Frolic in the Fountain of the Fairs, one of our 100 favorite free things to do this summer in NYC.
100 Free Things To Do in NYC this Summer with Kids
NYC school kids head back to school on Thursday, September 7, 2023, according to the newly released NYC public school calendar. Photo by Al De Ingeniis
Here's the NYC Public School Calendar for 2023-2024
GUIDE
Ultimate NYC Kids Summer Vacation Guide
See Isabella's flower-filled wonderland in real-life at the new Disney Encanto x CAMP experience at the Flatiron location.
Encanto's Casita Comes to Life at CAMP Fifth Avenue
The family-friendly Figment Festival on Staten Island helps everyone get creative. Photo by Michael Hnatov
33 Best Things To Do in New York City June 2023 with Kids
Enjoy the spacious shore and freshwater at Fahenstock State Park's Lake Canopus. Photo courtesy of I Love the Hudson Valley
Best Swimming Lakes near NYC You Need to Discover
Enjoy the popular Movies With a View series at Brooklyn Bridge Park in July and August. Photo by Etienne Frossard
Where to See Free Summer Movies in NYC for an Outdoor Movie Night
Coney Island's shores are easy to get to, and action packed from the rides to the waves. Photo courtesy of NYC Parks
How to Get to Beaches in NYC by Ferry or Train
Get a birds eye view of the skyline from the Edge observation deck at Hudson Yards. Plan a visit near sundown to watch the city lights come to life. Photo by Jody Mercier
3 Days in NYC with Kids: Ultimate Itinerary by a Local Mom
Enjoy a wild visit to the Philadelphia Zoo during a weekend getaway to the City of Brotherly Love. Photo courtesy of the zoo
13 Family-Friendly Weekend Getaways near NYC
Climb on platforms dangling from ropes at Hester Street Playground. Photo by Jody Mercier
NYC's Best Playgrounds: 21 Parks Worthy of a Subway Schlep
Watch your kite soar above the Manhattan skyline at the Waterfront Kite Festival in Brooklyn Bridge Park. Photo by Etienne Frossard
Best Family Festivals and Street Fairs in NYC this May
The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk has 75 animal exhibits and is home to more than 7,000 animals. Photo courtesy of the aquarium
Best Aquariums to Visit from the NYC Metro Area with Kids
GUIDE
Family Amusement Parks & Water Parks Guide
Eat on the rooftop at Fornino on Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 6. Photo by Lisa Seibold-Winder
Best Outdoor Dining in Brooklyn at Family-Friendly Restaurants
Enjoy the pageantry and patriotic celebrations when Fleet Week returns for Memorial Day weekend in NYC. Photo courtesy of Fleet Week New York
26 Best Things To Do in NYC May 2023 with Kids
Relax in the serene garden at the Noguchi Museum during its free Community Day. Photo by Jody Mercier
Free in May: 45 Things To Do in NYC with Kids
Summer camps help kids develop social skills and have fun
GUIDE
NYC Summer Camp Guide
Registration is now open for the reasonably priced summer camps at YMCA locations in NYC.
Free and Cheap Summer Camps in NYC for Kids
Treat NYC as your playground and enjoy these staycation ideas across all five boroughs. Photo by Jody Mercier
53 Things To Do on an NYC Staycation with Kids
Get a Broadway-caliber serenade during a birthday dinner at Ellen's Stardust Diner.
Best Fun Restaurants for Kids' Birthdays in NYC
We've got the ideas for the best kids' birthday parties in New York City
GUIDE
Guide to Kids' Birthday Parties in NYC
Free activities for Kids in NYC include the Children's Museum of the Arts, which has pay-what-you-wish Thursdays from 4-6pm. Photo courtesy of the museum
GUIDE
Free Things To Do in NYC with Kids
The Brooklyn Children's Museum offers three floors of rotating and permanent interactive exhibits perfect for warding off the rainy day blues. Photo courtesy of BCM
Indoor Activities for Kids: 35 Things To Do in NYC on a Rainy Day
Feed a crowd with extra large, classic, New York-style pizza slices without breaking the bank. Photo by Jody Mercier
NYC on a Budget: Cheap Things To Do and Money Saving Tips for Families
GUIDE
Indoor Play Spaces & Fun Zones in NYC
These boredom-busting activities turn a stuck-at-home day into a lasting memory.
75 Indoor Activities for Kids on a Rainy Day
Discover the NYC-themed play space hidden inside the Toys
22 Free Indoor Places To Play in NYC
The Ausable Chasm has been described as the Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks and it's one of our top 100 things to do in New York State with kids. Photo by Anna Fader
100 Things To Do in New York State with Kids Before They Grow Up
& Juliet turns Shakespeare's classic tale on its head with plenty of girl power. Photo courtesy of Matthew Murphy
Best Broadway Shows for Kids and Families
Kids' classes like art lessons can help your NYC child grow and develop
GUIDE
Guide to NYC Classes for Kids
Find the NYC neighborhood that fits your family.
GUIDE
Moving Guide: Top NYC Neighborhoods for Families
The Peninsula New York rolls out the red carpet for kids—and their grown ups!
Family-Friendly Hotels in New York City with Perks for Kids
Hester Street Playground. Photo by Jody Mercier
GUIDE
Playgrounds & Parks NYC Guide
Hunting down pop-up public art displays is one of our favorite free things to do in NYC. Zaq Landsberg's Reclining Liberty is on display in Morningside Park through April 2022.
100 Free Things To Do in NYC With Kids
The Met offers pay-what-you wish admission at all times to New Yorkers and kids always attend for free. Photo by Jody Mercier
Free Museums and Free Museum Days in NYC for Kids
See the skyline from a whole new vantage point on the Roosevelt Island Tram. Photo courtesy of NYCGo
100 Things To Do in NYC With Kids Before They Grow Up
No visit to NYC is complete without an up-close encounter with the Statue of Liberty. Photo by Jess Laird
Top Attractions in NYC: Best Things To See and Do With Kids
Take a hike with your little one on a family day trip from NYC.
GUIDE
Family Day Trips and Weekend Getaways for NYC Kids
Teach 'em to tie during downtime.
65 Life Skills to Teach Kids at Every Age
Kids can while away hours of a day with a set of watercolors and a stack of new paper for painting.
Crafts for Kids: 100 Awesome Art Projects for Creative At-Home Fun
GUIDE
News & Openings in NYC
Creating a baking soda volcano is a classic science experiment for kids. Photo by Sara Marentette Nighswander
64 Easy Science Experiments for Kids to Do at Home
GUIDE
Boredom Busters for Kids
The Red Hook Fest includes plenty of family-friendly fun, plus music and delicious eats. Photo courtesy of Hook Arts Media
27 Best Things To Do in NYC this Weekend with Kids

Best Online STEM, Robotics, and Coding Classes and Camps for Kids

Code Galaxy offers fun and effective virtual coding camps and summer accelerated classes for kids and teens. Photo courtesy of Code Galaxy
Code Galaxy offers fun and effective virtual coding camps and summer accelerated classes for kids and teens. Photo courtesy of Code Galaxy
5/23/23 - By Jessica Laird

STEM summer camps and online coding classes are always popular, and virtual options mean kids and parents can really take their pick! To help narrow down the search, we've rounded up a few of our favorite online STEM classes, robotics camps, and coding camps that can be easily accessed across the country. From engaging programs that teach Python, 3D modeling, and Minecraft, to girls' camps and classes dedicated to closing the gender gap in tech, you're sure to find something to inspire your science and tech motivated kids.

Find more virtual camps and online classes in our Directory of Online Camps and Classes—plus oodles of STEM resources in our STEM Activities Guide for Kids.

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

CodeWizards camps and classes engage kids of all ages. Photo courtesy of CodeWizards
CodeWizards camps and classes engage kids of all ages. Photo courtesy of CodeWizards

Online STEM, Robotics, and Coding Classes and Camps

CodeWizardsHQ Summer Camps & Classes

Choose from fun and effective one-week coding camps and three-week accelerated classes focused on Mincraft, Roblox, Scratch, Python, Java, and more. Virtual interactive learning in small groups, customizable projects, and highly-rated instructors make CodeWizardsHQ an engaging, memorable experience for kids and teens ages 8-18. READ MORE

Let's Learn Circuits Online Camp

Through hands-on projects, this course covers topics such as fundamentals of electricity, introduction to digital pins, introduction to Servo motor, fundamentals of Proximity Infrared Sensor (PIR), theory of RGB LED and working of DC Motor, and an introduction to Breadboard. READ MORE

KTBYTE Computer Science Academy

KTBYTE Computer Science Academy offers small group classes both online and in-person for kids ages 8-18. All programs are taught by experienced instructors, with virtual courses offered in a unique webconference setting that allows for individualized attention. Interested families can start with a free consultation and class. READ MORE

ChatGPT 5-Day Camp

Participants in the ChatGPT 5-Day Camp can expect to gain a strong foundation in artificial intelligence and machine learning, as well as practical skills in developing ChatBots using ChatGPT and JavaScript/RESTful APIs. READ MORE

iD Tech Summer STEM Camps and Classes

iD Tech Virtual Tech Camps are a great virtual option for kids wanting the collaborative spirit of an in-person program. Days follow a balanced schedule including 2 hours of live instruction and 2 hours of self-paced project development per day. And with an average of just 5 students per instructor, there's time for personalized learning and socializing. READ MORE

Online MIT App Making Camp

During this 5-day bootcamp, students learn MIT App Inventor, TinyDB, ListView if else condition, concept of web-viewer, speech recognizer, text to speech, text to translate, and more. READ MORE

Girls Who Code NYC (Virtual)

Girls Who Code is a nationally recognized organization trying to close the gender gap in tech by getting girls excited about STEM. It offers two free virtual STEM summer camp options: a two-week introductory course and a six-week, learn-on-your-own-pace class. Programs are open to current high school students who identify as female or non-binary. READ MORE

Code Galaxy

Code Galaxy offers online coding classes, summer camps, private tutoring, and bootcamps for kids ages 7-18. With its staff of expert instructors, Code Galaxy guides kids through web development, game development, design, Python programming, and other STEM-related programs, using live virtual instruction. New students can start with a free trial.  READ MORE

Codingal

Codingal offers an interactive platform for students in kindergarten and up to learn coding through one-on-one online classes, as well as exciting coding competitions and hackathons. Utilizing a unique, research-based curriculum, these courses teach key skills, including problem solving and analytical and critical-thinking skills. READ MORE

Geeklama Live Online Coding School

Geeklama offers online coding classes for kids in grades K-12, developed by top engineers from CISCO, MIT, and UC Berkeley. Choose between a variety of live 16-lesson courses and self-paced, self-guided programming. Classes are available in both English and Hebrew. A free trial class is offered to new families. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Zoom - Online
Young Gates - Kids Online Personalized Classes
iD Tech at NYU - Washington Square
Young Gates - Kids Online Personalized Classes
Various Locations
Geeklama Live Online Coding School