By Ali Robertson
During the crazy holiday season it’s difficult to look ahead to the summer months, much less make plans for them. As you begin thinking about warmer weather and schools closing, make sure to kick off your summer camp search. Find the perfect program for your kids and snag a spot before they all fill up. From arts, to education, to travel, here are a few camps both you and your young ones will love.
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At Chelsea Piers Summer Sports Camp, kids spend their days bowling, playing football and hockey, doing gymnastics and more – all at a world-class athletic facility. The camp is designed for the active and sports-oriented youth (Pre-K to teen). The program will run from June 18 to August 31. Enrollment is flexible; campers may sign up from a single week to a total of 11 weeks. In addition to gaining a well-rounded sports education, campers also receive lunch and participate in special activities. Past summers have featured appearances by professional athletes and harbor cruises aboard certified vessels. Program hours vary for ages and individual sport camps, although most are half-day or full-day camps beginning at about 9 a.m. After care options are available for an extra fee. The camp is located at 23rd Street and the Hudson River at Pier 62.
www.chelseapiers.com
Curious Jane promotes out-of-the-box thinking by letting girls (grades 3-6) decide how they spend their summer. Campers experiment with a different theme each week. Options include Toy Design (developing an imaginary company), D.I.Y. Fashions (practicing alterations and decorating), Wired 101 (working with electronics and robotics), ‘Zine Scene (creating a collaborative magazine) and more. Younger girls (grades 1-2) can join the Curious Jane Junior group. Camps are offered Monday through Friday at Manhattan’s Marymount School, The Brooklyn Free School and The Berkeley Carroll School in Brooklyn. Regular hours are from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. However, early-bird drop off and after camp is available for a slight daily charge. Curious Jane also offers discounts for multi-week enrollment and enrolling with friends or family.
www.chelseapiers.com
Kids Creative Summer Camp: it’s the scene for the young rising Broadway stars. Returning for its thirteenth summer, the camp offers a stage for kids to build confidence and work together as they create musicals. Campers split their time between musical production and engaging in outdoor activities, field trips and additional arts education. The camp is divided into three age categories: Create-A-Tale (grades Pre-K-1), Create-A-Play (grades 2-5) and Create-A-Dream (grades 6-8). Hours are from 9 a.m.- 5 p.m., Monday through Friday at P.S. 87 William T. Sherman School. Early drop-off, early pick-up and late pick-up are also available. The camp’s next open house is planned for January 21. RSVP through the website to find out more about this camp for shining stars.
www.chelseapiers.com
Camp Intrepid invites kids to hop aboard the ship that is the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum Complex for an exciting and educational journey. The camp encourages its members (ages 5-13) to navigate through topics such as aviation, marine life, astronomy and life at sea. Campers also choose from weekly themes enhanced by hands-on interactive activities and museum exhibits. Themes include Underwater Exploration, A Pirate’s Life and more. The camp is both an indoor and outdoor experience. Campers participate in relay races and obstacle courses on the pier and flight deck. Discounts are available for returning campers and those who register before April 15. The camp is offered Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. during 10 weeks of summer. The museum is at West 46th Street and 12th Avenue at Pier 86.
www.chelseapiers.com
New York City Explorers Summer Adventure Camp is the perfect choice for the young Christopher Columbus, the excursion-lover. From June 25 to August 29, kids (ages 5-10) will venture to the Statue of Liberty, take a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, visit the American Museum of Natural History and so much more. Campers will constantly experience new places as they travel to New York City’s hotspots. Safety is important for the Explorers – the counselor to camper ratio for travel is 1:5. Lunch is also included daily. Campers may choose to enroll Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.- 6 p.m. or part-time (only two days each week). The home base where campers will begin their day is at 110 Schermerhorn Street in Brooklyn.
www.chelseapiers.com
Brooklyn Design Summer Lab offers a personalized experience for creative and artistic minds. Kids (grades K-2) work hands-on with quality materials in printmaking, clay, wood, bookmaking, 3-D and collage studio courses. These classes run from July 9 to August 24, with breaks from July 9 to 13 and August 6 to 10 to accommodate older groups. During those weeks, Lego and clockworks studio courses are available for campers (grades 3-6). Each class has only eight students, allowing individual attention for campers and the chance to showcase their art. The counselors even engage in age appropriate mini-critiques. Hours for the younger group are 9-11 a.m. or 1-3 p.m. Hours for the older campers are 9 a.m.-12 p.m. All courses are at the 413A 7th Avenue Brooklyn studio (between 13th and 14th Streets).
www.chelseapiers.com
