Somerset County is chock-full of farm-y goodness, and we have some of the loveliest farmers' markets in the state. Some of our towns have small family friendly markets, while others are day trip-worthy, and filled with artisan honey, grass fed meats, and produce. Many accept WIC (Woman Infant Children program) and give vouchers to the elderly making fresh food available to everyone, regardless of income. Peruse and enjoy!

Summer camp is more than just a fun and enriching experience for young children. It also marks an important step in their development as they get to test out their independence and, in the case of commuter camps, travel outside the city to enjoy outdoor activities in nature.

As exciting as that first-time camp experience is, it can also be scary (perhaps more so for parents than kids) since it's outside everyone's comfort zone. Even if you find a program that offers a safe and stimulating environment for younger kids, parents may worry than their preschoolers aren't yet ready for full days or weeks of camp.

Every summer, readers email us asking if we know about summer programs that offer short days or sessions where tots can try out day camp and see how they like it. We asked our friends at the American Camp Association of New York and New Jersey to recommend some camps that fit the bill. If you need more information, the ACA of NY and NJ also offers free camp consultations with their experts.

You can find out about other awesome summer programs in our Camp Guide.

A few weeks ago I wrote about special needs music classes for kids in the five boroughs. Today I'm spotlighting dance programs for children with special needs in NYC.

Just as organizations like Daniel’s Music Foundation changed my son’s life and allowed him to be able to get up on stage in front of people and sing, there are dance programs that help children with special needs do the same with dance. There are a variety of dance classes and summer camps throughout NYC for children with special needs. Here are some of our favorites:

As you may have pieced together from some of my previous posts, I’m consistently on the hunt for fun, engaging programs to take my toddler to in the city (like Baby Wiggle Little Groove). Which is why I was so very excited to come across the Super Soccer Stars program.

Super Soccer Stars teaches soccer skills in a fun, non-competitive educational environment for ages 2 and up. Kick & Play is run by Super Soccer Stars and offers a pre-soccer and movement program for toddlers 12-24 months old and their parents; taking you through a world of exciting activities to help develop pre-soccer skills. I started the Kick & Play program with my 12 month old and have since “graduated” to Super Soccer Stars. Below are just some of the reasons I can highly recommend both of these programs...

The first day of summer is around the corner, which means schools are shutting their doors and LA parents are turning inside-out:  Outdoor concerts, festivals, beaching, camping… and let’s not forget outdoor eating!  So what makes a picnic spot great?   In my book, that means clean facilities, relatively painless parking, and a little something special to occupy the kiddos after they’ve scarfed down their PB&Js.   So read on, then dust off your picnic basket and be prepared for some interesting adventures.

I grew up in Jersey.  And before you start with the jokes, let me clarify.  Not the Sopranos Jersey, the Jersey Turnpike Jersey or the Snooki Jersey.  Nope, I grew up in beautiful, rural Western Jersey, right on the Delaware Water Gap.  If you haven’t been there, go. It’s lovely, historic, and nearby.  

Growing up on the Delaware Water Gap meant lots of Sunday family canoe trips.  (Canoeing rules to live by: don’t share a canoe with your younger brother, don’t share a canoe with your older brother, and wear sunscreen).  In hopes of replicating the canoe experience for my own kids, I’ve been researching canoeing options here in CT.  Turns out there are lots of options around here, ranging from waterways on tame lakes and slow rivers to more arduous river rapids and open ocean/sound trailways.  We've written about a few and you can find that info in our CT Beach and Water Fun Guide.

Father's Day was the theme this week on all of our sites with posts about the best ways for families to celebrate in NYC, Westchester, Long Island and beyond. Our Boston site also shared four easy-to-make treats kids can prepare for dad. Moms don't have the monopoly on dining in bed, you know.

If you're still searching for the perfect NYC day camp, our summer deals post has a bunch of great options, including discounts to chess, language and circus programs. And we've got the exclusive scoop on how to snag a coveted spot in the NYC Parks Experience Summer Day Camp which, at $500 for the entire summer, may be the best deal around.

Our crowdfunding campaign for the Mommy Poppins Kids' Activities App hit the 31% mark! You've got two more weeks to contribute $2 to help us make this app FREE for all. Donate more and you can earn some really cool rewards. There's only one more day to enter this week's giveaway: a Shark Sonic Duo Floor and Carpet Cleaner, a $250 value. (Getting someone else besides you to use it: priceless.)

Here's what else we covered this week on the NYC site:

With so many great summer day camps in NYC, finding a good one isn't an issue, but it's hard to find a camp that's as great a deal as NYC Parks Experience Summer Day Camp at just $500 for the entire summer. Usually parents have to enter a lottery to get a place at these coveted camps, but the Parks Department has given Mommy Poppins the inside scoop that there are some select spots still available.

Run by the New York City Parks Department, this seven-week program has multiple locations throughout the five boroughs. Campers enjoy outdoor adventures like hiking in local parks, a variety of sports including swimming, as well as educational activities like field trips to museums and other cultural destinations.

You can no longer apply through the Parks' Department website. The only way to snag one of these spots is with the information in this post. So read on to find out about NYC Parks Experience Summer Day Camp locations with availability, and how you can register your child.

Or check out other hot deals on cool summer camps where kids can engage in a wide range of activities, from chess to pottery to language immersion to circus.