Frequently Asked Questions

Our 2023 sessions are as follows:

Week 1: June 12 – 16
Week 2: June 19 – 23
Week 3: June 26 – 30
Week 4: July 3 – 7*
Week 5: July 10 – 14
Week 6: July 17 – 21
Week 7: July 24 – 28
Week 8: July 31 – August 4

*Please note that there's no camp on July 4. 

No! Summer programs are open to students within PDS as well as students from other schools. Approximately 25% of our summer campers attend PDS during the school year.

Enrollment varies. Generally, sports programs range from 20-40 campers while arts and academics programs range from 8-16 campers.

Admission is open and rolling. Certain programs will start filling up as early as mid-March. If you are enrolling several campers, we encourage registering early to ensure you receive your first-choice programs. Note: Please use Chrome as your browser when registering to ensure a smooth process.

Programs are based on the grade a camper is entering in the fall. Please register your campers accordingly.

Programs and their curriculum are designed specifically for the designated age group and their abilities. If you believe you have a special situation, and would like to discuss it in further detail, please email summerprograms@pds.org.

If a program is listed as full, it has reached capacity. Your camper's name will automatically be added to a waitlist. You may want to choose an alternative program as a second-choice.

If your child is at or near the top of the waitlist, there is always a chance (though no guarantee) of getting into a closed program. If you are at the bottom of the waitlist, and the program start date is approaching, it is probably in your best interest to select a different program.

If a space becomes available in a fully-enrolled course, a staff member will call the first name on the waitlist. This is a phone call we love to make! If you have not heard from the Summer Programs office, then it is safe to assume a space never became available.

Many Summer Programs instructors are full-time teachers at PDS. We also have a portion of teachers from other schools as well as professionals who are highly recommended. All instructors have been fingerprinted and passed criminal background checks.

PDS Upper School students, high school students from surrounding areas and local college students are all hired as counselors. Our counselor application process is thorough and intensive. 

Ratios adhere (and in some cases exceed) those set by the American Camp Association and range between 4:1 and 12:1 depending on the age.

Yes, lunch is sold as a complete meal. This includes 1 entrée item, 2 sides and a drink.

• A full week of lunch may be purchased when registering for camp for $35.00. The cost for July 4th week is $28.00.
• Lunch can also be purchased on an individual day for $8.00 cash.
• Your child may also bring lunch or snack from home.
• For beverages we offer: filtered water, infused water, low fat regular and fat free chocolate milk. 
• A salad bar with assorted fresh toppings will be available every day. 
• If not on the lunch program, lunch is sold as a complete meal, for $8.00.  
• Lunch includes an entrée, 2 sides and a beverage. 
• Besides the hot entrée, we offer bagels and sandwiches daily.  
• Sandwich options include: Jelly, Cheese, Tuna, Turkey, Ham & Cheese  
• Sandwiches will be offered on White Bread, Wheat Bread  
• Side items include: Hand Fruit, Salad Bar, Applesauce, Watermelon, Oranges, Carrot Sticks, Pretzels, No items that are served will be deep fried. 

We do not use nuts in any of the recipes and we do not serve peanut butter. Ingredient labels for snack bar items and bread are  available for parents to read. We are not a “Nut Free” cafeteria because this implies a 100% guarantee and there are some items  that are out of our control. No items that are served will be deep-fried. 

Snack will be offered two times per day. The morning snack will focus on breakfast food with such items as bagels, fruit, yogurt, and granola bars. The afternoon snack will have some of the morning offerings, but will also have such items as popcorn, soft pretzels, fruit, cheese sticks and carrots. During snack time we will offer bottled water and juice. Each Item in the snack bar is priced at $1.00. Snack purchases are cash only.

Please direct any questions or concerns to flik@pds.org or 924-6700, x1330.

Food Services managed by FLIK Independent School Dining

Morning programs start at 8:30 a.m.. You may drop your camper off anytime between 8:15 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. If you need to drop your camper off before 8:15 a.m., we offer a pre-camp program beginning at 7:30 a.m. for an additional fee. Pick-up time for morning camp is at 11:30 a.m. If morning campers choose to stay for lunch, they should be picked up at 12:10 p.m.

Afternoon programs start at 12:15 p.m.. You may drop your camper off between 12:05 p.m. and 12:10 p.m. Afternoon campers are welcome to arrive early, at 11:30 a.m., if they choose to have lunch at PDS before their afternoon program. Pick-up time for afternoon camps is at 3:15 p.m. with camps beginning to pack-up for the day and head outside around 3:10 p.m.

Should you need your camper to stay longer than 3:15 p.m., we offer an extended day program until 5:30 p.m. for an additional fee.

Equipment needs vary depending upon the camp. Please always have a water bottle with you at all times.

Flag Football, Girls' Basketball, Boys' Basketball, Sports Spectacular and Athletic Allstars: All equipment is provided, wear comfortable athletic clothes and sneakers.

Ice Hockey (Competitive Edge):

• Helmet with mouth guard and face mask
• Shoulder pads
• Elbow guards
• Hockey gloves
• Hockey pants
• Hockey socks with either a garter belt or tape
• Athletic supporter and cup
• Hockey skates
• Hockey stick

Soccer: Cleats, sneakers and shin guards

Tennis: Racquet encouraged, but not mandatory

Ice Skating

• Comfortable, long-sleeve shirt
• Layered with a sweatshirt and pants (sweat pants are a good choice)
• Gloves
• Ice skates: figure or hockey (a limited number of skates are available for rental at $10 per child on a first come basis).

Squash

• Eyewear/mask (must be worn when on the court)
• SEPARATE (completely clean) pair and not worn outside. These shoes must be NON-MARKING (gum soles).

Off-Road Mountain Biking

• Athletic clothes
• Sneakers
• Bicycle helmet
• Multi-speed mountain bike
• Water bottle that can be attached to bicycle frame

Our medical team includes a registered nurse and a licensed athletic trainer. There is also a medical supervisor on campus at all times. In the event of illness or injury, students will be escorted to the nurse by a staff member. Parents will be notified by the nurse via the phone when:

• A camper has been taken to the Emergency Room.
• A camper has been injured, beyond minor cuts or bruises.
• A camper has a tick removed from their body.
• Other instances under the guidelines of the Princeton Day School School policy. 

Written notices will also be sent home in the event of the following: head injury, bone/joint injury, eye injury, insect bite or tick bite. In the event of lice, campers must be picked up and treated before returning to camp and examined by the nurse to rejoin activities.

Your camper must have formal documentation from their doctor confirming the completion of their Tuberculosis (TB) test. You must also provide our registered nurse with your camper's immunization records.

Any prescription medications to be administered to campers during the day are to be left at the Health Office and will be administered solely by the camp nurse. Campers may not keep medications with them.

On the first day of camp, please park in the Lower School area for arts and academic programs or at the Athletic Center for sports camps and check your camper in. Our staff will be sure to check that your account is paid in full and a medical form is on record. Each day following, simply pull up in your car and our staff will open the door and help your child out of the car. The children will wait together and be taken to their programs as a group with the teacher/counselor.

Mini-Camp Exception: Our youngest campers will be escorted by their parent or guardians to the mini-camp classrooms to ensure that they arrive safely. At the end of the day, mini-campers will be picked up directly from the classroom as well.

You will be given a specific drop-off and pick-up spot for your camper prior to camp beginning. Most sports campers are dropped-off/picked-up at the Athletic Center while all arts/academics campers are dropped off at the main school area. Please note that there is no available transportation to and from camp.

We require a $100 non-refundable deposit for each day program in which each camper is being registered. This applies to each session for which you are registering. Day camps that exceed $500 require a $150 non-refundable deposit per participant. Spaces are not held until the deposit per-program is received.

Yes. However, we are unable to take credit card information over the phone. Please follow the instructions at the time of online registration.

For accounting purposes, we cannot bill your Princeton Day School account. Payment must be made separately to Summer Programs.

No refunds will be given after May 1.