Camp · Community/Rec Center · Ages 3–17
Directory · United States · New York · New York
▌ Community/Rec Center · Ages 3–17

NYC Parks Department Summer Camps

New York City Parks and Recreation · ★ 4.3 (1228 reviews)

NYC Parks Department Summer Camps offer free, supervised day camp experiences for children aged 6-13 across various recreation centers in New York City.

▌ Editor's read The NYC Parks Department Summer Camps website (nycgovparks.org/reg/summercamp) loads successfully and provides information about their free day camp programs for children aged 6-13. These camps are operated by the municipal parks department, offering a variety of activities including sports, arts and crafts, and educational games. While specific staff-to-camper ratios are not explicitly stated on the website, the program emphasizes supervised activities. The camps are not listed in the ACA directory. Google reviews for 'NYC Parks Department Summer Camps' are varied, with the overall NYC Parks system having a 4.4-star rating from over 10,000 reviews, often praising the accessibility and range of activities, though some reviews mention facility conditions. Social media handles found on the site include @nycparks for Instagram and nycparks for Facebook. The program is entirely day-based, running for several weeks during the summer.
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Parks-department programPublic, often subsidized
Shortlist in planner → Visit website

Who thrives here Ages 3–17

NYC Parks Department Summer Camps sits in the upper-elementary to middle-school window where specialization starts to mean something. Kids in this band often want to go deeper on one thing rather than rotate through five, and many camps begin offering pre-CIT (counselor-in-training) tracks here. The right community/rec center fit at this age depends on whether the child wants more autonomy or still wants the safety of a structured rhythm.

Facts & Credentials

Program type
Day camp
ACA accredited
Not verified
Established
Not listed
Operator
Municipal parks department
Staff-to-camper ratio
Not listed

How we verify these →

Details

  • Category: Community/Rec Center
  • Ages: 3–17
  • Hours: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
  • Address: 830 5th Ave, New York, NY 10065
  • Phone: (212) 639-9675
  • Cost notes: USD. See individual program listings for specific pricing.

Logistics

  • Lunch provided: No
  • Transportation: No
  • Financial aid: No
  • Setting: mixed

Frequently asked about NYC Parks Department Summer Camps

What ages does NYC Parks Department Summer Camps accept?
NYC Parks Department Summer Camps is open to children ages 3–17. Camps publish their own age cutoffs, and some run mixed-age groups internally; check the registration page for that summer's grouping if your child sits at a boundary.
How much does NYC Parks Department Summer Camps cost?
NYC Parks Department Summer Camps doesn't publish a flat per-week rate — pricing varies by session. USD. See individual program listings for specific pricing. Contact the camp directly for the current schedule of fees.
What are NYC Parks Department Summer Camps's hours?
NYC Parks Department Summer Camps runs 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM. If those hours don't quite cover your work day, check whether extended care or early drop-off is offered separately.
Who runs NYC Parks Department Summer Camps?
NYC Parks Department Summer Camps is operated by the local parks department. The operator type matters for tuition policy (refunds, financial aid eligibility) and for what kind of staff training pipeline the camp uses.
Does NYC Parks Department Summer Camps provide lunch?
NYC Parks Department Summer Camps does not include lunch — campers bring their own. Most day camps without provided lunch are nut-free or nut-aware, so check the allergy policy before packing. Frozen water bottles double as ice packs and drinks; insulated lunch boxes hold below 40°F for about four hours.
How does NYC Parks Department Summer Camps compare to other community/rec center camps in New York?
NYC Parks Department Summer Camps is one of 51 community/rec center camps in New York that overlap its age range. The differentiation between options usually comes down to four factors: weekly price, day length, indoor/outdoor balance, and group size. Browse same-city alternatives in the directory to compare side by side.

Planning guides

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