Cross County Center’s popular pop-up ice skating rink is located right in the heart of the center. Photo courtesy of Cross County Center
Christmas Vacation in Westchester and the Hudson Valley: 40 Things To Do with Kids
A Frosty Fest in Ulster Park features a drive-thru display of holiday lights and animations with music and actors. Photo courtesy of the fest
Christmas Weekend 2024 in Westchester and the Hudson Valley: Best Things To Do
GUIDE
Holiday and Christmas Activities Guide for Westchester Kids
The Keeler Christmas light display in Putnam Valley features nearly 1 million lights.
Best Neighborhood Christmas Light Displays and Holiday Lights in Westchester
Peace, Love & Lights at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts features lots of groovy displays. Photo by Katherine Dhurandhar
Spectacular Neighborhood Christmas Lights and Holiday Light Displays in the Hudson Valley
Must-Do Christmas Events and Holiday Activities in the Hudson Valley
Journey through illuminated tunnels at Lumina - A Magical Lights Experience at Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard. Photo by the author
Must-Do Christmas Events and Holiday Activities in Westchester
Enjoy the free holiday parade and drone show at the Galleria at Crystal Run in Middletown. Photo courtesy of the event
32 Free Holiday and Christmas Events in Westchester and the Hudson Valley for Kids
Legoland New York has gotten a seasonal makeover with plenty of festive fun, food, and attractions during its Holiday Bricktacular.
Why a Visit to the Legoland New York Holiday Bricktacular Is a Seasonal Must-Do
Celebrate the holiday spirit at the Snow Ball with the Snow Sisters at FASNY Museum of Firefighting. Photo courtesy of FASNY
24 Best Things To Do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley December 2024 with Kids
All aboard a festively decorated Polar Express train ride for some holiday magic and memories. Photo by Gwendolyn Tundermann
Polar Express Train Rides and Christmas Trains near NYC
This December, Westchester Ballet Company returns to Lehman Center for the Performing Arts.
Westchester Ballet Company’s World-Class “The Nutcracker” Coming to Lehman Center
Castle Fun Center in Chester has a giant inflatable park, a rock wall, laser tag, and more. Photo by Katherine Dhurandhar
15 Family Fun Centers in Westchester and the Hudson Valley
Peekskill, NY, is a lovely riverfront community that acts an the unofficial gateway to the Hudson Valley.
25 Best Things To Do in Peekskill, NY, with Kids
Grab a colorful treat at Harley's Sweet Shop in Woodstock. Photo courtesy of the shop
25 Best Things To Do in Woodstock, NY, with Kids
Kids can climb the walls at the Cliffs in Valhalla. Photo courtesy of the Cliffs
29 Things To Do on a Rainy Day Indoors in Westchester and the Hudson Valley
GUIDE
Guide to Indoor Fun for Westchester & Hudson Valley Kids
Romp through the woods in the beautiful Catskills. Photo by Deborah Dadlani
40 Best Things To Do in the Catskills with Kids
Touch the soft rabbits at the Greenburgh Nature Center's petting zoo in Scarsdale. Photo courtesy of the center
Best Animal Petting Zoos near Westchester and the Hudson Valley Where Kids Can Meet Animals
Explore what makes things fly with the Westchester Children's Museum's Wind Tunnel Design Challenge. Photo courtesy of the museum
Visiting the Westchester Children's Museum in Rye: New and Ongoing Exhibits
Friends young and old enjoy the attractions and Legoland New York, the first major theme park in the Northeast in 40 years.
  VIDEO
Legoland New York: A Guide to Visiting the Hudson Valley Theme Park with Kids
GUIDE
Classes Guide for Westchester & Hudson Valley Kids
The Play Place in Elmsford is one of Westchester's top indoor play spaces.
Top Indoor Playgrounds and Play Spaces in Westchester
Tig & Peach offers drop-in, no reservations required, open play 7 days a week.
7 Indoor Playgrounds in Westchester and the Hudson Valley for a Wild Romp
Aspiring artists love the 3-hour workshops at MADE Art Studio in Mamaroneck,
Free and Affordable Summer Camps in Westchester and the Hudson Valley
Tour the Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze, an annual rite of fall. Courtesy Historic Hudson Valley
100 Things To Do in Westchester and the Hudson Valley Before Kids Grow Up
Summer camps are a great way to make new friends and develop new skills
GUIDE
Summer Camps Guide for Westchester & Hudson Valley Kids
These boredom-busting activities turn a stuck-at-home day into a lasting memory.
75 Indoor Activities for Kids on a Rainy Day
Kids love a birthday party filled with games and pizza at Chuck E. Cheese. Photo courtesy of Chuck E. Cheese
Best Fun Restaurants for Kids' Birthdays in Westchester
Head to the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum from 5-8 pm on the third Saturday of the month to explore the museum for free, Photo by the author
Free Museums and Museum Days in Westchester and the Hudson Valley
Kids can run, swing, slide, and even make music at Sally’s Dream Playground in Montgomery. Photo by Katherine Dhurandhar
Top Playgrounds in Westchester and the Hudson Valley Worth Driving To
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
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
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
These kids' movies are classic hits!
75 Best Movies for Kids: Top Family Movie Night Ideas
Westchester kids will love a visit during FREE hours at the Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum. Photo by KD
GUIDE
Guide to Free Fun Things to Do with Westchester Kids
GUIDE
Guide to Playgrounds & Parks in Westchester & the Hudson Valley
Suncatcher_Liz Baill @creativishmom
GUIDE
Boredom Busters for Kids

Best Summer Camps in the Hudson Valley, NY

Camp Ramaquois is one of many standout summer camps in the Hudson Valley. Photo courtesy of the camp
Camp Ramaquois is one of many standout summer camps in the Hudson Valley. Photo courtesy of the camp
3/12/23 - By Katherine Dhurandhar

The Hudson Valley's mountainous landscapes, natural swimming lakes, and open spaces make it the ideal location for kids' summer camps. Whether you are looking for a traditional summer day camp for your preschooler, sleepaway camp for your kid, or an adventure camp for your teen, we've found the best camps throughout the Hudson Valley. Our picks in the Hudson Valley include sports and STEM camps, a special needs summer camp, and even a summer wolf camp for kids. 

For more summer camps in the Hudson Valley, including affordable summer camps, dance summer camps, and sports camps, be sure to bookmark our Westchester Summer Camp Guide and our Camp Directory, where you can search for summer camps by type, age, and town. 

Subscribe to our newsletters to get stories like this delivered directly to your inbox. 

 

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Campers can make a splash at Deer Mountain Summer Day Camp. Photo courtesy of the camp
Campers can make a splash at Deer Mountain Summer Day Camp. Photo courtesy of the camp

Best Summer Camps in the Rockland County, NY

Deer Mountain Day Camp

Pomona
Ages 3-15
Campers aged 3 to 15 enjoy a diverse camp agenda, including swimming, sports, fine and performing arts, outdoor adventure, nature, STEM, lake activities, and special events. The Nursery program, for ages 3-4, features a 2:1 camper to adult ratio, with 4-6 children per group. Nursery kids have a designated lunch area and their own heated pool. READ MORE

Deerkill Day Camp

Suffern
Ages 3-15
Owned and directed by the Rhodes Family since 1958, Deerkill has been the summer home for boys and girls ages 3 to 15 from Manhattan, Rockland, Bergen, Orange, Hoboken, and Montclair for nearly 60 years. The camps are divided by age group, with age-appropriate activities for each, including nursery school and swim instruction for kids entering pre-K and athletic programs, and STEM topics for older kids. READ MORE

Camp Ramaquois

Pomona
Ages 3-15
Campers ages 3-15 experience a variety of activities to amp up their summer. With a 5-acre lake, nine heated swimming pools, a splash park, tennis courts, a petting zoo, and more, there's no shortage of fun. Junior Camp for 3-6 year olds offers age-appropriate activities and facilities, while older kids have travel options. READ MORE

The Nature Place Day Camp

Chestnut Ridge
Ages 5-16
Camp at The Nature Place is about being in and connecting with the natural world: nature explorations, cooperative games, hiking, earth art, swimming lessons, mucking in the stream, camping, canoeing, climbing, gardening, meeting animals, storytelling, music, archery, drama, and more.  READ MORE
Campers learn survival skills at Eden Village Camp. Photo courtesy of the camp
Campers learn survival skills at Eden Village Camp. Photo courtesy of the camp

Top Putnam County, NY Summer Camps

Kiwi Country Day Camp

Carmel
Ages 3-15
Children as young as 3 are eligible to attend this long-established day camp, which offers flexible scheduling options, hot lunch, and transportation. Activities include swimming, sports, performing arts, outdoor adventures, special events, and more, with select activities reserved for older kids. Preschoolers can choose either full- or half-day camp. READ MORE

Green Chimneys

Brewster & Carmel
Ages 4-15
Multiple scheduling options and two campuses in Putnam County are available, with camps for kids from age 4 to 15. The Carmel site offers a lake with boating and swimming, along with other outdoor recreation, while the Brewster location features a canoe launch on the Great Swamp, an Olympic-size indoor pool, and a farm center housing more than 300 animals. Programs are divided by age and include a Leaders in Training program for grade 9 and a Counselor in Training program for grade 10.  READ MORE

Camp Herrlich

Patterson
Ages 3-18
Situated on 156 acres of land with a 15-acre pond, Camp Herrlich offers nature, adventure, and water activities, plus dance and theater, arts, music, and more. Day camp is available for 10 weeks in the summer, featuring a different theme every week, and sleepaway camp is available in 3-week-long sessions. The Leader in Training (LIT) Program gives older campers the skills they need to become camp counselors while also letting them enjoy the fun of camp activities. READ MORE

Surprise Lake Camp

Cold Spring
Ages 6-15
As the oldest Jewish sleepaway camp in the United States, Surprise Lake Camp is dedicated to helping kids unplug and connect to nature while developing values, confidence, and skills to last a lifetime. With more than 50 activities and electives available, campers at SLC enjoy a summer of spectacular adventure—all 100% unplugged from phones and screentime.  READ MORE

Eden Village Camp

Putnam Valley
Ages 8-16
Eden Village Camp is an eco-conscious, Jewish faith sleepaway camp based on six core program areas – Farm to Table, Music, Culinary Arts, Survival Skills, Herbalism, and Yahadut (Jewish spirituality). Eden's summer camp is available for kids entering 3rd grade. Special camps are available for teens in 10th and 11th grades, including a Forest and Food Adirondack Adventure and an Eden Israel Experience.   READ MORE
Timber Lake Summer Camp sits on two spring-fed lakes. Photo courtesy of the camp
Timber Lake Summer Camp sits on two spring-fed lakes. Photo courtesy of the camp

More Great Hudson Valley Summer Camps for Kids

Southwoods

Adirondacks
Ages 7-17
Southwoods is a 4-week, co-ed, sleepaway camp located in the Adirondack Mountains of Upstate New York. Children can explore and grow while being immersed in a variety of outdoor, waterfront, arts, and sports programs.  READ MORE

Summer Camp at the Wolf Conservation Center

South Salem
Ages 6-13
Get wild with wolves this summer! Campers will explore nature like an expedition leader and study plants and animals like a scientist--all while peering into the lives of one of the most magnificent creatures: wolves. READ MORE

Frost Valley YMCA Camp

Claryville
Ages 4-15
Frost Valley YMCA offers day camps as well as sleepaway camps with specialty camps including horse and farm camps, teen adventure camps, and camps for kids with special needs. Activities at the standard day camp include arts and crafts, sports and games, hiking, climbing, swimming, and soaring on the flying squirrel zip line. Bus transportation is available from several locations in Sullivan and Ulster Counties.   READ MORE

Timber Lake Summer Camp

Shandaken
Ages 6-13
Timber Lake Camp sits on a mountaintop surrounded by 500 acres in New York’s Catskill Mountains, just 2.5 hours from New York City. The traditional, co-ed camp features two private, spring-fed lakes, and tons of activities, including a wide selection of sports, watersports, hiking, climbing, STEM, and creative arts. The teen program includes trips, life skills, and leadership training. READ MORE

Places featured in this article: