10 Must-Try Brooklyn Summer Camps!
Here’s our last-minute guide to the very best summer day camps that Brooklyn has to offer!
1. Textile Arts Center
Campers will go on weekly field trips to inspire in-depth weaving and textile design projects alongside working artists and designers who are passionate about nurturing children’s creativity. Kids will create daily craft projects utilizing fiber and textiles, and spend plenty of time outdoors doing free-play and engaging in other community-building activities. On Fridays, campers are given the opportunity to showcase their creations.
Ages: 5 to 13 years old
Dates: weekly, July 9th to August 17th
Camp hours: 9am to 3pm for 5-6 year olds, 9am to 5pm for 7-13 year olds. During optional extended hours, all children join the 7-8 year old group from 3pm to 5pm. After care is also available for all ages until 6pm for an additional fee.
Cost: $450 per week for ages 5-6, $500 per week for ages 7-13 (10% sibling discount and $25 off multiple sessions)
Location: 505 Carroll Street (between 3rd and 4th Avenues) in Gowanus; a 2-minute walk from the R at Union St and a 12-minute walk from the F/G/R at 4th Avenue-9th Street
Contact info@textileartscenter.com or 718-369-0222 for more info.
2. The League of Young Inventors
This summer series combines storytelling, hands-on exploration, and construction to ignite curiosity and creativity, as campers “unlock the mysteries of our mechanical world.” Camp themes include: INVENTIONS OF PLAY: THE ART & DESIGN OF TOYS and SPY CAMP: THE ART & DESIGN OF BEING SNEAKY. Whenever appropriate, the kids get to test their inventions outdoors in nearby Prospect Park.
Ages: rising kindergartners to rising 5th graders
Dates: weekly, July 2nd to August 24th
Camp hours: 8:50am to 3:00pm (optional extended care until 6pm for an additional fee)
Cost: $500/week
Location: 407 7th Avenue (corner of 13th Street) in Park Slope; a 5-minute walk from the F/G at 7th Avenue and 11-minute walk from the R at Prospect Avenue
Contact info@yileague.org or 347-442-5285 for more info.
3. One World Project
Hola Summer! This Spanish-immersion summer camp offers an imaginative tour of various Spanish-speaking countries, all without leaving Brooklyn. Through a variety of art, games, sports, music, cooking, outdoor play, and field trips for older children, your child will learn Spanish while having fun in a nurturing and caring environment. Healthy snacks will be provided.
Ages: 2 to 10 years old, separated into three groups: 2 and 3 year olds; 4 and 5 year olds; and 6 to 10 year olds
Dates: weekly, July 2nd to August 24th
Camp hours: 9am to 3pm (optional early drop off at 8am and extended care until 6pm for an additional fee)
Cost: $500/week (enroll for more than one week and receive a $50 per week discount)
Location: 302 Vanderbilt Street (corner of E. 3rd Street) in Windsor Terrace; a 4-minute walk from the F/G at Fort Hamilton Parkway
Contact joanne@oneworldproject.org or 718-435-2840 for more info.
4. Double Daring Summer Camp for Girls
This program is all about confidence-building and fostering self-esteem in a fun, interactive environment. Under the guidance of a supportive staff, girls are grouped with peers their own age to reveal their individual passions and overcome challenges through a range of adventures that are rooted in science, literature, public service, and fine arts. The sessions are in two-week increments.
Ages: 1st through 9th graders
Dates: 2-week sessions; June 18th to August 24th
Camp hours: 9am to 4pm (extended care available until 6pm)
Cost: $995 for a 2-week period (scholarships available)
Location: YWCA, 30 3rd Avenue (State Street/Atlantic Avenue) in Downtown Brooklyn; a 4-minute walk from the 2/3/4/5/B/D/N/Q/R at Atlantic Avenue-Barclays and a 6-minute walk from the G at Fulton Street and a 7-minute walk from the A/C at Hoyt-Schermerhorn
Contact ddcgdirector@gmail.com or 718-669-7799 for more info.
5. Animation and Music Camp
In this imaginative stop motion animation camp, children will be creating their own original animation movies. The process will cultivate their curiosity, enhance their self-expression, and engage new friendships. This enriching experience is designed so that children explore sound, music, drumming, martial arts and other indoor/outdoor activities, including daily recess in Brooklyn Bridge Park. Groups are limited to 6 campers a day, and students must bring their own iPad or iPhone with the appropriate charger.
Ages: 5 to 9 years old
Dates: weekly, June 11th to August 31st
Camp hours: 9am to 3pm (optional early drop off at 8am and extended care until 6pm for an additional fee)
Cost: $500/week (10% sibling discount)
Location: 247 Water Street in DUMBO; a 4-minute walk from the F at York Street, a 10-minute walk from the A/C at High Street, and a 14-minute walk from the 2/3 at Clark Street
Contact dumbocamp@gmail.com for more info.
6. Brooklyn Robot Foundry
This summer series fosters a delight in engineering, coding, circuitry, robot building, and design. In the regular Robot Explorers program, kids will build eight robots each week. For those who have attended the Foundry’s workshops before, there is a Robot Inventor track, as well as a Robot Programmer track, and also an all-girls week.
Ages: kindergartners to 7th graders
Dates: weekly, July 9th to August 31st
Camp hours: 9am to 3pm (optional extended care until 6pm for an additional fee)
Cost: $690/week
Location: 492 Atlantic Avenue in Boerum Hill; a 4-minute walk from the 2/3/4/5 at Nevins Street, a 5-minute walk from the 2/3/4/5/B/D/N/Q/R at Atlantic Avenue-Barclays, a 6-minute walk from the A/C/G at Hoyt-Schermerhorn AND 586 Fifth Avenue in South Slope; a 3-minute walk from the R at Prospect Avenue and a 9-minute walk from the F/G/R at 4th Avenue-9th Street
Contact contact@brooklynrobotfoundry.com or 347-762-6840 for more info.
7. Brooklyn Arts Exchange (BAX)
This program immerses children in a range of art forms, from visual arts, music, circus performance, dance, movement, tumbling, storytelling, and theater. Campers create informal group performances at the end of each week. They also get plenty of time to play both indoors and outdoors.
Ages: rising kindergartners to 6th graders
Dates: weekly, July 2nd to August 17th
Camp hours: 9am to 3pm (optional early drop-off at 8am/8:30am and extended care until 5:45pm for an additional fee)
Cost: $550/week
Location: 421 Fifth Avenue (7th/8th Streets) in Park Slope; a 5-minute walk from the F/G/R at 9th Street.
Contact info@bax.org or 718-832-0018 for more info.
8. Shakespeare Camp!
Through interactive games, art projects, raucous rehearsals, and history lessons, children will discover the joys of Shakespeare through one of his plays. This culminates in a performance that is designed, built and acted by the campers.
Ages: 7 to 10 years old and 5th to 8th graders
Dates: weekly for 7 to 10 year olds, and 2-week sessions for 5th to 8th graders; July 23rd to August 10th
Camp hours: 9am to 3pm (optional early drop-off at 8am/8:30am and extended care until 5:45pm for an additional fee)
Cost: $420/week or $800 for 2 weeks (scholarships available)
Location: 371 Court Street, 2nd Floor in Carroll Gardens; a 2-minute walk to the F/G at Carroll Street and a 17-minute walk to the R at Union Street.
Contact theyoungcollectives@gmail.com for more info.
9. Kim’s Kids Summer Camp
This nature-oriented day camp offers daily adventures throughout New York City, including hiking and running through the woods, swimming in lakes, rock climbing, and more. It’s an opportunity for kids to be kids and to make new friends. Playing takes place both indoors and outdoors with at least one adventure trip each day. Healthy snacks are provided.
Ages: 4-1/2 to 12 years old
Dates: 2-week sessions, July 2nd to August 10th
Camp hours: 9am to 3pm (optional early drop-off at 8am at PS 321, where children play in the adjoining school yard, and extended care until 6pm, for an additional fee).
Cost: $1,210 for two weeks or $2,685 for six weeks; you can arrange a 3-day week or 4 or 5-day week
Location: 378 3rd Street (5th/6th Avenues) in Park Slope
Contact Kimskidscamp@gmail.com or 718-768-6419 for more info.
10. Brooklyn Acting Lab
The theme of this year’s camp is “A Summer of Wonder, Courage and Kindness.” Kids will enjoy a creative and immersive theatrical experience, as they enter a magical world of make-believe, develop characters, and perform for an audience. Each week has a different focus, from clowning/improv to an exploration of Sondheim, and more.
Ages: rising kindergartners to 5th graders
Dates: weekly, June 18th to August 31st
Camp hours: 9am to 3pm (optional early drop-off at 8:30am Mon, 8am Tues-Fri, and extended care Mon-Thurs until 6pm, for an additional fee)
Cost: $475
Location: 330 Smith Street (PS 58, The Carroll School, between Court/Smith Streets) in Carroll Gardens; a 1-minute walk from the F/G at Carroll Street and a 15-minute walk from the R at Union Street
Contact admin@brooklynactinglab.org or 718-238-8383 for more info.
