Summer day camps in New York City

General interest camps

Commuter camps

Arts camps

Sports camps

Academic camps

Special needs camps

Preschool camps

Camp gear

Open houses

What to ask camp directors

It’s the dead of winter, and you know what that means: Time to sign up your kids for summer camp! Just as you applied for preschool when your offspring were embryos, you’ll have to act early to claim spots in the city’s best programs. Time Out Kids’ first Summer Day Camp Guide covers all your options: art oases, academic intensives, preschooler sessions, facilities for children with special needs, wear-’em-out athletic instruction, sprawling acres only a bus ride away, and mom-and-pop general-interest camps just like the one you attended. (Unless noted, all are accepting applications now.)

After marking your favorites, take time to investigate each option further. The following tips will help get you started.

• Consider your child’s attention span and energy level. Is he ready for a long day filled with strenuous walks, or does he need to come home in the afternoon for indoor quiet time? Shy kids and first-timers may benefit from signing up with a buddy, says Jill Tipograph, the founder and director of Everything Summer, a New York camp and vacation referral service. Float the idea past your parent-friends; you might ask for camp recommendations while you’re at it.

• Call the camp or visit its website to find basic information. If your tot thrives on personal attention, you’ll want to know the staff-to-camper ratio. If your child can’t swim, see if lessons are available (some camps offer recreational pool time only). Explore safety standards, educational philosophies, staff training and transportation arrangements for field trips. And always ask for referrals from returning campers.

• Tour your top picks. Directors who share your views on health, humor and fun are more likely to jibe with your child than those with whom you only vaguely get along. And if barf bags prove necessary on your family’s long car trips, you’ll need to test out the commute to that suburban idyll.

Got that? Good. Now close your eyes and imagine a hot, still day to yourself. Can you hear the dull hum of the AC? Summer will be here before you know it, so pull out your calendar. It’s time to make plans.

NEXT: General interest camps »