These camps, held on the lush grounds of the storied cathedral, offer children the opportunity to play sports, make art and music, dance, tend to a garden and splash in the cathedral’s new water park. Older kids can also create pottery, play badminton or chess, and swim in the nearby Barnard College pool. If you’re scrambling to fill a hole in your offspring’s August schedule, consider a Specialty Camp; children can choose from a plethora of arts and sports courses, letting them feel like grown-up college students. Extended day care is available.

Art Farm in the City
Jun 30–Aug 22. Mon–Fri 9am–3pm or 9am–12:30pm. The Art Farm in the City, 419 E 91st St between First and York Aves (212-410-3117, theartfarms.org). Subway: 4, 5, 6 to 86th St. $475–$600 per week.

This UES “farm” gives city tots a countrified experience, replete with live, pettable bunnies, hamsters and guinea pigs, plus way-cool geckos and parrots. Each camp week features a different theme, from kid-friendly cooking to circus skills. During the Exotic Animals week, for example, brave souls can get up close and personal with a giant snake or a tarantula. Campers also bake treats, play soccer and engage in arts-and-crafts, science and nature projects. Swimming and music classes are offered. Ages 3 to 8.

Asphalt Green Summer Camps
Jun 30–Aug 15. Mon–Fri 8:30am–4:30pm. Asphalt Green, 555 E 90th St at York Ave (212-369-8890, ext 104; asphaltgreen.org). Subway: 4, 5, 6 to 86th St. $2,660–$3,450.
• Session I: Jun 30–Aug 15
• Session II: Jun 30–Aug 1
• Session III: Jun 30–Jul 25
• Session IV: Jul 14–Aug 15

Children seeking some extra attention benefit from the low camper-to-counselor ratio (only five to ten kids per counselor) of this program, which incorporates an array of activities for every interest group. Tots target their bubbling vacation energy into arts and crafts, creative movement, music, drama, fitness, gymnastics, karate, basketball, T-ball and relay races. The happy campers also take field trips all over the city, from the Victorian Gardens in Central Park to the New York Hall of Science. New additions this summer include the half-day Outdoor Challenge trips, during which senior campers can try hiking, canoeing and other nature-lovin’ activities. A competitive swimming camp is also held in the summer. Ages 4 to 12.

Brooklyn Cultural Adventures
Jun 30–Aug 8. Mon–Fri 9am–3:30pm. Two-week sessions. Drop-off location is the Brooklyn Museum, 200 Eastern Pkwy at Washington Ave, Prospect Heights, Brooklyn (718-638-7700, ext 10; heartofbrooklyn.org). Subway: 2, 3 to Eastern Pkwy–Brooklyn Museum. $625 per session.
• Session I: Jun 30–Jul 11
• Session II: Jul 14–25
• Session III: Jul 28–Aug 8

Heart of Brooklyn, a partnership of the borough’s cultural institutions, hosts its Cultural Adventures camp every summer for grade-schoolers. The program covers the best of Brooklyn’s history, outdoor facilities, sciences and arts in this year’s theme, Transformations. Field trips to the Brooklyn Museum, Prospect Park Zoo, Brooklyn Children’s Museum and more pepper the two-week sessions. Generous scholarships are given out to nearly half the campers. Extended day care is available. Ages 7 to 12.