Foreign Language Camps
I’m going to let you in on a little secret: my kids learned Spanish so they would have their own language they could talk to each other in. It turned out, they should have learned Russian because when they took wrestling, that was the language it was taught in. I would have preferred all along that they learned American Sign Language as that is what my friends and I learned.
Regardless, here are 8 Brooklyn summer camps that offer a foreign language. Or a familiar language. I guess I should say a language other than English.
Kings Bay Y at Windsor Terrace
1224 Prospect Ave (at Vanderbilt) Kensington, Park Slope, South Slope, North Slope, Ditmas Park and Windsor Terrace
Contact: office@kingsbayy.org, 718-407-6377
Ages: All ages, and looking for camp counselors ages 16 and up.
Enjoy our beautiful outdoor facilities on country-like campus in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn 3 days a week, featuring baseball and soccer fields, outdoor pool, private bowling alley, movie theater, basketball courts, arcade and cafe on site
Kings Bay Y at North Williamsburg
14 Hope Street, Williamsburg
Contact: office@kingsbayy.org, 718-407-6377
Ages: All ages, and looking for camp counselors ages 16 and up.
Enjoy our beautiful outdoor facilities on country-like campus in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn 3 days a week, featuring baseball and soccer fields, outdoor pool, private bowling alley, movie theater, basketball courts, arcade and cafe on site
Marks JCH Kibbutznik Russian Immersion Day Camp
53 Prospect Park West, Park Slope, kibbutznik@jchb.org, 718-943-6334
For children between the ages of 2-6
Camp Kibbutznik provides a safe and stimulating environment for children of Russian Jewish background, and focuses on early engagement through the Russian lens to include art, Jewish values, yoga, Russian culture & literature, music, swimming and a number of other fun recreational activities.
Brooklyn Chinese-American Association
Summer camps at the following schools: Public School 69, 94, 105, 160, 205 and 206, (718) 438-0008
The summer camp offers academic enhancement as well as cultural enrichment activities.
International School of Brooklyn
477 Court St, Brooklyn, Carroll Gardens, 718-369-3023
For children between the ages of 3.5-12
French and Spanish are available at the International School of Brooklyn. Campers will also have the opportunity to study core subject areas.
Juguemos a Cantar Summer Day Camp
357 6th St, Park Slope, 917-453-1187
For children between the ages of 3-10
Full immersion is the way to learn a language. Native English speakers and native Spanish speakers explore traditional camp activities like cooking and gardening. But all communication will be done in Spanish. Spanish-as-a-2nd-language learners will become fluent in the language while native speakers will develop a more nuanced appreciation for their native tongue. Half-day and half-week camps are also available.
Kings Bay Y at Windsor Terrace
1224 Prospect Ave, Windsor Terrace, 718-407-6377
For children entering grades PreK-12
Kings Bay Y has a special Hebrew dual language program. According to their website the program includes: Specialists from Israel teaching belly dancing, hip hop, dance and theater. Culture and language are intertwined.
Playtown Summer Camp
249 20th Street, Park Slope, South Slope
718-788-1880, eplaytown@gmail.com
Campers will go to the beach, the pool, and explore activities like building a robot all while immersed in Spanish.
United Chinese Association of Brooklyn
6625 Bay Parkway 2/F, 718-232-0055
The summer camp offers support in all major subject areas. They will take time out for arts and crafts.
Xioalong Center
310 Atlantic Avenue (at Creative Arts Studio), jennifer@xiaolongcenter.com
For babies to elementary aged kids
If you’re set on learning Mandarin but don’t want to commit to an entire camp, the Xiaolong Center holds classes by the semester.
