An especially great line-up of free stuff to do with kids this weekend in New York City plus some special inexpensive events that were too good not to list.

I'm ignoring the fact that it's a leap year and posting the Top Posts for February today. If you haven't been following along the big news this month was the launching of the Mommy Poppins Summer Camp and Program Guide. It's a great resource with over a dozen posts to help you with your summer planning, with almost 30 camps covered in our posts and another 30 in our advertising listings. Check it out!

One of the things I love about living in NYC is the ability to walk out the door and stumble upon some really cool free stuff to do with kids that you might never expect.

Today and Friday, for instance,

Co-ed, ages 7-17.

Perlman Camp values a family environment and offers comprehensive Athletics Program including inter-camp sports league, Visual and Performing Arts with focus in theater, music, arts and crafts, Judaic arts, ceramics, and photography. Wide array of waterfront activities on our private lake and in our heated Olympic size pool. Outdoor Adventure program includes low and high ropes course, indoor climbing wall, and camp-outs. Kosher, Sabbath Services, Jewish Culture.

Sessions of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7 weeks. Scholarships available. ACA accredited. Other Information:
Director: Joe Finkelstein
Telephone: (301) 977-0050
Operator Fax: (301) 977-0051
E-mail: perlmancamp@bnaibrith.org
Website: www.perlmancamp.org 

Lodging: Cabins w/bathrooms, showers, electricity Cost & Sessions: 2, 3, 4, & 7 week sessions, tuition fees range from $6,150 for full 7 week season to $1,950 for 2 week rookie camp (for camper entering grades 3-5) Day or Overnight : Overnight Camp ACA accredited: Yes General Activities: Athletics, Visual and Performing Arts, Outdoor Adventure, Lake and Heated Swimming Pool. Special Programs: Inter-Camp sports league, Theater, Music, General and Judaic Arts, Ceramics, Yoga and Meditation, Boating, High and Low Ropes, Climbing Wall, and Trips. Beautiful, family oriented co-ed camp located in the Pocono Mountains. Amazing Athletics and Visual and Performing Arts Programs, Kosher kitchen, Shabbat observance, Great facility and super staff. Retreats and conferences accepted.

Perlman Camp
Rose Hill Road Lake Como, PA 18437
800-270-2725
www.perlmancamp.org

For more great camp ideas, check out our Summer Camp Guide!

 

I know what you did last summer? Big whoop, so does the whole world??”I'm a blogger. The real horror movie is about planning for next summer. I'm already in a cold sweat over trying to figure out what to do with my kids, my childcare...and if I have to have one more circular, non-committal conversation about what we could, should or might possibly-maybe do for our family vacation, I think I will scream.

So before the blood starts flying, I'm going to attend The Busy Mom??™s One-Stop Summer Planning Luncheon and Expo hosted by Executive Moms next Wednesday, March 5th. There's a lot of cool things going on with this event (including a chance to win some big prizes), so bear with me here.

The West Side Tennis Club, former home of the U.S. Open for 60 years, is a world-class facility with 39 courts. Your children can play on all four surfaces: Har-Tru, Deco-Turf, red clay and grass. Year-round, juniors are offered inter-Club team competition. They enjoy an extremely favorable player to pro ratio; we strive to have 4-6 players per court. The Junior Tennis Camp is personally directed by Director of Tennis, Bob Ingersole,and Junior Program Director, Thomas Gilliland and is staffed by USPTA and PTR tennis professionals. Bob Ingersole is a former world-ranked player who has coached hundreds of sectionally and nationally ranked juniors. He was selected to participate in the first USTA Elite Coaches program and has completed both levels of USTA Science Competency tests.

For more information: West Side Tennis Club website

And for more great camp ideas, check out our Summer Camp Guide!

Lester's offers the latest trends and fashion brands in clothing, shoes and accessories from layette to older teen and those in between. Your shopping experience is made easy with a sales staff that delights in helping our customers find just what they're looking for .

Lester's stores are located in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Greenvale, Huntington, and Deal, NJ.

Please call for an appointment with a camp counselor at the Lester's nearest you.

Manhattan-1534 Second Aveue/80St. 212 734-9292 Brooklyn - 1102-1120 Avenue U-718 645 4501 Greenvale, LI - 90 Northern Blvd- 516 626-1161 Huntington,LI - 350 Rte. 110 (next to Barnes & Noble) 631 299-2222

 

For more great camp ideas, check out our Summer Camp Guide!

 

The Art Farm is another one of the unique places for kids in New York City, an indoor farm with a wide variety of animals including bunnies, chinchillas, hamsters, guinea pigs, lizards, turtles, birds, and tropical fish. Children can touch, feed and hold the animals, as well as participate in many other activities.

I know The Art Farm best for their show-stopping birthday parties, but they also offer playgroup classes for toddlers, Mommy and Me classes and Farm Helper/Animal care classes for children up to the age of 8 years and I just found out about their drop in/drop off program, what they call their Open House program.