On February 4th, PS 321 hosted “School’s Out: Summer Camp and After School Expo”, and invited dozens of neighboring summer camps to showcase what their summer programs offer to local children. I was reminded of the excitement I felt as a child signing up for summer camp. At the surface, summer camps stand as the ideal means in which to entertain children while they are away from the classroom—yet in my youth I found the educational and social benefits of attending a summer camp far reaching.
The camps that participated in PS 321’s expo and many other programs in the city offer children the opportunity to explore their interests, hone in on their prospective talents, utilize their social skills, and flourish in a community where the pressures of academia are relieved. We’ve gathered some of the most stimulating programs below.
SPECIAL INTEREST
Two months away from homework and quizzes gives children the opportunity to immerse themselves in specialized or mini-camps, which speak to their blossoming interests.
Film and video enthusiasts can sign up for a hands-on creative video workshop with Video Kid Brooklyn Summer Camp (www.videokidbrooklyn.com). They offer the opportunity for children to learn storyboarding, editing, acting, cinematography, special effects and much more. Campers will have a go at Special FX classes with underwater cameras, adapting scenes from some of their favorite pre-existing films, and create short films to premiere at the 2nd Annual Video Kids Film Festival! Video Kid Brooklyn Summer Camp runs from July 9th through July 27th from 9am to 2pm at $395/week.
Nature-oriented and local, Kim’s Kids Summer Camp (www.kimskidscamp.com) is run right out of PS 321. Campers ages four and a half to 11 will investigate the wonders of nature in Brooklyn; they will take trips to the pool, go on hikes, visit museums and the Bronx Zoo, and partake in “playground hopping”. They will also walk the Brooklyn Bridge and learn about its construction and history. Kim’s Kids runs from July 2nd through August 10th from 9am to 3pm. Pricing varies based on how many days your child will attend (3 days for 3 weeks is $795).
ADHoops Training (www.adhoopstraining.com) runs basketball clinics in the summer for all of the future Knicks players in the city. At only $10 per session, these clinics emphasize the fundamentals of the game including ball handling, shooting, and lay-ups. ADHoops will hold five sessions in June at Bishop Ford High School in Park Slope for boys and girls in 1st grade through 8th grade. Clinics are offered on June 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th from 6pm to 7pm at only $10/session.
The Brooklyn Youth Music Project (ps58.org/community.cfm?subpage=1456872) offers a two-week Suzuki string workshop for musicians aged four through 18-years-old. Professionals will instruct young cellists, violinists, or violists, at their Carroll Garden space. While they fine-tune their string skills they will also learn the basics of music theory and the program comes to a head with a performance on July 13. Camp will run from July 2nd to July 13th from 9am to 3:45pm for $800.
Learn the ropes of summer camp, literally, at Brooklyn Boulders’ Summer Adventures (www.brooklynboulders.com) at Degraw St and 3rd Avenue. Campers will learn the basics of rock climbing– everything from top-lining, and bouldering, to slacklining! They will also play games and go to the park with their counselors. While they are still figuring out the dates that their Summer Adventures camp will run, one week of Brooklyn Boulders is $495 and camp hours run from 9am to 3:30pm.
The Textile Arts Center (www.textileartscenter.com) runs a day camp in the summer that exposes youngsters to creativity through textile media. At registration, campers can choose between two areas of focus: weaving and surface design. In the weaving class kids will learn how to create fabrics (through weaving, pattern reading, and using a 4-harness loom) to be made into products like bags and toys. Under the surface design focus, textile-savvy children will learn how to dye fabrics, stencil designs, and sew. Camp weeks run from June 25th through August 10th at $475/week.
ARTS-BASED
In a city as artistically inclined as ours, children are able to learn necessary skills to utilize in their crafts at specialized summer camps– have it be painting, violin, improvisational theater, or classical dance.
An arts-based day camp that encourages children to become explorers of the world, Brooklyn Kids (www.GoBrooklynKids.com) runs a program for seven to nine-year-olds during the summer in Park Slope. The ratio of staff to campers is one to five, so children will flourish in their areas of interests, which may include: stage works and theater in conjunction with the New Victory Theater, perfecting painting styles with in-depth studies of Degas and Van Gogh’s techniques, dance, soccer, and even healthy cooking. Campers will keep a journal and a treasure box to commemorate their experience at Brooklyn Kids. Brooklyn Kids from July 16th to August 3rd from 8:30am to 3:30pm at $350/week.
Spoke The Hub is renowned as one of Park Slope’s most exhilarating community art spaces in Brooklyn. With a new theme each week, children are invited to enroll in Spoke the Hub’s summer camp, Camp Gowanee (www.spokethehub.org/camps/camp-gowanee), a multi-art intensive camp that boasts professional artists as their instructors. They offer a dance camp, and activities pertaining to street art, fashion, and filmmaking. One of the nine themes this year is a tribute to Vaudeville—where campers will create and perform stand-up comedy routines! Camp Gowanee runs from July 9th through August 13th from 9:30am to 5pm at $435/week.
The Brooklyn Arts Exchange (bax.org/youth/school-breaks/summer-arts) at 5th Avenue and 8th Street holds a seven-week Summer Arts Program based on exploring the performing arts. Children grades K-6 may choose from tumbling, puppetry, circus arts, acting, and more. Each week there is a new creative theme; and during Baxapalooza week, children will pay homage to Woodstock: “BAX style”. Financial assistance is also offered. BAX runs from July 2nd through August 17th from 9am to 3pm at $375/week.
The Brooklyn Design Lab (www.brooklyndesignlab.org/summerk2.html) will hold six summer labs this year for campers to go deeper into the world of design. They will offer a printmaking studio, clay studio, wood studio, a bookmaking studio, 3D studio, and a collage studio. These week long labs will teach youngsters the basics of each craft; in the 3D studio, for example, campers will create sculptures form wood, clay, and fabric to understand space and balance. You may end up with a new piece of art for your kitchen at the end of the week! The Brooklyn Design Lab runs from July 16th through August 24th from 9am to 11am at $220/studio session or $1270 for all six labs.
SPORTS-CENTERED
For the child with a penchant for athletics, a sports-centered summer camp provides a healthy outlet for little-all stars to improve their skills while staying active.
Camp Olympia (www.campolympiany.com/camp) in Park Slope has a sport intensive summer camp for children ages four through 15. Their main activities include baseball, swimming, soccer and basketball—all of which are instructed by head coaches and professionals. Camp Olympia sets out to broaden campers’ sports background while learning advanced skills and techniques. Camp Olympia runs from July 2nd through August 17th from 9am to 4pm at $200/week.
Floyd Bennett Field is the perfect place to send your active child (ages three through 15) to summer camp. Aviator Sports Summer Camp (www.aviatorsports.com/content/summer-camps) allows campers access to the outstanding facilities on-site; some of which include an ice skating rink, basketball courts, a rock climbing wall, a gymnastics arena, and a swimming pool. They also host dance and theater focused camps for seven to 15-year-olds. Aviator Summer Camp will bus children in from every borough. Aviator Sports Camp runs from July 2nd through August 31st from 9am to 4pm at $550/week.
DAY CAMPS
Summer camps in the city are all encompassing in terms of activities and your youngster’s interests. Children are able to socialize with others on a daily basis while functioning in a group setting and exploring new ways to have fun.
Aside from putting safety as their number one priority, CBE Kids Camp (congregationbethelohim.org/cbe-kids/camps/) located on 8th and Garfield boasts a multi-cultural seven-week program for kids K-4th grade. The campers can participate in outdoor sports, nature walks, circus arts, and go for a swim at the camp’s on-site pool. CBE Kids also has a travel camp for 10 to 14-year-olds where tweens go on daily trips to locations like the beach, bowling alleys, the Bronx Zoo, Luna Park, and baseball games. They are also encouraged to go on overnight trips to Hershey Park and Club Getaway in Kent, Connecticut. CBE Kids runs from July 2nd through August 17th from 9am to 5pm at $420/week.
A private day camp with four locations (Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Bay Ridge, and Carroll Gardens), the Park Slope Day Camp (www.parkslopedaycamp.com) presents children with a wide variety of activities to enlist in. It is an outdoors-based camp so expect campers to frolic in Prospect Park, go horseback riding, and visit a farm where they will pick their own fruits and vegetables. They have flexible and accommodating programs so that campers may stay for as short as 10 days or as long as eight weeks; and they also offer specialized mini-camps like Sonic Soccer and Cirque D’Ete (a circus camp). Park Slope Day Camp runs from July 2nd throug August 24th from 8am to 4pm. Pricing varies based on how many weeks your child will attend, 3 weeks is $1400.
The Brooklyn Cultural Adventures Program (www.heartofbrooklyn.org/bcap) is a great summer camp for your child to explore the heart of Brooklyn. Drop off is at the sculpture garden of the Brooklyn Museum and campers will venture between the Brooklyn Public Library, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Prospect Park Zoo and other cultural institutions in the area. This year’s theme is “Myths and Magic” so expect children to puzzle over ancient legends and learn about the beginnings of time through art and science! Camp runs from July 2nd through Augst 10th from 8am to 3:30pm at $650/session.
For more information on any of the above listed summer camps, please visit the camp’s web site.
Summer Camps of Note
Each of these camps offer unique opportunities for your kids. We suggest that you take a good look at the camp websites that intrigue you. Feel free to get in touch, they will all be happy to hear from you and glad to answer any questions you may have.
