35 Brooklyn Summer Camps

It doesn’t seem like it now, but summer will be on us before we know it. In fact, summer camp open houses have begun and will continue through April. We’ve compiled a list of day camps, organized by theme, happening around Brooklyn. Most of the camps provide limited transportation.

If your child feels they are too old for camp, yet you feel they are too young to stay at home all day, many of the following camps are hiring counselors. Young teens can apply to be junior counselors, an unpaid opportunity, but one that may help them find future employment. Older teens can apply for paid counseling positions.

Do you recommend a specific camp? Do you know of a camp we haven’t listed? Please let your neighbors know by leaving a comment.

Arts
Accomplished artists teach at most of the Brooklyn art camps. Additionally, the camps use quality materials and teach real crafts. In some, campers will visit our city’s world class museums to see the work of the masters.

BAX Brooklyn Arts Exchange
421 5th Ave, Park Slope, 718-832-0018
For children entering grades K-6
Your prima donna will have the opportunity to produce and perform in a show at the BAX theater program.

Brooklyn Design Lab
413A 7th Ave, Park Slope, 917-657-7441
For children entering grades K-6
Interested in art but prefer a half day camp? Brooklyn Design Lab holds separate morning and afternoon labs in topics from fabric painting to book design.

Creative Arts Studio
310 Atlantic Ave, Boerum Hill, 718-797-5600
For children between the ages of 5-13
Dance, drama, music, and art are the focus at Creative Arts Studio. During breaks from learning the difference between stage left and stage right, your child gets to swim.

Summer Arts Program at Brooklyn Friends School
375 Pearl St, Downtown Brooklyn, 718-852-1029
For children in grades 3-9
Are you looking for more than collaging construction paper? At Brooklyn Friends your artist will work with real materials while learning woodworking, filmmaking, digital media and more. They also have a camp for younger kids.

Textile Arts Center
505 Carroll St, Gowanus, 718-369-0222
For children between the ages of 5-11
Fabric, fabric, fabric. Learn everything about textiles from weaving to surface design.

Educational
Dive into science, architecture, and language immersion at these camps that show the fascinating aspects of their subject.

Brooklyn Cultural Adventures Program
789 Washington Ave, Prospect Heights, 718-638-7700
For children between the ages of 7-12
This two-week program, which is part of Heart of Brooklyn, explores six of Brooklyn’s top cultural institutions. The camp is based at the Brooklyn Museum.

Carmelo the Science Fellow
300 Atlantic Ave, Boerum Hill, 718-722-0000
For children between the ages of 5-11
Science isn’t boring. Just ask your children after they’ve spent a week with Carmelo studying Slime Time.

Brooklyn Robot Foundry
303 3rd Ave, Gowanus, 347-762-6840
For children between the ages of 5-11
The Robot Foundry’s summer session will be coming out soon.

Juguemos Summer Day Camp
357 6th St, Park Slope, 917-453-1187
For children between the ages of 2-10
At Juguemos, your camper will do everything they would do at any traditional camp–swim, paint, explore–and do it all while speaking Spanish.

Jewish Day Camps
You don’t have to observe to attend these camps, but if you send your child, expect kosher meals and in some cases some religious observations.

Marks Jewish Community House
7802 Bay Parkway, Bensonhurst, 718-331-6800
For children between the ages of 3-5 and grades 1-9
This 86-year-old camp incorporates traditional Jewish tradition and values through song, dance, and an Oneg Shabbat program. One of the big draws of this camp is the swimming program.

Shorefront Y Day Camp
3300 Coney Island Avenue, Brighton Beach, 718-646-1444
For children between the ages of 2.5-14
Enjoy a kosher lunch, and spend the day swimming at the beach or playing on a rooftop playground.

Congregation Beth Elohim’s Summer Day Camps
274 Garfield Pl, Park Slope, 718-768-3814
For children between the ages of 2-13
Beth Elohim hosts several day camps for a variety of age groups (including one for caregivers and their kids ages 24-35 months) with a plethora of traditional activities from which campers can choose.

On School Campus
Many private schools and colleges host summer camps associated with their school, but which are open to community members.

Berkeley Carroll
701 Carroll St or 181 Lincoln Pl, Park Slope, 718-789-6060
For children between the ages of 8-14
Whether its arts or athletics, at Berkeley Carroll summer camp your child will learn skills they’ll enjoy their whole life.

Curious Jane
701 Carroll St, Park Slope, 718-369-6320
For girls in grades 2-6
Located in Berkeley Carroll, this girls-only camp is designed to empower young women in the areas of science and design.

International School of Brooklyn
477 Court St, Brooklyn, Carroll Gardens, 718-369-3023
For children between the ages of 3.5-12
In addition to learning Spanish and French, campers will learn music, science, and robotics.

Long Island University
1 University Plaza, Fort Greene, 718-488-1011
For children between the ages of 3-12
Spend the summer at LIU learning how to make a comic book and more. Oh, and while you attend the open house, your child can swim.

Packer Summer Camp
170 Joralemon Street, Brooklyn Heights, 718-250-0200
For children between the ages of 4-12
Packer has access to St. Francis College facilities including a swimming pool, a half-acre of private outdoor space, and an air conditioned indoor space. 2013 information will be up soon.

Outdoor Camps
For kids who want to spend their summer exploring the outdoors (and the animals that live there).

NYC Parks
Locations vary
For children between the ages of 6-13
Spend the summer outdoors in NYC’s many parks. The city’s resources are available to campers: swimming pools, museums, parks, and more.

Prospect Park Zoo
450 Flatbush Avenue, Prospect Park, ppzeducation@wcs.org, 718-399-7327
For children between the ages of 2-17
Kids, in age-appropriate ways, explore the zoo, work with animals, and conduct science experiments.

Sports
Whether they like baseball, soccer, gymnastics, karate, or all of the above, there is a sports camp in the borough that’s the right fit.

Amerikick
529 5th Ave, South Slope, 718-768-8200
For children between the ages of 3-12
Amerikick bases its summer camp out of its 5th Ave location. In addition to karate, campers will learn life skills.

Avantis Swimming Acadamy
Locations vary, 347-380-8777
For children between the ages of 5-17
Avantis is a top level swimming academy with 19 locations throughout Brooklyn.

Aviator Sports
3159 Flatbush Ave, Marine Park, 718-758-7500
For children between the ages of 3-15
Their Adventure Camp keeps kids busy with a wide range of activities, and can include extra focus on gymnastics, ice skating, fitness, and more. A junior camp is available, and just as active, for younger kids.

AYSO Soccer Camp
Parade Ground, Ditmas Park, 917-847-8719
For children entering grades K-12
The programs are designed for kids of varying skill levels. A morning session builds technical skills, and an afternoon session advances team skills, game tactics, and strategy.

Brooklyn Cyclones Camp
MCU Park, Coney Island, 718-382-2603
For children between the ages of 7-14
This is your child’s chance to play baseball in an actual stadium. Minor leaguers coach the kids in the morning. Note for parents: there are separate camps for you, too.

Brooklyn Fencing
62 4th St, 2nd Floor, Carroll Gardens, 718-522-5822
For children ages 7 and up
Beginners and advanced fencers will be put into separate groups to work at specific levels.

Camp Olympia
John Jay HS, 237 7th Ave, Park Slope, 718 748-7084
For children between the ages of 4-17
Camp Olympia is known for its year-round swimming classes, but it also hosts a summer sports camp for kids who can’t sit still.

Home Run Baseball Camp
Parade Ground, Ditmas Park, 202-256-8883
For children between the ages of 4-12
Repetition. Repetition. Repetition. 100 swings a day is what baseball campers will get.

Urban Martial Arts
965 Coney Island Ave, Ditmas Park, 718-287-5500
For children ages 4 and up
In addition to a full on cardio workout, Urban Martial Arts uses games to keep kids active and moving.

Xaverian High School
7100 Shore Rd, Bay Ridge, 718-836-7100
For children between the ages of 7-13
Your middle schooler has the opportunity to be coached by Xaverian High School soccer, basketball, and baseball coaches.

Traditional Day Camps
With games, friendships, and whole lot of memories, these camps will keep kids busy with a variety of activities.

Kips Bay Y at Windsor Terrace
1224 Prospect Ave, Windsor Terrace, 718-407-6377
For children entering grades PreK-12
Among traditional camp activities, campers will take field trips to nearby water parks. There is also a Hebrew-language option.

Park Explorers
611 8th Avenue, Park Slope, 718-788-3620
For children between the ages of 3-14
A traditional day camp with lots of summer sunshine and fun, various activities, trips, and more. No two days are alike.

The Park Slope Day Camp
694 5th Avenue, Park Slope, 718-788-PSDC (7732)
For children entering grades PreK-10
The traditional camp broken into age groups. Campers can select specialties like the two-week soccer camp or the circus camp. Three additional locations in Brooklyn include Carroll Gardens, Windsor Terrace, and Bay Ridge.

Mill Basin Day Camp
5945 Strickland Avenue, Mill Basin, 718-251-6200
For children entering grades PreK-9
Mill Basin has a pool, two basketball courts, and a game room in addition to all the theater and crafty activities.

Kamp 4 Kidz
180 7th Avenue, Park Slope, 718-232-6794
For children between the ages of 5-15
Held at PS 321, kidz will explore drama, dance, and arts & crafts.

Kim’s Kids Summer Camp
378 3rd St, Park Slope, 718-768-6419
For children between the ages of 4.5-11
Each morning campers meet at PS 321 then load onto busses for the daily field trip. Campers will go everywhere from Riis Beach to the Bronx Zoo.

Photo via Y Windsor Terrace