Camp News

Category: Day Camp Activities

What’s Cookin’ With Chef Susie: Frogbridge Day Camp Elective Activity

What’s Cookin’ With Chef Susie: Frogbridge Summer Day Camp Elective Activity

Here at Frogbridge, Central NJ’s finest summer day camp, we pride ourselves on providing your children with the most fun and exciting electives and activities every summer. Our philosophy is simple: 

We ensure that your children have the time of their lives with warm, energetic, and committed team members. 

One member of our team that makes the Frogbridge difference is Chef Susie. From sports to crafts, there’s something for every camper at Frogbridge—but they all agree that Chef Susie’s camp elective takes the cake! She’s been leading our Chef Harry’s day camp activity for fifteen summers now, and can’t picture spending her summers anywhere else.  

We hope you’re all ready for all of the tasty treats you’ll be enjoying this summer at Chef Harry’s!  

Chef Susie Shares Her Joy of Cooking With Everyone

Located in Monmouth County, Frogbridge Day Camp is an affordable summer experience for kids and teenagers alike. 

Camp Registration, Transportation & Central Express Discount Applications For Summer 2020 Are Now Available. 

There’s Something For Every Camper at Frogbridge Day Camp!

Activities for Every Camper at Frogbridge

In your research of summer camps, you might find that many of them have an emphasis on sports. At Frogbridge, we understand that every child has his or her own unique interests and tastes. Campers in 2nd through 7th grades are offered electives to find activities that suit their tastes, while younger campers get to dabble in each activity on our campus. We wanted to highlight our various recreational activities and show that there is something for every camper’s taste at Frogbridge!

Acting, Singing & Dancing

Our performing arts electives are extremely popular with campers. Our Theatreworks program puts on a show for campers and their parents during the final week of camp. Each camper will attend practices every Monday-Thursday during the duration of camp, so campers in our eight-week program will be selected for major roles. Last year, TheatreWorks put on a performance of “Seussical.” Check out the trailer from our performance last year of “Once On This Island,” and discover the magic we put into every production. Campers who are enrolled four or six weeks are welcome to join in on supporting roles or to enjoy the various other fine arts programs Frogbridge has to offer. Hops ‘n Bops is perfect for those who are into singing, dancing, and cheerleading. It includes a full dance studio for practicing routines for a talent show that goes on later on in the camp season and a resident DJ in our Aqua camper dance club.

Show Off Your Creativity

For campers who thrive on creativity, they can put their skills to the test at our Main Street Studios complex. There are a variety of activities here, from ceramics to cooking. Here are just a few of the things included in our creative arts curriculum:
  • Cooking
  • Scrapbooking
  • Arts ‘n Crafts
  • Painting
  • Ceramics
  • Miss Lily’s Salon
  • Silly Science
  • Jewelry Making
  • The World of Wearables (WOW)
  • Harry J’s House of Clues

Go on an Adventure

If your child loves going on adventures and is a little thrill junkie, Frogbridge can satisfy all of their adrenaline needs! Set sail on the water where we feature bumper boats and “toadally” tubular tubing rides, each equipped with various “water watchers” and other safety personnel. On land, your child will find a plethora of other thrill attractions. Your child can be an Indian Jones with our ropes courses, as well as various obstacles, (2) 500-foot zip lines, beginner rock wall, and our brand new 30-foot rock wall is the biggest and best to be found anywhere. Your camper can also hop on bungee trampolines, go mountain biking, zoom in our Spin Zone bumper cars, step on the gas at our go-kart track, or try for a bull’s-eye shot at archery.

Cool Down

Our aquatics program features daily swim instruction as well as a free swim period every day in our 3 heated, Olympic-sized pools. Our little ones love to splash and play in our wading pool designed just for them! As always, our pools are among the safest in the country with twice as many lifeguards and swim instructors as anyplace else. If the water isn’t enough to cool down our campers on a hot summer day, they love to hop on over to Ribbits Ice Cream Parlour for freshly served ice cream treats or pay a visit to Frogaritas for the most delicious, ice cold frozen slushies found anywhere!
Ready to sign your child up for camp this summer?
Enroll Now

Signs You’re Ready for Camp

The beaches are open and warmer weather is here. Harry J is ready to go and is filled with cheer. Here are some other signs that you’re ready for camp this year…
You put away those sweatshirts and break out your camp t-shirt to wear to school.
Your end of the year class trip makes you wish you were heading to Frogbridge.
The countdown at school isn’t just for when school ends, it’s also for when camp begins.
Field day at school reminds you of the green and gold teams at color war.
You keep playing against your camp friends in soccer, baseball, and basketball on weekends.
Your dance recital features dozens of your friends from camp and you start thinking of choreographing for your talent show.
All the stores at the mall are selling bathing suits and you buy the best ones you can find to wear at the new pool.
You order chicken fingers at McDonald’s and they just don’t taste as good as the ones you’ll be eating very soon at camp.
You hear “shut up and dance” and you feel yourself dancing on stage at the Frogbridge assemblies.
You constantly start thinking of color war team names.
You pass up a trip to Florida during the summer because you don’t want to miss a day of camp at Frogbridge.
You hear “Sweet Caroline” in a store and instantly get the urge to start a conga line.
When someone says “Gaga” you’re not thinking about the pop star.
You daydream about color war, tubing on the lake, and zip lining throughout the day.
You get your “Welcome Home” letter with your new camp group and bus number on it and you start calling all your friends to find out if you are in the same group.

What are some other signs that you can think of? Share them with us on Facebook and Twitter.

Bring Camp Home

Counting down the days until camp during the offseason can seem like a never ending process. Help the time pass and warm up on a cold winter’s day by bringing the Frogbridge fever into your home! Try one of the following day camp inspired activities with your children. Note for Parents: Remain close by to oversee all the recommended activities below. Note for Campers: Let your parents handle the cooking chores that involve hot water or the oven.

Silly Science

Source: lemonlimeadventures.com Try Silly Science at home with this fun dissolving candy cane science project! Supplies:
  1. 4 cups/jars (must be see through)
  2. 3 cups cold water
  3. 3 cups hot water
  4. 3 cups oil
  5. 3 cups vinegar
  6. 4 candy canes
Once you have all of your supplies, start to ask your children questions first.
  1. What do you think is going to happen?
  2. How long do you think it will take to dissolve?
Place the one candy cane in each cup/jar. Ask them a few other questions.
  1. What do you smell?
  2. What do you see?
  3. Why do you think this is happening?
Go over the answers with them after the experiment is finished.

DIY Nail Art

Source: chloesnails.blogspot.com Bring Ms. Lily’s Salon into your home and have your child add a little sparkle to their manicure. Supplies:
  1. Color nail polish of your choice
  2. Glitter nail polish of your choice
  3. Tape
  4. Decorative edge crafting scissors
Paint your nails the desired solid base color. Wait for them to dry, about 10-15 minutes to be safe. Take a piece of tape and cut it with the crafting scissors so one side of the tape has the decorative pattern. Place the tape with the untouched end towards the top of your nail so the decorative end is lying toward your cuticle. Leave as big as a space as you want, that is where the glitter nail polish will be going. Paint the gap with the glitter polish. Wait for nails to dry, remove the tape and show off your new nails.

Funfetti Cupcakes

Source: sallysbakingaddiction.com Make Miss Susie proud by baking this easy funfetti cupcake recipe at home with the family. Ingredients:
  1. 1 23 cups all-purpose flour
  2. ¼ tsp. baking soda
  3. ½ tsp. baking powder
  4. ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
  5. ½ tsp. salt
  6. 1 large egg
  7. ¼ cup yogurt (plain, vanilla, Greek or substitute for sour cream)
  8. 1 cup granulated sugar
  9. 2 tsp. vanilla extract
  10. ¾ cup milk
  11. ½ cup rainbow sprinkles
Instructions:
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a muffin tin with 12 cupcake lines. Set aside.
  2. In a medium bowl, combine baking powder, flour, salt, and baking soda. Set aside.
  3. In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt butter in the microwave. Whisk sugar into the melted butter. The consistency will be gritty. Chill in the refrigerator for 1 minute.
  4. After chilled, stir in yogurt, egg, vanilla extract, and milk until well combined. Slowly start to add the dry ingredients until mixture is smooth. The batter will be thick.
  5. Slow stir in the sprinkles but do not overmix because the sprinkles will begin to bleed their color.
  6. Divide batter evenly among the muffin tin and bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
  7. Allow to cool.
  8. Top with frosting of choice and add sprinkles if desired.

Put on a Play

If your children love to dress up and perform then this is perfect for you. Turn your living room into an at home theater. Use blankets as curtains and move couches around for a stage. Dig up those old Halloween costumes to create the outfits for a variety of characters. You can even get the pets involved by dressing them up to. Make it feel even more real by setting up a specific time for them to perform and having the other members of your family sit down to watch it. Let their performing arts skills be unveiled and enjoy.

Plastic Bottle Bowling

Although we’d love to say build a Gaga court in your basement, playing sports like that inside can be hard to do, and sometimes a little dangerous. But if your children are the athletic type, they may not take no for an answer on a snowy day. Plastic bottle bowling is a great alternative and a way to let out some energy while indoors. Supplies:
  1. 10 plastic bottles
  2. 10 shades of acrylic craft paint
  3. 1 Tbsp. of water for each bottle (only if needed)
  4. Ball
Instructions:
  1. Remove the cap and labels from the bottles. Wash and clean thoroughly.
  2. Place a few drops of paint inside of each bottle, enough to cover the bottom and then a little extra. If your paint is thick, add a tiny bit of water.
  3. Close the bottles and shake them up to spread the paint inside.
  4. Remove cap and pour the excess water/paint. Leave the caps off and let dry. Ideally overnight but if not, then a few hours at least.
  5. Once dry, set up your bowling pins and have fun!
You can skip adding the paint to the plastic bottles altogether if you are looking to bowl ASAP. It is just a fun and creative step for your kids to enjoy. What are your favorite ways to play inside? Share them on our Facebook page. Recipe inspired by: sallysbakingaddiction.com.

10 Things I Love About Frogbridge

Valentine’s Day is here and there is love in the air everywhere you turn. Of course we express love for our family and friends, but also for our favorite memories, places, and things. As I look around and think of all the people, places, and things I love the most, one place quickly comes to mind – Frogbridge Day Camp! In the spirit of the holiday, here are the 10 things I LOVE most about Frogbridge: The Campers Our campers are the reason we exist!  When I look around the camp each and every day everyone is so happy. I’m always sure to see the kids – young and old – smiling, singing, dancing, and playing everywhere I turn. Nothing makes me smile more than seeing our campers having a blast! The Team Members It takes years to put together a championship team, and at Frogbridge we have done just that. From our teachers and counselors to our lifeguards and instructors, and everyone else in between, they all come together to ensure that each camper has nothing short of an exceptional experience. They are the camper’s big brothers and sisters and camp moms and dads, and I couldn’t be prouder of any group of people I have ever met. The Energy The energy here is boundless! It comes from every child, team member, and parent. One thing is for sure, campers better get a good night of sleep before they arrive here in the morning because the energy starts as soon as they get off the bus! The One of a Kind Activities Where else in the world can you find amazing activities like bumper cars, bumper boats, go karts, laser tag, rock climbing with zip lines OVER a lake, and tube rides in a second lake? Oh, and did I mention the Little Fenway Wiffle Ball Stadium, Aqua Dance Club, the Octagon-Championship Gaga Stadium, a 6 thousand square foot field house, and a lakeside catering hall where our campers eat lunch every day? Best of all, EVERY indoor activity is air-conditioned! The Food Camper Nutrition is a top priority. Just spend one week at Frogbridge and you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. The lunches are delicious – with more choices than most restaurants – all made fresh and served hot daily by our amazing culinary team of top chefs. Our lunch program includes daily specials, side dishes, fruits, vegetables, and dozens of alternatives. But it doesn’t end there! We also have many camper favorite activities that involve food, such as Chef Harry’s Cooking Studio, Hipptiy Hops Chocolate Shoppe, Ribbits Ice Cream Parlor, and Frogaritas Frozen Island Oasis. Oh yeah, there is also a refreshing, cool afternoon snack available each day – can’t forget about that! The First Day This is one of the most highly anticipated days of the year (not counting color war break, color war week, the camp carnival, wacky water day, talent show week, the parent BBQ night, the Frogtoberfest in October… ah, you understand). Let’s just say that when those campers get off of the bus on the very first day of summer camp, there is no feeling quite like it for me! Like Dorothy said in the Wizard of Oz, “there is no place like home!” Welcome home everybody! The Special Events Trust me, there is something for everyone on our special events calendar each summer. Mix in camper favorites like the ones mentioned above or our Halloween in August dance-a-thon fundraiser coupled with surprise events that change annually, and you have the perfect combination of camper favorites and soon to be new hits. Just when you thought the fun was over and it was time to get back to school, we welcome everyone back to camp in October for our annual Halloween event, Frogtoberfest. Come on, really? It doesn’t get any better than that! The Daily Assemblies Every one of our camp days begin and end at assembly. Each morning campers are greeted with music, games, contests, a new group raises the flag, and camper/team member birthdays are celebrated. Then on Friday mornings … let’s just say you haven’t seen any assembly in the world quite like our Friday morning assembly! Which leads me to the 9th thing I love about Frogbridge… The Largest Camper Conga line in the World You have to see this to believe it. Imagine: it’s Friday morning and we are ready to end another great week at Frogbridge with a celebration like no other. As soon as “Sweet Caroline” blasts from the speakers, everyone – and I mean EVERYONE – jumps to their feet and connects their hands on the shoulders of the person in front of them to create the largest conga line ever! Man, I can’t wait for the first one this coming summer. And last, but certainly not least… That Frogbridge Fever The moment you step foot off the bus on your very first day, you catch it! Day by day, and week by week, the fever grows stronger. It’s something that can’t be measured or explained, it can only be understood by Frogbridge campers and team members. Some say it’s the energy and enthusiasm displayed by just about every person in the camp while others think it’s a magical spell that’s been placed over the entire property. Whatever the reason, one thing is for sure…. once you catch that Frogbridge Fever you don’t ever want to let it go! So there you have it – my top 10 things I love about Frogbridge Day Camp. Here’s what some of you had to say on our Facebook page when we asked what you love about Frogbridge:
‪Jaimi Maloff Miller‪: Everything. My son comes home happy!! And tired!!!!
‪Maria Facciponti‪: Gianna learned to swim like a fish. She absolutely loves her time there. Counselors are awesome
‪Cindy Preiser Pukel:‪ My daughter said swimming and my son said everything!
Joyce Mula Gheraldi‪: Even better than all the great activities and (should be) Zagat rated dining are all the BFF’s my son has made.

Did we miss one of your favorite things? Share your thoughts with us on our Facebook page or Twitter! And while you’re stuck inside on a cold winter’s day, just think, we will be together again having fun in the sun in only five short months!

Camp Activity Spotlight: Bumper Cars

Spin Zone Bumper Cars are one of the latest activities to hit this Monmouth County summer day camp! Year after year we see what we can do to continuously make sure our campers have the BEST experiences. When we had the opportunity to bring Spin Zone on board, we knew we could not pass them up.

Why Spin Zone Bumper Cars

iPlay America uses them and kids and adults love them. Not only are they more fun than traditional bumper cars, but they are safer too. They have a soft inner tube design that reduces impact.

How They Work

Similar to traditional bumper cars, riders will try to bump targets on other cars. When targets (3 o’clock or 9 o’clock positions) are hit, the “Spin Zone” activates, sending the bumped car in a fast 2 to 3 second spin. As they spin, the cars’ LED lights flash to let other riders know they’ve been hit. Our campers will have a bumpin’ good time. For more information on Frogbridge activities, visit our website.