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Best Summer Camps in Queens: 16 Camps Catering to Diverse Interests

Blue Dolphin camp feels like a home away from home. Photo courtesy of the camp
Blue Dolphin camp feels like a home away from home. Photo courtesy of the camp
3/10/20 - By Drew Kristofik

We've sprung forward and that means summer is just around the corner. With that in mind, it's time to find a great summer camp for your kid.

For starters, you've got to figure out whether your kid would like to spend all day doing sports, or art, or mixing it up in a traditional camp. If your kid's a bit adventurous, they might want to take advantage of summer to try something new—say, surfing or game design. Good news, though, when it comes to camp opportunities options abound in Queens.

With that in mind, we did a little winnowing, looking for programs that have consistently delivered great reviews from participating families. Read on for some of the best summer camps in Queens!

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At iD Tech, kids of all skill levels discover coding, AI, machine learning, film, robotics, and game design. Photo courtesy of the camp
At iD Tech, kids of all skill levels discover coding, AI, machine learning, film, robotics, and game design. Photo courtesy of the camp

Best Academic and STEM Summer Camps in Queens

Snapology Long Island City

Ages 2-14| Long Island City
Snapology helps foster a thirst for knowledge by engaging campers using LEGO bricks, K’Nex, and technology. While the kids are having fun, Snapology sneaks in the educational concepts. In most cases, kids don’t even realize how much they are learning! READ MORE

Queens Botanical Garden Camps and Classes

Ages 2-14 | Flushing
The Queens Botanical Garden offers hands-on discovery camps and classes for children of all ages. Kids’ imaginations and knowledge blossom as they plant and harvest vegetables and flowers, explore the garden’s 39 acres, and prepare the food they’ve grown. READ MORE

Tip-Top Brain Learning Center - Classes & STEAM Camps

Ages 8-11 | Astoria
Tip-Top Brain's summer STEAM camps offer an academically minded, effective preparation for the upcoming school year. Help kids avoid the summer brain drain while acquiring new skills like foundational math, reading, and writing concepts. Younger students are immersed in play-based activities, arts and crafts, read-alouds, science experiments, games, and much more. READ MORE

iD Tech Summer STEM Camps and Classes

Ages 7-17 | Flushing
iD Tech Camps strike the perfect balance between STEM skill development and summer fun, allowing kids and teens to experience a week at some of the top universities in the world. Your child will work alongside new friends and learn from expert tech mentors while taking breaks in between to enjoy outdoor play like ultimate frisbee, capture the flag, kickball, board games, and more. Virtual options are also available. READ MORE

Summer at Kew Forest

Ages 4-12 | Forest Hills
Combine the half-day academic program with the half-day recreational program at Kew-Forest for a summer that sparkles. Before- and after-camp care is available as well. READ MORE
At the World of Discovery Day Camp children can expand their horizons, explore new territories, and discover new and exciting things about themselves. Photo courtesy of the camp
At the World of Discovery Day Camp children can expand their horizons, explore new territories, and discover new and exciting things about themselves. Photo courtesy of the camp

Best Traditional Summer Camps in Queens

Rolling River Day Camp

Ages 2-15 | Rockaway
Since 1993, RRDC has provided children ages 2-15 with highly supervised, premium camp experiences that result in the development of real-life skills, friendships, and fun. Rolling River is owned and operated by a local family. Camps featuring indoor and outdoor activities are offered during school breaks.  READ MORE

Magic Day Camp

Ages 4-16 | Bayside
Magic Day Camp requires a two-week minimum. Its facility houses a full auditorium for theatre needs, a gym, and an outdoor playground. There are also jungle gyms, tennis and basketball courts, plus a picnic area for our outdoor lunches. READ MORE

World of Discovery Day Camp

Ages 4-15 | Bayside
World of Discovery offers 2 to 8 week sports or discovery day camp programs, with plenty of traditional camp experience fun. READ MORE

Blue Dolphin Summer Camp

Ages 3-15 | Flushing
Blue Dolphin offers an amazing range of activities, from taekwondo to ceramics, basketball, softball, tennis, yoga, lacrosse, hockey, gaga ball, and more! Weekly themes, dress-up-days and field trips are included, too. READ MORE

Ultimate Enrichment Summer Camp

Ages 4-14 | Flushing
Ultimate Enrichment offers summer camp programs in three locations, including Bayside and Flushing. The daily schedule is broken into 50-minute periods and kids rotate between activities, such as dance, theater, arts, robotics, engineering, science, and more. READ MORE
Give your kids a chance to learn to surf this summer at Skudin Surf Camp & Lessons. Photo courtesy of Skudin Surf
Give your kids a chance to learn to surf this summer at Skudin Surf Camp & Lessons. Photo courtesy of Skudin Surf

Best Sports Summer Camps in Queens

Long Island City Youth Soccer Academy

Ages 5-16 | Long Island City
Long Island City Youth Soccer Academy offers one of the best soccer programs for boys and girls in NYC. Based in Long Island City and Astoria, the program welcomes kids from all five boroughs.  READ MORE

Skudin Surf Camp & Lessons

Ages 4-16 | Rockaway Beach
At Skudin Surf, surfers of all ages and abilities are welcome. Skudin Surf's New York Summer Surf Camps are ideal for anyone who wants to learn to surf or improve surfing techniques in a fun and safe atmosphere.  READ MORE

Tennis Innovators Camps

Ages 3-12 | Astoria
Tennis Innovators Summer Camp caters to players ages 3-12, offering fun-filled days of tennis, sports, sprinklers, and activities, with indoor and outdoor play options in multiple locations. Camp groups are small, and campers improve their strokes and develop a true connection with the coaches and each other.  READ MORE

Industry Gymnastics

Ages 3-15 | Long Island City
Industry Gymnastics offers a wide variety of gymnastics-based programs for children of all ages, including grown-up-and-me classes, recreational gymnastics classes, competitive gymnastics teams, preschool and after-school programs, and summer and holiday camps.  READ MORE
Okabaloo's FunArtFaktory camp offers a well-rounded program with fun and enriching activities. Photo courtesy of the venue
Okabaloo's FunArtFaktory camp offers a well-rounded program with fun and enriching activities. Photo courtesy of the venue

Best Arts Summer Camps in Queens

OKABALOO FunArtFaktory - Camp

Ages 6-11 | Astoria
OKABALOO's FunArtFaktory Summer Camp offers campers an arts and fun summer to remember. Camp is geared toward kids ages 5-8, and flexible registration options are offered to meet your needs. Sign up by the hour, day, or week.  READ MORE

Dance Matters NYC - Summer Dance Adventure

Ages 3-10 | Sunnyside
Dance Matters NYC Summer Dance Adventure blends dance and art (costume-making!) to make your child’s summer experience one to remember. READ MORE

School of Rock - Queens

Ages 3-18 | Bayside
Do your kids want to learn how to play in a band or write songs? School of Rock Queens offers a wide variety of music camps and workshops teaching those exact skills! Summer music camps are perfect for musicians of any skill level who want to play guitar, bass, drums, keyboard, and sing. READ MORE

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About the Author

Drew Kristofik
Drew Kristofik’s career took a twist from editing teen magazines to a seven-year stint at MacNeil/Lehrer, followed by a long run at Nickelodeon/Viacom as Director of Content for Nick Online and Editor-in-Chief of ParentsConnect.com. A founding member of the Webby Award-winning GoCityKids, she’s written for Family Fun, Vanity Fair, and New York. Her middle school novel, The Time Boat, is available on Amazon Kindle. Drew keeps the MommyPoppins New York Events calendar spot-on and can be reached at events@mommypoppins.com.
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