Summer Days in the Park at School #3 • Register • View Cart •

June 30 – August 8, 2025 (no camp July 4th)

Monday through Friday
(Please Note: There are optional field trips taken on Wednesdays, however any participant not registered for a trip will have to remain home for the day as all staff are needed for supervision).

9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Session 1: July 30th - July 18th (no camp July 4th) - Weekly Themes: Eco-Warriors; Literary Legends; & Time Travelers
Session 2: July 21st - August 8th - Weekly Themes: Superhero Academy; Ocean Odyssey; & Defying Gravity

Participants must be 5 as of October 1, 2024 through 13 as of October 1, 2024. Children completing 9th grade or who are 15 years of age or older, should apply for the Future Leaders Program.

Summer Days in the Park participants will be divided into four age groups based on birthdate and enrollment at each site (Ponies, Colts, Stallions and Mustangs). Participants may be placed by the Recreation Department in different groups from one session to another based on that session's enrollment.

Pre-registration is required. There are 2 sessions. Each session lasts three weeks and is limited to 180 participants. During each session, each week will have a specific theme. Activities and special events will be geared toward these themes. Summer Program registration will be conducted online including trips and special events. If you do not have access to a computer at home, you can come into the Recreation Department and use one of our computers. Visit www.cliftonrec.com/info/dept/details.aspx?DeptInfoID=1082 for registration procedures. Both residents and non-residents will be able to register at this time. Registration closes for each session on the Friday before the session begins at 3:30 p.m. or earlier if the program has reached capacity.

Please make sure to sign-up for mobile notifications under your account to be kept aware of any program changes, updates, or emergency information via text.

$150.00 resident / $240.00 non-resident per session (additional costs for trips, special events & T-shirts).

School #3 - 365 Washington Ave & School #16 – 755 Grove St.
Please note that the schools do not have air-conditioning and the majority of the day is spent outdoors for program activities.
School locations may be combined due to lack of enrollment at a particular facility before the summer program starts. In the event of a change, participants enrolled in an affected school will be contacted by the Recreation Department for re-location by June 13th.

Pre-registration is required for all trips and events. There are only 125 spaces available for each trip and are on a first come, first served basis. Participants may only go on trips that take place during the sessions they are registered for. Trips and events can be paid online, with credit or debit card, up until 12:00 midnight, Monday the week before each trip. See registration deadlines below. Due to trip facility current guidelines and safety policies these are firm registration deadlines. Payments can also be made with cash or check at the Recreation Office following the same registration deadlines below.

Once you pay for the trip you are registered. If you miss the pre-registration deadline or the trip is full, please put your child on the waiting list online. Participants will be notified if a spot becomes available, in the order in which they registered on the wait list.

T-shirts are required for all trips and may only be purchased at the Recreation Office for $8.00 each. Trips leave from and return to Anzaldi Park (formerly known as the Athenia Steel Recreation Complex) - 38 John Samra Way. Calendars will be available to inform parents of upcoming events and additional information can be found in the Parent Handbook, which can be found online below under forms. Below is a list of trips/ special events for each session. Prices are available online.

Session 1:
Week 1: Funplex - Registration Deadline is 6/23/25
Week 2: The Castle Fun Center, Summer Luau & Laugh Factory Show - Registration Deadline is 6/30/25
Week 3: Camelbeach Waterpark & Park Olympics - Registration Deadline is 7/7/25

Session 2:
Week 1: Camp Hope (School #3 only) & Urban Air - Registration Deadline is 7/14/25
Week 2: Camp Hope (School #16 only), Splashplex & Melody Mom Show - Registration Deadline is 7/21/25
Week 3: Liberty Science Center & Summer Picnic - Registration Deadline is 7/28/25

SPECIAL EVENTS
Summer Luau: Thursday, July 10th at School #3 - 365 Washington Ave. from 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Pre-registration is required. The cost is $10.00 per person (includes dinner and entertainment). Participants registered for Sessions 1 & 2 may attend. The registration deadline is Monday, June 30, 2025. Participants are to be picked up and dropped off at School #3 by parents.

Summer Shows/Entertainers: This summer we have two special shows. One per session. Both shows will take place at School #3 - 365 Washington Ave. at 10:00 a.m. Pre-registration is required. There is NO FEE for these shows. Participants may only register for the shows during the session they are registered for Summer Days in the Park. Participants are to be dropped off at School #3 at 9:00 a.m. on show days and participants registered from School #16 will be transported by bus, back to their summer school site for the remainder of the day after the show is completed. Pick up your children at the end of the day at their regular daily summer school site location.

Session 1: Laugh Factory - Friday, July 11th. Registration deadline is Monday, June 30, 2025.
Session 2: Melody Mom - Friday, August 1st. Registration deadline is Monday, July 21, 2025.

Summer Olympics: Thursday, July 17th at Anzaldi Park (formerly Athenia Steel Recreation Complex) -38 John Samra Way from 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Pre-registration is required. The cost is $10.00 per person (includes lunch). Only participants registered for Session 1 of Summer Days in the Park may attend the Olympics. The registration deadline is Monday, July 7, 2025. Participants are to be dropped off and picked up at Anzaldi Park by parents.

End of Summer Picnic: Friday, August 8th at Main Memorial Park - 1395 Main Ave. from 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Pre-registration is required. The cost is $10.00 per person (includes lunch and rides). Participants registered for Sessions 1 & 2 may attend. The registration deadline is Monday, July 28, 2025. Participants are to be picked up and dropped off at Anzaldi Park by parents.

Camp Hope Trips:
Located in West Milford activities may include crafts, swimming, athletics, nature and hiking. There is no camp available for individuals not attending the Camp Hope trip on the day your school site is scheduled to go. Participants must bring long pants, sneakers or hiking shoes (no sandals or crocs), bathing suit (no jeans or cut-offs), and towel. Pre-registration is required. The cost is $10.00 per person (includes lunch and transportation). Trips leave from and return to Anzaldi Park (formerly known as the Athenia Steel Recreation Complex) - 38 John Samra Way. Trips take place on Tuesdays according to the following schedule:

July 22nd - open to registered Session 2 participants from School #3 Only. Registration deadline is July 14, 2025.
July 29th - open to registered Session 2 participants from School #16 Only. Registration deadline is July 21, 2025.

Please note, the schools do not have air conditioning and the majority of the day is spent outdoors for program activities.

If you feel your child is in need of an aide to assist/shadow them at the summer programs, you must make a request through the Recreation Department. Request should be submitted no later than June 2nd. At the time of request you must submit a copy of your child’s I.E.P. Report (if you also have a 504 Plan please submit with your I.E.P.). Assignments will be made based on a review of your child’s documents and results of an interview. This will help determine the best strategy to assist your child in having a memorable and safe summer. After June 2nd we will contact you to set up an interview. Once the summer program begins, aides cannot be hired.

The Clifton Recreation Department Summer Scholarship Program (CRDSSP) was established to assist the Clifton youth residents, who without financial assistance, would not be able to attend summer programs and to assure that no child is turned away. Our department believes that youth need a summer program experience to enrich their lives. The funds used for the summer program scholarships are raised through our annual specialty camp programs. A small portion of that registration fee goes toward helping those less fortunate and is advertised on all registration information for those programs. Funds are also donated by individual and/or companies /organizations specifically to send youth to the summer program.

CRDSSP – is only available to Clifton Residents and cannot be used for extended family whose primary residence is elsewhere. The children, for which the scholarship is requested, must be claimed as dependents. The scholarships are only for the department sponsored summer program (Summer Days in the Park) and not eligible for specialty camps, summer classes, special events, trips or T-shirts. Requests are approved by the Board of Recreation Scholarship Committee. Requests must be made by May 30, 2025. Scholarships are for one session and one year only and for a portion of the program costs. Once approved the balance must be paid to secure a place in the program.

Parents interested in applying for financial assistance for their child's summer program must email the Clifton Recreation Department at doliver@cliftonnj.org to request an application.