Free Summer Swimming Lessons and Outdoor Sports Programs for NYC Kids
May 16 2011
Just because we live in the concrete jungle doesn't mean our kids can't enjoy a summer filled with great outdoor spots. And you don't even need to be a Hilton to afford them.
New York City offers many opportunities for city kids to learn team sports, swimming, tennis, golfing, fishing, kayaking, hiking and more at no cost. Of course registering for these free programs takes a little legwork and, since many of them are first-come, first-serve, punctuality. We've got the scoop on what's available, and how your kids can vie for spots.
CityParks Sports - Free Lessons in the Park
The City Parks Foundation runs free tennis, golf, and track & field programs for kids in all five boroughs. All equipment is provided.
The City Parks Foundation runs free tennis, golf, and track & field programs for kids in all five boroughs. All equipment is provided.
CityParks Tennis offers three levels of instruction for children ages 5 to 16. One-hour lessons are held in the morning and afternoon in more than 36 city parks from Tuesday, July 5-Tuesday, August 16. Click here for a list of locations and schedule.
How to register: Once you pick a location, parents can sign up their kids for the six-week session at the first lesson, no advance registration required. According to the staff, no one is ever turned away. Call 718-760-6999 for more info.
How to register: Once you pick a location, parents can sign up their kids for the six-week session at the first lesson, no advance registration required. According to the staff, no one is ever turned away. Call 718-760-6999 for more info.
In CityParks Track & Field, children ages 5 to 16 can jump hurdles, participate in relay races, and try the long jump, shot put and javelin throw. The program runs in 13 locations Monday, July 11-Wednesday, August 17. Start dates and schedule varies by park. Click here for a list of locations and schedule.
How to register: Once you pick a location, parents can sign up their kids at the first lesson, no advance registration required. According to the staff, no one is ever turned away. Call 718-760-6999 for more info.
How to register: Once you pick a location, parents can sign up their kids at the first lesson, no advance registration required. According to the staff, no one is ever turned away. Call 718-760-6999 for more info.
CityParks Golf offers lessons for children ages 6 to 17. Two four-week sessions run this summer, July 5-29 and August 1-26, for beginners and more advanced players. Click here for a list of locations and schedule.
How to register: Unlike CityParks Sports other offerings, advance registration is required. Call 718-760-6999 to request an application.
How to register: Unlike CityParks Sports other offerings, advance registration is required. Call 718-760-6999 to request an application.
Learn to Swim
The NYC Department of Parks & Recreation offers free swimming lessons for children as young as 18 months and as old as 14 years at public pools. There are three summer sessions: Tuesday, July 5-Thursday, July 21, Friday, July 22-Tuesday, August 9 and Wednesday, August 10-Friday, August 26. In addition, children ages 6 to 18 who can swim 25 meters in reasonably good form can join free swim teams.
How to register: This past January the folks at the Parks Department tried an online lottery for their swim lessons for the first time, and chances are they'll do that again. Registration information, as well as class times and locations, will be available online in late May on this page. Call 718-760-6969 for more info.
The NYC Department of Parks & Recreation offers free swimming lessons for children as young as 18 months and as old as 14 years at public pools. There are three summer sessions: Tuesday, July 5-Thursday, July 21, Friday, July 22-Tuesday, August 9 and Wednesday, August 10-Friday, August 26. In addition, children ages 6 to 18 who can swim 25 meters in reasonably good form can join free swim teams.
How to register: This past January the folks at the Parks Department tried an online lottery for their swim lessons for the first time, and chances are they'll do that again. Registration information, as well as class times and locations, will be available online in late May on this page. Call 718-760-6969 for more info.
New York Junior Tennis League Community Tennis Program
The NYJTL offers free programs in all five boroughs for children 6 to 18 throughout the spring, summer and fall. All skill levels are welcome and loaner rackets are available. Click here for a list of locations and schedule.
How to register: Since registration is ongoing, children can join anytime. Just head to the location of your choice. Registration must be done in person and your child must be present. Call 347-417-8156 for more info.
The NYJTL offers free programs in all five boroughs for children 6 to 18 throughout the spring, summer and fall. All skill levels are welcome and loaner rackets are available. Click here for a list of locations and schedule.
How to register: Since registration is ongoing, children can join anytime. Just head to the location of your choice. Registration must be done in person and your child must be present. Call 347-417-8156 for more info.
Big Apple Games
The Public Schools Athletic League sponsors this program, which runs Monday, July 11-Thursday, August 11. From Monday-Thursday, 1-5pm and 6-9pm, students in ninth to 12th grades can hit the Afternoon & Evening Teen Recreational Centers for wrestling, volleyball, basketball, softball, floor hockey, team handball, gymnastics, ultimate Frisbee, arts and crafts, and swimming lessons. The Junior High School
The Public Schools Athletic League sponsors this program, which runs Monday, July 11-Thursday, August 11. From Monday-Thursday, 1-5pm and 6-9pm, students in ninth to 12th grades can hit the Afternoon & Evening Teen Recreational Centers for wrestling, volleyball, basketball, softball, floor hockey, team handball, gymnastics, ultimate Frisbee, arts and crafts, and swimming lessons. The Junior High School
Program for students in fourth to eighth grades is open 9am-3pm on weekdays, and offers a variety of activities including arts and crafts, game room fun and sports. All sites are staffed with licensed teachers and school safety officers.
Click here for a list of locations and schedule.
How to register: Kids can show up at the location of their choice on the days they want. Call 718-707-4226 for more info.
Urban Park Rangers
The Urban Park Rangers offer a slew of free outdoor programs for kids. Their jam-packed online calendar includes hiking, orienteering, canoeing, birding, and fishing activities for families. You can also subscribe to their quarterly Outdoors in New York newsletter.
How to register: Kids can show up at the location of their choice on the days they want. Call 718-707-4226 for more info.
Urban Park Rangers
The Urban Park Rangers offer a slew of free outdoor programs for kids. Their jam-packed online calendar includes hiking, orienteering, canoeing, birding, and fishing activities for families. You can also subscribe to their quarterly Outdoors in New York newsletter.
The Explorer Programs feature family canoeing, birding or hiking clubs. Developed in conjunction with the National Geographic Society, these programs invite you to examine New York City's 28,000 acres of parkland as you never have before. You'll forget you're in the city entirely! Sessions last about an hour and a half, unless otherwise noted.
How to register: Registration varies depending on the outing. Click here for list of registration dates.
How to register: Registration varies depending on the outing. Click here for list of registration dates.
Starting in May, families can join the Urban Park Rangers for Family Camp Outs at various city parks. Each evening starts with a cookout, followed by activities like stargazing and night hikes, and finally slumber.
How to register: There are just 30 spaces per outing and registration only stays open for 24 hours. The lucky families are selected via lottery. Click here to see a list of camp out dates and registration times.
How to register: There are just 30 spaces per outing and registration only stays open for 24 hours. The lucky families are selected via lottery. Click here to see a list of camp out dates and registration times.
The Urban Park Rangers even run an inexpensive Junior Ranger Day Camp, which is open to kids ages 8-11. The camp runs in Manhattan's Inwood Hill Park, Brooklyn's Marine Park, the Bronx's Crotona Park and Staten Island's Blue Heron Park from July 5-August 19, and costs $65 a week!
How to register: Since registration began in February, space is currently extremely limited. Call 212-360-2776 for more info.
How to register: Since registration began in February, space is currently extremely limited. Call 212-360-2776 for more info.
The Central Park Conservancy
The Central Park Conservancy has many free DIY kits for kids.Discovery Kit Backpacks containing binoculars, a guidebook, maps and sketching materials are available free of charge at the Henry Luce Nature Observatory at Belvedere Castle (mid-Park at 79th Street) so kids can go bird-watching in the park. Must leave a valid picture I.D.
The Central Park Conservancy has many free DIY kits for kids.Discovery Kit Backpacks containing binoculars, a guidebook, maps and sketching materials are available free of charge at the Henry Luce Nature Observatory at Belvedere Castle (mid-Park at 79th Street) so kids can go bird-watching in the park. Must leave a valid picture I.D.
Field Day Kits are available at the North Meadow Recreation Center, and include a basketball, 10 cones, three bats, horseshoe set, playground ball, Nerf ball, football, Frisbee, two handballs, soccer ball, jump rope, two Wiffle balls and hula hoops.
Must leave a valid picture I.D.
Battery Park City Parks Conservancy
This organization sponsors many free (or inexpensive) programs for kids of all ages, including gardening, young naturalists, fishing and more. Toys, games and play equipment can also be borrowed from the kiosk just south of Rockefeller Park. Registration varies depending on the offering. Click here for a complete schedule.
This organization sponsors many free (or inexpensive) programs for kids of all ages, including gardening, young naturalists, fishing and more. Toys, games and play equipment can also be borrowed from the kiosk just south of Rockefeller Park. Registration varies depending on the offering. Click here for a complete schedule.
Kayaking on the Hudson
The Downtown Boathouse offers free kayaking on the Hudson River to anyone who can swim at three locations (West 72nd Street, West 56th Street and Houston Street). Children under age 16 must ride in a double kayak with an adult. No registration required, but you may have to wait on a bit of a line.
The Downtown Boathouse offers free kayaking on the Hudson River to anyone who can swim at three locations (West 72nd Street, West 56th Street and Houston Street). Children under age 16 must ride in a double kayak with an adult. No registration required, but you may have to wait on a bit of a line.
Catch-and-Release Fishing in Central Park
The Harlem Meer, located at the northeast corner of the park, is the best spot. The lake is stocked with a wide variety of fish, including golden shiner, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed sunfish, bluegill sunfish, carp and chain pickerel. Bamboo fishing poles are available free of charge (you must leave a valid picture I.D.) from mid-April to mid-October at the Charles A. Dana Discovery Center, located on the north shore of the Harlem Meer at 110th Street between Lenox and Fifth Avenues.
The Harlem Meer, located at the northeast corner of the park, is the best spot. The lake is stocked with a wide variety of fish, including golden shiner, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed sunfish, bluegill sunfish, carp and chain pickerel. Bamboo fishing poles are available free of charge (you must leave a valid picture I.D.) from mid-April to mid-October at the Charles A. Dana Discovery Center, located on the north shore of the Harlem Meer at 110th Street between Lenox and Fifth Avenues.
Macy's Fishing Tournament
The R.H. Macy's Fishing Contest has been an annual Prospect Park favorite since 1947. The contest runs from Wednesday, July 13-Sunday, July 17 from 10am-4pm, and is open to kids ages 15 or younger. Equipment is provided at no cost, or participants can bring their own. All fishing is done on a catch-and-release basis; fish must be returned to the lake alive.
The R.H. Macy's Fishing Contest has been an annual Prospect Park favorite since 1947. The contest runs from Wednesday, July 13-Sunday, July 17 from 10am-4pm, and is open to kids ages 15 or younger. Equipment is provided at no cost, or participants can bring their own. All fishing is done on a catch-and-release basis; fish must be returned to the lake alive.
300 Summer Kids’ Club
OK, so we're cheating a bit with this one since it's indoors, but it's still free (and air conditioned)! From Monday, May 23 through Sunday, September 4, children 12 and under can enjoy one free game and one free shoe rental once a day at Chelsea Piers' swanky bowling alley,300 New York. The deal is only valid Sunday through Friday before 5pm.
How to register: All you have to do is sign your kids up for the 300 New York's Kids' Club. Joining is absolutely free. Call 212-835-2695 to get the ball rolling.
OK, so we're cheating a bit with this one since it's indoors, but it's still free (and air conditioned)! From Monday, May 23 through Sunday, September 4, children 12 and under can enjoy one free game and one free shoe rental once a day at Chelsea Piers' swanky bowling alley,300 New York. The deal is only valid Sunday through Friday before 5pm.
How to register: All you have to do is sign your kids up for the 300 New York's Kids' Club. Joining is absolutely free. Call 212-835-2695 to get the ball rolling.
Free Camps
The Children's Aid Society - Ages 6-13
We all remember the jingle, right? "I'm really glad they made the Children's Aid Society." And you certainly will be when you see what this nonprofit community organization has on tap for the summer: 17 camps in the tristate area. Country day camps in Westchester and Staten Island give young urbanites a taste of the rural life and feature typical seasonal fun like sun, swimming and sports. The city day camps are housed at centers in Manhattan and the Bronx, as well as local schools. Participants do all of the above and also take field trips to parks and cultural destinations. Tuition varies by location. We hear that the East Harlem camp is 100% free; others charge quite reasonable rates and financial aid is available. Attend an open house, or contact the center nearest you for additional info
We all remember the jingle, right? "I'm really glad they made the Children's Aid Society." And you certainly will be when you see what this nonprofit community organization has on tap for the summer: 17 camps in the tristate area. Country day camps in Westchester and Staten Island give young urbanites a taste of the rural life and feature typical seasonal fun like sun, swimming and sports. The city day camps are housed at centers in Manhattan and the Bronx, as well as local schools. Participants do all of the above and also take field trips to parks and cultural destinations. Tuition varies by location. We hear that the East Harlem camp is 100% free; others charge quite reasonable rates and financial aid is available. Attend an open house, or contact the center nearest you for additional info
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