Photo courtesy of Project Playdate.
Summer in New York City can be an incredible time of year for kids to have a chance to explore the city. With many residents out of town, the city that never sleeps is not as busy and a great time to try out kid-friendly venues and destinations. Project Playdate is an organization that specializes in creating playdates that are unique and one-of-a-kind and does not require an adult chaperone. They are a drop-off based organization and a great resource for kids out of school and parents that are either working or hoping for a break. The organization has created a special summer program that taps into the wonders of NYC for kids that call the Big Apple home.
Summer play by Project Playdate is a series of 3-hour group playdate camps which explore New York City cultural, educational, fitness based, and artistic attractions for children aged 3-10.
A Super Soccer Stars Playdate. Photo courtesy of Project Playdate.
SummerPlay will be offering four fitness based playdates this summer, which will showcase Super Duper Tennis, Super Soccer Stars, YoReMi, and Chelsea Piers. Super Duper Tennis will focus on teaching children tennis fundamentals and hand-eye coordination. Super Soccer Stars will focus on using soccer in a non-competitive way to build teamwork and self-confidence. Chelsea Piers is one of the largest and best equipped gymnastic facilities in the United States. Participants in the playdate will practice skills such as coordination, strength, balance and spatial awareness on kid sized gymnastics equipment, supervised in a safe environment. The YoReMi program combines fitness with the arts, letting children participate in a musical yoga experience where they use their bodies and imagination to learn about nature, geography, culture, rhythm, dance, songwriting and playing musical instruments.
Pottery painting at Summer Play. Photo courtesy of Project Playdate.
In addition, art based programs will be available from Summer Play include Color Me Mine, Teeny Tiny Foodie, and Bitty City Players. Color Me Mine is a private pottery painting workshop for playdate participants. Bitty City Players is an improvisation based theatre workshop focused in nurturing self-confidence, artistic curiosity, and social emotional development, featuring a safari and animal theme. Teeny Tiny Foodie will teach children about healthy eating and cooking skills.
For those children who’ve always to learn more about where food comes from they can attend The Battery Conservancy playdate where they can learn all about the Battery Urban Farm, the city’s urban eco-system, and explore the conservatory’s oyster beds and perennial gardens.
ProjectPlaydate has camps running from June 15th to September 8th. Program fees vary between $65 and $600, as well as a sibling discount. More information is available on their website.
