Project Playdate Launches a Different Kind of Summer Camp for NYC Kids

Project Playdate's new SummerPlay program for kids ages 3-10 organizes group playdates to art, culture, education, and fitness venues in NYC during the gap days between school and camp in June and August.

Starting this summer, Project Playdate will offer a new summer camp option for NYC kids ages 3-10.

Project Playdate is an award-winning drop-off childcare service that hosts playdates and pajama parties at play spaces and attractions across New York City.

Its new SummerPlay program is a series of 3-hour group playdates at art, culture, education, and fitness venues across the city. The program starts in mid-June, when many schools are out but summer camp has not yet started. It re-launches at the end of August, when many camps are out but the new school year has not yet begun.

SummerPlay aims to accommodate siblings and friend groups at an affordable price. Rates per playdate are $65 for one child and $45 for siblings, with discounts for package purchases. The program also offers extended hours (2 hours extended playtime for $25 per hour per child) and supervised transportation for kids ($25 per one-way trip, plus transportation costs).

Playdates are led by professional and qualified childcare providers recruited from UrbanSitter.

This structured series of fun, safe, and educational field trips provides flexibility in schedule and affordability in pricing for NYC parents, who can sign up their children for one playdate, a series, or a package at any time during the summer. With the “Create My Own Camp” feature, parents can also gather a group and request a Pop Up playdate.

Kids who participate in SummerPlay will have the chance to visit some of the top museums in the world. They’ll build their skills in cooking, gardening, the visual arts, and the performing arts alongisde child development experts. They’ll become athletes at Chelsea Piers, with Super Duper Tennis and with Super Soccer Stars. They’ll explore the Central Park Zoo, get wet at the Pier 25 water park, and scream on the rides at Victorian Gardens. They’ll also build their leadership skills through the Project Playdate/Smart Playbook curriculum, and they’ll make new friends.

The School’s Out Two Week Series is offered June 15-25. This is followed by a weekend series in July, then a Camp’s Out Series from Aug. 24-Sept. 4. And there will be two encore playdates Sept. 7-8.

The full schedule is as follows:

School’s Out Series! (June 15-18)

Monday, June 15: Victorian Gardens, 10:30am-1:30pm

Tuesday, June 16th: Yoga and Music with Yo Re Mi at Washington Market Park, 10am-1pm

Wednesday, June 17: The American Museum of Natural History, 10am-1pm

Thursday, June 18: Pier 25, Water Park and Mini Golf, 10am-1pm

School’s Out Series Two! (June 22-25)

Monday, June 22: Central Park Zoo, 10am-1pm

Tuesday, June 23: Color Me Mine (Tribeca), 10am-1pm

Wednesday, June 24: Bitty City Players Imagination Safari at Washington Market Park, 10am-1pm

Thursday, June 25: The Children’s Museum of Manhattan, 10am-1pm

July Weekend Series

Sunday, July 12: Children’s Museum of the Arts, 10am-1pm

Saturday, July 18: The American Museum of Natural History, 10am-1pm

Sunday, July 26: The Children’s Museum of Manhattan, 10am-1pm

Camp’s Out Series! (Aug. 24-28)

Monday, August 24: Gymnastics at Chelsea Piers, 11:30am-2:30pm

Tuesday, August 25: Super Soccer Stars at Pier 25, 10am-1pm

Wednesday, August 26: Super Duper Tennis at Pier 25, 10am-1pm

Thursday, August 27: Gardening with The Battery Conservancy, 10am-1pm

Friday, August 28: Victorian Gardens,10:30am-1:30pm

SummerPlay Series Finale! (Aug. 31–Sept. 4)

Monday, Aug. 31: Teeny Tiny Foodie Cooking Class at Asphalt Green of Battery Park, 10am-1pm

Tuesday, Sept. 1: Super Soccer Stars at Pier 25, 10am-1pm

Wednesday, Sept. 2: Super Duper Tennis at Pier 25, 10am-1pm

Thursday, Sept. 3: The Children’s Museum of Manhattan, 10am-1pm

Friday, Sept. 4: Central Park Zoo, 10am-1pm

Back to School Encore! Series (Sept. 7-8)

Monday, Sept, 7: Victorian Gardens, 11am-2pm

Tuesday, Sept. 8: Gymnastics at Chelsea Piers, 9:30am - 12:30pm

For more information on the SummerPlay program, visit projectplaydate.org/summerplay.

Main photo: SummerPlay kids can visit the Children's Museum of Manhattan, which opens its City Splash exhibit in the warmer months.