NYC Summer Art Camps for Kids and Teens

SUMMER ART SAFARI IN NYC: ART IN MUSEUMS & PARKS

Ages 6-11 and Teens Ages 12-18

Location of Art Safari NYC Summer Program

Get ready to have the BEST summer of art, creativity, friendship and fun with the vibrancy of New York City as our muse! Create artwork in New York City’s most iconic art museums, parks and gardens, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Guggenheim, Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Museum, The Museum of Natural History and New-York Historical Society. Feel inspired to draw, paint and create artwork “en plein air” (in the magic of the outdoors) like famous artists Monet and Georgia O’Keeffe did in NYC’s most beautiful and magical parks and gardens. 

Daily drop-off and pick-up for our NYC art camp-style program will be the same daily for each specific week. Upper East Side weeks or the Upper West Side weeks alternate based on dates.

Upper East Side: Fifth Avenue in the East 80’s

Upper West Side: Central Park West in the West 80’s

Specific drop-off and pick-up locations, and the weeklong itinerary, will be shared upon registration.

Ages 6-11: Registration, Fees, and Times

4 or 5 Half-Day Morning or Half-Day Afternoon Registration (Monday – Friday): $499 – $549
4 or 5 Full-Day Registration Option  (Monday – Friday): $875 – $925

Ages 6-11: Times

Morning Half-Day Session: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Afternoon Half-Day Session: 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Full Day Session: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Ages 12-18: Registration, Fees, and Times

4 or 5 Half-Day Afternoon Option (Monday – Friday): $499 – $549

Ages 12 – 18: Times

Afternoon session: 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Summer 2026 Dates for Kids and Teens

• June 15 – 18 (4 days total, No camp Friday, June 19th): Upper East Side
• June 22 – 26: Upper East Side
• June 29 – July 2 (4 days total, No camp Friday, July 3): Kids Upper West Side, Teens Upper East Side
• July 6 – 10: Upper East Side
• July 13 – 17: Upper East Side
• July 20 – 24: Upper East Side
• July 27 – 31: Upper East Side
• August 3 – 7: Kids Upper West Side, Teens Upper East Side
• August 10 – 14: Upper East Side
• August 17 – 21: Upper East Side
• August 24 – 28: Upper East Side

Read more about your Instructors:The Art Studio NY Staff

Calling all creative kids and teens who are inspired by New York City and are excited to create ART, make friends and have FUN this summer in person! New York City is home to the world’s finest collections of fine art, design, history, architecture, parks and culture. In this inspiring, engaging and FUN fear-free summer “camp style” art adventure, let’s explore and express our inner-artists as we make New York City our summer art playground!

Every week, two museums and one beautiful outdoor park become our inspiring art studios where our inner-artists will soar! Ranging from The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Central Park, The Conservatory, The Guggenheim, Museum of The City of New York, El Barrio and The Museum of Natural History, our summer art program will be a safari for the artistic senses!

While creating artwork in NYC’s most incredible museums as well as “en plein air” (in the magic of the outdoors) like famous artists Monet and Georgia O’Keeffe did, learn about the world’s most inspiring artists and visual art styles while developing unique, authentic self-expression. Create personalized artwork in styles such as impressionism, fauvism, cubism, realism, portraiture, manga, graffiti, landscape art, and more with art supplies including pencil, watercolors, mixed-media, collage, colored pencils, and pastels. Express yourself while learning tons of artistic techniques including shading, 3D effect, perspective, composition, realism, abstraction, layering, cross hatching, and more!

In this not-to-be-missed “summer camp style” program of art, friendship and FUN, artists will: 

• Explore and learn new drawing, painting, and mixed-media art techniques while creatively tapping into their unique self-expression

• Feel energized by New York City’s artworld, museums, architecture, diversity, culture, and natural beauty

• Have fun and socialize with old and new friends while tapping into the freedom, joy and wellbeing benefits of creativity, artmaking and cultural summer fun

• Enjoy tailor-made, encouraging and non-judgemental one-on-one art instruction from our New York City professional artists and art educators while creating artwork with watercolor paints, pastels, colored pencils, found objects, collage, mixed-media and more

• Explore some of the world’s most inspiring museums and galleries as our muse

• Learn dozens of new artistic techniques such as blending, shading, perspective, 3D effect, layering, color mixing, multimedia materials, manga, and more!

• Tap into our imagination and inner-artists while learning drawing and painting techniques and unique artists styles in landscape art, abstraction, realism, architecture, sketching, impressionism, pop art, comics and cartooning, watercolor painting, and more!

• Learn how to draw, paint, and create artwork “En Plein Air” outdoors like famous artists have for centuries

• Discover one’s unique artistic style while freely expressing themselves

• Receive the lasting benefits of art classes proven by science, including increased communication skills, enhanced relaxation, greater focus, increased self-esteem, boosted social skills and heightened academic success

Art Safari Sample Schedule: The BEST Summer Program for Kids & Teens!

MORNING KIDS ART SESSION

9:00 am: Drop-off for kids morning and full-day session.

9:00 am -9:30 am: Sketchbook Series with Art Techniques of the Day, Group Art Games

9:30 - 9:45 am: We’ll walk to a New York City popular location, including Central Park, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Guggenheim Museum, Cooper Hewitt Museum, Secret NYC Gardens, and The Museum of Natural History. Specifically selected locations and museum wings will be shared with parents upon registration.

9:45 - 11:20 am: Creative Self-Expression through Drawing, Painting, and More with The Art Project of the Day! Inspired by the best of NYC’s culture and arts, step-by-step instruction and encouraging guidance! See below for project examples.

11:20 - 11:35 am: Group Art Exhibition! Sharing and celebrating the artwork we’ve created today.

11:35 am - 12:00 pm: Return to meeting location for pickup.

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm: Brown bag lunch for full-day kids and free play.

AFTERNOON TEENS AND KIDS SESSIONS

1:00 pm: Art program drop-off.

1:00 - 1:30 pm: How to Draw Everything, Artist and Art Techniques of the Day, Icebreakers and Group Art Games

1:30 pm - 1:45 pm: We’ll walk to a New York City popular location, including Central Park, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Guggenheim Museum, Cooper Hewitt Museum, Secret NYC Gardens, and The Museum of Natural History. For full-day kids participants, morning and afternoon art location is always different!

1:45 pm - 3:20 pm: Artist Project of the Day through Drawing, Painting, Mixed-Media and More! Inspired by the best of NYC’s culture and arts, step-by-step instruction and encouraging guidance! See below for project examples.

3:20 pm - 3:35 pm: Gallery Exhibit! Sharing and celebrating the artwork we’ve created today and learning to discuss our own artwork.

3:35 am - 4:00 pm: Return to meeting location for pickup.

Exciting NYC Adventures Daily!

MUSEUM MONDAY: Drawing Safari at The MET!  Asian Art Galleries Scavenger Hunt Drawing Day: View the nature-infused art of China, Korea and Japan with fun group games and surprises; Create art projects including gesture drawings, 3D shading sketches, and compositional drawings of Koi Fish in The Garden Court.

PLEIN AIR PAINTING TUESDAY: Landscape Drawing and Painting in Central Park Georgia O’Keeffe, Henri Matisse and Monet all created famous artwork outdoors, and we will too! Color Group art games, learning the art of mark making, fast and slow artwork, and expressing our own style through art.

PLEIN AIR PAINTING WEDNESDAY: NYC Sketchbook, Comics and Manga Spirit  NYC is home to cultures and artists from around the globe. Capture NYC’s diversity and freedom while we learn about current NYC artists and make our own NYC-inspired cityscapes, comics and cartoons, and tell our own story through art.

THURSDAY AT THE MET: African Drawing Safari at The MET Discover the magic and mystery of making art that is inspired by African Art Galleries, and create personalized artwork inspired by masks, instruments, and dance through sketchbook art, thumbnail sketching, shading, and imagination.

NEW YORK FRIDAY: The City is Our Canvas at The Museum of The City of New York NYC’s Melting Pot will inspire personalized portrait artwork that encourages authenticity, self-empowerment and mixed-media materials such as collage, colored pencils, and graphite.

• Daily meeting spots will be shared upon registration and all will be on the Upper East or Upper West Sides at easily accessible locations.

FAQ’s

Where is your summer art program located and what dates do you offer camp?

Art Safari has a daily drop-off and pick-up spot that is the same daily. Specific weeks take place on either the Upper West Side or Upper East Side for kids, and all teen programs take place on the Upper East Side only. The kids art program takes daily adventures to the most beautiful museums and parks in NYC.

Art Safari Upper East Side meets for drop-off and pick-up on Fifth Avenue in the East 80’s (specifics shared upon registration). Our group walks to nearby museums and parks for our daily art adventure. Art Safari Upper West Side weeks meets for drop-off and pick-up on Central Park West in the West 80’s (specifics shared upon registration). Our group walks to nearby museums and parks for our daily art adventure.

What age groups do you offer?

Art Safari is for kids ages 6-11 and teens 12-18.

What is the ratio of child to instructor?

We keep our groups small in order to focus on one-on-one art instruction, personalized connection, the best possible art program experience. For kids ages 6-11, there is an average of 7 kids maximum per one adult art instructor, and typically we have two instructors for this age group to maximize safety and attentiveness.

For teen groups, the average is 10 teens per one art instructor. When the group grows in size, we will have a second instructor to maximize individualized instruction and personalized connection.

If my child likes camp, can we add additional days and weeks?

Yes! Our program fills up quickly, and as long as spots are available, you are welcome to add additional days and weeks. If we are sold out, you can join the waitlist.

Are art supplies included?

Art supplies are NOT included for Art Safari, a list of supplies is provided to caregivers at registration.

Do you offer partial week and/or half-day registration?

We know flexibility is important to parents and caregivers. Priority is given to full-week registration first. When spots are available, we will open registration to offer  4-day options and then 3-day options. 

I want to register my child for more than one week. Do you repeat art projects?

We offer brand new art projects and creative experiences each and every camp week. No project is repeated twice for returnees.

What are your COVID policies and sick policies,  and what precautions are you taking?

Health and safety are our top priority. We strictly follow all rules, laws and regulations of New York City, New York state and the CDC. Some of our staff and campers do prefer to wear masks, and we support each person’s health and safety needs and practices. 

What happens if my child gets sick or has COVID?

Health and safety is our top priority. If your child gets sick or has COVID, we will provide you with an option to participate in online classes for kids or teens so that they do not miss out.  Due to small group sizes, we do not provide refunds.

TERMS, CONDITIONS AND POLICIES FOR ART SAFARI ARE AS FOLLOWS:  

• Refunds for cancellations before May 15th will be provided, minus a one time $100 transaction service fee.
• There are NO refunds, credits or gift card credits provided for cancellations for any reason after May 15th.
• Emergency and health forms are due three weeks prior to your child's program date. Your child will be turned away without valid forms.
• We CANNOT accommodate last minute date or time registration changes. 
• Advanced transfers or changes of dates or times of your registration are NOT guaranteed.  Requests  in writing, via email,  will only be considered if it submitted at least 3 weeks prior, and are provided on a case by case basis only if there is availability. 
• In the event of serious illness or accident before or during your registered program, when accompanied by a physician's letter and provided via email, you may receive a gift card credit minus a $200 service transaction fee. Refunds will not be provided. This gift card credit may be used for any future class or camp at The Art Studio NY for up to one year.
• Refunds and credits will NOT be granted for sick days, absent days or last minute requests. We maintain a specific child-to-teacher ratio per group and we do not offer make-up days.
• If your child gets COVID, we will provide you with a gift card credit, minus a one time $100 transaction service fee, as long as a doctor’s note is provided WITHIN ONE WEEK. You may use the gift credit for any future camp or art class in the future. Due to small group sizes, we do not provide refunds.