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Top Preschool Summer Camps in Lower Manhattan

Green Ivy provides a warm and enriching summer camp experience for children ages 2-5. Photo courtesy of the school
Green Ivy provides a warm and enriching summer camp experience for children ages 2-5. Photo courtesy of the school
3/6/22 - By Jody Mercier

When it comes time to enroll your little one in their first summer camp experience, you're likely looking for a summer camp that fits your parenting philosophy and won't overwhelm your first-time camper. These preschool summer day camps in Lower Manhattan fit the bill, by catering just to young campers or offering small, age-specific groups, enriching activities, and plenty of fun indoors and out.

We've found 10 preschool summer camps in the neighborhood—ranging from Chelsea all the way south to Battery Park and from river to river—practically guaranteed to get your little one excited to return day after hot summer day. For more summer camps in New York City, including picks for preschool summer camps citywide, free and cheap summer camps in NYC for kids, and more, be sure to bookmark our New York City Summer Camp Guide and our Camp Directory, where you can search for summer camps by type, age, and neighborhood. 

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Chelsea Piers features a variety of unique sports camps for kids as young as age 3. Photo courtesy of Chelsea Piers
Chelsea Piers features a variety of unique sports camps for kids as young as age 3. Photo courtesy of Chelsea Piers

Top Preschool Summer Camps in Lower Manhattan

Cocoon

Tribeca
3 Months to 10 years
Camp Cocoon provides a fun-filled summer of experimenting with weird science, learning about nature, creating art, and so much more. Camp offers 10 flexible-by-week options and weekly science and nature themes like STEAM Sustainable Design, STEAM Environmental Conservation, and more. READ MORE

New York Kids Club Camps

Multiple Locations
Ages 2 1/2-6 years
This chain of kiddie gyms offers half- and (nearly) full-day programs for kids up to 6 years old. Kids enjoy thematic adventures each day with guided play designed to engage campers academically and physically.  READ MORE

La Petite Ecole NYC

Greenwich Village
Ages 2 1/2-5 years old
La Petite École New York is a bilingual French/English immersion boutique school for children ages 2.5 years to 4 years. Its Reggio Emilia-inspired pedagogy, combined with its multisensory instructional approach to learning francophone culture, prepares graduates to become successful bilingual and bicultural kindergarten students.  READ MORE

Chelsea Piers Summer Sports Camp

Chelsea
Ages 3-5 years
Chelsea Piers features a variety of unique sports camps during summer and school breaks. Sports offered include gymnastics, ice skating/hockey, parkour, soccer, golf, and more. Half-day and full-day options, short weeks, aftercare, and more are offered. READ MORE

Corlears School - Camp Corlears

Chelsea
Ages 3-6 years
Camp Corlears is all about giving children space outdoors to play, run, and laugh with friends. Counselors are primarily Corlears teachers, and three distinct camp programs are offered for different age groups, starting with preschool. Each camp session is one week long. READ MORE

Battery Park Montessori

Battery Park
Ages 2-5 years
Battery Park Montessori is a trilingual Montessori school, providing exposure to Spanish and Mandarin for children from 1 year old through kindergarteners. It incorporates hands-on, age-appropriate STEM instruction and computer coding. The school's Montessori-trained teachers ensure the social, emotional, cognitive, academic, and physical needs of each child are met while nurturing independence, natural curiosity, and problem-solving skills. Battery Park Montessori offers rolling admissions.  READ MORE

14th Street Y Camps

East Village
Ages 2-5 years
The 14th Street Y hosts a variety of camps including programs for toddlers through 8th graders. Its New Town Day Camp hosts full- and half-day sessions at the Y. Older kids can attend the New Country Day Camp at the Henry Kaufman Campgrounds. Special needs camps are also available.  READ MORE

Summers at LREI

Greenwich Village
Ages 3-5 years
Summers at LREI is the summer program of LREI, the progressive school located in the West Village. Children can attend a full-day program that includes indoor and outdoor playtime, choice time, special themes on Wednesdays, and more. READ MORE

The Quad Manhattan

South Street Seaport
Ages 3-5 years
The Quad caters to so-called "twice exceptional" children—those who are gifted in some areas but have cognitive or social challenges. This camp coaches life skills, encourages collaborative problem-solving and friendship-building with its project-based curriculum led by trained teachers and specialists. READ MORE

Oasis Day Camps

Lower East Side
Ages 3-5 years
Oasis offers a traditional day camp for grades K-6, a field trip-focused program for ages 12-14, and a transitional camp for preschoolers. Activities revolve around the arts, outdoor education, sports, team-building, and instructional and recreational swimming. Locations are available in NYC, Westchester, and Long Island. READ MORE

Steve & Kate's Camp NYC

Chelsea and the East Village
Ages 4-6 years
When you trust kids, they trust themselves. Since 1980, Steve & Kate’s has put kids in charge of their own learning experience. As they try, fail, and learn on their own, they learn to trust their own judgment, and tackle the challenges of an ever changing world with creativity and confidence. Campers choose from a variety of activities in real-time including, sewing, stop-motion animation, music, coding, sports and recreation, makers crafts, baking, and more. They decide what they want to do and for how long.  This summer families can buy as many... READ MORE

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About the Author

Jody Mercier
Jody Mercier always dreamed of being a mom, and she's raised three wonderful kids in New York City. Since that job only pays in hugs, she’s spent her career as a journalist covering health, fitness, sports, and parenting for Sports Illustrated, espnW, and Mommy Poppins. Follow her family’s adventures on Instagram @momtakesmanhattan or reach her at jody@mommypoppins.com.
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