for departure.
Campers gather for group cheers and daily announcements.
Senior campers take the lead in their own summer journey by spending an hour diving deep into a weekly elective where they can master new skills in the activities they love most.
Campers hit the rink to develop their stick-handling and teamwork through instruction and fast-paced games designed for older athletes.
Adrenaline and excitement take over as campers soar across Willow Lake on our 450-foot double zipline, conquering new heights and catching a lakeside breeze.arn their next Fish certificate.
Our Senior Campers head to The Cove, an exclusive hangout poolside featuring a game pavilion designed specifically for the interests of our older campers.
Creativity takes center stage as campers explore advanced projects like the potter’s wheel and ceramics, expressing their individuality in our professional art studios.
It’s time to refuel and relax with a delicious meal in our spacious open-air dining pavilion.
Friendly competition reaches its peak during our sports leagues, where campers enjoy high-level coaching and the thrill of the game throughout our fields, courts, and rinks.
Junior chefs head to our cooking studio to whip up tasty recipes while learning essential culinary techniques in a fun, collaborative environment.
The group gathers for a daily ice cream or ice pop treat before beginning the dismissal process.
Campers organize their cubbies and backpacks before being guided by counselors to their assigned buses for departure.
When Magic Takes the Schedule
While our daily schedule provides a rhythm Senior Campers love, we always save room for the "Wow!" factor. We occasionally pause the routine to make way for high-energy, camp-wide celebrations that our campers look forward to all year long like Kerplunk, Float or Sink, Wacky Wild Water Day, Willow's Got Talent, Capture the Flag, Sing, and more.
Rain or Shine, the Fun Stays On
A little rain never dampens the spirit at Willow Lake. We are proud to have more covered and indoor space than any day camp in New Jersey (over 40,000 sq. ft and counting!). We don't just wait out the clouds – we pivot seamlessly to ensure the Best. Summer. Ever. continues without a single second of boredom.
Your Camp, Your Call
As campers grow, so do their passions. Our elective program lets Senior Campers tailor their days, diving deeper into activities they love. Electives help campers build skills, meet others with similar interests from across the division, form new friendships, and create lasting memories.
Hobby
Hobby allows campers to choose from many activities within athletics, arts, or adventure and attend daily for a week.
Legues
Leagues offer multi-week choices like sports leagues, theatre, art, or discovery.
Growing Boldly Every Day
Senior Camp is a pivotal time for character development. We look beyond the activities to focus on social confidence, resilience, and leadership. Through every team challenge and stage performance, we weave in our DREAM BIG values, helping campers grow into confident individuals with a strong sense of self and a heart for their community.
Grade 3 & 4
The Gateway to the Main Campus
Campers begin transitioning to our largest athletic facilities and now have the Leagues elective and Archery as part of their regular schedule. Campers in 3rd grade look forward to events like Karaoke Cup, The Parade, and special activities such as Float or Sink. In 4th grade, campers gain weekly Tubing on Lake Hopatcong along with favorites like The Chase, Boys Capture the Flag, and Girls’ Sing.
Grades 5 & 6
Architects of Adventure
With a significantly expanded elective program, these campers take the lead in customizing their schedule, allowing them to reach personal goals in areas like advanced ceramics or specialized sports clinics. The extended League period offers additional time for team sports, theatre practices, and for more in-depth arts or discovery. Likewise, during the extended Hobby period, campers can delve deeper into their interests.
Grades 7 & 8
The Peak Senior Experience
Our oldest campers in Senior Camp enjoy extended privileges, including exclusive day trips and high-level leadership opportunities that celebrate their final years as campers before transitioning toward our CIT program.
Where Friendships Flourish
The magic of the Senior Camp experience is rooted in the bond of the bunk. Led by mature, hand-picked counselors who serve as both mentors and older siblings, our Senior Campers find a safe space to let their guard down. From the enthusiastic cheers at morning assembly to the shared laughs during time at the pool, the bunk is where "I" becomes "we," and where the most enduring Willow Lake friendships are made.
Your Senior Camper is Ready to Lead the Way
Empower your 3rd–8th grader with a summer of independence, elective choices, and a community where they can truly be themselves.
Keep exploring our program and activities
