School is officially out for summer, and if you’re looking for something to do with your kid for the break…look no further than summer camp! NYC is full of children’s programming that will keep them educated and engaged all summer long. From sports summer camps to theater and arts, there’s plenty of selection to keep your kids busy this summer. To make your life a bit easier, we’ve put together a list of some of the best activity-based summer camps to pick from. Happy summer, kiddos!
1. Chelsea Piers Summer Camps
Both Chelsea Piers locations in Chelsea and Brooklyn offer both Preschool and Full-Day camps, which run from June 19 – September 1! Kids can partake in engaging and challenging sports summer camp programs which range from preschool-aged soccer to competitive ice hockey. If you’re looking to keep your child active this summer, check out Chelsea Piers’ wide variety of options…which are for all ages! See the full list of their extensive summer program options here!
Where: Chelsea Piers (Chelsea & Brooklyn)
Ages: 3 – 19
2. Bronx Zoo Summer Camps
Celebrate Bronx Zoo’s 125th anniversary with special kids summer camps that include age-appropriate hands-on activities, up-close animal demonstrations, and time to explore nature and exhibits. It’s a perfect way for children of all ages to get more educated on animals and nature, with different summer programs including Zoo Vets, Nature Investigators, and Wild Survival for teens (amongst many more). The Bronx Zoo’s camps range from 3 days to 2 weeks, and they also offer extended care as well. Learn more about all of their summer programs and learn how to register here!
Where: 2300 Southern Blvd, Bronx
Ages: 2 – 18
3. Summer Camp at the North Brooklyn YMCA
The North Brooklyn YMCA is probably the closest thing you’ll find to a traditional, all-around summer camp, with three different options based on age. Kinder Camp for ages 4 – 5 includes physical fitness, interactive science, literacy activities, and theme-based arts and crafts. Traditional Day Camp for ages 6 – 12 includes plenty of physical fitness, arts and crafts, science activities, and theme day activities. Lastly, they offer Swim Cap for ages 7 – 11 which includes a focus on skills and learning related to aquatic activities. Summer programs are for 2 weeks per session and go from July 1 – August 23. Learn more about the YMCA’s programs and how to register here!
Where: 570 Jamaica Avenue, Brooklyn
Ages: 4 – 11
4. Mill Basin Day Camp
There are so many things for your kids to do at Mill Basin Day Camp, which runs five different programs over the course of the summer based on age. The day camp offers over 40 recreational, educational, and sports activities including swimming, arts and crafts, sports, nature exploration, team-building exercises, and more! Their options include Pioneers for the youngest campers, Adventures, Stars, Explorers, and Teen Camp. Programs run from July 1 – August 23! Learn more about Mill Basin Day Camp and how to register your kid here.
Where: 5945 Strickland Ave, Brooklyn
Ages: 3K-8
5. Summer Programs at Queens Botanical Garden
Your kids can get up close and personal with nature through Queens Botanical Garden’s Kids Programs. They offer seasonal, hands-on learning and gardening experiences year-round, with some of the best being in the summer. With different age-level options (including Summer Garden Buds, Junior Naturalists, and more), children can partake in activities like harvesting garden produce, creating botanical crafts, and identifying local birds and mammals. Learn more about Queens Botanical Garden’s kids programs for summer 2024 and how to register here!
Where: 43-50 Main St, Queens
Ages: 2 – 13
6. Summer Camps at New York Aquarium
Running daily from 9 am – 3 pm (Monday – Friday) at New York Aquarium, there’s plenty of summer camps going on for all ages. Children can meet sea animals, get behind the scenes tours, go on guided beach walks, and of course get access to the current aquarium exhibits! They also offer an extended care add-on from 3 pm – 5 pm as well. This is a great aqua-themed summer camp that gets kids closest to animals like sea lions, jellyfish, sharks, and a whole lot more! Learn more about the different age programs and how to register here!
Where: 602 Surf Ave, Brooklyn
Ages: Pre-K – 8
7. Camp Corlears
This independent elementary school hosts summer camp each summer, which is offered in both half-day and full-day sessions. Their program is centered around weekly themes of art, play, and investigation activities that are led by some of the best head counselors in the city. Specific activities include swimming 2x/week at the British Swim School, soccer 2x/week led by SocRoc, STEAM-powered fun in the makerspace 2x/week with The GIANT Room, and a local field trip per week (past locations include Central Park Zoo, Intrepid Space Museum, the American Museum of Natural History, and more).
Each camp session is 1 week long and they run from June 17 – July 26. Since this camp is through a school, kids who are enrolled in normal tuition can received discounted summer camp! Learn more about Camp Corlears and how to register here!
Where: 324 West 15th Street
Ages: 3 – 9
8. Summer Tennis Camps for Kids at Court 16
Court 16 is hosting ten weeks of kids tennis camp sponsored by Club Med this summer from June 24 – August 30, letting kids master the sport and learn more about the game! With both 1-day Holiday Camps and weeklong Summer Camps available, kids can sharpen their tennis skills through fun themed programs like “Wimbledon” and “Singles vs. Doubles.” With 3 locations around NYC (FiDi, Downtown Brooklyn, Long Island City), there’s plenty of options for children based on their area. Check out the full schedule of camps and how to register here!
Where:
Downtown Brooklyn – 445 Albee Square W, Suite 4-500, Brooklyn
FiDi – 28 Liberty St
Long Island City – 13-06 Queens Plaza South, Queens
Ages: 4 – 13
9. Squash Summer Camps at Nicol Rackets
Let your child learn the game of squash this summer, where Nicol Rackets are offering a summer camp led by squash legend Peter Nicol and co. Both beginner and intermediate players are welcome to try out their four climate-controlled courts and learn the game…and there’s even a bar area for parents to lounge at while kids finish camp. There are both half and full day camps available to register for, and they happen from Monday – Thursday from June 10 – August 16. Learn more about Nicol Rackets’ summer camp options and how to register here!
Where: 476 W 42nd St
Ages: 6 – 12
10. iCAMP STEAM Summer Camps
iCAMP is one of the best educational summer camps on this list, offering kids a full day of workshops led by teachers who are specialists in their topics. Children can learn more and become experienced in topics like coding, robotics, studio and graphic art, science, filmmaking, video game design, 3D printing, and more! Camps are typically a week long and run from the second week of June and run until mid-August! There’s also a pair of options split by age…Junior STEAM Summer Camp (ages 3-4) and regular STEAM Summer Camp (ages 5-13). Learn more about iCAMP’s summer camps and how to register here.
Where: FiDi, UES, UWS
Ages: 3 – 15
11. Summer Camps at New York Film Academy
Teens and kids can pursue their interests in film, media, and performing arts through New York Film Academy’s summer camps, running all summer long. With both kid and teen camps available, they can learn more about speciality topics like filmmaking, acting, musical theatre, photography, 3D animation and visual effects, and game design. They are offered in week long segments, which range from quick 1 week workshops to some spanning 12 weekends of an entire summer. All experience levels are welcome, and you can learn more about NYFA’s options here.
Where: 17 Battery Place
Ages: 10 – 17
12. 92NY Camps
Based out of the Upper East Side, 92NY offers active, creative, and academic summer day camps as well as summer intensives. There’s a few different popular options here, which include the outdoor day camps (June 27 – August 16) which focus on indoor and outdoor activities plus a trip to Rockland County, as well as other “intensives” like a summer gymnastics program, parkour and sports adventure, and summer musical theater. See 92NY’s full list of summer camp options and how to register here.
Where: 1395 Lexington Ave
Ages: 5 – 18
13. Summer Camps at CityPickle
Our favorite pickleball spots in the city, CityPickle, is hosting 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks of half day Pickleball Summer Camp from July 8 – August 2! Kids can learn the game, practice and play, and meet brand new friends on the court all summer long. Plus, it’s being led by certified coach and Program Director Katherine Hedden, who works toward building every child’s confidence as an athlete. Learn more about CityPickle’s summer camp and how to register here.
Where: 9-03 44th Rd, Queens
Ages: 8 – 13