Sunshine, fresh air, plenty of running around and sports. Those are some of the great reasons to send your child out of the city to one of the many wonderful country day camps that surround the city. However, if you don't want to send your child out of the city, there are some camps in the city that approximate the country day camp experience right here in New York City.

Camp Ramaquois, A day camp as complete as sleep-away camp, situated on 44 acres in Rockland County.

From adventurous activities to creative arts to athletic activities, boys & girls, ages 3-15 experience a traditional day camp program filled with a variety of stimulating activities including instructional & general swim in our 8 heated pools, boating on our 5-acre crystalline lake, tennis, basketball, volleyball, hockey, softball, soccer, computers, puppetry, ceramics, nature, dance drama, special events and much more.

What makes Ramaquois so special? For some, it is the spirit, the tradition and the unique blend of true camping with our contemporary programs; to others it is the sense of adventure, meeting new challenges and making lasting friends/memories; but for everyone, it is just everything about Ramaquois! Ramaquois is a magical camp where imagination has no bounds, where dreams come true and where friendship and memories last a lifetime
 
Contact:
Owners/Directors
Arthur and Natalie Kessler
Associate Director Phil Rainone
Camp Ramaquois
30 Mountain Road Pomona, NY 10970
845 354 1600
E mail: info@ramaquois.com
www.ramaquois.com

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

Laurel Barrie has 20 years' experience connecting families and summer camps through her free Summer Camp Matchmaking service. The Camp Connection represents over 500 summer programs that have been visited while camp is in session, referenced and reviewed. Their goal is to help make lots of Happy Campers!

We asked Laurel to answer some of our top questions about summer camp and she has been kind enough to share her expert experience with us all. Thanks, Laurel!

Thanks to everyone who commented on our Fun-a-Go-Go giveaway post. It sounds like most of you have terrific plans to get out of the city for this vacation break. But me and Naomi are going to be chillin' here in the city.

They Might be Giants' just put out a new album of kids music and while I've been a little underwhelmed with their previous albums, this one has at least one new song that is truly brilliant. In fact, I'm making it my official theme song. Check out this awesome video podcast of my new theme song that Mr. Nice Guy was nice enough to find for us.

Does your child like to make pizzas, create amazing art projects, do crazy science experiments, hang on the farm with the animals, pet snakes and learn magic tricks from the magician himself? Well, The Art Farm in the City has the perfect summer experience!

Our farm is a green/eco-friendly facility, and is the home to a wide variety of animals including bunnies, chinchillas, hamsters, guinea pigs, lizards, turtles, birds, and tropical fish. The Art Farm in the City believes that the incredible connection between children and animals teaches children independence, responsibility and compassion.

During a full day at camp kids ages 4-8 can enjoy all of these activities at The Art Farm as well take swimming lessons at the 92nd Street Y and learn soccer with Super Soccer Stars in Carl Schurz Park. Campers ages 6-8 participate in X-games in the park and choose from electives such as jewelry making, digital photography, computer, wood working, dance, drama, animal science, tennis and karaoke to customize their day.

The half-day program is offered from 9:00-12:30 for children ages 3 - 4. Here they experience a warm nurturing environment that allows them to feel comfortable with separation. Children spend time on the farm, create art masterpieces, bake goodies, sing their favorite songs and play soccer as well. The children go outside every day for soccer at Carl Schurz Park or for playground time at Asphalt Green.

Every week The Art Farm in the City offers new themes and many interesting visitors come to see the children. Goats, sheep and baby chicks come to spend the week with us, chefs from different cultures come to cook with us, and a variety of musicians come in to jam.

Summer Camp at The Art Farm'shalf-day program for 3 - 4 year olds is offered from 9:00 a.m. -12:30 p.m. and the full day program for 4 - 8 year olds is offered from 9:00 a.m. -3:00 p.m. Weekly sessions are available, and both programs are offered two, three or five days a week.

The Art Farm offers a variety of programs for children of all ages, including birthday parties, mommy & me classes, play group, after school classes, preschool, open house, and a part-time pet program. This environment provides the children with opportunities to grow socially, emotionally, physically, and intellectually in a warm, loving, and nurturing farm atmosphere. The Art Farm is also an eco-friendly facility, where the children learn to care for our planet through learning to recycle and reuse.
 
For more information visit the website for The Art Farm in the City: www.theartfarms.org, or contact us at info@theartfarms.org or 212-410-3117.
 

Check out more cool camps like this in our Summer Camp Guide.

Marymount Summer Program

1026 Fifth Avenue, NY, NY 10028,  www.marymountsummer.org

June 22^nd – July 24^th 2009

Marymount's outstanding summer program offers day camps for boys and girls (ages 3.5-13) in the heart of New York City. All camps include weekly field trips, creative arts, outdoor spots, and swim instruction.

The World Cultures Day Camp (ages 3.5-5) is run by early childhood experts and is designed to inspire creative play and encourage discovery through age appropriate indoor and outdoor activities. The program examines the richness of our world's different cultures, including: music, art, dance, language and cuisine.

Young Explorers Camp (ages 5-6) Experienced science teachers introduce campers to the world of natural and physical sciences through hands on experimentation and field studies.  Perfect for the budding scientist who loves nature and animals, building and construction, fiddling with gadgets, and mixing in test tubes while discovering their natural world.

Cabaret Musical Theater Camp (ages 5-6) For children who love to sing and dance, the camp offers an exciting and fun-filled immersion into the creative and collaborative process of musical theater. Campers will perform a Camp Cabaret of show tunes at the end of the five-week session.

The Drama Camp (ages 7-13) is a comprehensive and creative musical theater program run by professional teaching artists. Campers participate in daily workshops in dance, acting, music, and set design, culminating in the production of two full musicals. Campers participate in a Meet the Artist program, where they work with some of Broadway's most talented actors, directors and designers and attend a Broadway show.

The Science and Technology Camp (ages 7-12) Campers discover the world of natural science and technology through laboratory experiments, field studies and multimedia activities, led by a team of science and technology experts in Marymount's state of the art lab facilities. Highlights include weekly field trips to some of NYC’s most prestigious science institutions and museums, chemistry, biology, physics, engineering, video game design, and digital movie making.

Visit www.marymountsummer.org to download a brochure and registration form, or call 212-744-4486 x155.  Email:  summercamp@marymount.k12.ny.us

Summer camp is a place where children explore, develop and learn each and every day. Camp North Star cultivates independence, interpersonal skills and self-confidence, guiding young people to become the best versions of themselves.

Kids live together, play together and forge friendships that will last for a lifetime. Within an environment of traditional camp values, we designed our program from our animation classes to our zip line, with today's kid in mind. Through these programs, great leadership, and a safe and encouraging environment, we teach, model and foster real growth. Campers come away with the strength to take on new challenges and the knowledge that they can succeed.
 
Located on 200 acres, the camp surrounds a private lake and features newly renovated cabins, an arts center, theatre, dance studio, tennis courts, athletic fields, and miles of trails. An internationally minded community with campers and staff from more than 15 countries, Camp North Star promotes a sense of making this big world a little smaller at our camp in Maine.
Camp North Star- Founded 1989 (ACA) COED
200 Verrill Road Poland Spring, ME 04274
(207) 998-4777 FAX: (207) 998-4722
E-Mail: info@campnorthstarmaine.com
Website: www.CampNorthStarMaine.com
Susan and Jason Goldberg, Owners & Directors Off Season: Same Address Resident-Private: 175 Campers; Ages 7-16
Tuition: 24 Days-$4,700, 50 Days-$7,800

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