Camp SAM FAQs Video

We are here at Camp SAM from 7AM-6PM Monday through Friday, but the regular camp day runs from 9AM-4PM. Before care from 7-9AM and after care from 4-6PM is available for an additional fee. Campers receive breakfast during before care and a snack during after care.

Your child should bring a bag or backpack containing a bathing suit, towel, sunscreen (spray preferred), water bottle, complete change of clothes, brush or comb, and snack money if they wish. Each camper will have a designated area to store their belongings. ALL items must be labeled with your child’s full name. Please note that campers MUST NOT bring cell phones to camp. All electronics are prohibited at camp.

Your child should wear comfortable clothing appropriate for outdoor play. All campers must wear sneakers to camp everyday due to the nature of the camp activities. They may bring water shoes/ flip flops for the pool area only. Hikes in the Nature Trail, climbing the rockwall, playing on the playground, etc. all require closed toe shoes to prevent injury. Please apply full-coverage sunscreen to your child before drop-off. Our counselors always remind the campers to re-apply it throughout the day too.

The typical camp group consists of 12-20 campers, depending on the age group. Camp SAM is organized by age divisions: (5 & 6 year olds), (7-9 year olds), (10-11 year olds), (12-15 year olds). The younger groups tend to be on the smaller side to accommodate our youngest campers who often need more assistance. We pride ourselves on our wide age range and providing a one stop shop for parents. We use progressive programming to ensure that all activities are age appropriate. Our youngest campers are 2.5 years old and our oldest campers are 15 years old.

Our camper groups are tightly knit, and become more like a small family unit. Your child will remain in the same group each week they attend. Each group has 2 counselors which remain the same throughout the summer. Our counselors are 18 years old and above and many are teachers or college students studying education. Many of our counselors are former campers and can remember their first summer at Camp SAM very vividly.

Our campers go on 3 field trips each summer to local venues. They wear their camp tee shirt and a wristband with our camp contact information printed on it and their camp tee shirt that we give to each camper at the beginning of every summer. We travel via school bus and our staff to camper ratio is 1:3 to maintain safety. Our campers usually bring a bagged lunch to eat while we are at the venue. Parents are welcome to join us on field trips, however they must provide their own transportation.

We have no minimum! Our scheduling is very flexible to accommodate different family needs. We offer 2, 3, 4 or 5 day camp, and you can select any days you’d like. We recommend campers attend for at least 2-3 weeks. This provides your child/children adequate time to become part of Camp SAM’s community and develop strong, meaningful relationships with other campers and our Counselors.

If you would like to change a week, your request must be submitted in writing 2 weeks prior to the changed week. Upon enrollment, you submit a $40 weekly deposit for each of the weeks you select. This deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable, and turns into a $40 “cancellation fee” on your account if you change a week. It will not be moved to the new week you add. If you would like to change the days within a certain week, you must notify the camp office the Friday prior to that week.

Sign-In occurs at the front of the building. Parents/guardians are asked to park and walk children to the sign-in area each day. A parent/guardian signature will be required each day at sign-in. You may drop off your child as early as 8:45AM without incurring the Before Care fee.

Sign-Out occurs at the back of the building. Parents/guardians are asked to park and walk to the sign-out area each day to pick up children. A parent/guardian signature will be required each day at sign-out, and valid photo identification will be required. Children cannot sign themselves out. Children will only be released to individuals you have authorized for pickup. If an unauthorized person attempts to take a child without permission, the parents and the police will be called. Authorized persons must be at least 18 years of age. You may pick up your child as late as 4:15PM without incurring the After Care fee.

At camp, we enforce a 3-strike policy for inappropriate behavior. If a camper receives 3 strikes in one day, they will be sent home for the day. Should these behaviors continue on a consistent basis, your camper may be removed from camp and asked not to return to camp at Camp SAM's sole discretion. In this case, no refunds will be given.

The use of threats, racism, discrimination and or physical fights will not be tolerated at our camp. Any camper who engages in these behaviors will face immediate removal from camp and may be asked not to return at Camp SAM's sole discretion. In this case, no refunds will be given. Bullying will not be tolerated and will be addressed immediately. A camper may be immediately removed from camp and may be asked not to return to camp at Camp SAM's sole discretion. In this case, no refunds will be given.

Electronics are strictly prohibited from camp. Camp SAM reserves the right to deny, cancel, sever or suspend a child's enrollment if deemed in the best interest of the camp, in which case the deposit or unused camp fee will NOT be refunded.

Yes. All staff members go through an extensive interview process and participate in extensive training on camp programming, camp philosophy/approach, and camp safety. Rest assured your children will be well cared for. We also conduct thorough background checks on all staff.

In cases of extreme weather, outdoor activities will be moved indoors. If necessary, all staff and children will seek shelter immediately and remain sheltered until severe weather moves out of the area. On days the temperature is unusually hot, more shade will be sought, children will be given more reminders to drink water, and fewer or no active games will be played outside.

There is no credit for sick days, however if your child is ill for an extended period of time and a doctor’s note is provided, certain arrangements can be made. Please see the Camp Director for more information.

WE JUST KEEP HAVING FUN—THERE IS NO RAINY-DAY SCHEDULE. Activities that already take place under our covered pavilions continue as normal. All outdoor activities “take shelter” under the pavilions, where counselors organize games and activities for our campers. In addition, we have numerous indoor play spaces to accommodate the campers as well including the dance studio, multipurpose room, sport courts, fit kids gym, ninja gym, cheer floors, tumble tracks, playcare room, glam studio and more!

We have an open-door policy for our camp parents. For those who are planning to visit during the regular camp activity day, a phone call in advance is appreciated. You must check in with the front desk when visiting to sign in and receive your visitor pass. A Camp SAM staff member will show you to your child’s group.

In today’s world, it is so important for us to partner with parents to prepare our campers for a bright future. One of the highlights of our summer is when parents and families join us for events at Camp SAM. There are various opportunities throughout the summer where we invite parents to join us at camp, including the Camp Kickoff Party, Talent Show, Family Luau, Jello War, Glam Fashion Show, Spirit Showcase and more! We love bringing our families in to see why their children love Camp SAM so much!

Every Thursday is a camp-wide Theme Day. Some of these theme days include Survivor, Wild West, Camp Olympics and more! The campers and staff absolutely love these days! Performances and exhibitions are presented throughout the day. Counselors will inform campers when they need to bring/wear something special for theme days. You will also receive an email reminder from our staff. If your child dresses for the theme, please have them pack a change of clothes. There is usually a sign at the sign in/out desks with more information on these special events.

Our goal is for every child to become a confident swimmer during their summer with us. While we do not provide organized swim lessons during the camp day, our youngest campers in SAM Playcare will receive informal instruction during their pool time, focusing on different skills each day such as blowing bubbles, kicking, treading water, etc.. We do offer Swim Lessons at Rastelli Kids Complex on weekday evenings and Saturday mornings. Please call the front desk for more information. 856.401.8111.

YES! All campers receive a free lunch, snack, and water throughout the day. The free lunch consists of an entree, drink, side and dessert. PB&J or a sandwich is offered daily as an alternative to the main entree. Campers may also bring their own lunch if they wish, and it will be placed in a cooler. Individual food allergies will be taken into consideration. Please make an appointment with the Camp Director to discuss any extensive food allergies/diet restrictions. Click HERE for the full daily lunch menu. The daily snacks may include: popsicles, fruit, crackers, string cheese, pretzels, cookies, and more. There are water jugs placed throughout the campground for campers to refill their water bottles during the day to remain hydrated.

In addition to the free lunch, snack, and water provided to each camper, the Café is open for campers to purchase additional food items during snack time. Parents can either place snack money in a labeled envelope for the younger camper or load money onto a card that they can swipe at the Café for snacks. This card can be reloaded at any time during the summer.

RKC offers a wide variety of youth and family programs. Your child can host their birthday party here, tumble in the Fit Kids Gymnastics Program, conquer obstacles in the NINJA Kids gym, sign up for swim lessons, join either the South Jersey Storm All-Star Cheerleading or Dance Teams and so much more. We can also host your party for ANY occasion—birthday, graduation, anniversary, family reunion or corporate outing. We offer sports, outdoor/pool, mermaid makeover, cheerleading and gymnastics parties. For family fun at RKC, we offer Family Fun Nights in the summer where entire families can enjoy the pool, rockwall, inflatables, basketball and volleyball courts, GAGA games and more! For more information, please call us at 856-401-8111.