A Day at Camp Essman and Camp Baer
J Day Camps proudly runs ACA-accredited day camp at two locations: Camp Essman at the J – St. Louis’s Marilyn Fox Building in Chesterfield (available to grades K-6) and Camp Baer at J – St. Louis’s Staenberg Family Complex in Creve Coeur (available to grades K-7). At both camp locations, campers enjoy full days of movement, creativity, and hands‑on exploration. They jump into outdoor activities like soccer, flag football, sack races, capture the flag, Ultimate Frisbee, and obstacle courses!
Campers cool off with most days by swimming in our outdoor pools, featuring big‑splash water slides, an aquatic climbing wall, and our signature tree swing. They can enjoy free swim and can boost their skills through fun, confidence‑building lessons led by certified instructors. And with indoor and outdoor pools at both locations, there’s no time lost on bus rides.
Indoors, campers explore arts and crafts, skits and dance, science projects, and cooking. Depending on age and location, they may also climb the rock wall, use racquetball courts, play in full‑size gyms, or join weekly Shabbat celebrations. With choices spanning sports, arts, science, cooking, and more, campers build friendships, discover new skills, and enjoy a classic J Day Camps summer.
Rising K-2nd Graders
Camp Essman and Camp Baer give younger campers a well‑rounded experience through carefully crafted preset schedules that introduce them to a wide variety of activities. Each week includes four confidence‑building swim lessons, along with engaging activities designed to keep campers active, learning, and having fun.
Rising 3rd-6th Graders (Camp Essman) and 3rd-7th Graders (Camp Baer)
Older Campers at Camp Essman and Camp Baer enjoy an exciting, interest‑driven experience. Each week gives them the freedom to customize their schedules, mixing and matching activities to suit their unique interests, such as sports, arts, team challenges, rock‑wall climbing, creative projects, and more (activities vary slightly by location).
Older campers at Camp Baer in Creve Coeur can tailor their summer experience even further. In addition to our classic general camp option, they may choose specially designed sports‑focused or arts‑focused weeks that let them spend more time doing what they enjoy most. Whether they want to sharpen athletic skills, explore their creativity, or stick with a well-rounded camp schedule, every camper can find the perfect fit for a fun, meaningful summer.
Three Camp Options to Choose From:
- Sports Camp
Get ready to run faster, play smarter, and compete stronger! Our Youth Sports Camp is designed for 3rd–7th graders who want to build confidence, sharpen skills, and have a blast doing it.Campers will learn fundamentals of games, learn the skills, strategies, and mindset needed to succeed across a variety of sports—all in a fun, encouraging, and high-energy environment.Whether your camper is new to sports or ready to level up, this camp brings the training, excitement, and inspiration every young athlete dreams of. Let the games begin! - Art Camp
Calling all young artists! Our Art Camp for 3rd–7th graders is a place where imagination runs wild and creativity comes to life.From paint to paper and everything in between, campers will dive into hands-on artistic projects that encourage self-expression, originality, and confidence. There are no rules—just creativity! Whether your child is a budding Picasso or just loves to create, this camp is all about expressing yourself, trying new things, and having fun while making art. Create. Imagine. Express. Sign up today and let the creativity shine! - Baer Advanced Camp
Can’t decide? Why not enjoy the best of both worlds? Baer Advanced Camp offers a wide variety of activities, including sports, arts, team-building exercises, and more. It’s the ultimate mix of fun and exploration for campers who want to experience everything our program has to offer—a classic J Day Camps experience!
No matter which program they choose, campers will find something they love and leave with new skills, new friends, and memories that last far beyond summer!
Contacts
| Senior Director of Day Camps and Youth Services | Director of Youth Services, Chesterfield | Manager of Youth Programs, Creve Coeur |
| Mark Cohen | Jess Bauer | Sydney Reynolds |
| 314.442.3263 | 314.442.3431 | 314.442.3128 |
| Administrator, EC Camp Katan | Administrative Assistant, EC Camp Koplar | Director, Youth Theatre Summer Experience |
| Kathy Coldiron | Melissa Burgess | Robyn Hartley |
| 314-442-3450 | 314-442-3224 | 314.442.3239 |
| Life Enrichment & Camp Services Manager | ||
| Sarah Loos | ||
| 314.442.3295 | ||
| ACA Accreditation J Day Camps program is accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA), the only national accrediting body for camps of all types. ACA’s accreditation standards focus on health, safety, and risk management, and are used as benchmarks by government entities. ACA accreditation provides public evidence of a camp’s commitment to the well-being of campers and staff. | ||