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Treasure Trunk Theater Summer Camp
The end of the school year is quickly approaching…so what’s next? Many summer plans have been derailed because of the pandemic and there are still tons of questions about summer camps: Are they opening in NYC? When? How much will they change to accommodate the distancing recommendations? Will it be safe to send our kids to camp if they do open?
While we continue to wait for answers, summer is just about here. And if you can’t wait to make plans – or don’t feel comfortable sending kids to in-person summer camp even if they do open – there are options. Like all the virtual classes that popped up in the midst of quarantine, there are lots of new virtual summer camps being offered by many of our favorite local camp providers. We’re genuinely impressed at how efficiently and creatively many of them have adapted their camps or created brand-new programs for the virtual setting that sound really fun.
We know that virtual camp is not the same (some might argue that it can’t compare to “real” camp at all), but there are still many benefits to enrolling kids in virtual summer camps. They can develop skills and knowledge in live sessions with instructors/counselors, get asynchronous activities to do on their own time, and maybe even work independently and leave you alone for brief periods during the day (priceless!). There is also the opportunity for virtual socialization, which we know is a poor substitute for the real thing…but it can be better than nothing. (Of course, it depends on your kid’s age and personality. We know that virtual programs don’t work for everyone.)
There are many virtual camp options – especially now that we are not limited by our location and can enroll in virtual camp anywhere. But during this difficult time, it’s even more important to support local businesses like NYC summer camps that have cancelled in-person programs or have lower enrollment because of the pandemic. So if you want your favorite camp to be there when all of this blows over, please check out their virtual summer program and consider signing up for a week or two or even the whole summer. Your kids could still have an enriching and engaging summer even during this pandemic – which is better than letting them hang out on the couch watching TV all day, right?
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A Westside Experiment: IRT Theater Young Actors Laboratory
The remote version of their theater summer program includes all theater essentials – like physical-acting technique, improvisation, and script writing – as well as a fusion of sign language, spoken word, mime, storytelling, dance and music. No prior acting experience required and it is fully accessible (and free) for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing students. Ages: 10-17 / Dates: July 6-10, 13-18 / Cost: $600 (free for Deaf and Hard-of-hearing students)
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Brooklyn Arts Exchange
Their Virtual Summer Arts Program (VSAP) explores different creative themes each week with performing arts workshops (Dance/Movement, Theater/Circus, Tumbling/AcroDance, Music/Instrument and Visual Art) and visual arts workshops taught by BAX teaching artists. Registration is flexible by week and there is a maximum capacity of 12 kids. Ages: Entering K-6th Grade (divided into three age groups) / Dates: July 13 – August 6 / Cost: $300-$425 per week (sliding scale)
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Brooklyn Game Lab presents Hero’s Journey
Their week-long virtual “Hero’s Journey” program includes daily Dungeons & Dragons play online, executive function skills coaching with partner Organizational Tutors, and a DIY offline building project created by The League of Young Inventors. Campers do one-on-one Zoom sessions and three-hour Dungeons and Dragons quests every day. Choose from either morning or afternoon three-hour sessions. Ages: 6-15 / Dates: June 15th – September 4th / Cost: $445 per week
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Brooklyn Robot Foundry
The Summer Circuits weekly program allows kids to do robot building and other activities in small groups of 6 or less. Materials will be sent so that kids can build a new robot each day. They will also be doing crafts, playing games, learning new skills and taking lots of movement breaks. You can choose the morning session (9-12), the afternoon session (1-4) or sign up for both. Receive $50 off when you sign up for two or more sessions with the coupon code “Summer50” by June 30th. Ages: 6-12 years old / Dates: July 6 – August 27th / Cost: $250
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Bronx Zoo Wildlife Camp
The online camp includes counselor-led engagement and self-directed activities as well as daily up-close animal encounters, behind the scenes zoo and aquarium visits, chats with staff, hands-on science projects, crafts, and songs. Weekly themes include Animal Senses and Animal Tales (Pre-K and K), Animal Olympics and Animals and Art (entering 1st & 2nd grade), Mysteries of the Animal Kingdom and Wildlife Super Heroes (entering 3rd-5th grade), and Wildlife Careers (entering 6th-8th grade). Ages: Pre-K to 8th Grade / Dates: June 22nd – August 4th / Cost: $250 per week (members) or $275 per week (non-members)
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Camp Broadway
Their MyMainstage program includes 30 hours of interactive online classes in singing, dancing, acting taught by their team of New York theatre pros. They also do a live chat with a guest artist, viewing party of a Broadway show, and more. The program culminates in the live Family Finale and a professionally produced video of the camp ensemble performing songs and scenes from the featured musical. Campers will be organized into small groups of 8-15 participants per group. Ages: 10-17 / Dates: July 13- July 24, 2020 (M – F, 3 hours a day) / Cost: $875
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Chess NYC
With the policy “chess should be fun (even online),” they are offering four levels of online group chess classes this summer: Head Start Jr. (for beginners), Advancing in Chess, GM Inspired TAG I, and GM Inspired TAG II. Classes focus on strategies, defense, tactics, and competitive online play. They offer hourly, full-day, weekly, and full summer passes as well as private lessons. Dates: June 15th – June 19th / Cost: $150 for 5 pack group lessons or $180 for 10 pack group lessons
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Child’s Play NY
Their new online theater camp gets kids playing games with each other, creating original material, and learning new acting skills. The camp includes interactive live sessions, downtime for crafts and writing, and asynchronous blocks of movement and story to complete on your own schedule. Inspired by stories and characters they love, kids get to produce original work and take home a movie montage showcasing their new skills. Ages: 3-11 / Dates: July 6th – August 14th (weekly or daily sign up) / Cost: $50 per day or $200 per week
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CinemaKidz
Week-long virtual camps teach kids creative and technical skills in filmmaking, acting, animation, storytelling and media. They also include the CK Materials Kit with light kits, green screens, tripods, special effects makeup, building supplies and more. Classes are capped at 5 kids and kids are divided into groups by age/ability. Full day options with a 1.5 hour break, as well as half day options available. CinemKidz virtual camps were recently featured on NBC. Ages: 6-16, grouped by age / Dates: June 15th – September 4th / Cost: $499 (full day) or $350 (half day) per week
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Leaders 4 Social Change
These four week-long workshops for middle school students develop leadership, communication, decision-making, and advocacy skills with the goal of training the next generation of civic leaders and active community members. The program focuses on instruction and practice in public speaking and argumentative writing as well as discussion of current events and interdisciplinary topics. Ages: 5th-9th Grade / Dates: July 6th-July 31st / Cost: $150 per week (multi-week discounts available)
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NORY Virtual Summer
NORY will continue to nurture problem solvers with hands-on robotics and engineering projects at home this summer. The virtual summer program includes 2.5 hours of live instruction (with no more than 5 students per instructor), materials delivered to your home, daily live coding instruction, and daily enrichment activities including dance, yoga, musical, PE, and more. Ages: 5-12 (divided into age appropriate groups) / Dates: June 22nd – September 4th (weekly sign-up) / $345 (full day) or $239 (half day) per week
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NYC Guitar School
They are offering four virtual summer music programs: Beginner Rock Camp, Virtual Rock Band, Intro to Digital Songwriting & Production, and Advanced Digital Songwriting & Production. Flexible registration allows you to choose one eight week-long sessions or stay for the whole summer and record an album. Ages: 8-12, 13-17 / Dates: June 15 – August 7 / Cost: $400 per week (multiple session discounts available)
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Pono
Virtual Pono Summer Camp allows kids to design their own learning adventure. Kids share interests and Pono creates individualized summer programs with a combination of virtual field trips and virtual lessons. Campers choose 8-12 classes from diverse offerings including coding and STEM classes, art, cooking, yoga, book club, and ninja training with an American Ninja Warrior. Ages: 6-8, 10-14 (classes available for kids under 6) / Dates: July 6 – September 4 / Cost: $1,000 per month (ages 6-8) and $1,100 (ages 10-14) / Discount: $150 off with code BROOKLYN6-8 (ages 6-8) or BROOKLYN10-14 (ages 10-14) until June 12th.
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School of Rock Williamsburg
The School of Rock performance-based methods have been adapted to remote summer programs that include songwriting and music production. Kids get to record their performances and share with their family and friends via live Zoom listening parties. Virtual summer programs include Little Wing, Rock 101, The Beatles, and Green Day. Ages: 3-18 / Dates: Multiple dates in July and August (1-2 week sessions) / Cost: $275-675 (varies by program)
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Treasure Trunk Theater
Virtual Summer Camps include their theater camp programming adapted to small virtual groups with plenty of individualized attention. They offer morning and afternoon sessions with different theatrical and artistic activities to get kids moving and using their imagination. Each session includes an optional screen break. Flexible sign up by the day or week. Ages: 3-6 / Dates: June 15th – September 11th / Cost: $185-$375 per week or $40-$80 per day
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Brooklyn Conservatory Piano Explorers
Based on the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music’s popular Piano Friends classes, Piano Explorers Summer Camp takes fun to the next level with a lively interactive approach to learning piano in small groups of four to six students. Ages: Entering Kindergarten – Entering 2nd Grade / Dates: July 20 – August 14
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Created By Kids – This virtual arts camp allows kids to explore different thematic concepts each week and use a variety of art-making techniques and mediums including polymer clay, textiles, printmaking, mixed-media projects, and more. (All materials will be shipped to your home.) Ages: 5-10 / Dates: June 15th – September 9th / Cost: $350 per week
Gymstars – Virtual camp includes active instruction in Gymnastics, Dance, Circus, and/or Theatre. Divided by age into small groups, these customizable camps include plenty of movement, challenges, games, choreography and Skill Tracking. Each week ends in an online show for friends and family. Ages: 3-10 / Dates: July 6 – August 14 / Cost: $200 per week/device ($175 for additional weeks)
FasTracKids Williamsburg – Their Summer STE(A)M Careers camp allow kids to learn about Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math while exploring different careers each week including marine biologist, astronomer, travel reporter, broadway star and more. Ages: 3-10 / June 29th-August 28th / Cost: $236 per week (daily and summer rates also available)
Super Soccer Stars – Soccer + Enrichment Camp includes 3 hours of soccer every day plus 2 local partner enrichment programs in Art, STEM, Theater, Gymnastics, and Karate. Multi-Sport Camp includes 2 hours of sports and educational content in your living room every day. Ages: 3-10 / Dates: June 15th – August 21st / Cost: $249 per week (Soccer + Enrichment) or $199 per week (Multi-Sport Camp)
THESE CAMPS WERE CHOSEN BY OUR EDITORS AND INCLUDED AT NO COST, BUT SOME CAMPS HAVE CHOSEN TO SPONSOR THEIR LISTINGS AFTER SELECTION. *We have added additional camps to this list who are current advertisers upon request. Please note that we often know these camps through recommendation, but we don’t have personal experience with all of them.
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