The Ultimate Guide to Upper West Side Summer Camps (2025 Edition)

Choosing a summer camp for young children — especially those entering Pre-K and Kindergarten — can feel like solving a puzzle with too many missing pieces. Families on the Upper West Side face a unique challenge: there are lots of camps, but only a handful may fit your child’s age, schedule, location, and needs. Many families are looking for camps that are close to home, allow for mixed-age siblings, offer afternoon coverage, and provide a good balance of fun, structure, and safety.

To make it easier, we’ve organized this guide into four broad categories that reflect what most UWS families are looking for in a summer experience:

1. Classic Day Camps – Balanced programming across sports, art, STEM, and free play.

2. Preschool-Based Camps – Nurturing and age-appropriate for children under 6.

3. Specialty & Sports Camps – Ideal for kids who thrive in focused, active environments.

4. Camps with Transportation – Traditional outdoor camps that offer UWS bus pick

Let’s dive into the options!

🌞 Classic Day Camps (Well-Rounded Programs with Variety)

These camps offer a little bit of everything — outdoor play, creative arts, sports, games, and social-emotional development. They’re great for kids with wide-ranging interests and work well for families who need full-day coverage in a local, structured environment.

Kids in the Game (KING) – UWS Summer Camp

Location: W77th & West End Ave
Ages: Pre-K through middle school
Overview: KING is a local favorite for its high-energy, kid-centered approach. Days are filled with sports, group games, creative activities, and theme days — all run by enthusiastic counselors. Younger campers are grouped separately with age-appropriate programming, and there's a strong emphasis on inclusion, movement, and fun.
Good to Know: Offers early drop-off and extended day options, and weekly registration is available.
Website: kidsinthegame.com

JCC Manhattan – Camp Settoga & Onsite Early Childhood Camps

Location: UWS (Amsterdam & 76th) + offsite busing
Ages: 3–10+ depending on program
Overview: The JCC offers two main summer paths — on the UWS for younger kids (3–5) and offsite at Camp Settoga for older kids. The onsite programs offer water play, creative arts, movement, and Jewish culture (open to all). Camp Settoga, located just outside the city, features swimming, gardening, sports, and nature play with roundtrip busing.
Good to Know: Inclusive and welcoming environment; early registration fills up fast.
Website: jccmanhattan.org/programs/camps

West Side YMCA – Summer Day Camp

Location: W63rd Street
Ages: 3 and up
Overview: The YMCA's summer program is reliable, budget-friendly, and beloved by many families. It combines classic camp elements (sports, games, arts & crafts, and swim) with a focus on values like respect and cooperation. Younger campers benefit from small group sizes and a familiar, supportive environment.
Good to Know: Offers both full-day and extended day care options.
Website: ymcanyc.org/locations/west-side-ymca

🧒 Preschool-Based Camps (Nurturing Programs for Littles)

These camps are often run by preschools or early childhood centers and are ideal for younger children who thrive in a smaller, familiar setting. The pace is slower, the groups are smaller, and the focus is on social-emotional development through fun, hands-on activities.

Yaldaynu Preschool Summer Program

Location: W100th Street
Ages: 2–5
Overview: Yaldaynu offers a warm, community-oriented program that mirrors the school year routine with lots of summer flair. Expect arts and crafts, water play, singing, storytelling, and outdoor time in local parks. Many families return year after year thanks to the caring staff and low camper-to-counselor ratio.
Good to Know: Slightly above the West 90s, but still a popular option for UWS families.
Website: yaldaynu.org

Rodeph Sholom School – Camp Play

Location: W83rd Street
Ages: 2–5
Overview: This preschool camp emphasizes joyful exploration through daily routines, art, water play, music, and sensory activities. The environment is calm and supportive, with teachers who understand early childhood development. A perfect first camp for kids who’ve attended preschool or are preparing to.
Good to Know: Program tends to fill quickly; registration typically opens early in the year.
Website: rodephsholom.org

Dwight Preschool Summer Program

Location: W89th Street
Ages: 2–5
Overview: A thoughtfully designed program that blends academic play with creative expression, Dwight’s summer sessions run weekly and include indoor exploration, water play, dance, music, and art. Campers benefit from highly qualified early childhood educators and an organized routine.
Good to Know: Offers flexible enrollment (weekly), but tends to have limited availability.
Website: dwight.edu

🏀 Specialty & Sports Camps (Focused Fun for Active Kids)

These camps center around a specific theme — whether sports, STEM, or the arts — and are a great fit for kids who are ready for more structured skill-building or who love high-energy play.

FunFit Kids Summer Camp

Location: W97th & West End Ave
Ages: 3–12
Overview: A dynamic mix of indoor and outdoor programming, FunFit is great for kids who love to move. Activities include gym games, obstacle courses, swimming (for older campers), STEM labs, and creative art projects. The facility is fully air-conditioned, and there’s daily park time, weather permitting.
Good to Know: Half-day and full-day options available. Great for mixed-age siblings.
Website: funfitnyc.com

Kids Basketball NYC – Summer Program

Location: Varies (often near W70s–90s)
Ages: 2–17 (younger groups available!)
Overview: This basketball-focused camp introduces kids to teamwork, coordination, and the fundamentals of the sport in a fun, age-appropriate way. For younger children, sessions are more about movement and games, gradually introducing ball handling and group drills.
Good to Know: Choose from morning or afternoon sessions; check schedule by location.
Website: kidsbasketballnyc.com

🚌 Camps with Transportation (Adventure Outside the City)

If you’re open to sending your child out of Manhattan, these camps provide a classic summer experience — fields, trees, swimming, and s’mores — but with convenient UWS pickup and drop-off included.

Camp Yomi (Part of 92Y Camps)

Location: Rockland County (with Manhattan bus pickup)
Ages: Entering K–6
Overview: A quintessential day camp experience with swimming, arts, music, climbing, and nature exploration. Camp Yomi is known for its joyful spirit, nurturing staff, and deep sense of tradition. Kids return home tired, happy, and full of stories. Transportation is included from UWS bus stops.
Good to Know: Sessions fill early; multiple weeks required for enrollment.
Website: 92ny.org/camps

🗂️ Choosing the Right Camp: Tips for UWS Parents

• Match your child’s energy and temperament — some kids thrive in high-energy sports camps; others prefer quieter, creative settings.

• Check schedule flexibility — many camps offer weekly registration or half-day options.

• Inquire about mixed-age groups — perfect for siblings or friends of different ages.

• Don’t forget logistics — look into drop-off/pickup routines, nap/rest times for little ones, and lunch/snack policies.

• Tour if possible — seeing the space and meeting staff can help your child (and you) feel more at ease.

💬 Final Thoughts

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to summer on the UWS — but there is something that will fit your child. Whether you’re hoping for a nurturing preschool program, a structured day camp, or an outdoor adventure, this neighborhood has you covered. And while it may feel overwhelming at first, with a little research (and maybe a few parent recs), your summer puzzle will come together.

Have a camp you love? Let us know and we’ll include it in our next update!