Specialty Camps

specialty day camps

a place to grow, learn, + explore

Our specialty camps are now at somerville school!

Big news! To bring your child an even more exciting lineup of summer activities, we’ve moved our specialty camps to Somerville Elementary School. These camps now offer full-day and half-day options for all ages.

During our week-long specialty camps, campers will be exposed to a variety of new concepts, forms of art and culture, and ways of expression—inspiring them to discover and explore new aspects of themselves.

*Please note: Creative Cooks specialty camps will continue to be held at the Ridgewood Y.

REGISTRATION!

Campers will dive into a wild adventure with animal-themed crafts, games, and special activities. Each week will spotlight a different habitat, sparking their curiosity and love for wildlife. They’ll explore, create, and play their way through a summer full of hands-on experiences and exciting discoveries!

Engage in exciting, age-appropriate science experiments, build amazing structures, and have fun learning new skills! This camp session is designed to spark curiosity and promote an interest in creative learning and science, all in a fun and interactive environment. Campers will dive into hands-on activities that encourage problem-solving and exploration, making learning feel like an adventure!

Nothing’s more fun than making a mess! Campers will dive into engaging, hands-on crafts that spark creativity and imagination. Each week features a unique theme, bringing new surprises and creative challenges. They’ll explore different textures, experiment with colors, and bring their wildest ideas to life. Get ready for a week of messy masterpieces!

Join Marlene Pillow for a week of musical theater fun! Campers will explore their creativity and bring a story to life through song, dance, theater, and more—culminating in an exciting performance at the end of the week!

Kids will get active with soccer, basketball, baseball, and more, practicing skills through fun games and drills that keep them moving all morning long! They’ll stay engaged, improve their abilities, and enjoy plenty of action-packed moments.

Through water activities, crafts, and other games, campers will enjoy a unique introduction to the Spanish language. Your child will have fun and stay engaged while practicing pronunciation, vocabulary, practical conversations, and word associations!

Unleash your creative energy and imagination! Campers will explore a variety of artistic projects, creating their own unique masterpieces and letting their creativity run wild! They’ll experiment with new techniques, express themselves freely, and have fun every step of the way!

Do you love cooking shows or experimenting with new food and recipes? Then this camp is for you! Channel your inner master chef and join us in the kitchen to learn how to chop, mix, plate, and create tasty dishes and snacks to share with your family and friends.

Get ready to groove and make new friends at our high-energy dance camp! Campers will learn awesome new moves and master exciting choreographed routines led by our talented counselors. Whether you’re a beginner or experienced dancer, this camp is all about dancing your heart out, learning new steps, and having a blast with friends!  

Get ready to dive into the sea! Join us for a week of ocean exploration through creative crafting, story time, and fun water activities. Campers will discover fascinating sea creatures, engage in hands-on projects, and learn about ocean life in a lively, interactive environment. It’s an exciting adventure that’s sure to make a splash!

Enjoy solving secret messages, cracking codes, and conquering escape challenges! Spy Kids is the perfect place to work as a team and unravel quirky mysteries in a fun, playful atmosphere. Campers will sharpen their problem-solving skills, think creatively, and have a blast while on the case—it’s the ultimate adventure for young spies!

Dive into exciting science experiments, tackle engineering challenges, and discover new skills in a fun, hands-on environment! Campers will build structures, experiment with new materials, and engage in activities that spark curiosity and foster a love for learning. It’s an adventure where creativity meets discovery, and every challenge is an opportunity to grow!

If your camper loves competing in sports, games, and high-energy activities, this is the camp for them! They’ll play soccer, basketball, kickball, pickleball, and other classic athletic games, all while building teamwork, confidence, and sportspersonship. With plenty of action-packed fun, it’s the perfect place for active kids to have fun while challenging themselves!

2026 Specialty Camp Calendar + Subjects – Stay tuned!

DateSpecialty campAge group

Week 3: July 7-11

Sporty All-Stars

Messy Artists: Rainbows

Animal Adventures: Jungle + Savannah

3-5

Week 4: July 14-18

Sporty All-Stars

Messy Artists: Mermaids + Ocean

Music + Theater

3-5

Week 5: July 21-25

Sporty All-Stars

Building + STEM

Music + Theater

3-5

Week 6: July 28-Aug 1

Messy Artists: Disney

Animal Adventures: Dinosaurs

Music + Theater

3-5

Week 7: August 4-8

Building + STEM

Animal Adventures: Ocean

Summer Spanish

3-5
DateSpecialty campAge group

Week 3: July 7-11

Crafty Artists: Slime Time!

Ultimate Sports + Games

Dance + Movement

6-7

Week 4: July 14-18

STEM Scientists

Crafty Artists: Friendship Bracelets + Jewelery

Ultimate Sports + Games

6-7

Week 5: July 21-25

Creative Cooks*

STEM Scientists

Ocean Discovery

Spy Kids

6-7

Week 6: July 28-Aug 1

Creative Cooks*

Ultimate Sports + Games

Crafty Artists: Paint Like Picasso

Spy Kids

6-7

Week 7: August 4-8

Ultimate Sports + Games

Dance + Movement

STEM Scientists

6-7
DateSpecialty campAge group

Week 3: July 7-11

Crafty Artists: Slime Time!

Ultimate Sports + Games

Dance + Movement

8-14

Week 4: July 14-18

STEM Scientists

Crafty Artists: Friendship Bracelets + Jewelery

Ultimate Sports + Games

8-14

Week 5: July 21-25

Creative Cooks*

STEM Scientists

Ocean Discovery

Spy Kids

8-14

Week 6: July 28-Aug 1

Creative Cooks*

Ultimate Sports + Games

Crafty Artists: Paint Like Picasso

Spy Kids

8-14

Week 7: August 4-8

Ultimate Sports + Games

Dance + Movement

STEM Scientists

8-14

*Creative Cooks specialty camps will continue to be held at the Ridgewood Y.

2026 Pricing – Stay tuned!

SPECIALTY CAMP SESSION

Prices are per week

Session lengthAgesMemberNon-member

Full day (9:00AM-4:00PM)

3-14

$500

$520

Half day (9:00AM-12:00PM)

3-14

$300

$320

BEFORE/AFTER CARE

Prices are per week

Session lengthAgesMemberNon-member

Before care (7:00-9:00AM)

3-14

$45

$65

After care (4:00-6:00PM)

3-14

$45

$65

HOURS + LOCATION

Drop-off 9:00AM
Pick-up (half day) 1:00PM
Pick-up (full day) 4:00PM

Before care 7:00-9:00AM
After care 4:00-6:00PM

Ridgewood YMCA
112 Oak Street
Ridgewood, NJ 07452

Drop-off 9:00AM
Pick-up (half day) 1:00PM
Pick-up (full day) 4:00PM

Before care 7:00-9:00AM
After care 4:00-6:00PM

Somerville Elementary School
45 S Pleasant Ave
Ridgewood, NJ 07450

REGISTRATION!

For questions and additional information, please contact Tyra Douglas at [email protected]

Click here to download and fill out the registration form.

Financial Aid

We believe the opportunity to gain personal growth from summer camp should be accessible to all children regardless of financial situation or socioeconomic status. Our Summer Camp for All program ensures that nobody is turned away because of inability to pay.

Download our application here.

Expand to view class descriptions

BODY SCULPT
Shape and define lean muscles through targeted exercises that blend dumbells, resistance bands, and bodyweight movements. This energizing workout focuses on sculpting and toning, helping you build strength and flexibility. Every session is designed to leave you feeling strong, balanced, and revitalized, creating lean, graceful muscle definition from head to toe.

CIRCUITS
Boost strength, endurance, and agility with this high-energy, full-body circuit workout! Rotate through timed stations featuring strength reps, cardio bursts, and functional movements to keep your heart rate up and muscles engaged. With minimal rest between exercises, you’ll build power and push your limits.

CORE + MORE
Build strength and sculpt your upper body with targeted exercises designed to tone your core, chest, shoulders, back, biceps, and triceps. From various core exercises to weighted upper body exercises, this class delivers a dynamic workout that builds muscle, boosts posture, and leaves you feeling powerful.

HIIT SQUAD
Experience High-Intensity Interval Training taken to the next level. These dynamic classes combine functional and athletic movements using the TRX, treadmill, bikes, kettlebells, and more. Get ready for an intense, full-body workout that builds strength, endurance, and agility.

METCON
Challenge yourself with CrossFit-style circuits that combine strength, conditioning, and plyometric exercises. These workouts engage all three metabolic systems to enhance muscular power, strength, and endurance. Each month, you’ll repeat the same workout, allowing you to track your progress and compete against your own time and reps!

PLYOFIT BOOT CAMP
Get ready to sweat with this all-levels high-energy, full-body workout! PlyoFit combines cardio drills, bodyweight exercises, dumbbell strength work, and multi-station circuits for a high-intensity routine that builds strength, endurance, and power.

SMALL GROUP FUNCTIONAL TRAINING
Improve your strength, stability, and mobility through functional movements designed to enhance everyday performance. A small class size ensures you receive 1-on-1 guidance to ensure proper form and maximum results. Push your limits, prevent injury, and build a stronger, more capable body in this challenging yet supportive environment.

STRENGTH TRAINING
Get ready to build strength from head to toe in this full-body workout using barbells and dumbbells. Move to the beat of energizing music as you challenge your muscles, break a sweat, and push your limits. This class is designed to keep you motivated while improving strength, endurance, and overall fitness.

SUNRISE CIRCUITS
Boost strength, endurance, and agility with this high-energy, full-body circuit workout! Rotate through 4 rounds of 8 exercises, featuring strength reps, cardio bursts, and functional movements to keep your heart rate up and muscles engaged. Using sandbags, gliders, and stability balls, you’ll challenge every muscle. With minimal rest between exercises, you’ll build power and push your limits—and if your morning is packed, you can head out early and still get a complete workout.

TOTAL BODY CONDITIONING
This high-energy class provides an invigorating full-body challenge, with intensity tailored by the instructor. You’ll engage in dynamic high-rep strength exercises using a variety of equipment—dumbells, stability balls, steps, disks, and resistance bands—to build muscle, enhance balance, and boost endurance. No two sessions are the same, keeping your workouts fresh, engaging, and effective.

UPGRADE BOOTCAMP
Push your limits and unleash your potential with Travis Sample’s Upgrade BootCamp! This high-energy, full-body workout combines strength training, cardio, and functional movements to challenge every muscle and boost your endurance. Whether you’re sprinting, lifting, or powering through circuits, you’ll leave feeling stronger, fitter, and ready to conquer anything.

WEEKEND RE-BOOT
Kickstart your weekend with this all-levels bootcamp-style class that blends strength and cardio for a full-body reset. Using a mix of dumbbells, resistance bands, and bodyweight moves, you’ll sweat, recharge, and leave feeling strong and energized.

WOMEN’S BARBELL CLUB
Develop the strength and technique you need to approach the bar with confidence! Led by experienced female lifters, this class will focus on basic power and Olympic lifts as well as accessory exercises to build strength and power.
Woman-identifying and gender expansive individuals welcome.

HEAVY BAG
A high-intensity workout centered on striking a heavy bag, this class blends dynamic boxing moves to boost upper body strength, sharpen technique, and supercharge endurance. With punch combinations, body movements, and proper form guided by an instructor, it delivers a full-body challenge perfect for beginners and seasoned boxers alike, all while torching calories and channeling the spirit of a boxer in training.

KICKBOXING
An upbeat, full-body workout set to music, combining powerful punches and kicks with dynamic conditioning. Build strength, boost energy, and leave feeling empowered.

MIXED MARTIAL ARTS FOR SELF DEFENSE
Mixed Martial Arts for Self-Defense incorporates techniques from boxing, kickboxing, wrestling, grappling, and karate with the goal of producing skillful, accomplished, and well-rounded students proficient in the art of self-defense.
All new students must be at least 18 years old, sign a liability waiver, and purchase a white karate gi online (with a white belt) prior to beginning any class.

TAI CHI
Experience the calming power of Tai Chi, an ancient Chinese martial art that nurtures body, mind, and spirit. This “meditation in motion” focuses on gentle, flowing movements that relieve stress, promote relaxation, and enhance balance and coordination. Suitable for all levels, Tai Chi encourages mindfulness and inner peace while building strength, flexibility, and mental clarity, offering profound health benefits for overall well-being.

TAI CHI FOR ARTHRITIS
Tai Chi for Arthritis is an ideal, low-impact exercise for those looking to support joint health and improve strength, flexibility, and balance. Designed with controlled, slow movements and focused breathing, this class is especially beneficial for those with arthritis or other joint concerns. Tai Chi can aid in chronic pain management, enhance mobility, and promote relaxation, providing both physical and mental well-being.

UPGRADE BOXING
Experience Travis Sample’s signature high-energy boxing class, featuring dynamic drills, heavy bag and one-on-one mitt work, and high-intensity interval training. Perfect for all fitness levels.

CYCLE
Prepare for a high-energy workout in our cycling studio! This fast-paced ride lets you climb steep hills, sprint on straightaways, and power through challenging intervals—all set to motivating, heart-pumping music. Transform your fitness and push your limits in every session!

RIDE WITH DDB FITNESS
Get ready to RIDE! Known for her eclectic playlists and smart programming, Danielle Devine-Baum creates cycling workouts that challenge your body and ignite your spirit. With over 15 years of experience teaching in NYC and virtually, Danielle brings unmatched energy and expertise to every class, leaving you energized and ready to come back for more.

DYNAMIC YOGA
Dynamic yoga focuses on flowing movements and breathwork. It is a more vigorous style of yoga than traditional Hatha yoga, and it can be a great way to improve your cardiovascular health, strength, and flexibility.

GENTLE YOGA
This form of Hatha yoga practice involves breath, body, and mind, with poses not as strenuous as in a traditional yoga class.

HATHA YOGA
Hatha yoga is a traditional style of yoga that focuses on aligning the body, breath, and mind through deliberate movement and controlled breathing. This practice incorporates a series of postures, or asanas, held for extended moments to build strength, flexibility, and balance while promoting relaxation and mindfulness. Experience the transformative power of moving meditation.

HATHA FOR HEALTHY BONES
This practice combines traditional Hatha yoga postures with an emphasis on weight-bearing postures to promote bone density, improve balance, and increase flexibility. Suitable for all levels, this class is ideal for those looking to support long-term bone health while enjoying a balanced, focused, and restorative yoga experience.

IYENGAR YOGA
Iyengar yoga offers a structured and precise approach to building strength, flexibility, and inner calm. The class begins with foundational postures—standing, sitting, and lying down—and gradually introduces inversions, deeper backbends, and breathing techniques as the practice develops. Emphasizing proper alignment and posture, the Iyengar method utilizes props like blocks, straps, and bolsters to support practitioners of all levels, ensuring each pose is accessible and safely executed. This methodical approach encourages focused awareness, helping students cultivate both physical discipline and mental clarity, resulting in a balanced, mindful, and transformative experience.

MEDITATION + RESTORATIVE YOGA
This is our gentlest yoga class. Designed for those who wish to find healing, recovery physically and emotionally, and to learn to release chronic tension and stress. 

YOGA
This class will guide you through foundational poses, gentle stretches, and mindful breathing techniques to cultivate flexibility, strength, and balance. Whether you are new to yoga or have an established practice, each sequence is structured to allow you to move with intention, adapting to your own pace and ability.

YOGALATES
Yogalates combines the balance, stamina, strength, flexibility, and awareness of yoga with Pilates techniques to improve posture, core strength, and stability.

BALLS + BANDS
Balls + Bands is a dynamic 45-minute class designed to sculpt, strengthen, and stretch your entire body. Using resistance bands and stability balls, this class enhances core stability, improves flexibility, and tones muscles with controlled, low-impact movements. Expect a mix of balance challenges, deep muscle engagement, and fluid sequences that leave you feeling strong, centered, and energized.

MAT PILATES
Mat Pilates is a core-centered exercise method designed to build strength, flexibility, and body awareness through a series of controlled movements. This form of Pilates focuses on engaging deep stabilizing muscles, especially in the core, while also incorporating the arms, legs, and back for a full-body workout. Rooted in the original exercises created by Joseph Pilates, it is performed on a mat without specialized equipment, making it accessible yet highly effective for developing stability, improving posture, and enhancing balance and coordination.

YOGALATES
Yogalates combines the balance, stamina, strength, flexibility, and awareness of yoga with Pilates techniques to improve posture, core strength, and stability.

BARRE
Barre combines the grace and precision of classical dance with strength-building moves inspired by yoga and Pilates. In addition to the barre, the class incorporates resistance bands, gliding discs, and exercise balls to add variety, challenge, and support for each movement. This dynamic mix of equipment helps enhance flexibility, balance, and core strength, creating a full-body workout that tones muscles and improves posture.

SOULBODY BARRE
Experience the power of Soul Body’s signature method and flow that is smart, functional, and more athletic, yet mindful in its approach. Shape, tone, and strengthen the body in this results-driven program brings that “boutique barre experience” to group fitness.

STRETCH
Improve flexibility, relieve tension, and leave feeling both relaxed and revitalized. Through a series of gentle yet effective stretching exercises, you’ll increase your range of motion, enhance circulation, and release stress held in the body. Perfect for all fitness levels, this class offers a blend of relaxing stretches and invigorating movements that help you reset and recharge. Join us to restore balance, boost flexibility, and leave feeling refreshed from head to toe.

LABLAST® FITNESS
LaBlast® Fitness is a fun, partner-free dance workout created by world-renowned dancer Louis van Amstel, known for his work on Dancing with the Stars. Suitable for all levels, LaBlast® guides you through a variety of ballroom dance styles set to popular music from pop and rock to hip-hop and country. With options for adding plyometric moves, weights, or keeping it low-impact, LaBlast® lets you choose your intensity while toning your body, improving rhythm, and enjoying a fantastic workout. As Louis says, “If you can clap it, you can dance it!”

ZUMBA®
Zumba® is a high-energy, dance-fitness party designed for everybody and every body! This class combines low and high-intensity moves for an interval-style, calorie-burning workout set to Latin and World rhythms, making exercise feel like a celebration. You’ll enjoy a total-body workout that includes cardio, muscle conditioning, balance, and flexibility—leaving you energized, uplifted, and ready for more!

AQUA EX
Aqua exercise combines shallow and deep-water movements to provide a full-body workout with minimal impact on the joints. Using the natural resistance of water alongside specialized equipment like foam dumbbells and pool noodles, each session targets core stability, muscle strength, and coordination. Ideal for all fitness levels, Aqua exercise offers a challenging yet gentle way to build strength, boost stamina, and increase mobility in a supportive, low-impact environment.

AQUA ZUMBA®
Enjoy Zumba® on land? Try your favorite dance workout in the water for a great low-impact workout!

DEEP WATER RUNNING
Deep Water Fitness is a low-impact, joint-friendly workout that builds strength and cardiovascular health through the natural resistance of water. With the support of a flotation device, participants engage in underwater running drills, core exercises, and resistance movements for a full-body workout that boosts endurance, balance, and flexibility. Fun, effective, and suitable for all fitness levels!