Presidents Week 2019 is approaching, leaving many parents wondering how to keep their kids occupied with school out. Chase away the winter blues and boredom cries with these classes, activities, and camps during the break.
From science experiments to jewelry making and sports skills, these Long Island camps have it all. Drop in for a day or the entire week.
For more activities during the week off, check out our Best of February Break list of events and activities, February GoList, or our daily events calendar.
You can always find more camps for kids in our Camps Guide and full directory of listings.
Science and Nature
Garvies Point Museum — Glen Cove
50 Barry Drive
February 16-23, 2019 (excluding February 17-18)
Drop in each day to make a different craft, including sand art, a talking stick, dream catcher, pottery, and more. Face painting and films are also available.
Holiday Discovery Camp — Sweetbriar Nature Center, Smithtown
62 Eckernkamp Drive
February 18-22, 2019
Ages 3-11
Sweetbriar offers a number of natural science programs. Each day children participate in hands-on activities, crafts, wildlife presentations, and more. Themes include "How To Train Your Bearded Dragon," "Even Animals Bundle Up", "Frozen: NOT the Musical", "Tropical Vacations," and "Penguins, Polar Bears and Pikas."
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Discover the power of science at the Center for Science Teaching and Learning.
School's Out! Winter Camp — Center for Science Teaching and Learning, Rockville Centre
1 Tanglewood Road
February 18-22, 2019
Ages 4-12
Children can explore 17 acres of nature, visit and encounter live animals, conduct experiments, and take part in science shows and demonstrations conducted by a staff of professional teachers. After-care options are available.
Minecraft Camp — Cradle of Aviation, Garden City
Charles Lindbergh Blvd.
Ages 9+
Minecraft: Theme Park Mania! This camp will have students build their very own Minecraft amusement parks! Students will have to navigate a number of Engineering and teamwork challenges to do so. Students will draft blueprints and plans for their parks on paper before beginning to create it in Minecraft to make it as much like the process of designing a real amusement park as possible.
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Kids will be inspired by the hands-on projects at the Winter Recess Children's Workshop at the Vanderbilt Museum.
Vanderbilt Winter Recess Children's Workshops — Vanderbilt Museum , Centerport
180 Little Neck Road
February 18-22, 2019
Ages 5-10
Children in grades pre-K through 3 can learn, create and have fun in February school break workshops offered by the Learning Center at the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum.
Winter Break Nature Program — Ward Melville Heritage Organization , Stony Brook
97 Main St.
February 19-21, 2019
Ages 6-9
Children explore winter themes of animal migration and hibernation in this three-day art and science workshop.
STEAM Winer Break Mini Camp — Long Island Explorium
101 East Broadway
February 18-22, 2019
Ages 5-12
The Long Island Explorium is offering five days of STEAM workshops during the February break. Kids can register for one or all five days. Programs are run by qualified educators and certified teachers. Every day is a unique experience.
Winter Fun-Cation — Long Island Aquarium, Riverhead
431 West Main Street
February 18-22, 2019
Ages 6-13
Kids can tour the aquarium, including the "Butterflies, Bugs & Birds" exhibit, feed the stingrays, check out the sea lion show, visit the arcade, make a craft, and more. Send your child for the entire week or for just a day or two.
Winter Recess Workshops — Science Museum of Long Island, Plandome
1526 North Plandome Road
February 18-22, 2019
Ages 3 and older
Explore a new area of science, engineering, history, or nature at the Science Museum of Long Island's drop-off workshops. Attend for a single day or the entire week.
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Learn about the East End's natural world at the Quogue Wildlife Refuge.
Winter Wildlife Camp — Quogue Wildlife Refuge
3 Old Country Road
February 19-22, 2019
Ages 5-11
Experience wildlife, education, and fun at the refuge. Each day includes a hike, craft, and encounters furry and scaly animals.
Art, Music, Theater, and Writing
Kids can challenge their creativity at Golden Eagle Art Store's Mini Art Camp in East Hampton.
February Recess Mini Art Camp — Golden Eagle Art Store, East Hampton
144 N. Main St.
February 18-22, 2019
Ages 6-11
Students enjoy adventures in print making on the press in the barn, relief painting with bottle caps, sculpting with found organic materials, drawing and mixed media collage.
Break for Art — Nassau County Museum of Art, Roslyn Harbor
1 Museum Drive
February 19-21, 2019
Ages 3 and older
Families can enjoy the school break together with three days of art making and gallery tours inspired by the current exhibition on view, "Wild Kingdom."
VacationArts — Gold Coast Arts Center, Great Neck
113 Middle Neck Road
February 19-22, 2019
Ages: Pre-K through grade 7
Children enjoy sessions in art, music, ceramics, chess, and acting taught by experienced teachers and artists. Attend one or all days.
Winter Recess Mini Camp — As You Wish, Merrick
418A Bedford Ave.
February 18-22, 2019
Ages 4-12
Enjoy a cool craft, lunch, and games. All materials are included and each day is assigned a different theme.
Sports and Gyms
M.A.T.S.S. Mini Camp — Bellmore, Syosset
2629 Grand Avenue, Bellmore; 171 Eileen Way, Syosset
February 19-21, 2019
Ages 2-12
Kids enjoy play, crafts, snacks, and more at this drop-off daily camp. In the gym, kids can balance, jump, and tumble their way to fun.
Sportime Junior Tennis and Multisports Camps — Islandwide
February 18-22, 2019
Locations in Amagansett, Bethpage, East Quogue, Kings Park, Lynbrook, Roslyn, and Syosset
Some Long Island Sportime centers offer tennis-only camps while others feature multisport camps. Multisport programs teach fundamental skills for basketball, baseball, and soccer. Prices vary by center. See the website for full listings and details.
Swim-Skate-Sports — Freeport Recreation Center, Freeport
130 East Merrick Road
February 19-22, 2019
Swim in an indoor heated pool, ice skate on an indoor rink, or play a sport in the gymnasium. Ages 4 and older. NOTE: An adult must remain on the premises.
RELATED: Sports centers and fun zones for LI kids
Enjoy a host of athletic activities during open play at Long Island Sports Complex in Freeport.
Long Island Sports Complex Open Play — Freeport
103 Mill Road
February 19-21, 2019
Ages 6-12
Enjoy two indoor drop-off sessions daily, or kids can stay for the whole day. Indoor sports include soccer, baseball, Gaga, basketball, dodgeball, Pillo hockey, kickball, football, and more.
Photos courtesy of the camps. This post is updated annually.
