It’s only March, but it’s time to start thinking ahead to recreational activities and summer camp programs for the kids. Summer camp registration deadlines are quickly approaching and there’s a lot to consider for the type of camp you want your kids to attend. What your children will be doing all summer is a big decision, but we also want to make sure it’s something they will have fun doing.
I think something that’s important to remember, is that our children are in school all year long and the summer months are a chance for them to relax and do fun things! Educational activities, space camp, learning leadership skills, social skills and more outdoor adventures await. If you’re looking into camps for the first time, here is my full list of our favorite camps in the Tri-State area + a bonus overnight summer camp outside the country in a supportive environment leaving a positive impact on your kids. I even have a code to save you money on one of the best camps in the Adirondacks-Forest Lake Camp-below!
Where to Begin
When I start to think about summer programs, it can feel overwhelming. You can choose from short, two-week sessions, specialty camps. overnight camp experiences, 1 week programs or just day camps for outdoor recreation to give your kids an unforgettable summer camp experience. Of course, you can get even more specific and look into camps that specialize in activities and areas that your children enjoy, such as creative arts, water sports, fine arts, musical theater, sports camp, horseback riding, rock climbing, the list goes on and on! First-time campers, this is an ideal time to explore your interests and try new things for personal growth and your child’s interest.
Short Programs
Kennybrook Summer Camp
This camp location is in the Catskills and is a co-ed camp. They offer traditional camp activities and select sports. But the most important part, is that they focus on teaching kids how to have self-confidence and independence. You can send your kids the whole 7 weeks or choose a 2 or even 3.5 week program. It runs June-August.
Lavner Camp
This is a specialized camp that is all about coding. If your child wants more of an educational summer, this is a great program to look into! It’s located in Downtown, Manhattan and you can choose one week programs. They offer computer skills, coding, game design and so much more! It’s a really cool camp that begins in June and runs through late August.
Day Camps
Abrons Arts Camp
This day camp is all about the arts! If you have a child interested in visual arts, music, theatre or dance, you’ll want to check out this camp program! There are 2 different sessions that run Monday-Thursday from 8:30-4 with the option for late pickup. The age requirements are 5-10 and this is a great way to meet new friends who have the same interests as your kids. The camp program runs from July- August. One thing to keep in mind is they offer week long intensive programs during school breaks throughout the year, as well if you decide to stay in town during winter or spring break!
Asphalt Green Camp
Calling all sports lovers, this ones is for you! This camp program is for ages 4-15 and runs from June 27th- August 16th. They have two locations to choose from, which include The Upper East Side and Battery Park City, so they are not too difficult to get to, no matter where you live. There’s swimming, sports and fun!
Aviator Sports
This place is NY’s largest sports and event venue. The camps include soccer, hockey, gymnastics, figure skating and basketball. So there truly is something for every athlete here! What’s really cool is there is a bus service that will come within 3 blocks of your home, if you need any help with transportation for your child. The programs are for kids ages 5-13 and the camp offers both half and full day options. The camp runs June-August. Early bird prices are through, but there’s still plenty of time to sign up!
Pickleball is all the rage these days and for good reason! It’s fun and keeps you active. Running July 8th-August 2nd, you can choose between 2, 3 and 4 week halfway camp options from 9AM-12PM. And if you have early commitments, they have early drop off options! They have one coach for every 8 kids, so there is plenty of one on one time to help your kids excel at this sport. One stop from Manhattan in Long Island City, this is the camp to check out if you want a fun half day option for your kids!
Marymount Manhattan Summer Camp
This NYC day camp has everything to offer! Drama camps, Investors and Explorers camp, STEAM camp and sports clinics. The programs are for Kindergarten-10th grade and depending on the program, run from late June to late July.
Maker-State has an amazing STEM camp in NYC. With several locations ranging from the UWS to UES, LES the West Village and Park Slope, the camp focuses on math, science, art and ELA where they can bring 3D models to life and create stop-motion films. It’s educational while being project-based learning, so not only will your kids have the best time, but they will be learning a lot. You can register for however many weeks you’d like and if you send several kids there, you actually can save a good amount on camp! Use my code: BRIANNE for $100 off registration this summer!
If you have kids into fashion, this is the camp for you! Located in the Hamptons, they walk you through the creation of your very own upcycled designs to bring to life. There are lessons on sketching, silhouetting, trend spotting, sustainability and so much more. They even have a photoshoot on the last day to show off your own designs! Sessions run for a week at a time through the end of August but hurry because they only have 16 spots per session!
Overnight Options
Adirondack Camp
This co-ed sleepaway camp is located on one of the most beautiful campuses I’ve ever seen! You can find it in the Adirondack Mountains on Lake George and they have so much to offer. It’s for kids aged 7-16 and with things like rock climbing and cool water activities, how could you not want to check them out?! They have 2 sessions and you could send your kid for the full 6 weeks if you’d like. Sign up now because they’re really filling up and spaces are incredibly limited!
Appel Farms Arts Camp
When I started my research for this blog post, this was a very popular camp and I can totally see why. I think it looks like one of the coolest experiences! They offer so many different visual arts opportunities, such as sculpting, making murals, using pottery wheels, different kilns, learning about art history and so much more. They also offer theatre, dance, horseback riding, photography and so much more! This is definitely a one of a kind experience your child will maybe not get elsewhere! You can sign your child up for 2, 3, 4, 5 or 7 week sessions.
This 3.5 week sleepaway camp is located in Maine and is co-ed. Sat on the lake, there are plenty of water activities to keep your kids active and having a blast! On top of this, there are sports, art programs, horseback riding, wilderness trips and more. It’s available for kids age 7-16 and they have a 2 week program for anyone new who’d like to discover the camp. Two 3.5 week sessions make up the summer and it runs late June through August 11th.
Camp Lokanda
Starting out with the first overnight camp of the list, Camp Lokanda is a co-ed sleepaway camp located in the Catskills. You’ll find many sleepaway camps to choose from in the Catskills area, mostly because it’s close enough to a lot of the people in the tri-state area and there’s so much to do in nature there. What’s really cool about this place is that there are so many different activities your kids can do on a daily basis from go-karting to hockey to woodshop. This camp is all about creating a positive atmosphere and helping to nurture self-confidence, which I think is fantastic! Camp begins late June and runs through mid August and you can choose how long to sign your child up for.
Berkshire Hills Eisenberg Camp
A camp in the Berkshires?! Let’s chat! This is a pretty cool co-ed camp that has traditional experiences like sports and water activities, but also offers a culinary camp option. They have a committed staff that has fun activities planned all summer long. The staff members are great and feel like family! You have the option to sign up for however long you’d like, it could be 2 weeks or the whole summer even. It’s for kids 7-16.
Brant Lake Sports Academy
This is a girls overnight camp option. They have so many sports activities you do on a daily basis and they help teach you how to stay healthy while being so active. If you’re not looking for the co-ed experience and just wanting to focus on one thing, like sports, look into them! Camp runs July- August, so you can take a summer vacation before if you’d like!
Nestled in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York, Forest Lake Camp is a ‘Brother-Sister’ sleep-away camp. Campers ages 8-16 years old spend the summer living in cabins, living without cellphones and TVs, and getting the chance to enjoy living in a beautiful, safe, and communal setting. Located just 3.5 hours from NYC, campers can choose to spend their days doing archery, swimming in the private lake, horseback riding, and many other activities on Forest Lake Camp’s beautiful private property. Enroll today using code FLC1926 and get 10% off tuition! Check out this video to see how amazing this camp really is!
French Woods Theater Camp
French Woods is one of the best theater camps in the country! They have 5 different theaters on campus and auditions are the second day of camp. Basically, you spend the whole session working on putting up a show. And if your kid is more interested in backstage roles, they have the opportunity to do those rather than be onstage. They have 5 different sessions beginning in June and you can sign your child up for 3, 6, 9 or 12 weeks at a time. This is another one that fills up, so hurry with your registration!
Bonus:
This is an international option with teen tours and global adventures! There are community service opportunities and global projects to work on to help build so many skills sets while helping others in need. The teen tours are more than sight-seeing and the kids get to do so many things to keep active and explore the city they are in. There’s so much to do and see, so be sure to enroll and check out all the programs they have!
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