Summer Camps in Upper East Side, Manhattan

The Upper East Side has a reputation for being intimidating, and the camp situation is no different on the surface, multiple French immersion programs, Italian language camps, an actual Met Museum camp. But dig past the obvious and you’ve got real range: Asphalt Green (one of the most respected multi-sport programs in Manhattan), Steve & Kate’s self-directed day camp, The Coding Space for older kids, and Jodi’s Gym for the gymnastics-obsessed toddler set.

The Museum Mile advantage is real here. The Met runs Art Adventures for kids 5–12 where kids actually make work in the galleries, not just look at it. The 92nd Street Y (which has been a neighborhood institution for over 140 years) runs multi-activity summer programs for ages 3–15 that are genuinely well-regarded. Both are worth knowing about even if you don’t live on the UES, because the subway access is easy from most of Manhattan.

Language immersion is a distinctive thread in this neighborhood. You’ve got L’Alliance New York for French (ages 3–18), Camp Quartier d’été at Lycée Français (also French, ages 3–15), Language Workshop for Children for younger kids (ages 2–8), and Collina Italiana for Italian cultural immersion (ages 3–12, $500–$960/week). If multilingual enrichment is on your summer agenda, this is the neighborhood with the most options in the city.