Summer Camp Open Houses: NYC Day Camps, Commuter Camps and Sleepaway Camps

The very first phone call I got in 2013 was from a fellow mom asking me if I had any summer camp recommendations. I was impressed. Usually Summer Camp Freak Out Fever doesn't kick in until early February. But with many summer programs already holding open houses and putting those countdown to summer clocks on their websites, no wonder we're all stressing out.

While it will be a few weeks before we finish overhauling our Mommmy Poppins Summer Camp Guide for 2013, we decided to share info about upcoming open houses and tours of some of our favorite NYC day camps, commuter camps and a couple of sleepaway camps. Our list is by no means comprehensive—there are hundreds of summer camps in Manhattan alone! But these are all quality programs that we either have personal experience with (my seven-year-old can vouch for TADA! and Oasis Central Park and Mommy Poppins founder Anna loves Buck's Rock), or boast top-notch reputations.

If you're interested in a camp but can't attend the open house for some reason, it's worth calling or emailing to see if there will be alternate dates. In addition to the individual programs listed, we've got the scoop on a series of local camp fairs where you can meet representatives from multiple programs at once. So let your research begin!

NYC Day Camps

TADA! Musical Theater Camps and Classes in Chelsea – Saturday, January 12 10am-2pm; RSVP to education@tadatheater.com with your name, contact info, child's name, grade and date of birth

Camp Léman in the Financial District – Sunday, May 5 2-4pm; RSVP s.levin@lemanmanhattan.org

Asphalt Green Day Camp on the Upper East Side – Saturday, February 9 2-3:30pm; no RSVP required

Aviator Sports Summer Day Camp in Marine Park, Brooklyn – several open house dates, visit the website for a complete list; no RSVP needed

Bonjour New York – Thursday, April 18 4:30-5:30pm in Midtown East; Saturday, April 20 10-11am in Ardsley, NY; Saturday, April 20 10am-noon in Carroll Gardens; Saturday, April 27 10am-noon on the Upper West Side; email registration@bonjourny.com

Textile Arts Center Day Camp – Friday March 15 4-6pm in Park Slope, Brooklyn and Friday, March 22 4-6pm in the West Village; rsvp@textileartscenter.com

Kids at Work Summer Camp in Chelsea – Tuesday, February 12 6:30-8pm; call 212-488-8800 or RSVP online

Bank Street Summer Camp in Morningside Heights – Wednesday, January 9 at 5:30pm; email bankstreetsummercamp@bankstreet.edu

Oasis Day Camps
Oasis runs a number of day programs in NYC, Westchester and Long Island.

Oasis Downtown on the Lower East Side – Thursday, January 17 7-8:30pm; call 646-519-5058, email downtown@oasischildren.com or register online

Oasis in Bayside in Queens – Saturday, January 19 11:30am-1pm; call 646-519-5055, email bayside@oasischildren.com or register online

Oasis in Tully Park in New Hyde Park, Long Island – Wednesday, January 23 7-9pm; call 646-519-5062, email tullypark@oasischildren.com or register online

Oasis in Dobbs Ferry in Westchester – Wednesday, January 23 7-8:30pm; call 646-519-5057, email dobbs@oasischildren.com or register online

Oasis in Central Park Monday, January 28 6:30-8pm on the Upper West Side; call 646-698-1800, email centralpark@oasischildren.com or register online

NYC Is My Backyard throughout Manhattan – Thursday, March 7 5:30-7:30pm; call 917-670-4406

Chelsea Piers Summer Sports Camps in Chelsea – Saturdays, March 2 and April 6 11am-2pm; email camps@chelseapiers.com
 

Commuter Day Camps

Hampton Country Day Camp in East Hampton, NY – Saturday, May 25 11am-3pm; RSVP to 516-953-5171

Spring Lake Day Camp in Ringwood, NJ – Sunday, January 20 and Saturday, February 2 10am-1pm; RSVP to michelle@springlakedaycamp.com

Deerkill Day Camp in Suffern, NY – Sunday, February 3 and Monday, February 18 at 10am; RSVP to office@deerkilldaycamp.com

Buckley Day Camp in Roslyn, NY – personal tours available every day; call 516-365-7760

The Nature Place Day Camp in Chestnut Ridge, NY – Saturday, January 19 1-4pm, preceded by our free Winter Tales public program 11am-noon. No RSVP needed. Call 845-356-6477 or email thenatureplace@aol.com for more info.

Woodmont Day Camp in New City, NY – Sundays, January 13 and February 3, and Saturday, January 19; call 845-638-0700 to schedule your private tour time.

Mohawk Day Camp in White Plains, NY – tours every weekend; call 914--949-2635

New Country Day Camp Day at Henry Kaufman Campgrounds on Staten Island – email newcountry@14streety.org about scheduling a tour

Blue Rill Day Camp in Rockland County, NY – private tours are available on weekdays and most weekends; call 845-352-3521 or email info@bluerilldaycamp.com

Dwight-Englewood School Summer Connections in Englewood, NJ – Saturdays, April 20 and May 18 1-3pm; email summer@d-e.org

Deer Mountain Day Camp in – Saturdays, January 19 and February 2 10am-3:30pm; call 845-354-2727 to set up an appointment

Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts in Wheatley Heights, NY – Sundays, January 27, February 24, March 17, April 21, May 19 11am-2pm; email openhouse@usdan.com

Oasis on the Sound in Port Washington, NY – January 17 6-8:30pm; call 646-519-5077 or email onthesound@oasischildren.com

Camp Riverbend in Warren Township, NJ – Sundays, January 27, February 10 and April 7, and Saturday, March 16 10am-noon; email miriam@campriverbend.com

Gate Hill Day Camp in Stony Point, NY – Saturday, February 9; call 845-947-3223 or e-mail info@gatehilldaycamp.com
 

Sleepaway Camps

Buck's Rock Performing and Creative Arts Camp in New Milford, CT – Saturday, May 18 1-4pm (rain date Sunday, May 19); call 800-636-5218

Camp Birch Hill in New Durham, NH – offers tours to families beginning April 15; call 603-969-0159 or email chrissy@campbirchhill.com

Louemma Sleepaway in Sussex, NJ – various February dates; email ruby@camplouemma.com for more info

Camp Wekeela in Hartford, ME – Sunday, January 20 11am-1pm; email ephram@campwekeela.com or call 201-612-5125
 

Camp Fairs in NYC

Every year, the American Camp Association and New York Family magazine organize a series of Camp Fairs in Manhattan and Brooklyn where families can meet representatives from more than 60 summer programs. These events are free and take place on select dates through early April. Visit NY Fam's website for a list of dates and locations, and participating summer camps. RSVP recommended.

Got a child with special needs? NYC-based nonprofit Resources for Children with Special Needs hosts its annual free Special Camp Fair on Saturday, January 26 11am-3pm, where you can learn about 70 programs. Visit the website for more info.