Best Camp Reviews From Montclair's Kids

Patch asked Montclair's kids to write reviews of their favorite camps. Although Surf and Turf garnered the most favorable reviews, the most thoughtful musings came from Doris Zeger, age 8, and Josephine Emanuelli, age 13. Both will win a $20 gift certificate from Watchung Booksellers. Thanks everyone for participating! Check out the winning reviews below:

But first, here's a late entry, and a very good one, from Katie O'Brien-Smith.

"I love Surf and Turf Camp! It's run by the teachers from Renaissance Middle School in Montclair, New Jersey, but not directly affiliated with the school. Kids from all over can go to Surf and Turf. Last year, there were two girls from Spain that came to camp with us for two weeks! One of the counselors speaks Spanish fluently, so we were able to communicate with them and teach them English. Everyday is a new, different adventure.One day we go hiking to a river, the next we bike across the George Washington Bridge and then down to Battery Park. We've gone to Philly to by cheese steaks and then to a mummers museum(a mummer is one of those people in a marching band/parade that wears those elaborate costumes.) Every year we go to Asbury Park, Fire Island and tubing down the Delaware! Basically, it's tons of fun. You can't not have fun at Surf and Turf! The counselors alone are really fun and at the same time caring. When I come home and tell my family and friends about the adventure of the day and all the stuff I did, they say they wished they went to Surf and Turf. I've turned a lot of people onto Surf and Turf. Personally, I want to do Surf and Turf for the rest of my life. I can't do that, but if I could, I would. But once you turn 16, you can be a counselor. I want to do that. Overall, Surf and Turf is a great experience for everyone. You get to make friends and go on a different adventure everyday. That alone is a reason that Surf and Turf is the best camp ever. I love Surf and Turf!!!"

Meanwhile, one of the winning reviews came from Doris Zeger, age 8, who attends the Charles H. Bullock Elementary School, about Gymnastika.

"Gymnastika is a place for kids to have fun. Gymnastika is located in West Paterson, NJ. Gymnastika is where kids can learn gymnastics. And in the summer, kids can go to camp there. In Gymnastika camp, we learned all sorts of cool stuff, like front handsprings, handstands, roundoffs, and cartwheels. We also went in a ballpit and on a trampoline, and after a long, hot day, we got to go in a kiddie pool and have lunch. On Monday, the counselors divided us into two groups - an older kid group and a younger kid group. But whatever age they were, kids loved it. The activities that we did were really awesome, and I would truly recommend Gymnastika's gymnastics camp to kids who want to have a great time on their summer vacation."

Still another winning review came from Josephine Emanuelli, 13, who attends Mount Hebron Middle School, about Camp Lou Henry Hoover.

"Camp Lou Henry Hoover is an all-girls sleep-away camp for girls entering second through twelfth located on Swartswood Lake. It runs six-one week sessions and a variety of programs are offered during each session. Every specialty program still has time to swim, boat, arts-and-crafts, cook-out and do many other camp activities. The specialties range from clay and pottery to sailing. Two programs are two weeks long and Middies spend one week at camp canoeing and learning camping skills and then on the next week go on a week-long canoe trip down the Delaware. Another two-week program is Off the Beaten Path, where the campers spend one week hiking around camp and then go on a week-long trip on the Appalachian Trail.
    One of the most popular programs, Every Night Live is when campers stay up late usually until about 1:00am and then sleep through breakfast. The gymnastics program uses Hoover's state-of-the-art equipment all week long to work on their skills and then at the end of the week they put on a show for the rest of the camp. Another very special program, Hoover Escapades is where campers go on day trips every day such as tubing on the Delaware, going to Bushkill Falls and going to a minor-league baseball game. There are so many great programs at Hoover there is sure to be something for everyone!"