Have Fun Stormin' the Castle in Jefferson

While its broken battlements might not cut a jagged line across a moonlit sky and its keep might not hold a maiden, the Jefferson Township Recreation Department says construction is commencing on a three-sided wood tower structure with a vertical playpen and a zip line at Camp Jefferson. 

The tower will be a much anticipated addition to the facility, and just in time for the 10th anniversary opening of the township’s Summer Day Camp program on June 24.

The wall will have grips to mimic the conditions of outdoor rock for hands and feet with places to attach belay (harnessing) ropes and will rise to a maximum height of 40 feet with the vertical playpen offering more difficult climbing challenges to tackle.  The zip-line will consist of a pulley suspended on a cable mounted on an incline  to enable a user propelled by gravity to travel from the top of the climbing tower to the ground (approximately 250 feet)  on the inclined cable by holding onto, or attaching to, the freely moving pulley.

Several Summer Camp employees will be trained and certified to assist all users, and every user will be required to wear appropriate harnesses and helmets.  

While no summer day campers will be forced to participate in these activities, they will be encouraged to stretch their limits and reach new levels of personal success. Parental permission will be required for all participants, and the Rock Wall and Vertical Playpen activities will be offered to first graders through eighth graders (who will climb to a height within their comfort level) and the Zip Line activity will be offered to fourth graders through eighth graders.

Anyone interested in the day camp program can log on to the website and click on the Camp Jefferson Summer Day Camp icon for information or call the office at 973-663-8404.  Registration is open to residents as well as non-residents from Pre-school (3 years old and potty trained) through children entering 8th grade in September.