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!

Our exciting program of activities is located in the York Avenue Preschool and Gymtime, Rhythm and Glues facility. Our safe, spacious and exciting indoor environment is the perfect setting for a wide variety of arts and crafts, music, cooking, sports and gymnastics. All of this is perfectly complimented by more adventures in the outdoor water play area and our new playground equipment. Your children are in safe hands.
 
Summer Breeze counselors are often regular members of York Avenue Preschool and Gymtime, Rhythm and Glues maintaining the same high standards that we expect throughout the school year. Summer Breeze day camp is for separated children from the ages of 3 years to 5.3 years. For more information please contact us at 212-861-7732 or visit our website at www.gymtime.net

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

An alternative to all-day camp, this 3-day per week workshop cultivates creative exploration in the visual arts for young emerging artists.

Children will discover the magical, messy, and multi-dimensional world of art making with their efforts celebrated in an exhibition presented in our renowned Jane Hartsook Gallery. Found objects, body mapping, contour drawing, collaborative sculpture making, and of course, plenty of clay work are just some of the projects to be discovered. 

For more information, visit GreenwichHousePottery.org

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

This summer, as it has for decades, the 92nd Street Y offers a number of excellent summer camps to nearly 1,500 school-aged children of all backgrounds, interests and needs. From Camp Yomi, the Y's flagship camp, perfect for children entering Kindergarten through 4th grade, to specialized camps for the developmentally challenged, artistically inclined or sports savvy, 92nd Street Y camps give children an opportunity to grow physically, socially, emotionally and intellectually.

The attentive staff and specially trained counselors help provide campers with a memorable summer through creative programs offering exciting learning experiences and rich memories that can be taken with them throughout life. The 92nd Street Y's Camp Tova and Camp Bari Tov offer supportive, enriching programs that help children with special needs make new friends and grow through a rewarding camp experience. Camp Haverim offers children entering the 5th and 6th grades the opportunity to test their independence with new and challenging experiences, including overnight trips, camping expeditions and white water rafting. Camp Yaffa (ages 8-11) specializes in visual and performing arts. Camp Tevah (ages 8-11) focuses on science and nature. Fantastic Gymnastics offers children ages 6-13 a unique gymnastics program that also includes swimming, dance, studio art and field trips.

Then there's Camp K Ton Ton, a day camp for children ages 3-5 utilizing the 92nd Street Y Nursery School facilities; Camp Kesher and Kesher Jr., one- and two-week sleep away programs for children ages 7-11; and Trailblazers, a program of exciting day and overnight trips for 7th through 9th graders.

Camps Yomi and Haverim, Tova and Bari Tov, and Yaffa and Tevah use the bucolic 100-acre campus at the Y's Rockland County campgrounds, which feature two new baseball fields this summer, a new climbing tower (with varying levels of difficulty) and a new Spacenet the flexible, interactive jungle gym of the 21st century. That's in addition to three pools for instructional and recreational swim; a lake for boating; art, ceramics and jewelry-making studios; a nature center; and a technology center with film, photography and computer equipment.

No matter what your child's age or interest, there's something for everyone at the 92nd Street Y Camps! 92nd Street Y Camps 212.415.5573 www.92Y.org/camps www.92Y.org/camps

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

Providing classic conservatory-style training in everything from clowns to Shakespeare, Soap operas to commercials, biz kids ny encourages students ages 8 years to adult to explore acting in traditional, new and thought provoking ways.

The audition process for the class allows the director to enter the appropriate class. Then students enter the challenging training program to learn the techniques and skills necessary to work in this industry. While many students ultimately act professionally in plays or musicals or in film, television or radio. The most important aspect of the training program is how it develops each student's character.

Through engaging lessons, students gain confidence, self-awareness and self-esteem. Students also gain self-respect and respect for the craft. The acting school's training program encompasses classes in mime, mask, improvisation, musical theater, speech, dance, movement and script interpretation in classic and contemporary works in theater, television and film.

Biz kids ny strongly emphasizes the audition process for camera and the business of acting. Access more information about the incredible creative offerings online at www.bizkidsny.com.

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