Exciting Playgrounds in NY You Must Visit!

In the last article of our Playground series we are sharing with you the best playgrounds, community and rec centers that the Bronx and Brooklyn areas have to offer! Some of the locations listed below are visited frequently by Brightside Academy for summer camp trips, field days, community events and more!

Bronx

Crotona Park
1596-1672 Crotona Ave, Bronx, NY 10457

This public park not only covers 127.5 acres of land, but includes 3.3 acre lake, 28 species of trees and has the largest swimming pool in the Bronx!! We think that’s why our Webster location loves to visit so much!

Claremont Park
Clay Ave & E. 170 St, Bronx, NY 10457

This recreational park offers a summertime pool, basketball courts, a baseball field & playgrounds. Our kids love the Safari themed mural painted on the wall!

Morton Playground
Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
West Bronx, NY 10453

Includes basketball courts, playgrounds and spray showers perfect for a hot summer day!

Brooklyn


Elton Playground, Elton St, Brooklyn, NY 11208

Just 7 minutes walking distance from our Barbey location, this playground shares property that is protected by the Metropolitan Transit Authority and also includes spray showers and several recreational facilities.

Bushwick Playground
817 Flushing Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11206

Try to catch up with the kids from 1491 Broadway at this fun playground! Full of plenty of slides and monkey bars galore, this playground will have your kids jumping off the floor.

P.S. 92 Adrian Hegeman School-Onsite Playground
601 Parkside Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11226

Your child will make loads of new friends at this playground, attached to P.S. 92 Adrian Hegeman School, this playground is open to the public and always makes the kids at our Rogers location feel more than welcome!

Now, with this list in hand it’s time to get the kids and have some summer fun! Have a local park or playground you think should be added to this list? Share with us in the comments below and be sure to find the nearest Brightside Academy near you for our summer camp program.

Fun Playgrounds to Visit in Ohio!

Playgrounds, Parks and Community Centers are a quick and easy way to allow your child to have some fun as well as remain active this summer. In the second part of this summer blog series we are sharing with you the best playgrounds in Ohio! Some of the locations listed below are visited frequently by Brightside Academy for summer camp trips, field days, community events and more!

Cleveland

Impett Park

3207 W 153rd St, Cleveland, OH 44111

This spacious park includes a playground, tennis courts, rugby and baseball fields, a public pool and much more!

Franklin D. Roosevelt Academy

800 Linn Dr, Cleveland, OH 44108

Franklin D. Roosevelt Academy has a play area on-site that is open to the public. Be sure to greet our Kinsman kids who are often spotted here!

Akron

Summit Metro Parks

975 Treaty Line Rd, Akron, OH 44313

14,1000 acres of land make up these 16 parks, conservation areas and playgrounds galore! If you are a resident of Summit County be sure to click on the link to find a Summit Metro park or trail near you!

Copley Community Park

3232 Copley Rd, Akron, OH 44321

In the heart of Akron lies this community park that has a well kept playground, a spacious baseball field and a gorgeous view of several acres of vibrant green trees.

Columbus

Blackburn Park


263 Carpenter St. Columbus, OH 43205

On 5.86 acres of land, this park has a playground, spray-ground, picnicking areas, a recreation center and tennis court. It is also a huge favorite of our Northern Lights location!

Barnett Community Center


1184 Barnett Rd. Columbus, OH 43227

The summer campers at Brightside Livingston can’t wait to visit this fun filled center! Equipped with a spray-ground, an art room, game room, billiards, auditorium and much more! This center is just the stay-cation your family needs!

Now, with this list in hand it’s time to get the kids and have some summer fun! Have a local park or playground you think should be added to this list? Share with us in the comments below and be sure to find the nearest Brightside Academy near you for our summer camp program.

Best Playgrounds in Philadelphia!

Playgrounds, Parks and Community Centers are a quick and easy way to allow your child to have some fun as well as remain active this summer. We’ve searched high and low to find the best parks and playgrounds in our communities and are happy to share them with you!! Read this article to find the best parks and playgrounds in Philadelphia. Some of the locations listed below are visited frequently by Brightside Academy for summer camp trips, field days, community events and more! If you spot us be sure to say hello. 

Smith Memorial Playground and Playhouse
3500 Reservoir Dr, Philadelphia, PA 19121

 This 6 and ½ acre playground includes the Ann Newman Giant Wooden Slide, more than 50 pieces of play equipment and a 16,000 square foot playhouse! Our summer camp at the Broad and Girard location loves this playground and they know you will too! The playground also has a website where parents can schedule trips, rent playground space and much more!

Tarken Playground

6250 Frontenac St. Philadelphia, PA 19111

Located between North and Northeast Philadelphia, Tarken Playground is small local playground adjacent to Tarken Recreation center. The six to twelve year old class at our 6000 Castor location often enjoys all that the playground and park have to offer. This includes an ice rink, dance classes, gymnastics, football, soccer and tee ball!

Starr Garden Playground
600-44 Lombard St, Philadelphia, PA 19147

For a colorful yet traditional playground, grab the kids and head over to Starr Garden Playground in Center City! This playground has all the swings, slides, and monkey bars that you will see at any regular playground but has bursts of colors to amp up the fun! Next to it is an equally colorful recreation center.

Now, with this list in hand it’s time to get the kids and have some summer fun! Have a Philly park or playground that you think should be added to this list? Share with us in the comments below and be sure to find a Brightside Academy near you for our summer camp program.

 

 

Choosing the Perfect Summer Camp Program

 

With so many summer camp programs available, how is a parent to choose? There are several factors that go into picking the perfect summer camp for your child including money, location, and the overall interest of your child. A summer camp program should not only be affordable and convenient, but also include activities that your child will truly enjoy. The following steps are what every parent needs to consider and ensure that their child has the best summer ever!

Choosing a Camp Type


Decide what you want the overall goal of the summer camp to be for your child. Do you want them to further their education during the summer? Then pick an academic camp! Does your child love martial arts? Choose a martial arts camp! When you are able to pinpoint what you want your child to gain from their summer experience, choosing a camp will be that much easier. Consult your child and allow them to have some say in what they would like to do for the summer. Align that with your expectations and budget. A six week summer camp in Disney World may sound exciting to your child but may not be practical. In that case you might want to find a summer camp that allows the children to participate in Disney-themed activities.

Choosing a Location


Now that the type of camp you’re interested in has been chosen, it is now time to decide where the camp should be. Take into strong consideration the commute of dropping off and picking up the child. Would you prefer a camp near your home, a relative’s home or the area where you work? Brightside Academy camps are located near parks and public transportation, something that many of our parents point out as a plus in choosing our programs. Most parents have a long work schedule and it is important that the summer camp’s hours are adaptable to the parent’s availability. If you or anyone else is not able to provide transportation for the child, seek summer camp programs in which transportation costs to and from camp activities is included.

Deciding How Much to Spend


Although, you want your child to have the best summer experience, but you also have to consider the expenses associated with the program. Make a list of all your needs for the summer camp. These could be things like:

  • Safety
  • Affordability and cost
  • Education program
  • Fun activities
  • Staff preparation
  • Convenient location
  • Meals included

Think of a reasonable amount you are willing to pay for these must haves. Remember that specialty camps, which are camps that focus on one type of activity, are more expensive than traditional day camps. At these types of camps every field trip may not be included in the weekly or monthly payments. If you don’t want to spend a lot on one summer camp program, find a camp that offers a day to day schedule but also allows the child to go on several field trips. Brightside Academy summer camps are structured this way. In addition, the cost of our program includes a t-shirt, nutritious breakfast, lunch and snacks, and also field trips fees.

Learn about Brightside Academy’s summer camp program here!

Following these steps choosing the perfect summer camp program becomes much easier! All there is left to do is to search your favorite local directory and keep in mind what you are looking for. Google and Yelp are always a great place to start! There are also several summer camp online directories including the American Camp Association’s website. Have any useful tips for choosing the perfect summer camp? We would love to hear from you! Be sure to like and share our article and leave us a note in the comments!