Activities abound for Chelsea’s children

Campers working with their counselor on an arts & crafts project at Hudson Guild’s “Summer in the City” Day Camp last year

By Alyssa Galella

As the weather heats up, children all over the city are getting ready to turn in their textbooks and enjoy the months of freedom known as summer vacation. However, working parents—or those who may not want their kids sitting in front of a PlayStation for three months—are concerned with finding alternate arrangements for their beloved offspring. But Chelsea parents need not worry about bussing the kids off to the mountains, because there are plenty of day camps in the area to keep them active and occupied all summer long.

Hudson Guild “Summer in the City” Day Camp
Children ages 5–13 can participate in activities including arts and crafts, sports, drama, dance, reading, computer workshops and field trips at the camp run by the Hudson Guild, which also organizes many other Chelsea community programs. Activities take place at the Hudson Guild Education Center on 25th Street and the John Lovejoy Elliott Center on 26th Street, both between Ninth and Tenth Avenues.

Free breakfast and lunch are provided each day through the Department of Education, and the camp counselors are teenagers employed by the Guild’s Summer Youth Employment Program.

“The employment program is part of a $35 million New York State initiative to provide summer jobs to low-income teens,” said Hudson Guild spokeswoman Caroline Luther.

Camp fees are determined on a sliding scale based on family income, and scholarships are available.

For more information, call Veronica Joseph at (212) 760-9843 or visit hudsonguild.org.

Chelsea Piers Sports Camps
Chelsea Piers offers several different camp programs for athletic kids who would rather focus on just one sport, like ice skating, hockey, gymnastics or golf. Most of the camps are for children ages 6 and up, but there are also two half-day preschool camps for little ones between the ages of 3 and 5.

The camps, located at Pier 62 on the Hudson River at 23rd Street, run from June through August in one- and two-week sessions and draw more than 3,000 campers from all over the city. The programs include a nutritious lunch and recreational periods during the day where campers can try out other sports and activities. Additional camp highlights include cruises around the harbor and visits by professional athletes.

The sports camps cost $600 for a one-week session or $1,080 for two weeks. The pre-school camps cost $310 per week. Tuition for each additional child from the same family is discounted by 5 percent.

For more information, call Craig Woodcock at (212) 336-6846 or visit chelseapiers.com.

McBurney YMCA Day Camps
The McBurney YMCA, on 14th Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues, offers a full-service traditional day camp called Camp Chelsea every summer.

About 200 campers, ages 4–12, meet daily at P.S. 41 on 11th Street between Sixth Avenue and Seventh Avenue South. They travel to McBurney for activities including arts and crafts, sports, games, swimming and field trips. A small camper-to-counselor ratio helps cultivate a special sense of community that sets McBurney apart, said William Harris, the Y’s youth and family coordinator.

The camp runs in two-week sessions that range from $408 to $450 for YMCA members and $437 to $495 for non-members. Parents who sign up before May 19 qualify for an “early bird” discount of 10 percent, and limited financial aid is available.

The McBurney Y also runs many other day camps, including the Lisa Beth Gerstman YMCA Summer Camp for children with physical disabilities, and specialty camps that focus on activities like martial arts, sports, cooking, drama, filmmaking, dance and science.

For more information, call William Harris at (212) 912-2326 or visit ymcanyc.org.

Downtown Day Camp
Downtown Day Camp isn’t exactly in the neighborhood—it’s actually located at P.S. 234 in Tribeca. However, the camp provides daily shuttle bus service to a couple locations in Chelsea for an extra fee.

About 250 campers entering kindergarten through sixth grade and 100 staff members participate in activities like swimming, field games, karate, dance, computers, art and theater.

“It’s the only suburban-type summer camp in the city,” said Camp Director Russ Schulman.

The program costs $3,000 for the whole summer or $1,800 for a three-week session. Tuition for each additional child from the same family is 10 percent off.

For more information, call (212) 766-1104 or visit downtowndaycamp.com.