After the longest and coldest winter in recent memory, NYC children are more than ready to run under the sun. How best to soak in some sunshine while exercising their mind and body? In one of the incredible summer camp offerings in and around NYC! The robust array of summer programs in the area boasts a multitude of opportunities for your child to explore. Whether swinging on zip-lines or rehearsing for a theater performance while learning robotics or sports on the side, your little ray of sunshine will be glowing inside and out. For more summer fun options, click HERE for Part II!
The younger set, ages 2.5-6, can enjoy weekly themed arts and crafts, science, cooking, and story time at 74th St. MAGIC Summer Days Camp. With flexible schedules and half- and full-day options, MAGIC’s programs build upon the nursery school experience with outdoor play on a private rooftop playground and gymnastics in their state-of-the-art gym. Themes range from Take Me Out to the Ball Game to Surf’s Up. 74magic.com
The waterfront activities hosted by The Advantage Sea and Sports Camp at Maritime College are nothing short of amazing for New York City kids ages 6-17. Supervised by award-winning staff, children can kayak, sail, swim, and play tennis, soccer, basketball, softball, capture the flag, and much more. The 55-acre campus includes several fields, a gymnasium, a beach volleyball court, and a beautiful indoor swimming pool. advantagetennisclubs.com
Arsenal Soccer Schools are launching in New York on Randall’s Island (June 16-20 and June 30-July 4) and several other U.S. locations this summer. The week-long camps—offered in both day and sleepaway options—will give sporty boys and girls ages 7-17 the chance of a lifetime to “Learn to Play the Arsenal Way.” Coached by qualified and skilled instructors, the camps will employ the same training philosophies that actual Arsenal coaches use with the legendary British “football” team across the pond. playthearsenalwayusa.com
Summer Day Camp at Asphalt Green gives kids ages 4-13 the chance to work on progressive skill development with expert sports instructors. Join camp on the Upper East Side’s 5.5-acre campus or Battery Park City at its new 52,000-square-ft campus. Campers uptown and downtown will get the ultimate experience combining swimming, sports, cultural arts, and more! asphaltgreen.org & asphaltgreenbpc.org
Basketball Stars of New York offers seven different basketball camps in seven different locations during the summer. The majority include lunch and typically range in ages 7-15. The June 16-20 camp at the Dwight School offers flag football as well as basketball. basketballstarsofny.com
Bilingual Buds offers three two-week sessions for their summer camp program. The first two sessions are Drama, in which campers will immerse themselves in a story by singing songs, and creating props and scenery. Sessions are broken into age groups of 2.5-5 and 6-12. The third session is called Building, Constructing, and Exploring. Younger campers will learn about the architecture of buildings that surround them, while the older campers will learn about buildings around the world and take exciting field trips to Grand Central and the Botanical Gardens to learn about other architectural marvels. bilingualbuds.com
A wide range of educational and enrichment activities make for an unforgettable summer at Camp Henry Day Camp. With affordable options for children ages 4.5-13, daily activities include arts and crafts, music, drama, sports, and swimming, in addition to museum visits, amusement park trips, bowling, and other adventures around NYC. Early drop-off and late pick-up are available for an additional fee. The six-week program is also offered as weekly sessions with various discounts for families. henrystreet.org
From ice-skating to golf, from soccer to bowling, Chelsea Piers offers 16 specialty summer sports camps for kids ages 3-17. Every day, children get the chance to try an activity that’s outside of their core sport. Other fun and educational activities include Harbor Cruises aboard a U.S. Coast Guard-certified vessel and appearances by professional athletes. Plus, campers enrolled in the Urban Adventure program make visits to off-site locations and also get the chance to kayak, stand-up paddleboard, and sail on the Hudson. chelseapiers.com
Perfect for younger kids ages 2-5.6, Columbus Pre-School provides a summer camp program that features a different theme every week (think Animal Kingdom or Planes, Trains, and Automobiles) via interactive arts and crafts, stories, cooking, block building, and more to enhance children’s social, emotional, physical, and intellectual growth. The camp, which runs from June 9 to August 22, also offers a few specialized activities including swimming, creative arts, and gymnastics. columbuspre-school.com
Children can craft, paint, sculpt, design, and decorate at The Craft Studio’s June Art mini-camp. Great for ages 3 and up, the studio also offers summer afternoon programs in July and August in which kids can take part in crafting and games. On Fridays, snack and juice are served to start the weekend right. craftstudionyc.com
Digital Media Academy offers a wide range of tech camps from video game programming to 3D art animation. Campers will gain access to the latest tools and software. There are four different sessions throughout the summer. Camp for ages 6-12 is located in Eastchester at Concordia College, while sessions for teenagers are located at either NYU or Marymount. digitalmediaacademy.org
The range of activities and sports is extensive and customized for different age groups at Dwight Summer Day Camp: Early Childhood Division (ages 1-5), Rookie Camp (ages 4-6), Semi-pro camp (ages 6-8), and Pro Camp (ages 9-13). Programs include 2D and 3D art, game design, circus arts, music, movement/dance, yoga, swimming, fencing, basketball, volleyball, baseball, soccer, gymnastics, tennis, and more. The camp offers age-appropriate day and overnight trips and an indoor swimming pool. dwightsummercamp.org
EBL Coaching, an organization that provides kids with one-on-one tutoring, is offering two three-week summer sessions, one for children in grades K-6, and another for grades 6-12. The program for younger children builds skills in reading, writing, spelling, vocabulary, study skills, and sensory math, while older learners focus on subjects like test taking, studying, organizational strategies, and note taking. For both courses, EBL Coaching provides individual assessments, goals, and progress reports. eblcoaching.com
Empire Children’s Programs offers 18 different camps. Some of these include LEGO building, chess, soccer, ballet, and cooking. Sessions are available anywhere from 2-8 weeks and for ages 4-15. Swimming and field trips are also available on a weekl weekly basis for all campers. empirecamp.com
Why pick one sport when you can go to camp and play multiple sports? Fastbreak Kids offers an outdoor sports program for flag football, baseball, and soccer, and an indoor program where kids can play basketball, dodgeball, and gaga (Israeli dodge ball). This camp is offered on a weekly or daily basis for ages 5-9 and runs from June 9 to August 29. fastbreakkids.com
Kids looking to brush up on their academic prowess can enroll at Fusion Academy for summer tutoring and test prep. Offering customized schedules and a one-to-one learning environment for students of all ages (from kindergarten to college), Fusion Learning Center is staffed with qualified, practicing teachers in all subject areas including chemistry, biology, algebra, calculus, English, writing, and more. Students can sign up for a specific subject or fundamental math, reading, or writing skills. Fusion also has a Get-Ahead Program in which students get a head start on textbook reading to enhance familiarity. fusionacademy.com
Calling all future athletes! Future Stars has locations in Westchester and Long Island to challenge the aspiring Michael Jordans, Derek Jeters, and Williams sisters. Campers are put into age- and level-appropriate groups that allow them to enhance skills and create new friends in the process. fscamps.com
Gate Hill Day Camp is where many NYC kids ages 3-15 spend their summers. With a large heated pool complex, an amazing outdoor adventure program, and 33 acres of magnificent mountainside at their fingertips, campers can choose from activities like zip-lining, rock climbing, archery, fencing, martial arts, gymnastics, ceramics, cooking, gaga, and a wide array of sports. The camp’s nature program offers everything an outdoorsy child could want, from hiking and fishing to vegetable and herb gardens and a mini-farm with goats, chickens, rabbits, and sheep. gatehilldaycamp.com
Gymtime offers three summer camps—gymnastics for girls, sports for boys, and Summer Breeze day camp for toddlers. The gymnastics camp is offered for ages 5 and up and additional activities during the day include yoga, cooking, art, music, and outdoor activities. At the sports camp, boys will learn the fundamentals of gymnastics, yoga, Tae Kwon Do, and take part in organized sports. The Summer Breeze campers (ages 2-4) will get the opportunity to explore everything Gymtime has to offer. This includes activities in the gym, kitchen, library, and outdoors. gymtime.net
NYC children ages 5-12 enjoy the great outdoors and explore the world around them in a safe and fun environment at The JCC Day Camp @ Pearl River. Campers can expect all of the great staff, coaches, and programming from The JCC in Manhattan, including instructional and general swimming, tennis, volleyball, basketball, kickball, soccer, lacrosse, art, yoga, rock climbing, gaga, and more. camps.jccmanhattan.org
At Kids in Sports, campers ages 2.5-3 will spent 3.5 hours each day at Temple Israel playing different sports, and other activities including arts-and-crafts and story-time. A sports program is offered for ages 4-6 at the All Souls Church and includes other activities cooperative learning games and relay races. Kids In Sports also offers an outdoor sports program for ages 4-8 with accommodations for rainy days and heat waves. kisnyc.com/camps
Owned and run by Scott Heifetz, a real rocket scientist, Launch Math & Science Centers run exciting and educational one-week camps on the Upper West Side for children ages 4-12. The 2014 summer season includes LEGO Robotics and Scratch Programming & Gaming as well as plans for half-day programs for littlest campers. While the programs are educational, the emphasis is always on fun, hands-on projects that kids get to bring home at the end of the day. launchmath.com
At Lawrence Woodmere Academy campers ages 2-15 can enjoy traditional sports like tennis, soccer, baseball, and basketball alongside newer activities such as gaga, yoga, and aeroball (which uses a trampolining basketball system). Also on offer are cheerleading, martial arts, cooking, musical theater, and, new for 2014, “Imagination” Playground” (an overnight for kids in grades 4-5). lawrencewoodmere.org
At their traditional day summer camp program for children age 3 through entering grade 3, Leman Manhattan offers campers swim lessons, soccer, tennis, basketball, karate, yoga, woodworking, outdoor play at their rooftop playground, and a daily lunch prepared by chefs trained at the French Culinary Institute. Additionally, Leman offers weekly workshops grades 4-9 in which kids can enjoy playing basketball, honing their culinary skills, and working in visual and performing arts. lemanmanhattan.org/summercamp
During the summer, girls who are potty trained up until the age of 5 can attend Let’s Dress Up’s special programs. Little fairytale fans will be able to dress up like princesses and other favorites as well as attend tea parties, participate in crafts, have fun with games, and pretend play with friends! Though each session is four days each, parents can also sign up their darlings on a single-day basis. letsdressupct.com
The Mamaroneck Beach & Yacht Club offers an outdoor-based program featuring swimming and an age-appropriate curriculum to foster development. Group sizes are small, which allows for plenty of personal attention from the experienced staff. MBYC has two pools (both supervised by trained lifeguards and a Certified Water Safety Instructor), a private beach, two large fields, a playground, tennis courts, air-conditioned rooms for indoor fun, a covered gazebo, and a game room. Plus, the program includes weekly supplementation by experienced specialists including Mad Science, Super Soccer Stars, Musical Munchkins, and Maritime. mamaroneckbeachandyacht.com
For 80 years, Mohawk Day Camp has helped make unforgettable summers for children ages 3-13. On its 40 acres of sports fields, farm, heated pools, craft and hobby areas, tennis courts, and more, campers can enjoy an environment of inclusiveness and exploration. Beyond the traditional sports, Mohawk offers circus skills, cheerleading, rocketry, doll making, songwriting, and guitar lessons. campmohawk.com
In June and July, Morningside Montessori School is hosting their programs with a twist: the Summer of Science! The sessions will provide the same fantastic facilities like a rooftop playground, yoga, music, soccer, and both in-house and outside activities. This year, however, each of the three two-week courses will have a unique earth science focus. One will teach kids the water cycle, another is all about mountains, and the third introduces watersheds and stream tables. The program is for children ages 2.5- 5.5. morningsidemontessori.org
Mount Tom Day Camp is all about sports and the arts for ages 3-14. Activities include basketball, softball, baseball, soccer, volleyball, kickball, gaga, archery, horseback riding, and more. During choice time, kids can also take part in rugby, cricket, squash, and lacrosse. As far as the arts goes, there’s music, drama, dance, crafts, t-shirt art, and cooking; and, during choice time, kids can engage in magic, cartooning, ballroom dance, yoga, jewelry making, and zumba. mounttomdaycamp.com
The New Victory Theater offers three kids’ weeks during the summer: Comedy Kids, Theater Kids, and Circus Kids. From July 14-18, the Comedy Kids will explore improv, clowning, and prop and physical comedy. The Theater week, which takes place July 21-25, will allow kids to explore all different aspects of theater. from acting to puppetry. During the week of July 28, the Circus Kids will learn clowning, juggling, dance, and more! All kids’ weeks are for ages 7-11. newvictory.org
Oasis Camps are throughout the city in different boroughs, and each site offers different opportunities. As a whole, the camps offer two different summer experiences: a traditional summer camp for children ages 4-11, and a Teen Travel program for 12-14-year-olds. Activities include arts, outdoor education, swimming, sports, and team building. oasischildren.com
Budding ballerinas and dancers of all kinds can attend Peridance Dance Camp for two or ten weeks of instruction. Ages 6-12 can take ballet, modern, jazz, tap, African dance, hip-hop, salsa, choreography, and dance history. Programs also include musical theater and crafts. peridance.com/summerprogram.cfm
Planet Han, a program teaching kids from all backgrounds to speak Mandarin Chinese, has several summer offerings for children in different age groups. From June 16 to August 15, parents can choose from the following brackets: the babies to 3-year-old group classes; the 2.5- to 4-year-old Immersion Preschool Alternative; or the 4- to 12-year-old Immersion Summer Full Day Camp. Planet Han also has an annual WOW Project—this year is building the Great Wall and Terra Cotta warriors, raising silk worms, and making paper. planethanchinese.com
The Riverside Park Conservancy collaborates with different camp providers to provide your little athletes, ages 4-16, with a summer of sports and fun. The cost, which is measured by week, goes to helping to improve the park, and to the care and improvement of recreation areas throughout the waterfront park. riversideparknyc.org
For the best in summer dance programs, families should consider the School at Steps’ classes. Catering to all age groups, from 2-18, the educational options range from beginner technique classes for younger kids, to an intensive training program for dedicated students wanting to become professional dancers. School at Steps covers a range of genres, including ballet, jazz, tap, modern, hip-hop, and theater dance. stepsnyc.com
SciTech Kids’ summer program, is geared for kids ages 4-13 and gives them the opportunity to combine science with physical activities like running. Most mornings are spent in Central Park exploring the ecosystem, and the afternoons are filled with everything from sports and music to arts and crafts. Lunch, snacks and all scientific supplies are included. sci-techkids.com
Camps hosted by TADA! Youth Theater focus on musical theater skills and play building for kids ages 4-14. Taught by two teaching artists, the programs also cover associated themes such as theater games, comedic improv, and dramatic play. Children can master cool dance moves, sing their hearts out, create original musicals, learn Broadway and Off-Broadway numbers, and produce their own shows all in preparation for showing off their hard work to family and friends at the very end of camp. tadatheater.com
At Taft Summer School, young scholars will find a platform to expand their education. Whether students in grades 7-9 are looking for a preview of boarding school life, students in grades 10-12 want to hone their academic skills, or teens want to take SAT prep courses, this independent, educational environment is a fantastic resource. The summer school lasts from June 29 to August 2, and provides both 100- and 200-level classes, academic reports (including grades and topics covered), and residential life. taftschool.org/summer
Located in Kips Bay, Tennis Innovators offers full-day and half-day sessions. Not only will they get their daily dose of tennis instruction—including drills in coordination stroke development, but there are other outdoor fields for soccer, basketball, and baseball, too! tennisinnovators.com
TLB Music, formerly known as Three Little Birds Music, is a studio and playroom specializing in teaching kids and parents the wonders of music, art, instruments, orchestra and more. The talented teachers at this summer program are familiar with over 20 instruments, and encourage kids to dance, bounce to the rhythm, and play music along with them during classes. TLB also offers drama and art programs! tlbmusic.com
Of the many active offerings at Woodmont Day Camp, city kids seem to especially love Go-Karts, archery, and the zip-line! Campers ages 4-15 spend their summer days outdoors enjoying baseball, basketball, soccer, tennis, flag football, fishing, boating, hiking, and more. Yoga, dance, science, arts and crafts, ceramics, jewelry, cooking, music, theater, fencing, rocketry, and magic are also on the activities menu. Attendees can even select an elective they really enjoy and participate in it for an hour each day for one week. woodmontdaycamp.com
Serving kids 3.5-16 years old, YMCA Summer Day Camp operates out of 20 branch locations throughout New York City. With offerings ranging from Kindercamp for littlest ones to dedicated sports (basketball, soccer, tennis, and gymnastics) and arts camps, children can enjoy active and creative activities all summer long. Counselors may also bring campers to offsite facilities such as local parks and schools. ymcanyc.org
