There is no lack of healthy and exciting activities for New York youth. From summer camp to soccer leagues, New York provides a plethora of opportunities for kids to stay fit while having fun year-round. Options exist for all budgets, with many free and affordable youth activities available for all ages.
Camps
From day camps to summer camps, kids across New York can take part in all kinds of fitness and fun. The Fencers Club Summer Day Camp in New York City challenges kids' minds with education activities all morning and entertains their bodies with fencing in the afternoons. Kids interested in horses will love the Thomas School Summer Day Camp in Melville, New York, where ages 3 to 15 can take horseback riding lessons while also participating in swimming and other sports during the summer. Spartacus Gymnastic Camp holds a day camp in Brooklyn and a sleep-away camp in Fort Plain.
Basketball
If your kids love sports, there are plenty of opportunities for them to play basketball in New York. Basketball leagues for boys and girls of all ages are offered by the Manhattan Youth downtown community center. Kingston's Parks & Recreation Department provides plenty of youth sports options year round, including a youth basketball league in September. Ogdensburg's youth programs also offer basketball academies for boys and girls.
Aquatics
Whether you want your kids to learn to swim or they already love the water, you'll love the programs offered by the Manhattan Youth Swim School. They offer swimming lessons for youth of all ages, plus swim teams for kids 8 and older.
Soccer
Soccer fans ages 5 to 19 can get involved in the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association to learn to play, compete and have fun. Kids can compete in yearly state cup competitions, go on to compete regionally and ultimately compete nationwide at the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships. New York youth serious about soccer can also take part in state soccer camps, where training is provided by state Olympic development coaches.
Track & Field
Each July and August, boys and girls ages 5 to 16 can get involved with track & field through the City Parks Foundation. Kids will learn to run relay races, long jump, hurdles, shot put and javelin throw. Then they'll compete in a track meet at Icahn Stadium. Kids must live in New York City to participate.
Adventure Course
For a climbing challenge, New York youth can partake in challenges at the Alley Pond Park Adventure Course. Kids of all fitness levels can build their mental and physical stamina with climbing high- and low-rope obstacle courses, wall climbs and zip-lines. From May through November, free programs are offered on a first-come, first-served basis for children ages 8 and older on Sundays between 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Activities for Youth with Disabilities
New York youth with physical disabilities can enjoy a variety of recreational activities statewide. The Skating Association for the Blind and Handicapped offers adaptive ice skating lessons weekly in Rochester and Buffalo. The Rochester Rookies, a junior wheelchair sports program, has track and field events, swimming and weight training activities for ages 7 and up. The Ultimate Goal Soccer Program in Marcellus provides a soccer program for children ages 3 to 15 with disabilities.
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