Summer Camp Program

Embark on a summer of discovery and fun at the Boys & Girls Club of Garfield’s Summer Camp Program! Designed for children aged 5-14, our camp offers a blend of educational activities, creative play, and sports, all in a safe and nurturing environment. Guided by our mission to develop responsible, caring citizens, we provide experiences that foster growth, friendship, and a sense of community. Join us for a summer filled with memorable adventures and learning opportunities.

Age Range: 5 – 14*
Days and Hours: Monday – Friday, Hours vary by membership type and location.
Duration of the Program: 

Midland Ave. Site: 8 Weeks starting June 29, 2026 until August 21st, 2026

GMS 21st CCLC Site: 6 Weeks starting June 29, 2026 until August 7th, 2026

Location: 

Midland Ave. Site: 490 Midland Ave. Garfield, NJ
GMS 21st CCLC Site: 175 Lanza Ave. Garfield, NJ

* Please see our FAQ Section to get further details about age limitations. 

Membership Costs

Midland Site: $40 per term

21st CCLC Site: Completely Free for incoming, current, and outgoing Garfield Middle School students.
Although the 21st CCLC program is free, membership enrollment and program registration through the MyClubHub Portal are both still required. Students with school year aftercare memberships still need to apply for a summer camp membership.

Program Cost

Main/Midland Ave. Site

All summer camp program fees are available under the “Memberships” tab in the Parent Portal.

  • Early Bird 1 Special: membership + $1480 for 8 full weeks of programming. Only available before April 1st.
  • Early Bird 2 Special: membership + $1560 for 8 full weeks of programming. Only available before May 1st.
  • Regular Membership: membership + $1800 for 8 full weeks of programming.
  • Individual Weeks: membership + $245 per week. Payment must be made prior to the week the child will attend. This rate is available at any time for families who only need to select specific weeks, but slots are only available as space permits.
Payment Schedule

Enrollment is available on a first-come, first-served basis, and payments must be fully paid prior to June 1st, 2026 via the Parent Portal. These fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. No cash, checks or phone payments will be accepted.

 

OFC, 4Cs and Subsidy Programs

Office for Children (OFC) guidelines have been altered based on family size and income. Each case will be assessed individually.

  • If your contract is not in the portal at the time of registration, you can either 1: pay the weekly fee for the program or 2: wait for the contract to be in the OFC portal. If your contract backtracks to the start date, the payment can be utilized towards co-payments.
GMS/21st CCLC Site

The 21st CCLC Summer Camp Program is completely FREE but requires membership enrollment, program registration, and full attendance for all 6 weeks. Enrollment is available on a first-come, first-served basis. 

  • Available for incoming 6th, 7th and 8th grade students. Students currently exiting 5th grade and scheduled to attend Garfield Middle School are also eligible. Students set to graduate from Garfield Middle School 8th grade are also eligible.
  • Youth are not eligible if they currently attend or are scheduled to attend a private/charter school or reside out of the Garfield district.
  • 3rd or 4th Marking period report card is required for proof of current school.

 

Enrollment Requirements

All enrollment must be completed through the MyClubHub Parent Portal and payments must be completed in full to guarantee enrollment for each week. All documentation must be submitted at the time of registration. 

The required documents are as follows: 

  • Report Card for Previous Year
  • Birth Certificate 
  • Immunization Records
  • Income Status Documentation
    Acceptable Documentation

    • Lunch Status Form 
    • Benefit Verification Letter 
REGISTER TODAY
RETURNING MEMBER

Meal Times

Breakfast is served from 8 am to 9 am and lunch is served from 12 pm to 1 pm, with no exceptions. No breakfast will be served after 9am. Youth must arrive before 9 am to be included in the lunch count for that day. 

Parents may send their youth in with their own cold lunches from home but no seeds or nuts of any kind are allowed. Microwave popcorn and other snacks or meals that require heating are not allowed. Due to allergens and dietary restrictions, we ask parents to discourage their youth from sharing their meals with others.

Youth are not allowed any GrubHub/DoorDash/delivery lunches from outside of the school.

MENU

Pool Time 

Applicable to Midland Ave Site:

Pool times are available for 1 hour a day per group. Pool times are monitored, free-swim sessions where lifeguards are present – they are NOT swim lessons. All youth have an opportunity to be deep water tested for a blue cap by YMCA lifeguards. Swim caps are available for purchase from the YMCA. Red caps are for shallow-end swimmers and blue caps are for deep-end swimmers. 

Swim caps, towels, swimwear, and appropriate shoewear are required for participation in the pool every day. All youth must have dry clothes to change into. Youth will not be allowed to enter the swimming pool without these items. 

No swim lessons are included or provided by the Boys & Girls Club of Garfield. 

 

Communication 

We rely primarily on email and phone communication. However, we recommend families sign up for the Remind App for last-minute notifications such as potential closures or other emergencies. We also recommend following us on all of our social media pages:

Frequently Asked Questions

My child is currently in preschool, can they still attend?
Yes, if the child is 5 years of age by the program start date, they can attend the summer camp. It is important to note, that we require all of our youth to be potty trained to attend. We also do not, nor are we able to, provide naps during the summer camp day, so it is important that the child can participate in the full-day program without one. 
Can my child participate in the 21st CCLC (GMS) program?

Currently enrolled 6th, 7th, and 8th graders, incoming 6th graders, and outgoing 8th graders in the Garfield Middle School will be able to participate in our 5-week program completely free. Students who attend a middle school out of district or are enrolled in the iLearn BASCS schools or charter schools are not eligible for this program. 

What days is the 21st CCLC program open?

The program is open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm. The program takes place at the Garfield Middle School, 175 Lanza Ave., and youth can be dropped off as early as 8 am from Monday to Thursday.

Why do I need to provide income status documentation?
While providing this documentation isn’t required for out-of-district members, this information helps us gather accurate demographic information on our members and the impact we are having on their development. As a non-profit organization, we rely on this information for grant-seeking and grant-reporting purposes which is one of our primary sources of funding. 

You can easily provide this information by uploading a copy of the Lunch Status form, which states your child’s name and whether they qualify for Free, Reduced, or Paid Lunch. Your support in providing accurate information is greatly appreciated. 

Can I enroll my child and pay week to week?

This year, we offer week-by-week payment options for students who wish to enroll in the Main Site/490 Midland Ave. program. This option is available during all of registration, but spots will only be available as space permits.

Registration for the Garfield Middle School/21st CCLC program covers the full 5 week camp period.

Do you have a cancellation policy?

It is important to note that all membership fees and field trip registrations are completely non-refundable, without exception. Week purchases are non-refundable and while transfers may be available, they are limited, dependent on availability, and up to the discretion of our Director of Administration. Once a purchased week of summer camp has begun, it is no longer transferable nor refundable. 

Can I sign up my child for swim lessons?

We do not provide swim lessons. We only have access to the pool for two 1-hour free swim sessions a day during our summer camp program. 

Do you provide accommodations for youth with special needs?

We recommend all parents share copies of IEPs, 504s, and/or medical diagnoses so that we can assess whether we can provide the necessary accommodations for each child. We want all youth to have a fun time at the Boys & Girls Club of Garfield so we allow all our families to tour our sites and asses if the facilities lend themselves to a positive experience for their youth. It is important to note that we do not have the capacity to provide one-to-one care to any child but can consider accommodations for clinician visits and other external providers to supply that level of support. These considerations are made on a case-by-case basis. 

For more information, please contact our offices.