82nd Street Academics provides pre-K, universal pre-K, afterschool, and summer school programs for children ages three to 12, and provides volunteer opportunities for teenagers ages 16 and up.

Students can attend Pre-K two, three, or five days a week. Families also have the option of choosing a morning class, which runs from 9am to 11am or an afternoon class from 12n to 2pm. A full-day preschool program (10:30am-6:30pm) is also available.

A Class Act NY offers afterschool performing arts classes, one-day weekend workshops with Broadway stars and/or industry professionals, a one-week Broadway Summer Camp for children and teens, and theatrical, interactive birthday parties. Courses center around Musical Theatre, Drama, Improv, and On-Camera Acting.

Signature afterschool classes include the 14-week Sing Your Heart Out, an introduction to classic and contemporary show tunes for kids ages six to seven and seven to nine. Students learn songs and dance combinations from hit shows culminating with a final recital for family and friends. The cost is $550. Classes are held at Ripley Grier Studios on the Upper West Side or in the Theatre District.

Abrakadoodle's art classes span such genres as painting, collage, sculpture, mosaics, and more.

Birthday parties and summer camp programs are also available offsite. Contact Abrakadoodle for details.

The Abrons Arts Center houses three off-Broadway theatres. The largest, the Harry De Jur, has its own lobby, fixed theatre seats on a rise, a large, deep stage, and good visibility. The mid-sized (for Off-Broadway) Recital Hall is on the lower level, down a flight of stairs. And the small Experimental, located on the upper level, offers seating is stadium style on three sides.

Restrooms are available on each level.

The Arts Center also offers classes and workshops in a variety of arts disciplines (music, dance, theater, and visual arts). Catering to all ages and skill levels, classes are taught by a faculty of dedicated educators and professional artists. Fees are extremely reasonable, and scholarships and financial assistance are available to those who qualify. Call 212.598.0400, ext. 224, to register for classes.

In addition to numerous workshops and programs for parents ? including drop-in hours each day from 10am to 2pm at the Parent Center, Henry Street offers a number of summer camp programs for children ages five to 14. Scholarships are available on a sliding scale for eligible families. Registration for summer camps begins in January. Call 212.254.3100, ex 214 or email campinfo@henrystreet.org for more information.

The Barbara L Tate Summer Camp runs Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm, and provides a rich experience in the arts for kids ages six to 12. Campers take a cultural field trip once a week, and swim at the local neighborhood pool. The camp program ends with a performance that features all campers.

A Teen Arts Summer Program is also available.

ACT (Adults and Children in Trust) offers a broad range of year-round, affordable, non-sectarian, educational programs for tots through teens, in and around the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.

ACT's Indoor Play Station provides a playground alternative for children ages five and younger during chilly season. Child-size equipment includes slides, balls, and places to crawl - all on a safe mat area. Open Monday through Thursday from noon to 3pm, parents or caregivers must accompany and stay with their children at all times.

The ACT Toddler Program offers a first-time group experience for children 18 to 36 months and their parents/caregivers. Each 90-minute class begins with an open play gym time followed by circle time with games and songs. After snack in the kitchen - which kids often help prepare - it's off to the art studio for various projects, winding up with a story and closing song.

ACT Early Childhood Programs offer various first-time school options for children ages 2.3 to 4.5. Two-day and three-day a week nursery classes as well as a part-time and full-time five-day a week preschool program are available.

A selection of programs help working parents when schools are not in session. Afterschool programs for grades K-4, vacation camp for ages 4.9 to twelve, and summer camp programs for kids three and a half through teen age are available.

Long lasting friendships, new games and songs, outdoor art and play, planting in the vegetable garden, participating in assemblies, and following the Cathedral's resident peacocks are just a few samples of what ACT participants experience.

Mini-ACT Summer Camp, for children ages three and a half to five and a half, offers a schedule filled with sports, art, music, storytelling, dance, gardening, water play, and more. Assemblies and camp wide events bring all facets of the ACT camp together. Weekly themes add a flavor to each activity period and event.

Day Camp for kids ages five and up is divided into age appropriate groups - the Preps Division (1st-2nd grades), Voyager Division (3th-5th grades), and Pioneer Division (6th-9th grades). A five-week session, beginning in July, costs $1,980; a two-week August session is $785.

The younger crowd are prepared (hence the word "Preps") to participate in everything from swimming and sports to art, performing arts, gardening, and more. The camp day includes structured periods as well as time for campers to talk, relax, and choose their own games. Club periods present campers with an opportunity to join an activity with campers in other groups.

Weekly field trips are scheduled to destinations such as lakes, beaches, and amusement parks. Fifth-graders can choose to go on a two-day camping trip or remain at ACT and take a day trip to Mountain Creek.

August Specialty Camps offer opportunities for campers who are interested in developing or honing their talents and skills in basketball, performing arts, and arts and crafts.

Assemblies and camp wide events bring all facets of the ACT camp together. Sessions wrap up with a camp wide celebration day.

A Counselor-In-Training program and other community service opportunities are open to high school students.

ACT birthday parties offer kids the opportunity to run, jump, and climb on ACT's special equipment, play party games, and create crafts until they cut the cake.

Basic parties include a choice of food entree and beverage, paper goods, a host who takes care of the details and a party activity specialist who leads activities. All you need to bring is a camera - and the cake. Balloons and other decorations can be provided for an additional fee.

A variety of theme parties are available including Art, Lawn Party, Gym, and Sports. Facilities are available for floor hockey, basketball, football, volleyball, and dodgeball.

ACTeen is a film and television acting program developed for teens which offers fall or spring afterschool workshops in film acting, commercials, theater, and audition technique - all taught by working professionals.

Summer programs include a two-week intensive June Academy, a four-week July Academy, a two-and-a-half-week August Academy, and a six-week Saturday Summer Program. Visit the website for dates, fees, and details.

Teachers College, Columbia University, hosts the Action Arts Summer Camp for children ages five to 12.

Each day, campers join arts education professionals for hands-on discovery experiences in music, art, and dance/drama. Through the use of developmentally appropriate curriculum, campers engage in exciting theme-based interdisciplinary activities that encourage inquiry and cooperation.

The program cultivates freedom, awareness, and self-expression while nurturing each child's personal voice. The program also promotes listening, composing, moving, dancing, drawing, sculpture, and collage.

A typical day at the camp includes integrated emphasis on art, music and dance/drama, story time, outdoor and indoor free play, snack time, and pool time. The camp also takes one trip to a museum or cultural institution in New York City.

The instructors at the Actions Arts Summer Camp are experienced educators and artists who are or have been part of Teachers College Art, Music, or Dance Education programs. They are adept at working with children of all ages and abilities.

Teachers College, Columbia University, hosts the Action Arts Summer Camp for children ages five to 12.

Each day, campers join arts education professionals for hands-on discovery experiences in music, art, and dance/drama. Through the use of developmentally appropriate curriculum, campers engage in exciting theme-based interdisciplinary activities that encourage inquiry and cooperation.

The program cultivates freedom, awareness, and self-expression while nurturing each child's personal voice. The program also promotes listening, composing, moving, dancing, drawing, sculpture, and collage.

A typical day at the camp includes integrated emphasis on art, music and dance/drama, story time, outdoor and indoor free play, snack time, and pool time. The camp also takes one trip to a museum or cultural institution in New York City.

The instructors at the Actions Arts Summer Camp are experienced educators and artists who are or have been part of Teachers College Art, Music, or Dance Education programs. They are adept at working with children of all ages and abilities.

Acting, voice and speech, and movement are amongst the Saturday classes offered for children, teenagers, and adults at this legendary school. Beginning in October and February, classes meet for three hours, and run for twelve weeks. Prominent alumni of the Saturday program include, Adrien Brody, Anne Hathaway, Michael Pitt, and Samm Levine.

The Summer Program for teens (ages 14 and up) and college students, includes classes in acting, voice & speech, vocal production, and movement. Various elective classes are available, such as musical theatre, mime, stage make-up, and fencing, at additional cost. Summer Actor Training 2008 runs from July 7 to August 14.

There's no better place to spend a rainy day, or even a sunny one, than inside the American Museum of Natural History, winner of our 2008 Parents' Picks quest to find the Best Museum for Little Kids in New York City. From the instant they climb the stone steps and enter the lobby, children are rapt with attention. The animal dioramas are over 30 years old (they were there when WE were kids), but the scenes are still fascinating and weirdly beautiful. The dinosaurs, of course, can't be beat, and the often overlooked Hall of Gems contains The Star of India, the biggest and most famous star sapphire.

The Hall of Biodiversity is another big crowd-pleaser, with a walk through faux rainforest and lots of sea and land creatures to gaze upon.

The Anne and Bernard Spitzer Hall of Human Origins presents the remarkable history of human evolution from our earliest ancestors millions of years ago to modern Homo sapiens. The innovative Spitzer Hall combines the most up-to-date discoveries in the fossil record with the latest in genomic science to explore the most profound mysteries of humankind: who we are, where we came from, and what is in store for the future of our species.

The Discovery Room houses hands-on exhibits for older children in the company of an adult. Kids can hunt for hidden creatures in a two-story replica of an African baobab tree (read the Little Prince before visiting!), check out an authentic Kwakiutl totem pole, dig for fossils (the staff tell us it takes about two weeks for kids to uncover the skeleton, at which point the museum covers it back up with packed sand for the next round), put a dino skeleton back together (our kids' favorite) with ingenious magnetized bones, and track earthquakes all over the world on a seismograph.

The Discovery Room holds about 50 inquisitive kids and parents at a time; when it gets too busy, you might be asked to wait for the next 40 minute stretch.

IMAX films are screened in the Lefrak Theatre, which features a forty-foot-high, sixty-six-foot-wide screen and a state-of-the-art digital sound system.
Tickets can be reserved in advance by calling 212.769.5200,
Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Highlights Tours are offered daily at 10:15am, 11:15am, 12:15pm; 1:15pm, 2:15pm, and 3:15pm. Tours begin at the entrance to the Akeley Hall of African Mammals, on the second floor.

Special exhibits and seasonal events, like the annual Butterfly Conservatory, require additional ticketing, and often an additional fee, and it can all be somewhat confusing. The smartest way to visit the museum is to plan in advance - and order tickets before you go. The Will Call ticket booth (located at the entrance at 81st between Central Park West and Columbus) usually has shorter lines than the drop-in booths, and if you order in advance you're sure to be able to see what you want to see.

AMNH offers summer camp and school vacation camp options for kids ages seven to 12. Check the website for updated information.

The museum is justly proud of its Food Court on the lower level; walk through the center and choose food to put on your tray - the options range from the very healthy and nice looking fruits and vegetables (and lovely cheese plates), to kid-pleasing pizza, burgers, and fries. Even on a crowded Saturday at 12:30pm, we had no trouble sailing through the brilliantly designed self-serve section, paying, and finding a place to sit.

The Hayden Planetarium is housed in the new Rose Center for Earth and Space.

Parking is available in the Museum's three story lot (enter on 81st Street between Columbus and Central Park West), for typical NYC prices. Still, you can't beat the convenience. Don't forget to have your ticket validated in the museum; you'll save at least a couple of dollars off the full price.

The museum is open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas.

CityPass: The American Museum of Natural History is a participant in CityPass®, the most convenient way to visit five city attractions. Tickets are combined in an easy booklet for one low price, with no waiting in ticket lines!

ArchiKids offers young people the opportunity to explore the built world around them and to stretch their imaginations, with a goal of educating and inspiring children through architecture. A child doesn't necessarily need to aspire to a career in architecture to enjoy the ArchiKids programs, just a strong sense of curiosity about the world and a desire to explore and test new ideas.

ArchiKids afterschool classes offer an introduction to basic architectural concepts. During each class kids participate in at least one hands-on activity, which is aimed at developing two-dimensional and three-dimensional visualization skills.

Basic structures - such as columns and beams, arches, domes, and vaults - are discussed and then built and tested. Concepts like form, symmetry, contrast, balance, and rhythm are introduced and explored in the projects. Connections are made to fine art and music as well as to history, geography, math, and science.

Sessions meet once a week for 10 weeks. Drop-off starts at 3:30pm; the workshop runs from 4pm to 5:30pm. The cost for a 10 week session is $300. Signing up for multiple sessions offers a cost savings.

ArchiKids also offers ArchiCamp, an innovative day camp offering kids ages nine to 13 a unique opportunity to explore architecture in New York City.

Each day a specific architectural concept is presented and then the kids work on an engaging, hands-on building project related to that concept. They get to experiment with form, structure and materials, their imagination and creativity the only constraints. Work is done both independently and collaboratively.

In the afternoon the group visits a building or neighborhood that relates to the morning's project. Besides reinforcing the concepts developed by the building project, the site visits offer the kids a unique view of New York.

The camp day runs from 9am-5pm, at a cost of $450 per week (plus a $20 registration fee). Arrangements can be made for early drop-off or late pick-up.

ArchiKids offers young people the opportunity to explore the built world around them and to stretch their imaginations, with a goal of educating and inspiring children through architecture. A child doesn't necessarily need to aspire to a career in architecture to enjoy the ArchiKids programs, just a strong sense of curiosity about the world and a desire to explore and test new ideas.

ArchiKids afterschool classes offer an introduction to basic architectural concepts. During each class kids participate in at least one hands-on activity, which is aimed at developing two-dimensional and three-dimensional visualization skills.

Basic structures - such as columns and beams, arches, domes, and vaults - are discussed and then built and tested. Concepts like form, symmetry, contrast, balance, and rhythm are introduced and explored in the projects. Connections are made to fine art and music as well as to history, geography, math, and science.

Sessions meet once a week for 10 weeks. Drop-off starts at 3:30pm; the workshop runs from 4pm to 5:30pm. The cost for a 10 week session is $300. Signing up for multiple sessions offers a cost savings.

ArchiKids also offers ArchiCamp, an innovative day camp offering kids ages nine to 13 a unique opportunity to explore architecture in New York City.

Each day a specific architectural concept is presented and then the kids work on an engaging, hands-on building project related to that concept. They get to experiment with form, structure and materials, their imagination and creativity the only constraints. Work is done both independently and collaboratively.

In the afternoon the group visits a building or neighborhood that relates to the morning's project. Besides reinforcing the concepts developed by the building project, the site visits offer the kids a unique view of New York.

The camp day runs from 9am-5pm, at a cost of $450 per week (plus a $20 registration fee). Arrangements can be made for early drop-off or late pick-up.

The Art Students League, founded by and for artists in 1875, has been instrumental in shaping America's legacy in the fine arts. Dedicated to sustaining the great tradition of training artists, the League counts many famous artists over the years as instructors, lecturers, and students, including Georgia O'Keeffe, Jackson Pollack, Robert Rauschenberg, Roy Lichtenstein, Norman Rockwell, Winslow Homer, Louise Nevelson, Romare Bearden, Mark Rothko, Cy Twombly, Man Ray, and many others.

The League offers art education for students of all levels at an affordable cost.

Classes for children, ages eight and up, are held on weekends and during the summer. Students under the age of 18 cannot be registered at the League during regular public school year hours unless permission is obtained from the administration.

The summer program for children, held during the week and on weekends, offers classes in drawing, painting, sculpture, collage, mixed media, design, composition, and more.

ArtsCetera is a family-oriented arts center serving the neighborhoods of Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn Heights, Boerum Hill, Park Slope, and Windsor Terrace.

ArtsCetera offers its own arts programs for kids - Arfie's Music Adventures and Arfie's Playgroup - as well as Music for Aardvarks.

Summer camp (known as "un-camp"!) offers music and art activities for children ages four through six. The program is drop-off; snacks are provided. Contact ArtsCetera for session dates and fees.

In addition to its music and art classes for children, ArtsCetera available for workshop or class rental. The Smith Street studio also serves as an alternative space to view contemporary art and boasts an expansive roster of performances and other arts-related events.

ArtsCetera can bring art or music parties to your home or another rental space. Contact Nanette for party details and local space rental recommendations.

If you have a dog-loving child, check out How To Meet a Dog, an ongoing series of family workshops for canine/human safety and etiquette.

August Tufte-Folk offers a Summer Mini Drama Camp with the theme of Scandinavian culture, folklore, and mythology.

The rich Scandinavian pageant of ancient gods, Vikings, witches, gnomes, trolls, and fairies, is explored through Nordic children's books, role-playing, and arts & crafts. Children re-create the tales by acting them out, using simple props, textiles, costumes, puppets, and music.

Sessions, which run from 9:15am-12:15am, are offered in July. Classes are also offered in Swedish for bilingual children, who wish to use their second language in a fun and playful way outside of their homes.

Ballet Hispanico offers dance programs for children from tots to teens. Adventures in Dance introduces young students, ages two to seven, to the fundamentals of ballet; a workshop for boys, ages six to 14, emphasizes strength and athleticism; an enrichment program allows students ages eight to 18 to enjoy the art of dance without making a full-time commitment; and a pre-professional program offers dancers ages nine to 18 the opportunity to undertake a progressive program of serious technical study of ballet, contemporary, and Spanish dance.

An afterschool enrichment program for kids ages eight to 18 offers a wide array of classes such as Spanish dance, Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Salsa, and Hip Hop for students at all levels . Classes begin after 4pm on weekdays and are offered throughout the day on Saturdays, meeting for one hour, once a week. The price is $580 for the entire academic year of study. Visit Ballet Hispanico's website for the current schedule.

A four-week summer dance series for preschoolers ages three to six explores Creative Movement, Spanish dance, Costume and Mask Making, and Latin Rhythm and Drumming, focusing on a distinct culture each week. The cost is $400 per session; $1,200 for all four weeks.

Grades: Pre-K to 8

Students: Coed


The School for Children at Bank Street is an independent laboratory school for Bank Street College and a working model of the College's approach to learning and teaching. Education at the School is experience-based, interdisciplinary, and collaborative.

Bank Street Summer Camp, an eclectic summer camp open to children ages four through 13, offers a variety of programs including art, theater, science, astronomy, digital technology, sports, field trips, and overnight camp. A Spanish lanuage immersion program is offered in conjunction with La Escuelita. All groups swim twice a week at either the Barnard Pool, an outdoor pool in Riverdale, or Lake Sebago. Camp tuition ranges from $1050 to $3240 and up depending on the program. Financial aid is available. Call 212.875.4705, email BankstreetSummercamp@bankstreet.edu, or fax 212.665.2811 for further information.

The Better Brooklyn Community Center, or BBCC, provides one-on-one homework assistance and tutoring to 190 students for the entire school year, based on the students' needs. Tutors are certified teachers, educational specialists in math and reading, and trained volunteers who act as mentors, providing positive reinforcement for youth.

The Summer Enrichment Camp is an academic-based day program for Kindergarten through 9th grade and includes enrichment courses in reading, writing, and math. Other activities include swimming, basketball, martial arts instruction, yoga, dance, arts instruction (drawing, painting, and sculpture), musical drama connected to educational topics, film production, writing and editing of the student newsletter and website, a cooking class, an environmental education course, poetry class, and field trips to the Science Guild Museum, City Hall, and the New York Aquarium.

Biz Kids is a theater school dedicated to the training of young actors.

Students study mime, mask, improvisation, speech, dance/movement, and script interpretation in a classic conservatory-style program. Courses are available in makeup, wardrobe, on-camera and other audition techniques, and a business course, which parents are encouraged to attend. The studio offers classes for adults as well.

A six-week summer camp program runs weekdays from 9:30am to 3:30pm, July through August. The cost is $620 per week; $3500 for all six weeks if paid in advance.

Private coaching with Biz Kids' director Peggy Lewis is also available.

Billed as a playground for language, the Bowery Poetry Club extends a welcoming hand to youngsters who love words with the Bowery Kids series of kid-friendly shows and readings.

The cafe here serves soup, sandwiches, wraps, salads, and fresh pastries and desserts. Vox Pop provides a special menu just for Bowery Kids shows, which includes The Dr. Seuss, a green smoothie with bananas, mangoes, honey, and organic milk ($4.50); The Mister Rogers, peanut butter and jelly on white or whole wheat toast, and The Jabberwocky, a banana, honey, and peanut butter sandwich, on wheat or white bread - both with the edges cut off ($3 each); and The Puppy Dog, a vegan hot dog served with ketchup and carrot sticks ($3).

The Bridge for Dance offers classes for children ages three and up. The Young Dancers Program provides instruction in ballet, tap, jazz, modern, Hip Hop, creative movement, karate (ages eight and up), and specialty workshops including pilates, yoga, musical theater, flamenco, and more.

A musical theater summer camp, for children ages eight and up, is offered annually in July. Visit the website for details or call to speak to program directors.

BrightSteps teaches foreign languages - Spanish, Italian, French, and Mandarin - to young children, ages six months to six years, through active learning, individualized attention, and - most importantly - cultural themes. Native speaking instructors use music, dance, drama, art, games, and other activities to draw kids into the exploration of a new language.

Summer sessions at BrightSteps, for children ages three to six, are offered for a minimum of two weeks to a maximum of eight weeks. Morning sessions run Monday to Friday, 9am-12n; afternoon sessions are held Monday to Thursday, 1pm-4pm. Children are provided with healthy snacks approximately half-way into each class.

The winner of our 2008 Parents' Picks quest to find the Best Artsy Class in Brooklyn for Little Kids, BAX, as it's fondly known by many enthusiasts, is a not-for-profit multi-disciplinary arts center that offers scads of classes for both children and adults.

Youth classes are offered on a trimester basis (fall, winter, and spring). Options include dance/movement classes for kids ages ages twelve months to 18
years and theater classes for kids ages seven to 18.

Dance Performance Workshop (ages nine and up) and Theater Performance Workshop (ages 10 and up) are year-long intensive classes that require dedication and commitment.

Classes include Dance & Sing with Me (ages 12-18 months), Hip Hop (eight-12), Kids Yoga (seven-10), and Teen Acting (11-16).

BAX also offers a summer arts programs for children ages four to 14.

The Young Artists Program gives budding or experienced young artists ages 10-14 the chance to delve into theater, dance, and video. Three two-week sessions
run Monday-Friday, 9am-4pm (late pick-up is available) - register for one, two or all three sessions.

BAX birthday parties offer creative-themed
activities led by experienced BAX teaching artists, including elements of storytelling, music, dance, drama, and songs. Parties for kids ages three and up run two hours and include the exclusive use of two studios - one for activities, one for cake/refreshments; fun props i.e., scarves, hoops, play huts, and crayons; paper goods; coffee/tea for the adults; and set up/clean up. Families provide any additional decorations, cake, and beverages. The cost is $400 for 15 kids with one teaching artist; $475 for 16 to 25 kids with two teaching artists. Each additional half hour is $50. For more information and reservations call Julie Betts at BAX or email Julie@bax.org.

A city kid with a green thumb? It's been known to happen, and young explorers and gardener wanna-be's can learn a lot at the BBG's outdoor adventure garden, designed especially for young children.

The outdoor adventure garden is designed especially for young children to explore plant life from a kid's perspective. Children may visit sense-ational plants and colorful flowers, follow butterflies and birds in a wildlife meadow, pump water down a bamboo waterfall to a stream, hide under a tree, hike a nature trail, and meet a giant green spider. The Discovery Garden includes safe areas designed for toddlers to experience plant life firsthand and have fun.

Brightly colored Plant Discovery Carts are chock-full of games, puzzles, and natural objects. Kids can "Be-a-Bee" and learn about pollination, or train to be a Tree Surgeons and learn how to help the trees on your block, or try to guess what part of a plant is in the mystery bag. Topics, activities, and schedules change regularly, so there's always something new to explore. Don't forget to collect family fun activity sheets to take home. Check our Calendar for upcoming events.

Kids can sign up for KinderGardeners Seedlings programs, usually offered in increments of six Fridays or Saturdays. Check the website for classes.

Free guided tours are offered at 1pm on weekends (except major holiday weekends); no reservations are needed.

The Terrace Cafe offers a full menu of gourmet lunches and beverages. Dining is outdoors from spring to early fall and in the Steinhardt Conservatory late fall and winter. Picnicking is not permitted in the Garden.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden has two shops, both located on Lily Pool Terrace. The Gift Shop carries stationery, personal accessories, and home items. The Garden Shop carries everything for the garden as well as huge selection of nature and gardening toys for kids.

The Brooklyn Cultural Adventures Program (BCAP) Summer Camp, for kids ages seven to 12, is offered in three two-week Summer Camp sessions from late June through mid-August. An optional after-camp program, from 3:30pm-6pm, is also available and features games, activities, and time for journal writing, reading, movies, or just being with friends at one of the seven participating institutions. Tuition assistance is offered for qualifying campers.

The basic camp fee for the two-week program (Mon-Fri for 10 sessions, 9am-3:30pm) is $625. The after-camp fee for the two-week program (also Mon-Fri for 10 sessions) is an additional $150.

Family Membership benefits include two membership cards for free admission for two adults and any children under 16, free parking for four visits, 10% discount at the Terrace Cafe, discounts on children's programs and classes, 10% discount at the Garden Gift Shop, entry to members' summer hours, Sunset Picnics and Preview Night at the Plant Sale, and quarterly issues of both the 21st-Century Gardening Series Handbooks and Plants & Gardens News.

Brooklyn College's division of Professional Studies and Continuing Education (PACE) offers classes and activities in the arts, sciences, and sports, for students ages six to 18. In addition, PACE offers high school prep and SAT prep courses.

The Summer Youth Program is the winner of our 2008 Parents' Picks quest to find the Best Day Camp for Teens in Brooklyn.

Founded in 1897, the Brooklyn/Queens Conservatory of Music has been serving the New York musical community for over a century. The Conservatory has the distinction of being one of the oldest and largest community music schools in the nation.

The two schools, one nestled in a completely restored five-story Victorian Gothic mansion in the heart of historic Park Slope, Brooklyn, and the other in a newly renovated building in Flushing, Queens, serve as comprehensive music centers for nearly 2,000 students of all ages and backgrounds.

The Conservatory offers Music Adventures, a music and movement program for children from the age of 18 months to six years old. Private instruction is available in piano, guitar, violin, cello, flute, clarinet, and most other orchestral instruments. For a modest additional fee, children can also round out their education with group classes in music skills or by participating in the Conservatory's Children's Chorus.

Other class offerings include the Pre-teen Saxophone Ensemble/Pre-teen Clarinet Ensemble, for young musicians (ages 9-12) interested in playing music and building their technical skills; Teen Jazz & Gospel Chorus for kids ages 13-19; Teen Rock Ensemble; and African Djembe Drumming.

Children ages four to nine can sign up for Suzuki violin or piano lessons. The Conservatory's Orff Ensemble class introduces singing, movement, speech, improvisation, and the playing of pitched and un-pitched percussion, as well as recorder, to children ages seven to nine.

Children's birthday parties can be held at the Brooklyn location of the Conservatory. Parties include use of the auditorium for two hours, tables, and chairs. Best of all, the party features a "Music Adventures" teacher conducting a sample 45-minute class using musical instruments, singing, and dancing. Children sing, clap, dance, play instruments and use their imagination in stories and movement games. Each party is tailored to your child's interest. You bring the cake and paper goods.

The Conservatory also hosts "Music for Families," a series of family-friendly music performances.

Kids from all over the world converge for a week in July and/or a week in August to take 40 hours of classes from experts working in current Broadway shows. Campers spend the week creating theatrical pieces for a "Gypsy Showcase," performed on the last day for family, faculty, and guests, and presided over by celebrity judges.

A week at Camp Broadway also includes a trip to a Broadway show, a backstage tour of a working theater, and a luncheon celebration attended by many child actors working on Broadway.

The camp provides lunch, beverages, and snacks throughout the day. Kids also receive a Camp Broadway t-shirt for class, a wardrobe bag, an "all access" pass, a certificate of performance, and a gift bag fit for a star.

Camp Broadway's classes are held at Theatreworks' Chelsea Studios, 151 West 26th Street.

Enrollment is limited to 100 campers. Sign up early.