Experience a kaleidoscope of photo-ops, plus acrobatic shows, tasty food, craft cocktails, live music, and more at the captivating light festival, Lektrik, at the Queens Botanical Garden. Photo courtesy of Fever
Thanksgiving Day Weekend 2024 in NYC: Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and More Things To Do
The Tianyu Lights Festival transforms the Citi Field parking lot into a magical holiday destination with larger-than-life lanterns and kid-friendly activities. Photo courtesy of the festival
Must-Do Christmas Events and Holiday Activities in New York City for Kids
During Christmas in NYC, Midtown Manhattan is chock-full of glittery eye candy. Photo by Ally Noel
Christmas in New York: Ultimate 3-Day Itinerary for a Magical Holiday with Kids
Santa is a busy man, so reservations are required to visit Santland at Macy's Herald Square in New York City in 2024. Photo by Marisa Iallonardo
Macy's Santaland NYC: When and How to See Santa at Herald Square in 2024
GUIDE
Holidays in NYC: Ultimate Guide to Christmas, Hanukkah, & Seasonal Fun
The stunning Peace, Love, and Lights drive-thru at Bethel Woods returns for another season of bringing visitors joy.
Best Holiday Lights Drive-Thrus and Christmas Light Shows near NYC
Celebrate the start of the holiday season at Calypso, Carols, and Cocoa: The Dumbo Holiday Lighting. Photo by Hassan Mokaddam
Best Christmas Tree Lightings in NYC with Fun Activities for Kids, Plus Menorah Lightings, Too
Lightscape at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden has become an enchanting holiday tradition for many families. Photo courtesy of the garden
Holiday and Christmas Events in NYC to Book Now!
GUIDE
NYC Fall Day Trips Guide: Orchards, Farms, Festivals, and Kid-Friendly Getaways 2024
The 2024-2025 NYC public school calendar is out, and students return to school on Thursday, September 5.
Here's the NYC Public School Calendar for 2024-2025
Visit the 180 Pool at the Crystal Springs Resort. Photo courtesy of the resort
14 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
Diving into the sprinkle pool at the Museum of Ice Cream is a great way to cure rainy day blues. Photo by Jody Mercier
47 Fun Indoor Activities in NYC for a Rainy Day
Kids' classes like art lessons can help your NYC child grow and develop
GUIDE
Guide to NYC Classes for Kids
Explore modern humanity through all-new world-wandering exhibitions at Mmuseumm.
Weird, Wacky, and Wonderful Under-the-Radar Museums in NYC that Kids Love
Hell's Kitchen is a cool coming-of-age piece loosely based on Alicia Keys' life story. Photo by Marc J. Franklin
Best New Broadway Shows This Season Plus Can't-Miss Classics 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
For an only-in-NYC experience, head to the Top of the Rock to enjoy the view. Photo by Jody Mercier
Best Attractions and Things To Do near NYC that are Kid-Friendly
Summer camps help kids develop social skills and have fun
GUIDE
NYC Summer Camp Guide
Tea Around Town combines a sumptuous meal with a unique view NYC landmarks! Photo by Jody Mercier
25 Best NYC Tours for Families: From Boat Rides to Free Walking Tours and More
Twinkle Playspace in Williamsburg offers action-packed fun for kids of all ages.
21 Top Indoor Play Spaces in New York City
The American Museum of Natural History's blue whale is an NYC icon, and the entire museum is one of the best children's museums in NYC. Photo by R. Mickens/courtesy of AMNH
Best Museums for Kids in NYC: Children's Museums and Family-Friendly Museums 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
GUIDE
Guide to Kids' Birthday Parties in NYC
Registration is now open for the reasonably priced summer camps at YMCA locations in NYC.
Free and Cheap Summer Camps in NYC for Kids
There's always a cool new piece of public art to see and interact with in NYC. Photo by Jody Mercier
101 Free Things To Do in NYC with Kids
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
Get a Broadway-caliber serenade during a birthday dinner at Ellen's Stardust Diner.
Best Fun Restaurants for Kids' Birthdays in NYC
Photo courtesy of PLAY Greenpoint.
GUIDE
Indoor Playgrounds, Play Spaces, and Fun Zones in NYC
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
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
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
These boredom-busting activities turn a stuck-at-home day into a lasting memory.
75 Indoor Activities for Kids on a Rainy Day
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
No visit to NYC is complete without an up-close encounter with the Statue of Liberty. Photo by Jess Laird
40 Best NYC Attractions to Do with Kids Right Now
Teach 'em to tie during downtime.
65 Life Skills to Teach Kids at Every Age
Take a hike with your little one on a family day trip from NYC.
GUIDE
Family Day Trips and Weekend Getaways for NYC Kids
Creating a baking soda volcano is a classic science experiment for kids. Photo by Sara Marentette Nighswander
67 Easy Science Experiments for Kids To Do at Home
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
Hester Street Playground. Photo by Jody Mercier
GUIDE
Playgrounds & Parks NYC Guide
Kids can while away hours of a day with a set of watercolors and a stack of new paper for painting. Photo by Sara Marentette
Crafts for Kids: 100 Awesome Art Projects
Suncatcher_Liz Baill @creativishmom
GUIDE
Boredom Busters for Kids

Awesome Specialty Summer Camps for NYC Kids

Advantage Day Camp gets kids 4 to 14 off & running for a perfect NYC summer! Sports, activities, enrichment & more. Plus early drop off, late pickup and a choice of days, weeks or all season.
Advantage Day Camp gets kids 4 to 14 off & running for a perfect NYC summer! Sports, activities, enrichment & more. Plus early drop off, late pickup and a choice of days, weeks or all season.
2/26/18 - By Jessica Laird

Here in New York City, finding a summer camp for your kiddo isn't the hard part. It's picking one from all of the awesome options that's tough!

If you're looking to narrow your search, specialty camps are the perfect way to fuel your kid's passion or even help them hone in on a new hobby. For science- and tech-lovers, there are a number of STEM/STEAM camps, teaching everything from artificial intelligence and 3-D printing, to marine biology and wood working. Aspiring athletes can get in on a game of soccer or gaga ball at a sports-centered camp, or try their hand at figure skating or parkour. There's even Chinese language instruction for budding linguists, performing arts camps for kids who love the spotlight, programs that take your tiny historian back in time, and even hands-on cooking camps for the littlest foodies.

With half-day and full-day options, and sessions ranging from one week to the entire summer, there's truly something for everyone. Take a look at some much-loved specialty camps below, and browse our New York City Camp Guide for even more options.

Language and Arts Camps

BOLD Arts

Various NYC Locations
BOLD Arts offers week-long summer camps and school break camps. A different, thought-provoking theme centers each week's activities, including dance, music, and art projects. Every session ends with a performance where kids are the stars and the costumes, scenery, and performances are their own creations. Creative kids can invite a BOLD Arts educator to lead their birthday party and choreograph a dance to their favorite song. Parties culminate with a performance and family dance party.  READ MORE

China Institute Immersive Summer Day Camp

Financial District and Upper East Side
Whether your child is new to the language or bilingual, immerse them in Chinese language and culture at China Institute. This summer program for kids ages 2 to 14 includes fun activities like shadow puppet play, Chinese stone rubbing, musical instrument play, and cooking. READ MORE

New York Kids Club Camps

Various NYC Locations
This chain of kiddie gyms offers half- and (nearly) full-day programs for kids up to 6 years old. Kids enjoy thematic adventures each day with guided play designed to engage campers academically and physically.  READ MORE

Taste Buds Kitchen Cooking Camps

Chelsea
Taste Buds Kitchen allows kids to get hands-on in its cooking camps. With delicious themes like All You Knead is Love, Around the World, Super Foodies, and Culinary Cocoa, children can join for a single day or the whole week.  READ MORE
Immersive Summer Day Camp at China Institute Located in Lower Manhattan. Travel to China without leaving NYC this summer!
Immersive Summer Day Camp at China Institute Located in Lower Manhattan. Travel to China without leaving NYC this summer!

Science and Technology Camps

Camp Pixel

Various NYC Locations
Camp Pixel takes cutting-edge tech skills and breaks them down into intriguing, hands-on experiences for kids ages 7 to 13. All skill levels can mod Minecraft, code in Roblox, program virtual reality games, make YouTube videos, develop games like Fortnite, and much more. READ MORE

Launch Math + Science Centers

Various NYC Locations
From exploring the physics of bungee jumping to designing projects with Python, Launch's STEM-based summer camps give kids in grades K-7 the chance to build, create, and code. Daily camps mean students can complete their projects whether they participate in one day or a full week.  READ MORE

Camp Tech Revolution NYC

Greenwich Village and Upper East Side
Camp Tech Revolution offers more than 50 award-winning, enriching summer camps in tech and the creative arts. Summer camps include Minecraft, Alexa skills, 3D printing, game design, Roblox, AI, spy tech, engineering, digital music, and even an all-girls option. READ MORE

NORY STEM + Sports Camp

Various NYC Locations
Children are makers and creators at Nory's holiday break and summer camps. Children can engage in woodworking, robot building, Roblox coding, and more. Questions are encouraged as kids build confidence and new skills. READ MORE
Launch Math + Science Centers offer exciting and educational one-week STEM summer camps for kids from Kindergarten to 7th grade (ages 5 to 12 years old). In mBot Robotics camp, kids build, program, and keep their very own autonomous roving robots!
Launch Math + Science Centers offer exciting and educational one-week STEM summer camps for kids from Kindergarten to 7th grade (ages 5 to 12 years old). In mBot Robotics camp, kids build, program, and keep their very own autonomous roving robots!

Sports Camps

Advantage Camps

Midtown West and Roosevelt Island
Kids swim, play tennis, and participate in a variety of sports indoors and out at Advantage Summer Camps. Advantage also offers arts and crafts, nature exploration, and enrichment classes in everything from fencing to chess, plus a rock-climbing wall at its Manhattan Plaza location. Camps can be booked daily, weekly, or for the whole summer. Ages vary by location and theme.  READ MORE

Aviator Sports Day Camp

Floyd Bennett Field
Aviator's summer day camp offers traditional activities, including arts and crafts, drama, science, and swimming, plus unique specialties including ice skating, rock climbing, and more—all within its 175,000-square-foot sports complex. School break camps are also offered.  READ MORE

Chelsea Piers Summer Sports Camp

Chelsea
Chelsea Piers features a variety of unique sports camps for kids, including gymnastics, ice skating/hockey, parkour, soccer, golf, and so much more. Half-day and full-day options, short weeks, aftercare, and more are offered. School break camps are also offered. READ MORE

Places featured in this article: