Camp News
What’s For Lunch? A Look at Camper Nutrition
Lunch at Frogbridge Day Camp: A Nutritious Experience For All Campers
As a parent, I’m always thinking about what my children eat everyday. For younger campers, it’s especially important that they receive the right nutrients to help them grow from “tadpoles” to “senior” campers. Frogbridge Day Camp prides itself in quality when it comes to the food your children enjoy at camp everyday. Here’s a little bit more information about the people “behind the scenes” creating a delicious and nutritious lunch, along with how we’re able to accommodate food allergies. Continue reading “What’s For Lunch? A Look at Camper Nutrition”Parent Perspective: Lisa Polvere
As one of the premier daycamps in Central New Jersey, we’re proud to have numerous team members, and former students willing to share their stories and experiences. This month, we’re proud to put the spotlight on a distinguished parent: Dr. Lisa Polvere, division leader of our Pre-K and kindergartners at the daycamp and the director of the Tadpole Village Preschool. For 11 years, she has served as the director of the school and has provided a warm, safe, nurturing environment for each of her students. Her two children, Jack and Lexi, have both gone from Tadpoles to veteran campers.
Interested in joining the Frogbridge Family?
Meet “Tadpole” Lisa!
It’s hard to imagine my life without Frogbridge. It all began eleven years ago, when the incredible opportunity to work here was presented to me. Not only would I become the Director at our amazing preschool, but I was going to experience camp life once again! I would be a division leader for our camp babies … the Tadpoles! My nickname was coined “Tadpole Lisa” and my life would be enriched in ways you could never imagine. It was a dream come true. I grew up going to camp, both day camp and sleep away, and worked at a camp as soon as I was old enough. Camp life was something I had always cherished and I knew my two incredible children Jack and Alexis had to experience.Why I Chose Frogbridge for my Children
Jack and Lexi have truly “grown up Frogbridge.” Camp life has really shaped who they have become. They exude self-confidence and the leadership skills they possess are astonishing. These were the things that were fostered at Frogbridge. They began coming here at age three and are now almost eleven and fifteen. From the time camp ends in August, the countdown to the next summer begins in our house. At the end of EVERY summer they proclaim that it was “the best summer ever!!” Just when you think it can’t get better, it does! Every age group has new things to look forward to and the friendships they have made will be treasured for the rest of their lives. Frogbridge is a second home to all of us.Finding Camp Memories Every Year
When I clean out their closets each year I find the most random things that I am not allowed to dispose of! A bandana, a piece of shredded tissue, confetti. Each is a memory to them. We are so thankful for these memories and I have been doubly blessed because I am here to share in a lot of them. I am so fortunate to be able to catch an occasional glimpse of them walking with friends, laughing, cheering someone on or trying a new activity. I can’t believe this coming summer Jack is going to be a counselor in training! He can’t wait! Not only have I watched my own children grow up Frogbridge, I have watched hundreds of others! It’s amazing to see the young adults that they have grown into. Frogbridge is an extended family and more than that. It’s a feeling you won’t get anywhere else. I am so appreciative to Frank and JR for these years. My family and I couldn’t have been luckier. We love it here and look forward to many more summers together!Interested in joining the Frogbridge Family?
How Does Frogbridge Find The Next Great Team Member?
A Search For The Best
There is nothing more important to us than the safety, care, well-being, and happiness of our campers. Before each summer begins, our leadership team searches for new hires that embody the spirit of our camp. On average, we receive approximately 4,000+ applicants to be part of our team! It is only by finding the very best applicants in the state and then training them to be the best they can be, that we can provide our campers with a positive, caring, and happy environment. Here is a step-by-step breakdown of how we find our next great team member.Part 1: The Application
Candidates can contact us by applying on our website or via a call to our camp office. They will begin their job search by filling out an application, including all previous camp experience as both a camper and a staff member. Teachers and coaches will also include all current and past experience in the fields of education and athletics, while other applicants such as culinary team members, lifeguards, and counselors will provide relevant work experience to support their application.Part 2: Resume Review & References
I will then personally review each application. Only the most experienced candidates who fit all of our necessary criteria, are asked come to our grounds for an in-person interview. Approximately 25 percent of all applicants make it this far. The candidates who we are most interested must then go out and secure two professional letters of recommendation and bring them to their interview. We prefer letters of recommendation from former supervisors or directors employed in an educational or summer camp environment. In addition, we require a third reference, which is a telephone reference. This is the most important of the three references because it allows us to ask the questions we feel are most important in helping us find the next great team member. The phone reference must always be the reference that knows the most about, and has worked the closest with the candidate.Part 3: The Interview
The next step in the hiring process is the formal interview, which I as the camp director personally conduct on our property in Millstone. Each interview begins the moment the candidate walks through the door of the main office. Personality, enthusiasm, and a friendly smile are key factors when considering a new team member. As each interview begins, a series of questions about the following are asked:- Applicant’s character.
- Their experience.
- Their judgment.
Part 4: A Background Check
For candidates that do well in the interview portion of the hiring process, a background check will be the next step. For team members that are current teachers, the added benefit is that they have already been fingerprinted and drug tested by their current schools. Transportation Team Members will also need to provide the following:- Proof of random drug testing.
- An up to date CDL license with no previous points or violations.
- Finger printing from their current companies.
- Proof of three years professional experience in child transportation.
Part 5: Welcome to Frogbridge!
Once a mutual agreement is made for a candidate to become a team member, all applicants are then required to attend all of our mandatory pre-camp training sessions in the spring. At these sessions, all team members are taught everything they must know and understand in order to be well prepared and be successful. All of our team members must have energy, enthusiasm, and the strong desire to make a difference in the life of a child. Our camp team is comprised primarily of licensed teachers, experienced coaches and adult professionals, along with collegiate counselors, most of which are majoring in the field of education. Interested in joining the Frogbridge Family this summer? Click here to view our current openings along with guidance on how to fill out an application!4 Reasons Why You Should Choose Frogbridge
Comparing summer camps might seem difficult at first, but a closer look at some of the most important factors that we as parents must strongly consider, can make the decision much easier for most of us.
As parents, we are often faced with important decisions regarding the care of our children. When considering summer camps, for example, some of the most vital factors many of us concern ourselves with are care and supervision, the camp’s facility, the camp’s programs and the lunch program. While I am sure many of you will have a laundry list of other factors to consider, the four mentioned above represent the most commonly asked questions and concerns that I, as a Director, are often asked about.
The Frogbridge facility is unmatched nationwide, and has been recognized as the premier summer camp in New Jersey. Our completely private, gated facility features a security guard at the front entrance, allowing only Frogbridge Family members onto the property on camp days.
We are proud to offer our campers amenities not found elsewhere such as a lakeside air conditioned dining hall, a dedicated fully air conditioned preschool facility for preschool through first grade campers, a state of the art infirmary with two registered nurses on site at all times, 18 air conditioned craft and activity studios each led by it’s own adult instructor, an onsite laundry facility where campers bathing suits are washed and dried daily, poolside towel service, four heated swimming pools, three lakes for boating, fishing and tube rides, and much, much more.
Activities not found elsewhere include The Octagon, our covered championship gaga stadium, Little Fenway Park wiffle ball stadium, Spin Zone Bumper Cars, a professional go kart raceway, Hops and Bops Studios, our dedicated dance and theater center, Ribbit’s ice cream parlor, and Frogarita’s frozen island oasis. Remember, each of these activities is led by licensed teachers, coaches, and experienced camping professionals!
Frogbridge prides itself on having the finest dining facility in any camp across the country, along with the most experienced and professional culinary team in the camp industry. Our executive chef and his team of 12 dedicated individuals create a camp menu that consists of camper favorites as well as many lunch items not offered elsewhere.
Our “International days” offer campers the unique ability to try foods they may never have tired before. All lunches are freshly prepared on site in our 3,500 sq ft. kitchen. Daily alternatives, including a sandwich bar, cereal bar and salad bar are always available. Upon request, our chefs will kindly prepare favorites not offered on the day’s menu such as grilled cheese, pasta, chicken fingers and more for any campers that may not prefer a particular day’s featured entree.
Most importantly, Frogbridge has quickly become known as the camp of choice when it comes to camper food allergies. We are nut aware, so parents have the piece of mind knowing that we take the utmost time and energy to eliminate any foods or ingredients containing nuts of any kind. We also have separate menu items for those campers that are gluten free, dairy free, lactose intolerant or have any allergies to items such as egg, yellow dye, red dye and more. We will go to great lengths to make sure that every child has eaten a healthy, full meal each day.
As you can see, we pride ourselves on offering our campers an unmatched camp experience that simply cannot be found elsewhere. Since seeing is believing, feel free to contact our main office at 609-208-9050 to set up a private tour with our Director.
We look forward to meeting you and answering any further questions or concerns you may have.
Experienced & Enthusiastic Staff
The camp’s staff is the most important factor to consider when choosing the right summer camp for your child. Look at age, experience, energy and enthusiasm of the staff members, along with the group sizes and camper to staff member ratios, which at Frogbridge are unparalleled. The individuals that you are trusting with the care and supervision of your children can make all the difference in the world. Did you know that the average age of a staff member at summer camps across the country is approximately 18 years old? Most summer camps in NJ staff the majority of their camp with high school juniors and seniors, along with college freshman and sophomores. At Frogbridge, the average age of our team members is 32 years old. The average group size is 15 children (less than 12 in pre k and kindergarten). The camper to staff member ratio is 2:1. The difference? EVERY group of campers’ between ages 3 and 8 are led by an adult teacher, not a counselor. Each teacher has been finger printed and drug tested, and has previous camp experience. Each of them is hired based on the energy and enthusiasm they posses, along with the highest recommendations from their local districts, and years of experience in the summer camp industry. Our travel programs for all 8th through 10th graders, as well as our camp activities are also led by licensed teachers and experienced coaches, further establishing Frogbridge as the summer camp with the oldest, most experienced, energetic and mature staff in the industry. If your child is in the 4th through 7th grades, college students, most of which are studying elementary education in college, will lead him or her. Once our college students graduate, they can typically move into a teacher’s role here. This further proves that Frogbridge retains its staff members longer than any other camp you might consider. Each of your child’s teachers/division leaders are a call away should you need anything!Our Facility
The Frogbridge facility is unmatched nationwide, and has been recognized as the premier summer camp in New Jersey. Our completely private, gated facility features a security guard at the front entrance, allowing only Frogbridge Family members onto the property on camp days.
We are proud to offer our campers amenities not found elsewhere such as a lakeside air conditioned dining hall, a dedicated fully air conditioned preschool facility for preschool through first grade campers, a state of the art infirmary with two registered nurses on site at all times, 18 air conditioned craft and activity studios each led by it’s own adult instructor, an onsite laundry facility where campers bathing suits are washed and dried daily, poolside towel service, four heated swimming pools, three lakes for boating, fishing and tube rides, and much, much more.
Activities not found elsewhere include The Octagon, our covered championship gaga stadium, Little Fenway Park wiffle ball stadium, Spin Zone Bumper Cars, a professional go kart raceway, Hops and Bops Studios, our dedicated dance and theater center, Ribbit’s ice cream parlor, and Frogarita’s frozen island oasis. Remember, each of these activities is led by licensed teachers, coaches, and experienced camping professionals!
Our Programs
Our programs are dedicated to teaching our campers based on age, experience, and ability. Each camper’s unique personality and experience is considered, and all lessons are based on those assessments. Campers at Frogbridge are placed into groups based on gender as well as the grade they recently completed in school. These groups will stay together throughout the summer following an exciting schedule with both indoor and outdoor activities. Campers are also given several personal elective choices each week, offering them the ability to choose their own activities and experience more of the activities they like most, or gain more insight into the activities they have become more interested in throughout the summer. The Frogbridge program also features Red Cross Certified swim lessons daily in our heated swimming pool complex. We also offer various exciting offsite travel programs for campers in the 7th through 10th grades, including overnight excursions to incredible venues such as Hershey Park, Boston, Virginia, Baltimore and more! Finally, we are the only camp to extend it’s warm welcome to our campers and their families year-round. We offer exciting seasonal camp reunions at iPlay America with unlimited ride passes for all camp families, a camper/parent BBQ night when parents can join their children and participate in many camp activities, and best of all, an annual fall Halloween event and toy drive called the Frogtoberfest, which features a haunted house, hayrides, pumpkin picking, magic shows, unlimited dinner buffet, carnival rides and much, much more. These unmatched events offer our campers the ability to stay in touch with their camp friends throughout the year, thus deepening the camp bonds and relationships made while here with us each summer.An Amazing Lunch…Everyday!
Frogbridge prides itself on having the finest dining facility in any camp across the country, along with the most experienced and professional culinary team in the camp industry. Our executive chef and his team of 12 dedicated individuals create a camp menu that consists of camper favorites as well as many lunch items not offered elsewhere.
Our “International days” offer campers the unique ability to try foods they may never have tired before. All lunches are freshly prepared on site in our 3,500 sq ft. kitchen. Daily alternatives, including a sandwich bar, cereal bar and salad bar are always available. Upon request, our chefs will kindly prepare favorites not offered on the day’s menu such as grilled cheese, pasta, chicken fingers and more for any campers that may not prefer a particular day’s featured entree.
Most importantly, Frogbridge has quickly become known as the camp of choice when it comes to camper food allergies. We are nut aware, so parents have the piece of mind knowing that we take the utmost time and energy to eliminate any foods or ingredients containing nuts of any kind. We also have separate menu items for those campers that are gluten free, dairy free, lactose intolerant or have any allergies to items such as egg, yellow dye, red dye and more. We will go to great lengths to make sure that every child has eaten a healthy, full meal each day.
As you can see, we pride ourselves on offering our campers an unmatched camp experience that simply cannot be found elsewhere. Since seeing is believing, feel free to contact our main office at 609-208-9050 to set up a private tour with our Director.
We look forward to meeting you and answering any further questions or concerns you may have. Growing Up Frogbridge: Victoria Nelli
As one of New Jersey’s premier summer day camps, we’re extremely lucky to have some of our campers come back to their Frogbridge Family as team members. We feel that those who know what Frogbridge is all about can share our philosophy and share what they love about camp for years to come. We’d like to introduce you to Victoria Nelli, who went from joining us for senior camp in the summer before seventh grade to a team member today. Victoria spreads the excitement of camp to every one of her campers, and we’re excited to highlight her experiences with Frogbridge below.