6 Summer Camps in New York City - A Guide for 2023

New York City (NYC) offers a wide array of summer camps, catering to every age, skill level, and interest. Whether your child is into nature, STEM, dance, sports, or just looking for a traditional day camp, NYC has it all. These programs provide a perfect opportunity for children to explore new interests, develop new skills, and make new friends. The camp options include free camps, camps with swimming programs, sports camps, and even camps specifically designed for tweens and teens

Chess NYC Camp

Chess NYC Camp offers both in-person and online chess programs for children. They host camps on most days that schools are closed, and they offer a wide range of programs for different ages and skill levels. The programs include afterschool lessons, weekend programs, and summer camps.

The in-person camps happen in various locations in New York City, such as Soho, Upper East Side, and Williamsburg. Each camp has a different environment, with some taking place in school grounds, others in a state-of-the-art facility or the heart of trendy neighborhoods.

A typical camp day lasts from 8:45 AM to 5:15 PM and includes various activities, such as chess coaching, group activities, outdoor fun, water play, sports, optional Pizza lunch, and ice cream. There is always chess available, with about three hours of chess activities threaded through each full day. They offer both half-day (AM or PM) and full-day options.

In addition to the regular Fun & Training Camp, they offer a more rigorous GM Inspired TAG Camp for those committed to successfully competing in chess. This camp is led by Grand Masters and other advanced coaches and promises to be life-changing for the students.

Chess NYC also offers online camps, which replicate the experience of being physically present and are available to the entire world, as long as you can join them between 9 AM and 5 PM on weekdays when schools are closed.

Website: https://www.chessnyc.com/
Contact Info: +1 (866) 321-2437
Email Address: info@chessnyc.com
Address: 108 Wooster Street, Suite #C2, New York, NY 10012

French Summer Day Camps at French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF)

The French Summer Day Camps at FIAF offer a range of programs for toddlers, kids, and teens from June 20 to September 1, 2023. These camps are aimed to help students learn French, stay active, and make friends throughout the summer​.

Different programs are offered for different age groups:

Fun in French Day Camps for Toddlers & Kids: This program is aimed at children aged 3 to 5 and grades K to 5. It runs from June 20 to August 18. The camp focuses on arts and includes various forms of art expression such as music, dance, painting, theatre, and comics​.

French Classes for Toddlers & Kids: This program is for children aged 1 to 5 and grades K to 1. It runs from June 24 to September 1. The classes are tailored to each age group and every level, from complete beginners to native French speakers​​.

Cultural Discoveries for Teens: This program is for students in grades 6 to 12 and runs from June 20 to August 11. The program includes interactive workshops and visits to museums, parks, and cultural centers around the city​.

Immersion Classes for Teens: This program is for students in grades 6 to 12 and runs from June 20 to August 18. Teens can fast-track their French learning and get a head start on the school year in morning classes that meet daily, Monday-Friday​.


Website: https://fiaf.org/
Contact Info: membership@fiaf.org
Address: 22 East 60th Street New York, NY 10022
Pricing: For kids in grades K–1 (ages 5–6) and grades 2–5 (ages 7–10), the 1-week camps cost $789 per week​2​.

For toddlers, the pricing is $555 per week for members and $615 per week for non-members. Discounts are available for multiple weeks​

NYC Guitar School Summer Camp

The NYC Guitar School Summer Camp offers an experience designed to help campers grow both as musicians and individuals. It emphasizes playing music with others and performing on stage, which is considered one of the most transformative experiences for a young musician.

The camp provides different programs, including the Rock Band & Recording program. In this program, advanced students collaborate to create original music under the guidance of an expert coach. During the second week of the session, campers spend 4 hours in the studio recording with a professional engineer. This allows the students not only to perform live on-stage but also to leave the camp with a recorded & mixed original track.

Age groups catered to are kids 8-11 years old, 12-14 years old, and 15-17 years old. Kids aged 8-11 are not allowed off campus for lunch, while parents of those aged 12-14 can choose during registration whether their child is allowed off campus for lunch and whether they self-dismiss or are picked up at the end of the day. All 15-17-year-olds are allowed off campus for lunch.

Website: https://www.nycguitarschool.com/summer-camp/
Contact Info: (646) 485-7244
Email Address: info@nycguitarschool.com
Address: 251 West 30th St. 7th Floor, New York, NY 10001

The New York Theatre Ballet (NYTB) School

The New York Theatre Ballet (NYTB) School in the East Village is offering a Summer Intensive camp from July 10-22, 2023. This camp is designed to provide world-class Cecchetti training under the leadership of the Artistic Director Diana Byer, along with the faculty from NYTB School and guest instructors. The program is open five days a week, from Monday to Friday, and is tailored for students aged 8 to 13.

A sample day at the camp would begin with Ballet Technique/Pointe classes from 10am to 12pm, followed by a 45-minute lunch break. The afternoon session, running from 12:45pm to 4:00pm, alternates between Modern and Jazz Dance classes, supplemented by an enrichment class of Choreography. There are also guest lectures and field trips to cultural institutions such as the Radio City Music Hall, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Library for the Performing Arts.

Website: https://nytb.org/ballet-school-ny/summerintensive2023
Contact Info: (212) 679-0401
Email address: admin@nytb.org​
Address: St. Mark's Church-in-the-Bowery, 131 East 10th Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10003

Harlem School of the Arts Summer Programs

The Harlem School of the Arts offers several summer programs.

The "Harlem Summer Arts Experience" runs from July 10 to August 18, 2023, in three 2-week sessions. This camp invites children ages 4-12 to sing, dance, act, and design while immersing themselves in the history of Harlem. Pricing is $1,000 per session, and financial aid is available. An automatic package discount of 14% is applied when signing up for all 3 sessions​.

The "HSA Summer Dance Intensive" takes place from August 7-25, 2023. This program is ballet and modern-based for students with at least three years of consistent training. The curriculum includes contemporary, Jazz, Horton Technique, Improvisation, Street Jazz, Hip-Hop, Lindy Hop, and more. Students who do not train in the HSA Dance program can send in a 2-minute video audition​.

The "Artistry Lab" runs from August 8-31, 2023, for ages 11-18. The program focuses on building core skills and crafting portfolio-level pieces, including figure drawing and anatomy to digital art using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. The program ends with a gallery exhibition.

The "Acting Lab" runs from August 14 to September 1, 2023, for ages 11-18. This program immerses participants in a dynamic exploration of acting techniques, including improv comedy, August Wilson monologues, and commercial auditioning. Students can register for 1 week, 2 weeks, or 3 weeks.


Website: https://hsanyc.org/
Contact Info: (212) 926-4100
Email Address: communications@hsanyc.org​
Address: THE HERB ALPERT CENTER 645 Saint Nicholas Avenue New York, NY 10030

YMCA of Greater New York Summer Camp

The YMCA of Greater New York hosts an in-person summer camp across all five boroughs of the city. This camp offers a fun, enriching, and high-quality experience for children of all ages, providing a variety of activities to cater to different interests​. The summer camp runs from July 3 through August 25, 2023, in two-week sessions. Specifically, Session 1 is from July 3 to July 14, Session 2 from July 17 to 28, Session 3 from July 31 to August 11, and Session 4 from August 14 to 25​​. The camp hours and prices vary depending on the location​.

In addition to the day camps, the YMCA of Greater New York also offers a sleepaway camp option in collaboration with other YMCA branches in the NY region. Scholarships are available for these camps, covering up to 95% of the cost​. Furthermore, individuals who are YMCA members are eligible for a discount on summer camp fees​.

Website: https://ymcanyc.org/
Contact Info: 845-858-2200
Email Address: info@ymcanyc.org.
Address: 300 Big Pond Road Huguenot, NY 12746

New York City offers a plethora of summer camps that cater to a variety of interests and age groups. From the strategic play of Chess NYC Camp, the cultural immersion at French Institute Alliance Française, the musical journey at NYC Guitar School, the classic art form exploration at the New York Theatre Ballet School, the diverse artistry at the Harlem School of the Arts, to the comprehensive experiences at the YMCA of Greater New York - each camp presents a unique opportunity for children and teenagers to explore, learn, and grow. These camps embody the vibrancy and diversity of NYC, ensuring that every child can find a camp that suits their interests and helps them make the most out of their summer.