Summer camps for kids 2013: Day camps, sleepaway camps and more
We've got the scoop on hundreds of summer camps for kids (including great new programs!) to help your child make up her mind—and have the best summer ever.
Wed Feb 6 2013
Our annual camp guide makes planning your child's summer easier than ever! We've got the lowdown on everything from the city's most innovative summer camps for kids to traditional summer day camps—think color war and roasting marshmallows—just like the ones you attended. Plus, each of the summer camp programs are listed with all the scheduling and pricing information you'll need to design the perfect summer for your children.
Beyond our extensive list of arts, athletics, and academic camps, you'll find specialized experiences tailored to individual interests, special sections for preschoolers and teens, and a roundup of sleepaway camps for kids ready to leave the nest during the warm-weather months. You'll also want to scroll through our section devoted to new summer camps and extra cool camp experiences for summer 2013.
In addition to our camp listings, we've put together a guide to the must-have camp gear (think flip flops, goggles and water toys) for kids heading off to both day camp and sleepaway camp. In our Q&A section, experts, among them the executive director of the American Camp Association for New York and New Jersey, answers commonly-asked camp questions like "How do I know if my child is ready for sleepaway camp?"
We're also awarding five lucky kids with a free camp session. Through March 4, enter for a chance to win your child a summer program at Buckley Day Camp, Camp Intrepid, i2 Camp, JCC Day Camp at Pearl River and Oasis Summer Day Camp.
Finally, use our brand-new interactive camp planner (at right) to help you find a camp that's a perfect match for your child. Happy hunting!
Day camps
Day camps in NYC
Similar to the camps many of us went to as kids, these day camps in New York City offer well-rounded programs (think crafts, sports and more) for young campers.
Day camps near NY
Kids take buses to these commuter camps just outside the city where they go horseback riding, swim in lakes, compete in color war and play sports like tennis and bocce.
Dwight Summer Day Camp
- Price band: 3/4
- 291 Central Park West, (between 89th and 90th Sts), 10024
Sports camps
Sports camps
Looking for the best summer camps for your active kid? There are tons of sports camps around New York City that value running around.
Basketball City Summer Camp
- Price band: 2/4
- 299 South St, (between Clinton and Montgomery Sts), 10002
Art camps
Art camps
Your brood can delve into ceramics, painting, dollhouse creation, 3-D printing and manga at these summer art camps for children in New York City.
Academic camps
Academic camps
During their summer break, kids can broaden their horizons by taking part in academic camps that cover everything from robotics to chemistry.
Camp packing list
Summer camp packing list and must-have gear for kids 2013
Send kids off to camp in style with super-cute accessories, including flip flops, sleeping bags and goggles, from our summer camp packing list.
New summer camps and extra cool programs
New summer camps and extra cool camp experiences
From sessions that teach kids about origami to a program where preschoolers jam along to Beatles tunes, this year's crop of summer camps for kids couldn’t be more exciting.
i2 Camp
- Price band: 2/4
- The Chapin School, 100 East End Ave, (between 84th and 85th Sts), 10028
Storefront Science
- Price band: 2/4
- 728 W 181st St, (between Bennett Ave and Magaw Pl), 10033
Camps for teens
Camps for teens
We found plenty of cool camps for teens, where middle and high school students can learn about everything from jazz and improv to fashion and rock climbing.
Calhoun Performing Arts Summer Institute Jazz Workshop
- Price band: 2/4
- 433 West End Ave, (at 81st St), 10024
Chelsea Piers Urban Adventures Camp
- Price band: 2/4
- Pier 60, W 23rd St, (at the Hudson River), 10011
Preschool camps
Preschool camps
While older kids may head off to a specialized program or sleepway camp for the summer, the city's youngest children also have plenty of summer camp options.
92nd Street Y's Camp K'Ton Ton
- Price band: 2/4
- 1395 Lexington Ave, (between 91st and 92nd Sts), 10128
Q&A's with camp experts
Illustration: Nicole Kenney
Summer camp questions answered!
Navigating the land of summer camps for kids isn’t easy, so we asked the experts for some help with frequently asked questions.
Special interest camps
Special interest camps
At these program, kids write their own books, meet with famous authors, learn to cook, try out circus techniques, make films, go behind-the-scenes at local zoos and more.
Center for Architecture Foundation
- Price band: 2/4
- 536 La Guardia Pl, (between Bleecker and W 3rd Sts), 10012
Taste Buds Camps
- Price band: 2/4
- 109 W 27th St, tenth floor, (between Sixth and Seventh Aves), 10001
Special needs camps
Special needs camps
Children with special needs build skills while meeting new friends and having a blast at these summer camps in and around New York City.
- Holy Name School, 202 W 97th St, (at Amsterdam Ave), 10025
- Chabad Upper East Side, 419 E 77th St, (between First and York Aves), 10075
Camp sweepstakes!
Enter for your chance to win a free camp session!
We are thrilled to give our readers the chance to win a free camp session at one of five amazing summer camps—Buckley Day Camp, Camp Intrepid, i2 Camp, JCC Day Camp @ Pearl River ad Oasis Summer Day Camp.
More summer camp content
Bargain camps
- Price band: 1/4
You might also like
See more in Camps
Events for kids by date
-
"Adventures with...
Preschoolers flock to this exhibit based on the po...
-
"Against the Grain:...
Featuring more than 90 examples of contemporary wo...
-
American Girl:...
Decorate a yummy cottage for Coconut, the puppy, w...
Time Out Kids Newsletter
Sign up to keep tabs on NYC's best family offerings, from fun kid-friendly events to ideas for last-minute weekend plans.
