Top 16 Reasons To Love Brooklyn Summers: These Camps!
Here are the top 16 reasons for signing your child up for traditional Brooklyn summer camps.
Indoor/Outdoor Facilities
These five summer camps have their own, private facilities that include swimming pools.
Marks JCH Summer Camp
Where: 7802 Bay Parkway, 718-943-6343
What: Marks JCH Summer Camp has been providing Brooklyn kids with fabulous summers for over 90 years. Children form lifelong friendships at Marks JCH while enjoying traditional camp fun and Jewish culture. Among the cool activities, campers will travel to theme parks, swim, and even adventure on cool overnight excursions! JCH also offers a camp for kids with special needs.
How much: $1,550+ half season, $2430+ full season, $2210+ 6-week option. Other options are available.
Aviator Sports Camp
Where: 3159 Flatbush Ave, 718-758-7500, camps@aviatorsports.com
What: Aviator has both traditional camp and sports camps. All camps include activities like instructional swim, yoga, arts, and weekly outings. The sports camp emphasizes skill enhancement in sports like soccer, gymnastics and ice skating. The traditional camp uses age-appropriate activities to promote self-esteem and community involvement. Regardless of the type of camp or the athletic level of your camper, an Aviator summer is bound to be fun!
How much: Prices vary by age group and camp type. Early drop off and late pick up are available.
Manhattan Beach Summer Camp
Where: 60 West End Ave, 347-788-8669, info@mbsummercamp.com
What: Manhattan Beach has a large indoor/outdoor, air-conditioned facility with heated inground pools, a game room, Olympic size basketball courts and more. Manhattan Beach will help campers mature socially and emotionally by providing “fun and unforgettable summer experience filled with fun and educational trips, art, dance, sporting activities, science experiments, and much more.”
How much: Prices vary by age group and camp type. Early drop off and late pick up are available. Sibling discount available.
Mill Basin Day Camp
Where: 5945 Strickland Avenue, 718-251-6200, info@millbasindaycamp.com
What: Campers swim every day in Mill Basin’s private, inground pool. They compete in friendly basketball games on the outdoor courts and frolic around on the playground equipment. These resources, plus the supportive staff, ensure the campers love their summer and go back to school with an “I can” attitude.
How much: Mill Basin will create a customized schedule based on your needs.
Congregation Beth Elohim
Where: 274 Garfield Place, 718-768-3814, bfinkelstein@cbebk.org
What: Congregation Beth Elohim hosts a number of camps including Ha’Geemnasia Hebrew Camp, Elementary Division, Movin’ On Travel Camp, Summer Swim Intensive Camp, and a variety of additional specialty camps. Your child could explore a different adventure every week.
How much: Varies based on specialty camp.
Be Outside In Brooklyn Everyday
These four summer camps explore and utilize Brooklyn’s vast resources.
Trail Blazers
Where: 394 Rogers Ave, 212-529-5113, info@trailblazers.org, Sleep away camp: 210 Deckertown Turnpike, Montague, NJ 07827, 973-875-4116, info@trailblazers.org
What: If you’re looking to knock the summer camp out at one place while looking forward to sending your child to the same place for years to come, look no further than Trail Blazers. Trail Blazers offers day camp in Brooklyn and a sleep away camp in NJ. Young campers are encouraged to think and grow while they explore nature. They are also given opportunities to develop independent thinking and leadership skills. As they get older, they are trained to be leaders and given responsibilities within the camp. Trail Blazers isn’t just a summer, it’s a life long learning opportunity.
How much: Contact Trail Blazers for pricing as it varies depending on camp, age, and income.
Park Slope Day Camp
Where: 5 locations in Park Slope 339 8 Street, North Slope 752 President Street, Windsor Terrace 241 Prospect Park West, Bay Ridge 8515 Ridge Boulevard, Carroll Gardens 342 Smith Street
What: Park Slope Day Camp hosts one of the most comprehensive summer experiences in Brooklyn. You can book your child for a fun, basic camp, or add on circus camp and soccer camp. You can mix and match weeks to fit your family’s schedule. Bonus: Park Slope Day Camp runs all the way through to September 1st, longer than most camps!
How much: Prices vary depending on which camp specialty you choose. 5% discount for 7 or more weeks.
Camp Bed-Stuy
Where: 14 DeKalb Ave, 718-219-1405
What: Brooklyn is Camp Bed-Stuy’s playground, and they take full advantage of all of Brooklyn’s resources. Campers enjoy state of the art sports and arts facilities, depending on the day’s activity. Plus, Camp Bed-Stuy instills the values of community and friendship in each of its campers. That’s why 90% of Camp Bed-Stuy campers return!
How much: $500 for a 2-week session
Oasis in Brooklyn Bridge Park
Where: St. Francis College 180 Remsen St, 646-519-5069, brooklynbridge@oasischildren.com
What: Oasis takes advantage of Brooklyn’s unique park and recreation resources including playgrounds at Brooklyn Bridge Park, swimming at St. Francis College, indoor activities at Grace Church, more swimming at Red Hook and Sunset Park, and baseball at Van Voorhees Park. Campers spend the summer exploring outdoor activities, swimming, and team building.
How much: Starts at $1060 for 2 weeks. Early drop off and late stay available for additional fees.
Brooklyn YMCA Camps
YMCA camps all offer instruction in sports, including swimming. The following Brooklyn camps are unique in their own, neighborhood-y ways. YMCA offers camp in 2-week sessions.
Kings Bay Y
Where: 3495 Nostrand Avenue, 718-648-7703, info@kingsbayy.org
What: Kings Bay Y actually has two locations and kids will have the opportunity to enjoy both. The Bay Ridge facility feels like a country club with its vast open space and its air-conditioned bowling alley. Kings Bay Y offers a variety of specialty programs including STEM, coding, robotics and more.
How much: Dependent on your camp.
Dodge YMCA
Where: 225 Atlantic Ave., 718-625-3136, jmartinez@ymcanyc.org
What: In addition to swimming and sports, Dodge YMCA mitigates summer learning loss with the Book of the Week program, journaling, and cool science experiments.
How much: Member and nonmember prices available. Financial aid and scholarships are also.
Park Slope Armory YMCA
Where: 361 15th St., 212-912-2580, jdavis@ymcanyc.org
What: Whether you join the swim, sport, or adventure camp, campers will be able to swim, play sports, and enjoy adventure. Most of all, they’ll create lasting friendships and memories.
How much: Member and nonmember prices available. Financial aid and scholarships are also.
BedStuy YMCA
Where: 1121 Bedford Ave., 212-912-2284, kwagner@ymcanyc.org
What: BedStuy’s Explorer Camp prepares kids for kindergarten by providing a structured day. Kids will swim and get plenty of exercise–indoors and outdoors–plus they’ll explore science and literacy.
How much: Member and nonmember prices available. Financial aid and scholarships are also.
Enrichment Based Camps
Not all campers want to spend the summer swimming. Some want to get ahead.
BASIS
Where: 556 Columbia St, 718-643-6302, brooklyn-admissions@basisindependent.com
What: Summer enrichment doesn’t have to feel like work. At BASIS, learning is fabulously fun! BASIS offers a number of theme-focused camps including astronomy, Mandarin Immersion, English Enrichment, Minecraft, and more.
How much: Most camp options are either $575 or $700 with cheaper, half day options available. Early drop off and late pick up also available for a fee.
Greene Hill School
Where: 39 Adelphi St, 718-230-3608, info@greenehillschool.org
What: Greene Hill summer camp is progressive, nurturing, and child-centered. Younger kids enjoy an activity filled day with indoor and outdoor play, plus special classes like music and movement. Older campers focus on the visual arts creating masterpieces of poetry and painting.
How much: $450 per week. Sibling discounts available.
Kiddie Academy
Where: 288 South 5th Street, 718-559-5437
What: Kiddie Academy developed their own child-centered, age-appropriate CampVentures which inspires imagination through exciting activities. Toddlers explore literature, including sign language and Spanish, through music and movement. School-aged campers exercise their imaginations through problem-solving. The entire summer will be about investigating, constructing, designing, and inventing.
How much: Contact Kiddie Academy to see what fits your needs.
Happy camping!