Midwinter Break Sneak Up On You? Check Out These 15 Brooklyn Camps
There are typically three situations that parents find themselves in during the first week of February. 1) They’ve had a midwinter break camp booked for weeks now, and are sitting pretty. 2) They’re taking the week off of work for some quality family time. 3) They received the school calendar on Monday, realized midwinter break was only two weeks away, and freaked out because they don’t have childcare in place.
If you’ve found yourself in the latter, don’t fret! We have a little something for everyone in our list of 15 Brooklyn mini camps.
Art In The City
Barking Cat Studio
219 Greenwood Avenue, 718-686-1132
Have a budding artist on your hands? Barking Cat Studio is the place to be! Campers ages 5 – 10 can look forward to museum outings, art projects, games, yoga, dance, and more. Camp runs Tuesday – Friday (February 16-19) from 8:30am to 3pm. Tuition is $465, plus a $35 registration fee per child. Early drop-off and extended day options are available.
Circus Camp
Brooklyn Beanstalk
372 7th Street and 5th Avenue, info@brooklynbeanstalk.com
What’s better than watching the magic of a circus? Joining in on the fun! Kids ages 5-11 will learn how to work as a team by exploring acrobatics, physical comedy, juggling, spinnings plates, and other circus classics. Basically, they’re guaranteed to have an absolute blast. Camp runs the full week (February 15-19) from 9am to 3pm. Kids can register by the session ($125 per day) or for the entire week.
Midwinter Mini Camp
Kings Bay Y Windsor Terrace
1224 Prospect Avenue and Vanderbilt, 718-648-7703 (ext. 229)
Looking for an all day camp that’s reasonably priced, and has a little bit of everything? Contact Kings Bay Y. With field trips to the Natural History Museum, swimming, arts and crafts, dancing, and sports, kids will have plenty to keep them happy and busy throughout the week. Camp runs Tuesday – Friday (February 16-19) from 8am to 5:30pm. Kids can register by the day ($75 per day) or for the entire week.
Mythical And Magical Creatures
Prospect Park Zoo, ppzeducation@wcs.org
We can’t guarantee you’ll see a unicorn (unless it’s made from snow) in Prospect Park, but our friends at the zoo are ready to show kids what animals these mythical creatures were based on. Camp runs Monday – Friday (February 15-19) from 9am to 3pm. Tuition is $300 for members and $350 for non-members. Note that there are only 4 spots remaining in the Pre-K to 1st grade group, and there is a waitlist for the 2nd through 5th Grade group, so be sure to register ASAP.
Power Up: Greenhouse
KOKO Open Source
Beam Center, 60 Sackett Street, lea@opensourcegallery.org
KOKO Open Source is ready for their campers to go green during the midwinter break. Kids will design and construct a greenhouse out of recycled bottles for the Old Stone House garden. A field trip to SIMS Recycling Center is also planned. Camp runs the full week (February 15-19) from 9am to 4:30pm. Registration is $600, and can be completed on the Beam Center website.
Presidents Week Art Program
Brooklyn Arts Exchange
421 5th Avenue, between 7th and 8th Streets, 718-832-0018
Dance, tumbling, and theatre are the name of the game at BAX. NanoBAXers (kindergarten – 2nd grade) and Mega/Giga BAXers (2nd – 5th grade) will explore a special daily theme through performing and visual arts activities. Camp runs all week (February 15-19) from 9am to 3pm. Campers can register by the day ($90) or for the full week.
Presidents Week Mini Camp
Park Slope Day Camp
339 8th Street and 6th Avenue, 718-788-7732
Field trips, games, crafts, and fun are waiting at Park Slope Day Camp. Kids will visit the Natural History Museum, Liberty Science Center, Sesame Street Live, get tumbling, and more. Camp runs all week (February 15-19) from 8am to 4pm. Registration is $85 per day, with a 2 day minimum. Note that extended day is available until 6:30pm for $25 extra per day.
Rock ‘n’ Roll Camp
Brooklyn Music Factory
295 Douglas Street, between 4th and 5th Avenues, 877-767-3560
For those who like to rock, get over to Brooklyn Music Factory. Jam Band 101 is for kids ages 5-8, and Rock, Write, & Record is for kids ages 9-13. In addition to finding their inner rockstar, kids will get the chance to scale some rocks at neighboring Brooklyn Boulders. Camp runs all week (February 15-19) from 9am to 3:30pm. Extended day options are available. Registration is $675. To secure your spot, call 877-767-3560.
Social, Communication, And Sensory Motor Camp
Speak, Learn and Play
540 President Street, between 3rd and 4th Avenues, 347-457-5900
Looking for a special camp for your special needs kiddo? Look no further than Speak, Learn, and Play. Kids will work in small groups, according to age, with licensed therapists. There will be games, crafts, sensory activities, and more. Camp runs Tuesday to Friday (February 16-19) from 8:30am to 1:30pm. Registration is $500. For more information, call 347-457-5900.
Spanish Immersion Mini Camp
Juguemos a Cantar
463 6th Avenue, between 10th and 11th Streets, 917-453-1187
Have you been thinking about introducing a new language to the kids? Get to know the friendly folks at Juguemos a Cantar. The Spanish immersion school offers mini camps for kids ages 2-8. Camp runs all week (February 15-18) from 9am to 12pm (half day), 9am to 3pm (full day), and 9am to 6pm extended day. Registration is $55 for half days, $85 for full days, and $125 for extended days.
Sports Camp
Aviator Sports and Events Center
3159 Flatbush Avenue, 718-758-7500
Have a young sports fan? Make your way to Aviator Sports Center. Kids will enjoy gymnastics, ice skating, rock climbing, arts, and crafts, movies, and spots. Lunch and a light snack are both included. Camp runs all week (February 15 – 19) from 9am to 4pm. Registration is $88 for 1 day, $170 for 2 days, $249 for 3 days, $320 for 4 days, or $385 for 5 days.
Textile Mini Camp
Textile Arts Center
505 Carroll Street, between 3rd and 4th Avenues, 718-369-0222
Explore weaving, sewing, embroidery, printing, felting and dyeing with Textile Arts Center. Each day will center on a project, with organized play mixed in for good measure. Note that the first four days of the break (February 15-18) already have a waitlist, but there is still time to get in on the Friday (February 19) session, which runs from 9am to 5pm. Registration is $125.
The Prehistoric Laboratory
Carmelo the Science Fellow
300 Atlantic Avenue, between Smith and Hoyt Streets, 718-722-0000
Carmelo the Science Fellow is set to take kids on a journey to our planet’s early days. Kids will excavate mineral and gemstone buckets to discover fossils; create volcanoes, tornadoes, and asteroids, and take a look at some of Earth’s earliest animals. Camp runs Tuesday – Friday (February 16-19) from 9am to 5pm. For more information, call 718-722-0000.
To Build A Snowman
Creative Arts Studio
310 Atlantic Avenue, between Smith and Hoyt Streets, 718-797-5600
Another great art option is Creative Arts Studio – whose midwinter break theme this year is To Build a Snowman. Camp runs Tuesday through Friday (February 16-19) from 9am to 3pm. Extended options are available for an additional fee. Registration is $425, plus an addition $25 fee.
Winter Camp
Shorefront Y
3300 Coney Island Avenue and Brightwater Court, 718-646-1444
Last, but certainly no least, is swimming, trips, crafts, and more from the gang at Shorefront Y. Kosher meals are included in the fee, late stay is available, and you can choose to attend the full week or individual days. Camp runs all week (February 15-19) from 8am to 6pm. Registration is $60 per day, or $285 for the entire week.
Know of a great mini camp we missed? Be sure to share details in the comments below.
Featured image courtesy Dmitry Mayatskyy
