Summer Camps

We haven't even been bombarded too early for Christmas yet. So how can it possibly be time to be pressured into thinking about summer camps? Seriously, no pressure, but there is a great camp fair this weekend if you want to get an early start on summer planning and I'll give you just one reason why you should: many camps give discounts if you sign up before December. So if you know you're doing it, why not figure it out now and possibly save some dough?

Some kids love summer because it means day camp and sports and running around all day. And for some kids, even the thought of that puts them into a cold sweat, which in turn puts parents into a cold sweat over what to do with kids all summer when they are not "typical" camp kids.

I happen to have a boy who is completely disinterested in a regular day camp and I can only imagine the torture (for both of us) that would follow if I signed him up for such a camp. Instead we tried RoboFun, which offers after school classes, summer camps and school vacation camps that teach kids robotics, animation, and video game design.

You've all heard the hype: in NYC you have to sign your kid up for summer camp at the beginning of the year or you'll never get a spot. Well, honestly, for some camps that really is true. Popular, small programs like the Museum of Natural History Summer Camps or Fieldston Day Camp almost completely fill up from returning campers and members who get first priority, so to get a spot at these types of kids camps you have to really be on the ball.

But, if you haven't given a thought to your summer plans there's no need to panic. There are many, many camps that still have spots. Larger camps like 92nd St Y, Chelsea Piers and Oasis can most likely make a spot for a kid up until the last minute. And, many of the specialized weekly camps will have a week here or there that won't fill up. A little leg work can find a child a spot at a great camp even this late in the year.

If you've been too busy to sign your child up for camp by now, the last thing you need is to spend your time calling around to camps looking for a summer program that had room for your child now. So, we've done the leg-work for you. We've called around and found 30 great camps that have spots and listed the sessions available at each of them. We've even listed some special deals for you. Slacker Moms Unite

This year the trend seems to be that parents are waiting a little bit longer to commit to camps and other summer plans. Some camp directors have told me that their enrollment is about 20% lower than usual for this time of year.

Have you planned for summer camp yet? Do you find all the choices in our Summer Camp Guide 2009 overwhelming? Well, this year there are even more programs that we haven't written about before in almost every area. We dug up some camps that sound particularly interesting. You'll find new and noteworthy camps for nature, sports, theater, architecture, music and arts, and an science and engineering camp for girls!

Check out these off the beaten path, new and noteworthy camps that are definitely worth investigating:

Welcome to Camp Create Dreams, Manhattan’s most exciting and most memorable Summer Camp! Camp Create Dreams is back for its third year to give your child the most original summer camp experience yet! No other camp has daily arts and crafts, indoor swimming, outdoor play time, music, dancing games, the best snacks ever, and themed weeks to entertain your child’s imagination! Each day incorporates birthday party zest, whether it is Pirate Princess or Fun on the Farm week. “Exciting Themed Fridays” wrap each week up with a magically themed activity! This year your child can plan on attending a Carnival, complete with face painting and balloon twisting one week , meeting adorable cuddly animals and crazy cool reptiles the next! Other weeks will include gaining self defense skills from a Karate instructor, making Sand Art creations, stuffing their own Cuddle - Pet, and performing Wacky Science experiments! Each day is filled with fun and adventure, created to fulfill your child’s camp dreams. Don’t let your child miss out on the most Creative Camp of the year: Camp Create Dreams 2009 … A memory to last a lifetime.

Our camp program starts July 6th through August 17th, Ages are from 5-10 years. We also have a choice of a 3 week session or per week.

EARLY BIRD SPECIAL – Sign up before May 1st and receive $50 .00 discount per session.

Signing up more than 1 child?... receive $25.00 off per week for each additional sibling after the first child!

HOURS : Mon – Fri 9am- 3pm              Optional – Early Drop Off/ Late Pick Up

Contact us @ 212.447.7263                        website: www.creativedreamparties.com                         

Email: camp@createdreams.com

apple seeds is proud to launch it’s third summer of camp apple seeds!

Recently awarded “Best Day Camp” by Nickelodeon’s Parent’s Connect, camp apple seeds is an opportunity for preschoolers to play, laugh and make friends while developing independence and self-confidence. Programs are designed for children ages 3 – 4 and foster fun, curiosity and learning in a safe and clean environment built just for them.

“camp apple seeds is distinctive in many ways,” says camp director Janelle Rooks. “Besides low camper to staff ratios, our camp offers unique activities that reflect what parents and kids have come to love about apple seeds.”

Each day, after recreational play in our playground, campers participate in a special theme for the day (past themes have included Olympics, the beach, outer space and Native Americans). Through activities like, cooking, science, construction, art, crafts, music, movement, dance, language and many more, kids gain confidence, learn to share and work together, make friends, but most importantly, have fun.

“Because we are still a new program and facility, our ideas are fresh and out of the box,” says Co-Founder Alison Qualter Berna.

Camp runs from 9:30am – 12:30pm and includes a healthy snack.

camp apple seeds runs from June 8th - August 19^th. We offer two, three and five day options. Session dates are as follows:

Session 1: June 8th - June 19th   

Session 2: June 22nd - July 3rd   

Session 3: July 6th - July 17th    

Session 4: July 20th - July 31st     

Session 5: Aug 3rd - Aug 14th      

Session 6: Aug 17th - Aug 28^th

Please call 212.792.7590 for details and to register. Register now and receive 10% off summer camp registration. www.appleseedsnyc.com 

Our new 2009 Summer Camp Guide is up with over 70 New York City Day Camps, Suburban Day Camps, Sleep Away Camps, and Camp Services. Whether you're looking for a program for your preschooler for a couple of days a week, a week-long program to explore a special interest like science, the arts or a favorite sport, looking to stay in the city, or bus them out for some country air every day, or even a great sleep-away camp, we've got lots of great camps for you to choose from. Check it out.

Confession #1: Children’s shows typically bore me to tears. Yes, even my own children’s school productions. Get them up, get them on, then get me out. Add my children’s short attention spans and tendency to sigh and squirm excessively throughout performances and you get the picture of our typical family theater outing. So it was with great trepidation that I ventured to TADA Youth Theater with my five- and three-yr old daughters for a child-actor only production, “Golly Gee Whiz!”. Much to my surprise, not only did the show command the undivided attention of every child in the audience, but (confession #2) all of us, repeat ALL of us, thoroughly enjoyed the show.

(Keep reading for a special offer from TADA!)

Got a note from Emmanuel who wanted to know about Winter Vacation Camps so we rounded up some cool ones. There are vacation camps for every kid from preschoolers to teenagers with lots of variety; science camps, arts camps, sports camps, even a week-long skiing and sleep away camp in the Berkshires. Cool.

Camp Intrepid – Explore, Discover, Learn! – 6-13 year olds: