Best Nature, Science & Enrichment Camps

Best Nature, Science & Enrichment Camps: At these nature, science and enrichment camps, kids can learn freaky physics, red hot robotics, virtual reality design, web app creation, survival skills, surfing, sustainable farming, and horseback riding.

Arcadia Farm Summer Pony Camp, Yorktown Heights: Trainers and owners Molly Flaherty and Patty Peckham of Arcadia Farm offers lessons and horsemanship camps for young riders in a safe, fun environment, including their Summer Pony Camp. Arcadia Farm is a full service training and boarding stable that provides the care, schooling and training of the horse and lessons for their riders. Arcadia specializes in the hunter, equitation, and jumper divisions.  (1300 Baptist Church Rd., Yorktown Heights, 914.255.2477; www.arcadiafarminc.com)

Camp Armonk Mad Science: This camp at Armonk Tennis Club teaches kids, grades K-5, science lessons that are so engaging that campers almost don’t realize they are gaining a clear understanding of science and how it affects the world around them. Each week focuses on a new theme, such as NASA: Journey Into Outer Space, Red Hot Robotics, Crazy Chemworks, Junior Explorers, Secret Agent Lab, Invention Camp, and Phreaky Physics. Campers also participate in field sports, tennis, swimming, and team-building exercises. Half-day option available. (Armonk Tennis Club, 546 Bedford Road, Armonk, 914.273.8124; www.armonktennis.com)

Computer Adventures, Mt. Kisco: Give your kids a head start on their future at these fun one week technology education camps for kids ages 6-16. Camp activities draw from Computer Adventures school year curriculum that includes animation, digital graphics, game design, electronics, Minecraft, programming and robotics. Full-day and half-day options. (605 Millwood Rd. (Rt. 133), Mt. Kisco, 914.218.8175; www.competureadventures.com)

Camp Soundwaters, Stamford, CT: Camp Soundwaters offers two summer sailing experiences on the Long Island Sound. Camp Soundwaters provides one-week sailing and marine adventure sessions with special themes such as Pirates, Carnival, Olympics at Cove Island Park. Young Mariners is a sailing skill development and academic enrichment program for grades 6-9. It is located at Bocuzzi Park in Stamford. www.soundwaters.org 

Down Under Kayaking, Norwalk, CT: At these one-week, half-day camps for kids ages 6 & up campers use stand-up paddle boards and kayaks. Kids start on a sheltered river and progress to nearby islands on the sound. Every day is a new adventure with treasure hunts, beach combing, fishing, snorkeling, swimming, and wildlife exploration. Morning and afternoon sessions. (157 Rowayton Ave., Norwalk, 203.642.3660;  www.downunderkayaking.com)

Future Stars Adventure Camp, Purchase College: Each day at these one-week camps for boys and girls entering grades 5-9, campers take local trips for adventure activities. Adventures include trips to Rockaway Beach with New York Surf School; Glen Island Harbor with REI Standup Paddleboard and Kayak Adventure; Croton Point Park with Croton Sailing School; the Rock Club Cimbing Gym in New Rochelle; Boundless Adventures Aerial Park on the Purchase College campus and more. (735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase, 914.273.8500; www.futurestars.com)

Future Stars STEAM Education Camp, Purchase College: Future Stars’ partners with MacInspires to create this S.T.E.A.M. experience where campers use technology to develop and create works of art while learning new skills including Robotics, 3D Design & Printing, Minecraft, App Development & Coding, Filmmaking and lots more! Themes change weekly and cover a variety of topics! Each day these one-week camps include field time and a swim for ages 7-9, 10-14 & 13-16. (735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase, 914.273.8500; www.futurestars.com)

Future Stars Horseback Riding Camp, Purchase: In partnership with Stratford Stables, adjacent to Purchase College, Future Stars offers boys and girls ages 7-16, eight one-week horsemanship camps. Campers spend three hours each day on the farm learning and practicing all aspects of horse care and riding followed by field play and swim time at Future Stars facilities at Purchase College. All campers are paired with a horse, trained volunteer, and supervised by a certified riding instructor. (120 Cottage Ave., Purchase, 914.939.9294; www.stratfordstables.com)

Mount Kisco Child Care Center Summer Camp: Gardening and cooking programs teach children where their food comes from, how it grows and how delicious it is to eat fresh grown vegetables. Campers garden on site and at a local working farm. These one-week camp programs also feature field trips, swims at the town pool, and special events and guests offering interactive activities with music, art, magic and animals. (95 Radio Circle, Mt. Kisco, 914-241-2135; www.mkccc.org)

Muscoot Farm Young Farmers & Wrangler Camps, Katonah: Muscoot’s six, one-week Young Farmers Camps for grades 1-8 involve campers in daily farm chores with the animals, ponding, hiking, cooking and crafts. Muscoot also hosts a one-week Pre-K camp program called Muscoot Wranglers where children ages 4 & 5 enjoy a hands-on experience with farm animals, as well as outdoor activities and crafts. (51 NY 100, Katonah, 914) 864-7282; www.muscootfarm.org)

Purchase College Youth Programs in the Arts: At these one-week enrichment camps for kids grades 3-8, students design their own Fortnite® style game in Battle Royale; learn the foundations of VR design in Virtual and Augmented Reality Adventures; code their own muli-player app in WebAPP Creator and Python Programmer; or develop competitive game skills in Black Rocket’s new eSports App in eSports Apprentice. (735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase,  914.251.6000; www.purchase.edu)

Purchase College Pre-College Programs in the Arts: Purchase College offers 14 one-week enrichment camps for kids entering grades 9-12, including advanced versions of their Battle Royale: Make a Fortnire Style Game, eSports Apprentice, Virtual and Augmented Reality Adventures and Web App Creator and Python Programmer camps. Plus an Architecture Camp, Journalism Camp and nine fine and performing arts camps from creative writing to filmmaking and musical theatre. (735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase, 914).251.6000; www.purchase.edu)

The Rewilding School Summer Camp, Somers: These five, one-week sessions for campers grades 1-9 at the Angle Fly Preserve in Somers offer weekly themes from Way of the Woods to Stone Age Tinkerer and Survival Games. Campers spend their day in the woods and fields on activities such as catching frogs, building shelters and camp fires, crafting baskets, bow-drills and stone knives, hiking and playing games of camouflage and capture the flag. (914.589.9536; www.rewildingschool.com)

Stone Barns Summer Institute, Pocantico Hills: At these 2-week sessions for high school students, campers learn sustainable agriculture from Stone Barns Center farmers and apprentices, and cook Mindful Meals with produce straight from the farm. They will examine the connections between farm health and human health, explore sustainable farming practices like beekeeping, grazing, mushroom inoculation, seed saving and management of the food waste stream (630 Bedford Rd., Pocantico Hills, 914.366.6200;  www.stonebarnscenter.org)

Summer Institute for the Gifted: Campers experience the excitement of campus life at prestigious universities across America at these three-week enrichment camps. Students choose courses from Aerospace Engineering, Time Travel and DNA Diagnostics to Supreme Court Decisions, Investigative Journalism, Songwriting and Fencing. Local colleges include Yale, Princeton and Fairfield University. (1 High Ridge Park, Stamford, CT,  (866.303.4744: www.giftedstudy.org)

Natural Science Summer Day Camp, Teatown Lake Reservation, Ossining: At Teatown Camp kids learn about and explore the natural world on their 1,000 acre preserve. These four 2-week, nature-themed sessions for campers 4-14, such as Living Lightly, Earth Keepers, Resource Ranger and Land Stewards, focus on exploration, discovery, ecology and natural history. (1600 Spring Valley Rd, .Ossining, 914.762.2912; www.teatown.org)

Westchester County Park Nature Camps: Boys and girls entering grades 1 through 12 can explore and discover the natural environment of Westchester County with fun, hands-on experiences at its nature centers. Each camp focuses on different aspects of nature with weekly themes and teach youngsters about animals, insects, plants and more. The camps are offered at five county parks including Cranberry Lake Preserve in N. White Plains and Trailside Nature Museum at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation in Cross River. (parks.westchestergov.com)

Wolf Camp for Kids, Wolf Conservation Center, S. Salem: WCC’s Wolf Camp is a five day program that includes opportunities for your child, grades 1-8, to learn about nature and wildlife through woodland exploration, scavenger hunts, wilderness games, live animals, and more. Children will learn about various habitats, animal communication and behavior, food chains, and local wildlife. (www.nywolf.org)

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