Our Programs

Our RecSport Afterschool Program offers children K-8 the chance to learn and participate in various sports. Our coaches are committed to teaching the fundamentals, which include sportsmanship, teamwork, cooperation, fair play, and character building. Our RecSports are taught in an atmosphere of encouragement, enthusiasm, and fun. Our coaches create an environment where each child feels valued and is excited to work hard and get better. Select a sports program below to register.

Activity: Girls Travel BB
Site: Truth Gym
Location: Gym
Age/Grades: 6th – 8th
Resident Only
Cost: $35 Additional Fees may apply
Dates: Oct 15 – June 20
Days/Time: Mon- Fri 4pm-9:00pm; Sat 9am – 1pm

Activity: Boys Travel BB
Site: Truth Gym
Location: Gym
Age/Grades: 6th – 8th
Resident Only
Cost: $35*
Dates: Oct 15 – June 20
Days/Time: Mon- Fri 4pm-9:00pm; Sat 9am – 1pm

Activity: Bowling
Site: Bellville, NJ, Location: Bowlero Bowling Ally Age/Grades: ages 7-14 yrs.
Resident
Cost:$20*
Non-Resident
Cost: $40*
Bumper $12 2gm/wk.; Jr. $21 3gm/wk.
*Additional Fees may apply
Dates: Oct. 12 – Dec. 14
Days/Time: Sat 9am – 12pm

Activity: Tennis
Site: Elmwood Park
Location: Tennis Courts
Age/Grades: 8yrs. & up, Youth(8-17), Adults(18-61),  Seniors(62+)
Resident; Youth $35*, Adult $45*, Seniors $33* Non-Resident: Youth $45**, Adult $65**, Seniors  $53**
Dates: Oct 15 – Nov 15
Days/Time: Mon & Wed 4pm – 7pm, Sat 11am – 1pm

Activity: Coed Soccer
Site: Columbian Park
Location: Multi-Purpose Field
Age/Grades: ages 4-14 yrs.
Cost: Resident: $35; Non-Resident: $45
Additional Fees may apply
Dates: Sept. 9 – Nov 17
Days/Time: Tue & Thurs 4:30 – 8pm; Sat 9am – 1pm

Activity: Coed Small Fry Basketball
Site: Mildred B. Garvin
Location: Gym
Age/Grades: 6 – 10 yrs.
Resident Only
Cost: Cost: $35*
Dates: Oct 15 – Dec 12
Days/Time: Mon – Wed 4:30 – 6pm 6-8 yrs.; 6pm – 7:30pm 9-11 yrs.

Activity: Fall Track
Site: Robeson Stadium
Location: Track
Age/Grades: ages 11-14 yrs.
Resident Only
Cost: $35 Additional Fees may apply
Dates: Sept 16 – Nov 2
Days/Time: Mon – Thurs 5pm – 7:30pm

Activity: Girls Flag Football
Site: Columbian Park
Location: Multi-Purpose Field
Age/Grades: Grades 6th – 8th
Resident: $35
Non-Resident: $45
Additional Fees apply
Dates: Sept. 9 – Nov 17
Days/Time: Tue Wed, Fri 4:30 – 8pm

Activity: Dance Academy
Site: Elmwood Park
Location: Fieldhouse
Age/Grades: ages 7-14 yrs.
Resident Cost: $35* *Additional Fees apply
Non-Resident Cost: $45* *Additional Fees apply
Dates: Sept. 19- June 13
Days/Time: Thurs – Fri;, 5:00pm – 8:00pm

Activity: Basketball Clinics/Tryout
Site: Truth Gym
Location: Multi-Purpose Field
Age/Grades: 6th – 8th
Resident Only
Cost: Free
Dates: Oct 15 – Nov 14
Days/Time:
(Mon, Wed, Boys 5pm-730pm)
(Tue, Thurs, Girls 5pm-730pm)
(Fri, Open Gym 5pm-730pm)

Activity: Cheer
Site: Langston Hughes Elementary
Location: Gym
Age/Grades: ages 7-14 yrs.
Resident
Cost: $35* *Additional Fees apply
Non-Resident
Cost: $45* *Additional Fees apply
Dates: Sept. 11- May 30
Days/Time: Mon – Fri 5:30pm – 7:30pm (No Sat)

Activity: Youth Golf
Site: EO Golf Course
Location: 440 Parsonage Rd Short Hills
Age/Grades: 1st – 5th
Resident Only
Cost: Cost: $35*
Dates: Sept. 21 – Nov 9
Days/Time: Sat 11am-1pm

Activity: Baseball Clinics
Site: Columbian Park
Location: Multi-Purpose Field
Age/Grades: 3rd – 8th
Resident Only
Cost: Free
Dates: Oct 15 – Nov 14
Days/Time: Tue & Thurs 4:30 – 6pm

Activities: Coed Soccer
Site: Columbian Park
Location: Multi-Purpose Field
Age/Grades: ages 4-14 yrs.
Cost: Resident: $35; Non-Resident: $45
Additional Fees may apply
Dates: Sept. 9 – Nov 17
Days/Time: Tue & Thurs 4:30 – 8pm; Sat 9am – 1pm

Activities: Coed Small Fry Basketball
Site: Mildred B. Garvin
Location: Gym
Age/Grades: 6 – 10 yrs.
Resident Only
Cost: Cost: $35*
Dates: Oct 15 – Dec 12
Days/Time: Mon – Wed 4:30 – 6pm 6-8 yrs.;
6pm – 7:30pm 9-11 yrs.

Volunteers are Needed!

Some of the Best Reasons to Volunteer:

1. Why should you volunteer?
• To offer help, and support to others and make a difference.
• It adds a whole new dimension to your life.
• Every time you HELP someone you HELP yourself.
• To share with others what you have been given, and give what you can, part of you.
• Volunteering makes you feel needed.
• Volunteering can lead to learning new skills.
• Volunteering helps you meet new people and break down barriers of misunderstanding, mistrust and fear.
• Volunteering can create new contacts, which may enhance your business or career.
• The rewards you will receive from the experience are more than fair compensation for the amount of time invested.

2. Who should Volunteer?
• Volunteers are caring community members.
• People who want an opportunity to provide a service and make a difference. Some of the best reasons to give are the ones you may not have considered, the ones that make it worth your while to go that extra step. People who have spent time volunteering for a cause, report that they get back more satisfaction and joy than they ever expected.

Message from the Director:
Volunteering is to choose to act in recognition of a need, with an attitude of social responsibility, without concern for monetary profit and going beyond one’s basic obligations. We at the City of East Orange, Department of Recreation & Cultural Affairs will respect the time and effort that you give to us. By your efforts in volunteering, you will help our mission to provide outstanding recreational services to the citizens of East Orange.

Thank you,
J. Jamal Pearson
Director of Recreation & Cultural Affairs

East Orange’s Summer Day Camps provides its youth ages 3-15 years, six years of safe, fun, encouragement, enthusiasm, and enriching recreational experience. We are passionate about fostering and developing independence and fine motor skills. We aim to create an atmosphere that encourages, enlightens, engages, and nurtures the very young.  We also seek to create positive social skills, reinforce self-esteem, and build character and sportsmanship. Campers will engage with new peers while participating in various recreational activities that will empower them to feel confident about themselves while having fun.

About Our Summer Camps

Summer Grow n’ Glow Camp (Ages 3-6 Years)
Our staff is dedicated to providing a safe and enriching recreational experience. We are passionate about fostering and developing independence and fine-gross motor skills in a loving and structured environment.  We aim to create an atmosphere that encourages, enlightens, engages, and nurtures the very young. We also seek to create positive social skills, reinforce self-esteem, and build character and sportsmanship. This process is accomplished by allowing creative self-expression, exercise, competitive sports, activities, healthy eating, educational trips, and awareness of the community and the world.

Summer FCC Enrichment Camp (Ages 7-12 Years)
Designed to offer each camper the opportunity for a positive, recreational, and educational experience in a safe and secure environment. We hope that, at the completion of the camp experience, the camper had an exciting and rewarding recreational and educational experience. An experience that enables each camper to reinforce his or her self-esteem and increase his or her respect for the community, school, environment, and everyone.

Summer Youth Sports Camps
Cheer Summer Camp: Ages 7-15 Years
Co-Ed Basketball Summer Camp: Ages 8-15 Years
Tennis Summer Camp: Ages 8-15 Years

Our camp is designed with their needs in mind…
– Safe environment
– Develop basic skills
– Exercise
– Independence and responsibility
– New friends
– Perseverance
– Problem-solving abilities
– Self-confidence
– Strategic thinking
– Teamwork skills
– Moral values

Payments
– Payments may be made by Money Order, Bank Certified Check, Debit or Credit Card.
(No Cash or American Express)
– All registrants must show proof of residency (Current utility bill, lease, or deed)
Standard Camp Fee: $60 per week
Sports-Camp Fee: $65 per week
Non-Resident Fee: $125 per week

Camp Registration Includes:
1. 1st 2 weeks of a Standard or Sports Camp
2. One Time Registration Fee that includes the following:

Resident Registration Fee: 
– Registration: $10
– Swim Badge: $10
– Trip Fee: $90
Total: $110 + 2 week Fee: (Standard: $230 or Sports: $240)

Total 6-week cost + Registration Fees
Standard Camps (Grow n Glow, FCC): $470
Sports Camps (Cheer, Coed Basketball, Tennis): $500

Non-Resident Registration Fee
– Registration: $25
– Swim Badge: $45
– Trip Fee: $90
Total: $160 + 2 Week Fee = $410

Total 6-week cost + Registration Fees
All Camps: $910

Summer Dance Academy – Fresh Start Academy
With Clarissa Newby-Phillips (Professional Dancer with over 30 years of experience)
July 15 – Aug 16 | 8am – 4pm

4 weeks must be paid in full:
– Residents: $370
– Non-Resident: $660

Dance attire is required for this academy and will be available through an outside vendor.
Estimated cost: $65. Contact the Recreation Dept office for purchasing instructions.
Attire: (Black Leotard & Flesh Tights, Black Tap Shoes, Ballet Slippers)

For more information: 973.414.4141.

The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) provides free, nutritious meals and snacks to help children in low-income areas get the nutrition they need to learn, play and grow throughout the summer months when they are out of school.

Please see our Food Service Page for more information.