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, 8am – 6pm
Duration of the Program: 

Midland Ave. Site: Starting June 24, 2024 until August 23, 2024
GMS 21st CCLC Site: Starting June 24th, 2024 until August 2nd, 2024
We are closed July 4th, 2024 and will not provide any services on that date.

Location: 

Midland Ave. Site: 490 Midland Ave. Garfield, NJ
GMS 21st CCLC Site: 175 Lanza Ave. Garfield, NJ (Mon – Thurs)
All youth attend the Midland Ave  Site on Fridays

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

Membership Costs

Membership is $40 per term for the Midland Ave site and completely free for the 21st CCLC site. 

Although the 21st CCLC program is free, membership enrollment and program registration through the MyClubHub Portal are both still required.

Program Cost

Main/Midland Ave. Site
  • Enrollment is available through our parent portal starting on 2/26/2024
  • WEEK-TO-WEEK RATE: $185 per week available through 5/31/2024

Enrollment is available on a first-come, first-served basis, and payments must be made in full to secure registration. These fees are non-refundable, and transfer options are limited and at the discretion of the Director of Administration.

If your child(s) agreement is not confirmed in the OFC/4C’s portal and you wish to reserve a spot for your child, a $540 deposit will be required at time of registration until an agreement is confirmed in the portal. A reimbursement will be issued once the final agreement rate is confirmed and any Club co-payment is established.

GMS/21st CCLC Site
  • Enrollment is available through our parent portal starting on 3/4/2024 and until capacity is met.
  • Available for incoming 6th, 7th and 8th grade students. Students currently exiting 5th grade and scheduled to attend Garfield Middle School are also eligible.
  • Youth who currently attend or are scheduled to attend a private/charter school or reside out of the Garfield district are not eligible.
  • 4th Marking period report card is required for proof of current school.
  • Parents interested in enrollment in weeks 6, 7, 8, and 9 may register through the Main/Midland Ave. Site.

The 21st CCLC Summer Camp Program is completely free but requires membership enrollment, program registration, and full attendance for all 5 weeks. Enrollment is available on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Program Details

Camp Garfield campers are placed into groups according to their age and will be assigned a designated group leader and aide.  Throughout the day the group leader and aide schedule supervised programs for youth participation.

In addition to the weekly day camp program, there are trips/outings offered for each age group.  Registration for summer trips will be on a first come first served basis.

8:00 AM – 9:30 AM
General meeting and announcements Group’s formed 10-1 ratio with volunteer assistance and daily attendance taken.

9:30 AM- 6:30 PM
Scheduled group activities.

Homerooms

Children will be separated into homerooms based on the membership (age groups) purchased at time of enrollment. 

Program Activities

Children will be assigned program activities based on their age group. All children will be able to participate in all of the general camp activities offered, but program hours will be specific to their age group. 

Meal Times

Breakfast is served from 8 am to 9 am and lunch is served from 12 pm to 1 pm, with no exceptions. Youth must arrive before 9 am to be included in the lunch count. 

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 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.

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Pool Time 

Applicable to Midland Ave Site:
Pool times are available for 1 hour a day per group. Boys get swim time from 10 am – 11 am and Girls get swim time from 3 pm – 4 pm. Pool times are monitored, free-swim sessions where lifeguards are present. All youth have an opportunity to be deep water tested for a blue cap by YMCA lifeguards. 

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. Swim caps are available for purchase from the YMCA. Red caps are for shallow-end swimmers and blue caps are for deep-end swimmers. 

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

Daily Schedule

Applicable to Midland Ave Site: 

8am – Breakfast
9am – Homeroom Check-In
10am – Pool Time (Boys Swim)
11am – Homeroom Check-In
12pm – Lunch
1pm – Program Hour 1
2pm – Program Hour 2
3pm – Pool Time (Girls Swim)
4pm – Homeroom Check-In
5:30pm – Dismissal

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 
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Communication 

We rely primarily on email and phone communication. However, we recommend families sign up for the Remind App and follow our social media channels for last-minute notifications such as potential closures or other emergencies. 

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 and incoming 6th 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 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 6 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. On Fridays, all youth report to the Main/Midland Ave. Site at 490 Midland Ave. regardless of age and program. 
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?
The purchase of weeks is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. While we can accept payment up until the Thursday of the week you’d like to purchase, we can not guarantee the availability of any week. This is why we recommend purchasing weeks ahead of time. 

All weeks desired at an Early Bird rate must be purchased and paid in full before the discount expiration date. Early Bird rates are only available until the expiration date and cannot be used for any additional weeks purchased beyond that date. 

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.