Curious Jane Summer Camp Opens NEW Location on UWS!

I know, I know. I don't REALLY want to think about summer plans yet, either. But we all know that the long months of summer will be here before we know it, and judging from the amount of camp emails I'm already getting- other parents are bracing for it, too! AGH. With that said, I'm trying to be a bit more proactive this year as I explore different options for my girls.

One day camp program that has been on my radar for a while now is Curious Jane. Have you heard of it? Founded in 2009 by a mom who wanted to give her daughters, and all young girls, a space to be creative, to explore their interests & most of all, have FUN, Curious Jane has expanded over the years to include a robust camp program, after school classes, birthday parties and even a magazine! In every Curious Jane offering you'll find themes of design, art, science and engineering that encourage girls to be creative and feel empowered. Love that!

Curious Jane offers camp for girls entering kindergarten through sixth grade throughout Manhattan & Brooklyn and this summer that'll also include the Upper West Side. Located at the Alexander Robertson School (3 West 95th & Central Park West), Curious Jane will be offering 4 weeks of camp, with themes like Design Studio and Miniature World. Can I go, too?

Please check their website for more information on camp dates and pricing, and on that note, exciting news! To celebrate their new location, use CITY75 for a $75 discount on a single week of camp (ANYWHERE in Manhattan). 

Good luck in your summer camp planning, friends!

Disclosure: I have been provided with one week of camp tuition, but all opinions herein are my own.

Camp Review: Play On! Studios

Last month, Millie completed a week of Creative Drama day camp with Play On! Studios (using space at Ballet Hispanico on the Upper West Side). She had a fantastic time, and as a result, has been talking nonstop about when she can go back. Maybe there's a little actress in the making?! Eeek. Before I get too nervous about that, I have to say I'm proud of her for going into a camp situation not knowing a soul and coming out of it with new friends and a positive experience.

In addition to practicing each day for a play that was performed Friday afternoon, "Rainbow Fish and the Sea Monster's Cave," she played all sorts of creative games like Night at the Museum (a favorite), Freeze Dance Tag and Kids are Talking throughout the week. The campers also painted pictures for the show on Friday and decorated play bills for the audience. I coincidentally picked up the program that Millie decorated, so we were sure to bring it home!

Here are a few pics from dress rehearsal:

In addition to day camps, Play On! Studios also offers after school & weekends classes for kids throughout the year in choir, drama & music, even audition prep! Check out their website for more information on class schedules & to sign up.



Disclosure: I was provided with a week of camp for review purposes. All opinions herein are my own.

Summer Camp Profile: Play On Studios (& a discount!)

Summer camp. Two words that strike fear in the throats (and pockets) of many a parent this time of year. Yes, there are many options out there, but finding the right fit for your child, one that's entertaining, affordable, welcoming, conveniently located & offers the right hours to fit your schedule, etc, etc, etc... well, a program that meets all of those qualifications can be like finding a needle in a haystack. Yes, that much fun.

But never fear! I'll be profiling several camps over the next few weeks in an attempt to highlight some new programs as well as hidden gems just waiting to be discovered. They all get the Baby Meets City seal of approval and will include DISCOUNTS to boot. Hurrah!

First up, Play On Studios. Millie went to one of their demo classes in the fall and is so excited about attending summer camp! With locations on the Upper West Side & Lower Manhattan, this dynamic program runs all year long with music lessons & theater classes offered after school and on weekends. But during summer vacation, it's all about CAMP. Let's break it down.

UPPER WEST SIDE

For grades K-4, Play On Studios offers Creative Drama camp at 2 locations:

Ballet Hispanico (167 West 89th Street between Columbus & Amsterdam)
Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew (263 West 86th Street between Broadway & West End Avenue)

Hours:  9-3pm (4pm on Fridays, which includes a special camp performance). Extended day & early drop off is also available -- see website for those details.
Dates:   June 19th-Sept. 1st with the exception of July 4th week
Cost:    $525/week (see bottom for discount!)
Campers must bring their own lunch & snack.

The skinny on Creative Drama:

"Our most popular class emphasizes the creativity, enjoyment, and personal growth of each child. Through drama games, movement, music, and vocal exercises, kids will explore self-expression and gain confidence. A final showcase in front of family and friends creates a comfortable and exciting opportunity to experience another important aspect of theater: performance!"

For grades 4-9, Play On steps things up a notch, offering "Musical Theater Performance" & "Musical Theater Revue" at a single location:

Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew (263 West 86th Street between Broadway & West End Avenue)

Hours:  9:30-4pm (flexible drop off btwn 9-9:30am)

Dates:   Musical Theater Performance: July 5th-28th
             Musical Theater Revue: July 31st- Aug. 11th and Aug. 14th-25th 

Cost:    $2500 (Musical Theater Performance) & $1200 (Musical Theater Revue) - see bottom for discount!
Campers must bring their own lunch & snack.

The skinny on Musical Theater Performance:

Put on a complete musical production in a professional NYC theater! Campers will stretch their skills with drama exercises and games, vocal coaching, field trips (including a Broadway show!), and building a professional set. Our incredible teaching artists and campers come together to put on a truly remarkable show! Additional activities often include scene-writing, film-making, Shakespeare, creating choreography, and more!

& Musical Theater Revue:

Using a different, inspiring Broadway theme each session, campers will explore solos, monologues, scenes, and full musical numbers. This flexible format allows us to create a very personal experience for our campers, helping them to grow and take on specific challenges. For example, campers looking to prepare for middle school, high school, or professional auditions will have opportunities to start work on appropriate monologues and solo songs. We'll show off our new skills at a final Friday performance!

LOWER MANHATTAN

For grades K-4, Play On! Studios offers Creative Drama camp at Pine Street School (25 Pine Street btwn William & Nassau)

Hours:  9-3pm (4pm on Fridays, which includes a special camp performance). Extended day & early drop off is also available -- see website for those details.
Dates:   3 weeks only, July 10th-28th
Cost:    $600/week (see bottom for discount!)
Campers must bring their own lunch & snack.

Last but not least, I'm thrilled to help highlight Play On! Studios, perfect for your theater-loving kid. 

Please use code BMC50 and receive $50 off any of their camp weeks!

Disclosure: We are receiving a week of camp in exchange for this review & promotion. All opinions herein are my own.

Summer in the City with Kids in the Game

My girls recently completed a week of day camp with Kids in the Game, which operates summer day camps on the Upper West Side, Inwood and Riverdale (in addition to after school, recess and athletic programs for kids throughout the year). They had such a blast!

Walking to camp

The week was packed full of games, sports instruction, field trips (Millie's group went to The Intrepid), water play, face painting and making new friends. I loved hearing about their day when I would pick them up each afternoon, and we also loved how easily they fell asleep each night after a day full of fun. Hurrah!

Super Hero face painting

I asked Millie to come up with a list of games they played during the week, and boy did she deliver... among them, Capture the Flag, Freeze Dance, Musical Chairs, Caterpillar Tag and soccer. She also received instruction in tennis twice during the week, which was great as she had a few tennis lessons last summer. There was also time for yoga and arts-n-crafts... it was truly a week packed full of engaging activities.

Field trip to The Intrepid

Need to fill a couple more weeks of summer for your child? Kids in the Game camps run through August 19th, and while prices vary depending on which location you choose, I can tell you from doing the research, Kids in the Game is a very affordable option.

Flag football in Inwood Hill Park

Here's to keeping our kids active & having fun during the summer!



Disclosure: I was provided with a week of camp for my daughters in exchange for this promotion. All opinions are my own.

A NYC Summer with Kids in the Game (& a GIVEAWAY!)

And just like that, the NYC school year is drawing to a close. In about a week, I'm going to have a kindergartner and 2nd grader on my hands. How on earth did that happen? But before I can adjust to that crazy realization, a long summer looms in front of me. Like just about everyone (see recent New York Times article), finding a way to keep your child entertained during the summer affordably can be a challenge -- especially in families where both parents work full-time, which is just about everyone.

If you're still mapping out your summer plans (i.e, are a procrastinator like me), I want to introduce you to a dynamic day camp I recently learned about -- Kids in the Game.

Kids in the Game operates day camps in 3 parts of the city: the Upper West Side, Inwood and it's newest location, Riverdale. A leading provider of after school and youth sports programs during the school year, their summer day camp program has become a natural extension of one common theme: teaching kids health, wellness and life skills through sports. While a typical day at camp involves active play like basketball, soccer and tennis, the program is rounded out with arts and crafts, dance, music and field trips to museums, the zoo, etc.

Kids in the Game was founded by Michael Murphy, a former college basketball coach, and summer staff are a mix of teachers and teaching assistants, current and former college athletes, current and former professional dancers, and graduate students in programs ranging from physical education to early childhood development. Rising high school seniors also play supporting roles as part of their Counselor in Training program.

Set up like a typical school day, Kids in the Game campers can be dropped off between 7:30-9am, when camp begins. Pre-k campers are picked up at 2:30 (with an after school option till 4pm), while kindergartners and above are picked up between 4-4:30pm (with an after school option till 6pm). While weekly camp prices vary depending on which location you choose, Kids in the Game is arguably one of the most affordable options you have in NYC. Here's to that!

So here's the really EXCITING part. Kids in the Game has agreed to give one lucky reader a FREE WEEK of camp for their child this summer -- at the LOCATION of their choice and the WEEK of their choice (in case you hadn't noticed, all caps means I'm kinda EXCITED). So here's what you do -- simply fill out the Rafflecopter contest below and check back here on June 27th. I'll announce the winner on my social media channels as well.

GOOD LUCK!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: My kids will be attending one week of camp in exchange for this review and promotion. All opinions are my own.