If you are looking for something fun for kids to do in the week after Christmas when they are off from school, try signing them up for a workshop, or a half day or full day at an exciting winter camp! Many camps run from Monday through Thursday (New Year's Eve), but single day signups are also available. Science-themed camps are very popular lately, so you will find that many of these programs explore the science of cold temperatures, animals that live in cold climates, and even some holiday candy chemistry experiments! Be sure to register in advance to guarantee your child a spot in the program, and if you are registering for two or more kids, see if they have a sibling rate - you may be able to save some cash towards your holiday shopping!
If you don't think that a day at camp is for your child, there are also educational programs available on a drop-in basis at museums which will be open for the school break.
Check out these fun and educational winter camp programs across Long Island:
December Discovery Days at Sweet Briar Nature Center
62 Eckernkamp Drive, Smithtown, NY 11787
631-979-6344
December 28th through December 31st, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
$70 per day/$300 per week for members, $80 per day/$400 per week for non-members
Kids ages 5-11 are welcome to learn more about the natural world through hands on activities and explorations. They will also play games, create crafts, and meet live animals that live at the nature center. Themes include Mysteries in the Snow, Survival, Tropical Vacations, and New Year’s Wildlife Celebration! After care is available.
Holiday Program at The Science Museum of Long Island
1526 North Plandome Road, Manhasset, NY 11030
516-627-9400
December 28th through December 31st, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
$65 per day/per member, $75 per day/per non-member
Each day will be devoted to a different form of holiday science. The 28th will be Winter Wonderland, the 29th will be Candy Chemistry, the 30th will be Strange Science, and the 31st will be Science FUNdamentals.
School’s Out! Holiday Camp at the Center for Science and Learning at the Tanglewood Preserve
1 Tanglewood Road, Rockville Centre, NY 11570
516-764-0045
December 28th through December 31st, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
$55 per day/per child for early registrants, $65 per day/per child if registering within 48 hours of the first day of the program
Children ages 4-12 are invited to register for this fun science and nature program, which may include arts and crafts, meeting live animals, animal explorations in a live animal exhibit, science experiments and demonstrations, and hikes in the woods on the nature preserve.
Port Washington Skating Center Winter Holiday Hockey Camp
70 Seaview Avenue, Port Washington, NY 11050
516-484-6800
December 27th through December 31st, 10:45 AM – 12:45 PM
$250 per child for the week or $60 per day/per child
Encourage your child to hone their hockey skills while having fun! Children ages 6-13 can be registered, and will be given a daily pizza lunch and free admission to the 1:00 PM skating session with registration.
Holiday Vacation Art Workshops at the Parrish Art Museum
279 Montauk Highway, Water Mill, NY 11976
631-283-2118
December 28th through December 31st, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
$30 per session/per member, $40 per session/ per non-member
Sign your child up for an art workshop during the Winter Break! Sessions for children ages 4-6 are 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM, and sessions for children age 7 and older will be held from 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM. Monday will feature landscape painting, Tuesday will be narrative collages and drawing with mixed media, Wednesday will be watercolor portraits of friends and family, and Thursday will be a still-life in 3D with mixed media.
Winter Holiday Break Camp at Safari Adventure
1074 Pulaski Street, Riverhead, NY 11901
631-727-4386
December 28th through December 31st, 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM
$250 for all four days
GymNation and Safari Adventure are teaming up to offer an incredible 6-hour camp this holiday break! The day starts at 9:30 a.m. when kids will enjoy 3 hours of action-packed gymnastic, including instruction on the men's and women's Olympic apparatus. At 12:30 p.m. the children are escorted from GymNation next door to Safari Adventure where they will have lunch, juice, and a snack, then have a blast in the open play area. At 3:00 p.m. they will join their camp counselors for a snack and drink, and participate in afternoon craft activities until pickup at 3:30 p.m.
Other Drop-In Educational Programs Hosted During Winter Break
Let's Celebrate the New Year at the Maritime Explorium
101 East Broadway, Port Jefferson, NY 11777
631-331-3277
December 26th through January 1st, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Free with admission
Explore the principles of geometry as you design your own Times Square Ball!
Wintery CREATE! Stations at the Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum and Education Center
279 Main Street, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724
631-367-3418
December 28th through December 30th, 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Free with admission
Enjoy wintry and wonderful craft stations throughout the museum that are sure to be fun for all ages!
Winter Break - Celebrating Mankind's First Flight in a Hot Air Balloon at the Cradle of Aviation Museum
Charles Lindbergh Boulevard, Garden City, NY 11530
516-572-4111
December 26th through January 3rd, 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Free with admission
Learn about the first successful hot air balloonists, and check out a cool replica 1885 hot air balloon basket! An interactive demonstration of how hot air balloons work will be held. Then, create and decorate your own 3D spinning hot air balloon complete with balloon basket!