Free Summer Swimming Lessons and 15 Other Free Sports Activities for NYC Kids

Outdoor sports and free are not necessarily the first words that jump to the mind when thinking about summer in the City. But, it turns out, that just because you live in the concrete jungle doesn't mean your kids can't have a summer filled with great sports activities. And you don't have to be a Hilton to afford them. New York City offers many opportunities for city kids to learn team sports, tennis, swimming, golfing, fishing, kayaking, hiking, camping and more. We've updated this list with 15 of the best programs for kids to enjoy sports this summer:

City Parks Foundation Children's Free Sports Programs
The City Parks Foundation offers free Tennis, Golf and Track and Field programs to kids in all five boroughs of New York. For all sports, equipment is provided for the children.

CityParks Tennis has three levels of instruction to meet the needs of all players: Pee Wee (ages 5-7); Beginner (ages 8 and up); and Intermediate (determined by ability). Lessons are offered at 37 city parks throughout the five boroughs of NYC. Children finish off each summer playing in a tennis tournament.

CityParks Golf makes the sport of golf accessible in a fun and easy environment to 5 to 16 year old kids of all skill levels throughout New York City. Two 4-week sessions run in July and August for beginner and intermediate level players.

CityParks Track & Field gives New York City kids the chance to learn the basics of the sport, from hurdles and relay races to long jump, shot put and javelin throw. The program is open to boys and girls ages 5-16 and runs each summer from July 9th thru August 14th in 13 locations throughout New York. All participating children have the opportunity to display the basic skills learned at the end of each season at an organized track meet held at Icahn Stadium, the world class sports complex on Randalls Island.

Learn To Swim
The New York City Parks Department also offers free swimming lessons for children as little as 18 months and up to 14 years at public pools around the city. There will be three sessions:

• Session 1: July 7 - July 22. Registration: July 6
• Session 2: July 24 - August 11. Registration: July 23
• Session 3: August 13 – 28. Registration: August 12

Registration is first come first served basis at each pool.

New York Junior Tennis League
NYJTL has free summer programs throughout the all five New York City Boroughs beginning this Monday, July 13 through August 28, 2009. Children may join at any of the free program locations at any time during the season – there is no registration deadline – and the parent or guardian must register in-person with their child at whatever location they choose to attend. NYJTL’s Community Tennis Programs include a comprehensive schedule of tennis instruction and match play, free books through reading clubs at each site and special events and field trips.

Big Apple Games
This Summer Program is from Monday, July 6, 2009-Thursday, August 13, 2009. The program offers a variety of recreational opportunities for children from grades 5 through 12th (also includes students with special needs). The Afternoon & Evening Teen Recreational Centers operates from the hours of 1-5 pm & 6-9 pm Monday-Thursdayand offers activities in various sports, such as wrestling, volleyball, basketball, softball, floor hockey, team handball, gymnastics and ultimate Frisbee. These sites also offer game room activities, arts and crafts and swimming instruction. The Junior High School Program operates from 9 am-3 pm and offers a variety of activities including arts and crafts, game room activities and various sports skills for students in grades 5 to 8.

Urban Park Rangers
The NYC Department of Parks & Recreation Urban Park Rangers offer a slew of free outdoor programs for kids. You can find a calendar of their hiking, orienteering, canoeing, birding, and fishing activities for kids on their website or subscribe to the quarterly Outdoors in NYC newsletter with all the information you need to be an urban outdoorsman.

Join one of the Urban Park Rangers free Explorer Programs, family canoeing, birding or hiking clubs. Developed in conjunction with the National Geographic Society, these programs help you experience New York City's 28,000 acres of parkland as you never have before and discover areas you never knew existed. You'll forget you're in the city entirely! Programs last about an hour and a half unless otherwise specified, and are guaranteed to bring out the explorer in everyone.

Friday and Saturday nights in July and August, families can join the Urban Park Rangers for a Family Camping experience at beautiful Alley Pond Park in Queens. We start with a cookout, then a variety of evening activities, such as stargazing and nighthikes. You'll sleep under the stars and awake to breakfast. Everything is included. Free, but reservations are a must.

The Parks Department also offers an inexpensive Junior Ranger Day Camp. The Junior Ranger program is open to kids ages 8-11. It runs from the beginning of July to mid-August, in locations in northern Manhattan and Brooklyn. Participants learn such skills as fishing, canoeing, orienteering, team-building, restoring trails, and building wildlife habitats. Not free, but very affordable compared to most camps.

The Central Park Conservancy Outdoor Kits
Discovery Kit Backpacks containing binoculars, a guidebook, maps, and sketching materials are available free of charge from the Central Park Conservancy at the Henry Luce Nature Observatory at Belvedere Castle (mid-Park at 79th Street) for children to enjoy the excellent birding available in Central Park.

Field day Kits are available at the North Meadow Recreation Center. Kits include a basketball, 10 cones, 3 bats, horse shoe set, playground ball, nerf ball, football, Frisbee, 2 handballs, soccer ball, jump rope, 2 whiffle balls, hula hoops for an exciting trip or family outing in the Park.

Battery Park City Parks Programs
Battery Park City Parks Conservancy offers many free and inexpensive events and programs for preschoolers, kids and teens, including Gardening, Young Naturalists, Fishing and more. Toys, games and play equipment can also be borrowed from the kiosk just south of Rockefeller Park.

Kayaking on the Hudson
The Downtown Boathouse offers free kayaking on the Hudson to anyone who can swim at three locations. Children under the age of 16 must ride in a double kayak with a parent.

Fishing in Central Park
The best place to fish is at the Harlem Meer, located at the northeast corner of the Park. The Meer is stocked with a wide variety of fish, including golden shiner, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed sunfish, bluegill sunfish, carp, and chain pickerel. Bamboo fishing poles are available free of charge (if you have a valid picture I.D.) from mid-April to mid-October at The Charles A. Dana Discovery Center, located on the north shore of the Harlem Meer at 110th Street between Lenox Avenue and Fifth Avenue.

Macy's Fishing Tournament
The R.H. Macy's Fishing Contest has been an annual event in Prospect Park since 1947. The contest runs for a week each July and is open to kids 15 years old or under. Equipment is provided free of charge or participants can bring their own. All fishing is done on a catch-and-release basis; fish must be returned to the Lake alive.

Ice Skating at Chelsea Piers
Chelsea Piers used to hve free ice skating in the summer, but now they only offer free skate rental on Sundays throughout the summer. Admission is reduced to only $7 per kid and $10 per adult. 

Info about the Free Parks Department Sports Programs have been updated in our more recent post: Free Sports Programs in NYC Parks

For more summer activities, check out our Summer Activity Guide.