Planning Ahead: Options for Summer Camp

You love your kids, but you also need to find something to do with them during the summer months when they're released from school.

Luckily, there are a number of local summer camp options available that will keep the young ones not only entertained, but active and engaged. Here are just a few, but if you know of others, please share them in the comments below.

Kings Bay Y in Windsor Terrace:

The Y was practically built for summer camp, and appropriately, options are available for everyone from the teeniest campers to high school students.

Age Range: Camps are divided into the following groups: Kofim/Monkeys are Pre-K through 1st grade, Ze’evim/Wolves are 2nd through 4th grade, Namerim/Tigers are 5th through 8th grade and Yanshufim/Owls are 9th and 10th grade.

Activities: The Y offers activities ranging from everything you probably did as a kid at your own summer camp (swimming, crafts, rowing) and probably a lot that you didn't (Tai Chi, improv, Greening 101). The Tigers even have the opportunity to do an overnight trip.

Dates and Times: June 28 to Aug.17, 8 a.m.-4:15 p.m. Monday through Friday (extended hours are available.)

Price: For the full summer, camp is $2600 for Monkeys, $2650 for Wolves, $2700 for Tigers and $500 for Owls. Discounts are also available to those who register before April 1.

Register: Right here.

Kensington Stables:

Young equestrians will learn not only how to ride, but also to care for horses. This will give them a sense of how much work is involved in their maintenance, and why keeping one on the front stoop is probably not a viable idea.

Age Range: Pony Club caters to riders 6 to 11-years-old, and the Summer Intensive to riders 12 to 21-years-old.

Activities: In addition to riding and learning about the care and keeping of horses, younger campers will also enjoy arts and crafts. Summer intensive participants will conduct independent research and give an oral presentation at the end of each day, and the session will culminate with a mock show.

Dates and Times: Pony Club runs from June 25 to Aug. 31, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday (extended hours are available.) Summer intensive runs from July 11 through 22, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Price: Pony Club tuition is $375 per week before March 15, and $400 per week after. Summer intensive is $1100 for both weeks.

Register: Right here.

Bishop Ford Central Catholic High School is offering boys and girls basketball to those who would rather be running around than staring glassy-eyed at an iPad.

Age Range: 5th to 8th grade.

Activities: Campers will practice a range of defensive skills like post denial, rebounding and jamming cuts, as well as offensive skills like jump shots, ball handling, layups and passing.

Dates and Times: Boys only basketball camp will be held from July 9 through 12, and girls only camp will be from July 23 through 26. Early drop-off is available.

Price: $150

Register: Contact Denis Nolan at (718) 490-9827 or Miki Toro at (347) 742-1180.

Brooklyn Design Lab:

All children like arts and crafts, but only in Brooklyn will you find a studio that will mold your young Cy Twombly into a master craftsman or woman. 

Age Range: Summer Lab is available in two groups: K-2nd grade and 3-6th grade.

Activities: Each week brings a new mode of creative expression at the Design Lab. Kids have the option of working in such mediums as Legos, clay or wood, or exploring book making and collage. Check the website for the full list of available programs.

Dates: Lab for K-2nd grade runs from July 16 through Aug. 24, 9-11 a.m. or 1-3 p.m., Monday through Friday. Labs for 3rd-6th grade run from July 9 through Aug. 10 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Price: Lab for K-2nd grade is $200 per lab, plus $20 materials fee. Lab for 3-6th grade is $250 plus $25 materials fee. Discounts are available when registering for multiple labs.

Register: Right here.