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.

ActiveJacs provides a safe, healthy learning environment where youngsters can build self-esteem, confidence, and basketball skills during school vacation days and over the summer.

Amerikick offers professional martial arts instruction and world champion training to children ages five and up. Programs are age specific.

A summer camp program, for children ages five to 12, features martial arts classes, arts and crafts activities, and field trips.

Children's parties can be booked on Saturdays, from 2:30 to 4:30. Call for details.

Amerikick offers professional martial arts instruction and world champion training to children ages five and up. Programs are age specific.

A summer camp program, for children ages five to 12, features martial arts classes, arts and crafts activities, and field trips.

Children's parties can be booked on Saturdays, from 2:30 to 4:30. Call for details.

Though it isn't as extensive as Chelsea Piers, Asphalt Green has some wonderful programs for kids, and a great community spirit. The pool and aquatics programs have been named "Best of..." year after year, and with good reason.

If you just need a place to swim, without taking classes, you can drop by the Green, and pay $35/adult, $20 senior, and $7/child. Membership (see below) is recommended if you think you'll visit often. Pool drop-in is not available Mon-Fri 3pm-8pm.

Swim Programs begin at four months, and include beginner through advanced classes. Lifeguard training classes are available for youth ages 15 and up.

Private and semi-private lessons are also available, as are Youth with Disabilities classes. Expect to pay approximately $300 for 10 classes, and $435 for 15 classes. Class prices vary depending on age and expertise. Call the Green for more information.

Youth Sports Programs include soccer, basketball, baseball, softball, gymnastics, karate, pre-K classes, as well as sport-specific training.

Private lessons are available for kids starting a new sport or looking to take their sport to the next level. Sessions are available with certified Master Coaches.

Asphalt Green also takes some of the panic out of impending school vacations with holiday camps and summer camp programs. Call to register.

Party options at the Green include Swim parties (for kids ages five and up, $685 for a maximum of 20 children ages five to six, or 25 children over seven), gymnastics parties ($600), sports parties (for kids ages three to six, $575), and karate parties ($590).

Several membership possibilities exist for Asphalt Green?s 50-meter Olympic Pool and duplex Fitness Center: Gold ($1,500/year), Gym ($1,125/year), Swim ($1,125/year), or Day ($1,000/year). One-month trial memberships are also available for $150/month.

Aviator Sports and Recreation is a 25-acre indoor/outdoor complex located on New York's original municipal airport, part of Gateway National Recreation Area. Aviator is also the temporary home of the British Airways Concorde.

The huge indoor facility features features 2 NHL-sized ice rinks, multiple hardwood floor basketball courts, a 35' rock-climbing wall, high performance gym, 15,000 square foot gymnastics center, and two state-of-the-art full-sized outdoor turf fields for soccer, football, and Lacrosse. Two 50 x 100 feet indoor fields, with state-of-the-art artificial turf, provide area soccer players a unique place to score goals when weather conditions are unpleasant.

Youth leagues and camps include soccer, hockey, flag football, figure skating, basketball, gymnastics, volleyball, and Lacrosse.

School holiday camp and various summer camp programs include All Star Day Camp, which offers instruction in gymnastics, ice skating, and rock-climbing as well as recreational activities including crafts and nature exploration. Gymnastics, Figure Skating, Hockey, Soccer, and Basketball camps are also available. Post- and pre-Camp supervision is offered as is transportation from Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan (during the summer).

Birthday party packages include invitations, decorations, food, drinks, birthday cake, party favors, and more, plus a birthday crew to take care of everything from decorating to clean-up. Ice skating parties feature a performance from professional figure skaters and kids get to skate with the stars and receive instruction. Basketball, Soccer, Rock-Climbing, Gymnastics, and Cheerleading parties are also offered.

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.

Brooklyn Fencing Center teaches the art of sword play to kids ages seven and up.

A summer camp program is offered during the months of July and August.

Fencing birthday parties feature a 50-minute introduction to fencing and are available on Saturdays after 2:30pm and on some Sundays. The cost is $225 for up to 10 children and $10 per child after that, up to 20 kids total. The foam sabers the kids use during the lesson are for sale as a party favor - at a fee of $9 each.

The Champion Tennis Club offers a Champion Junior Tennis Program and Summer mini-sports camps. Children's programs begin at three years of age.

Visit the website for dates and times, and pricing information.

If your ten-year-old is speculatively eyeing apartment buildings and wondering aloud if they can be scaled, or your six-year-old is using the back of the sofa as a balance beam, it may be time to take the kids down to Chelsea Piers, where their longing to climb, balance, and expend energy in general can be sated a bit more safely.

The winner of our 2008 Parents' Picks quest to find the Best Place for Family Bonding in New York City, this 28-acre sports city, situated over three piers on the Hudson, offers year-round ice skating, ice hockey, soccer, golf, batting cages, basketball and volleyball courts, dance, and gymnastics classes, and 40 lanes devoted to bowling.

The Field House features two basketball courts with top-quality wood floors, glass backboards, and state of the art electronic scoreboards. Baseball players can check out the ProBatter II Baseball Simulator in one of the Piers' four batting cages. Based on the same multi-patented technology used by the Mets, Indians, and Red Sox, the ProBatter II features a life-size video screen that shows a pitcher from Shea Stadium throwing the ball towards the batter.

Dance classes for children are held in the Field House's 1400 square foot air-conditioned dance studio. Classes emphasize the importance of rhythm, technique, and control and encourage strength, confidence, and flexibility. Choose between Ballet, Tap, and Hip Hop.

The Gymnastics center features two competition spring floors, sunken trampolines, deep foam training pits, tumble tracks, and overhead spotting rings, in addition to multiple sets of equipment. Children are organized into groups based on gender, age and ability, and a low student/teacher ratio maximizes safety and ensures personal attention.

Rock Climbing classes are offered at the Field House for both children and adults. Classes are taught by expert climbing instructors and all equipment is provided: harness, shoes, runners and lead climbing ropes. The artificial rock surface was designed specifically for children and teens, and offers a variety of routes that challenge climbers of different skill levels.

The Field House also boasts two state-of-the-art indoor fields built specifically for indoor soccer. The 55' by 110' climate controlled artificial-turf fields are surrounded by plexiglass boards and equipped with nets, goals and electronic scoreboards. Micro Soccer classes are available for younger players on weekday mornings and Saturdays.

For children ages eight months to five years, the Field House offers the Little Athletes program. Whether your child is enrolled in gymnastics, soccer, rock climbing, dance, or one of the multi-sport classes, the professional coaches teach proper technique and skills in a supportive, nurturing environment.

Additionally, Chelsea Piers is home to a unique child care center. Located in the Field House, CP Kids is a sunny and spacious five-room early learning center for children ages three months to 2.8 years. CP Kids also offers preschool for children ages 2.9 to five. Two, three, and five day per week schedules are available.

Sky Rink has been teaching children to skate for over 30 years and uses a progressive, station-based format complemented by a complete off-ice training program. Progress is marked by tests administered by the Ice Skating Institute. General skate admission is $12.50 for adults and $10 for children and seniors. Skate rental is $7.

Parties can include any one of these activities. One-hour-and-a-half and two hour birthday party packages are available Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at the Field House, where you can choose between gymnastics, ice skating, toddler gym, rock climbing, soccer, basketball, batting cages, or dance. Sports can also be combined for a truly unique party experience.

Partygoers can bounce on the trampolines, jump into foam pits, have their own dance recital, scale the rock wall, play soccer, basketball, baseball, or dance. Experienced teachers lead games, races, obstacle courses, and other activities. A low student/teacher ratio ensures lots of personal attention and maximizes safety.

After 60 to 90 minutes of activity, the group moves to one of four private rooms or to the mezzanine for refreshments. Bring your own food and beverages, or, if you prefer, the Field House can arrange the catering. Party prices begin at $560 for 10 children ($25 each additional child) and climb from there. Other party options include ice skating, golf, and bowling.

Chelsea Piers also hosts summer vacation camps, preschool summer camps, and school vacation camps. Visit the website for current camp programs and prices.

The Golf Club offers an afterschool program, Saturday program, and family clinics.

The Sports Center at Chelsea Piers is an adult membership health club, great for parents to enjoy while their children are participating in the many classes offered at other Chelsea Piers' venues.

Corbin's Crusaders is an afterschool sports program that works in tandem with a variety of schools. The group provides bus pick-up after school, followed by sports activities (baseball, softball, golf, tennis, flag football, soccer, lacrosse, and basketball, as well as a mixed program) on Randall's Island. Kids are dropped off at home at the end of the day.

Corbin's Crusaders also operates a Summer Day Camp, available in weekly session increments through the entire summer.

Crossover Sports Academy, created by a professional coach and former middle school teacher, offers year-round basketball, baseball, and assorted other sports programs for kids ages seven to 16 in Manhattan. Crossover's mission is to train children in an encouraging environment designed to build self esteem with a positive message in order to leave them feeling confident and empowered.

Fall 2008 basketball and baseball classes for boys and girls are held at PS 40 on East 20th Street and at PS 75 on West End Avenue and 96th Street.

Manhattan Youth's 30,000 square foot Downtown Community Center includes a 75-foot pool, two large art rooms, a small theater, a multi media studio, a dance/activity studio, a teaching kitchen, game room, specialized age-appropriate activity rooms, and a large "Great Hall."

Programs include aquatics instruction, afterschool classes, school vacation and summer camps, and more.

Downtown United Soccer Club leads recreational and travel teams for children between the ages of four and 19. Weekday clinics are available, too.

Fall Recreational League registration begins mid-May. The DUSC Summer Program runs from mid-June through August. Visit website for dates.

Visit the website for registration information.

Elftennis offers indoor tennis lessons using portable nets and oversize foam balls. Classes are geared toward children who are beginner to advanced beginner level players.

Instructors are ex college tennis players and class sizes are small. Pick-up from nearby schools is available.

Espana-Streb Trapeze Academy at SLAM (STREB Laboratory for Action Mechanics) is a year-round indoor flying trapeze school that offers classes for children, ages five and up, and adults.

Safety is the number one priority. Each student wears a safety harness attached to safety lines and flies over a huge foam mat. Experienced instructors demonstrate and guide students through various trapeze techniques. Classes are limited to 10 participants to ensure personal attention.

The Kidfly program, developed for children ages five to 12, allows them to experience the thrill of trapeze. Classes are one hour in length and are offered on Monday and Wednesday afternoons. The program is 16-week course costs $400.

Slam Summer Camp offers kids, ages seven through 13, the opportunity to learn PopAction Technique, Tumbling, Flying Trapeze, Streb mini-repertory, and other Circus and Aerial Arts. Each weekly segment culminates with a Friday performance showcasing the skills and dances everyone has learned. Campers can choose any one week, or take all four to gain the most skills. The session fee is $525; multiple week and sibling discounts are available. The Academy also offers a mini camp for younger children. Call or email Christine Chen or Kim Cullen for more information.

Flying Trapeze birthday parties run for two hours and include a 90-minute flying trapeze class with two teachers and a party facilitator who helps to set up, clean up, and get the party going. The cost is $540 for 10 kids; $40 for each additional child (a 15-child maximum is advised). Invitations, popcorn, and paper products are included. Pizza can be ordered, you bring the cake.

Fastbreak Kids offers basketball instruction for boys and girls, ages six to 14, at various locations around Manhattan.

The Fencers Club, a nonprofit organization, is the oldest continuously existing organization in the Western Hemisphere dedicated exclusively to teaching and promoting the sport of fencing. The club accommodates all levels of fencers - from recreational to Olympians - and welcomes anyone who would like fence and be a member of a club that is diverse and inclusive.

In addition to fencing, emphasis is placed on the importance of striving for excellence in education, the culture of sharing, and good citizenship.

The Fencers Club offers group and private instruction; an afterschool program, and summer camp.

Forest Equine offers trail rides, english and western riding lessons, and total care boarding for your horse.

Kids can enjoy guided trail rides in Forest Park led by Forest Equine's professional staff. Safety equipment is provided.

Ponies can be provided for birthdays and other celebrations, at a cost of $150 per hour.

Harlem Junior Tennis and Education Program is conducted on four tennis courts at the 143rd Street Armory in the center of Harlem. For a one-time participation fee, New York City children from the ages of seven to eighteen can participate in any of three tennis programs: Summer Program, Winter Program, and Junior Tournament Team. In addition, all academic year participants benefit from a Educational Support Initiative, which includes the Homework Club, the Secondary and College Resource Center, and the Computer Center.

Participants receive two hours of tennis instruction five days a week. After their on-court time, they can also receive two hours of academic tutoring. There are also regularly scheduled tournaments with other tennis teams in the New York area.

Harlem Junior Tennis and Education Program's Summer Camp is offered at two locations. Beginners/Intermediates, ages 8 to 16, meet at Howard Bennett Park, 135th Street (between 5th and Lenox Avenues) from Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm. The cost is $550 per session (a deposit of $250 is due by June 15th; the balance is due July 6th). More advanced players meet at Riverbank State Park for High Performance Camp, which costs $800.

HJTEP accepts approximately 200 children each winter and 300 children each summer. Register in advance; registration forms are available online.

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Manhattan Fencing Center's coaches, under the leadership of Olympic Sabre Coach Yury Gelman, teach both beginners and experienced fencers (in sabre, foil, and epee) and help them realize their full potential. Most students eventually compete in regional, national, or international competitions.

The facilities include a specially designed fencing floor to safeguard knees and ankles. The club is air conditioned, and equipped with 14 electric strips, targets, locker rooms, and showers.

Winter and summer camp programs are offered as well.

Home to various nationally ranked fencers, the New Amsterdam Fencing Academy offers a distinctive program - modeled after some of the most successful systems in Europe - that emphasizes group training along with individual lessons.

Classes and lessons for children of any level are available as are fencing birthday parties, afterschool programs, and camps throughout the year.

Even though the stadium is in New Jersey, the Giants are still a NY team to the core.

Check our calendar and the Giants Stadium description for game details.

The Giants also run a summer camp program for kids ages six to 14. Camp locations include Brooklyn, Staten Island, New Rochelle, Rye, White Plains, and several towns in New Jersery and Connecticut. Visit www.Giants.com or call 877.226.9919 for more information.

NYC Elite Gymnastics is a 13,000 sqare foot gym convenient to Tribeca, Soho, and the Village. The family-run business attracts the cream of New York City teaching staff, offering classes in gymnastics and ballet.

Summer camp and birthday parties are also available here.

The Atlantic Yachting Association's Summer Sailing Camp is taught aboard sailing yachts in New York Harbor.

Kids learn the fundamentals of yacht handling and care in a relaxed, hands-on atmosphere. No experience necessary. And lunch is included.

The camp is based out of the 79th Street Boat Basin in Riverside Park. Two week sessions begin in June.

Oyama Karate Matsumoto Dojo offers a wide variety of philosophies and martial art techniques to choose from. Passionate instructors strive to provide expert, quality instruction in a safe and enjoyable atmosphere.

Matsumoto Dojo Summer Day Camp provides an outlet for a child's summer energy while focusing on and developing discipline, respect, appreciation, concentration, and self-worth.

Activities include Karate and self defense, meditation and relaxation, Japanese chess, Japanese cartoons, Origami and drawing, snack times, field trips, and more.

Camp is in session June 18-29, July 9-20, and August 20-31, Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm. The cost is $279 per week.

School break camps are also available.

Located in Hudson River Park, Pier 40 Baseball run by The Pier Park & Playground Association, specializes in baseball training for kids from six to 18, offering baseball camps, coach and league clinics, individual instruction, and afterschool programs for NYC area children.

The baseball training center has two indoor batting cages, a turf room for fielding drills, and a third room for pitching and use of other equipment.

Riverdale has four outdoor rings and one large indoor riding arena. Lessons are offered year-round to riders of all ages and levels of ability. Other programs include therapeutic riding for the disabled, afterschool riding groups, and summer day camp.

Afterschool students participate in a ninety-minute lesson where they are grouped according to their ability and level of experience. Activities include lessons in riding, grooming, stable management, and horse care. Afterschool pick up is available from several Manhattan schools.

The Centre also offers a summer camp program, which runs weekdays from 10am to 4pm, June through August. Transportation is available from Manhattan.

Simply Sports is a sports program for children between the ages of three and 13 in Manhattan. It offers age-appropriate sports, including baseball, basketball, flag football, and soccer. Classes are usually held in Central Park and other parks on the Upper East Side.

Programs are scheduled after school, on weekends, during school holidays, and during the summer. Games are taken seriously, but participation, effort, and good sportsmanship are emphasized over and above winning.

Camp programs, for children in Pre-K through grade 4, are available.

Simply Sports also provides customized sports parties. Indoor and outdoor options are available.

The New York Harbor Sailing Foundation, in cooperation with Manhattan Sailing School, offers a summer sailing program for teens.

Teens learn sailing theory and then get on the boats and turn theory into practice. There are 10 sessions each summer, running Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm; teens may enroll in one or more sessions.

Featuring over 15,000 square feet of state-of-the-art training equipment, professional instruction, and a wide variety of programs, The Baseball Center NYC has something for every age group and skill level.

The Junior Slugger program, for parents or caregivers and their little ones ages two and three, teaches the ABCs of baseball. The Afterschool Future Slugger program for kids ages four to 12, is offered in 23-week semesters.

The Center's two hour birthday party package includes professional instruction and games, a
private birthday bash room, all paper goods, invitations, balloons, pizza or hot dogs, beverages, personalized cake, set-up and clean-up, a 10% discount in the pro-shop, and a souvenir and hat for the birthday child.

The Baseball Center also offers an indoor/outdoor summer camp as well as holiday camp.

The Little Gym's core program is Developmental Gymnastics, a non-competitive, motor skill development program focusing on creating fun, positive experiences. Classes are designed for children ages four months through 12 years.

The Little Gym also offers karate, dance, and sports skill classes for kids ages three to 12, plus parent and child classes ideal for infants and toddlers.

Although hours vary, classes are typically held on weekdays with morning and evening classes and on Saturday mornings.

Three-h