Upper West Side Manhattan Summer Camps
Film & Media
Explore creativity this summer
CinemaKidz 2026 Summer Day Camps in Manhattan
The Upper West Side – BASIS
795 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10025
June 22th – August 14th
9am – 4pm (5:30pm)
Calling all kids ages 5–15. Join one of the top-rated summer camps on the Upper West Side in 2026.
Looking for summer camps on the Upper West Side? At Camp CinemaKidz, kids explore filmmaking, animation, and media arts in a hands-on, high-energy environment designed to spark creativity and build confidence. Campers step into the roles of directors, digital animators, actors, designers, and storytellers. They write scripts, film original scenes, design costumes and props, experiment with animation tools, and collaborate in small production teams throughout the week. Each day blends creative studio work with outdoor activities, teamwork, and classic summer fun. With more than 14 immersive week-long themes, families can choose the perfect program based on their child’s interests and experience level.
Camp is held at BASIS Independent Manhattan on the Upper West Side, a modern facility featuring state-of-the-art classrooms and a black box theater for our Friday Film Festivals. Outdoor games and activities take place in Central Park, just minutes away, giving campers the perfect balance of creative production and fresh air in one of Manhattan’s most iconic green spaces.
a unique summer camp experience
At summer camp, kids learn to utilize professional film and media equipment in a hands-on, age-appropriate atmosphere. Programs are child-driven, and projects are kid-made from start to finish. Children are grouped at summer camp by age and interest. The summer camp curricula is designed around engaging content kids care about...
Inspirational, Caring Staff
CinemaKidz takes pride in finding the best staff - creative artists and industry professionals, and highly experienced educators. Teachers are both mentors for students, and their best friends by the end of the week. The Summer Camp staff to student ratio is 1:5, ensuring every camper receives the attention they deserve.
A Balance of Fun & Learning
Days are filled with a variety of activities from prop building and script writing, to acting in a friends film or directing a big summer blockbuster. Throughout the day, kids also enjoy other camp activities including: structured games, water balloon games, snacks, down time with friends, and sports in Schechter Boston's outdoor sports fields.

Summer Camp on the Upper West Side |
Week-long Sessions9am – 4pmAfter care until 5:30pm795 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10025 |
Location Highlights
Summer Camps for ages 5 to 15, broken up by age and interest
A variety of week-long themes to choose from
Everyday campers head outside to Central Park for games and recess
The CinemaKidz Friday Film Festival hosted in a theater with 100+ seats for friends and family
Registration & Weekly Camp Options
Every week ends with a Film Festival for friends and family!

June 22 - 26 |
This Week’s Theme Options! Creative Filmmaking Adventures in Animation Youtube Production CinemaKitchen Special Effects Filmmaking Video Editing & Cinematography Computer Animation |

June 29 - 2nd (no friday) |
This Week’s Theme Options! Creative Filmmaking Comics & Digital Animation Space Animations Photography & Nature Documentaries Survivor Kids Gameshow Dungeon & Dragons Films |

July 6 - 10th |
This Week’s Theme Options! Creative Filmmaking NYC Movie Adventurers Youtube Production Treasure Hunters Video Game Design Costumes, Props & Art Direction Music Video Productions |

July 13 - 17th |
This Week’s Theme Options! Creative Filmmaking Adventures in Animation Comics & Digital Animation CinemaKitchen Special Effects Filmmaking Rube Goldberg Films Computer Animation |

July 20 - 24th |
This Week’s Theme Options! Creative Filmmaking NYC Movie Adventurers Youtube Production Treasure Hunters Video game Design Costumes, Props & Art Direction Augmented & Virtual Reality |

July 27 - 31st |
This Week’s Theme Options! Creative Filmmaking Adventures in Animation Space Animations Photography & Nature Documetaries Survivor Kids Videot Editing & Cinematography Music Video Productions |

August 3rd - 7th |
This Week’s Theme Options! Creative Filmmaking NYC Movie Advetnurers Comics & Digital Animation CinemaKitchen Special Effects Filmmaking Gameshow Dungeons & Dragons Films |

August 10 - 14th |
This Week’s Theme Options! Creative Filmmaking Adventures in Animation Youtube Production Video Game Design Costumes, Props & Art Direction Rube Goldberg Films Computer Animation |
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NYC Movie Adventurers
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GameShow
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CinemaKitchen
Adventures in Animation
Take a Peek Behind the Scenes at our Upper West Side Summer Camps
Upper West Side loves Camp CinemaKidz
Serving 5,000+ students each year in NYC and Greater Boston, and over 70 5-star Reviews
Our daughter had an incredible experience at CinemaKids camp, giving it her own rating of ``11/10``! The camp was well-organized, with smooth drop-off and pick-up procedures, and the activities were impressively creative. The kids made props for their ``movie,`` went to the park to film it, and, most importantly, learned what goes into making a movie. The camp counselors were fantastic! We’ll definitely be signing her up again next year! - Maria, 2024
My 12 y.o. son went for a week and had an absolutely wonderful time. I was so impressed that they went around the city - filming on subways, on the Brooklyn Bridge and elsewhere. He was excited each night we picked him up. Next year for sure - and longer!
- Lorna, 2024
I can't sing enough praise for Cinema Kidz! My 13 yo's imagination has been unleashed this summer! Our kid is neurodivergent and from the get go the staff at CinemaKidz were genuinely asking for tips and feedback for how to adapt and include him in ways that work. By the second day he was joking with his counselors and he made some great friends with other kids, which is to say the least not always easy for him. Beyond that the equipment and programs he was introduced to were great and the movie they made was funny and highly entertaining. For kids of all ages and especially neurodivergent kids, this is a fantastic program! Thank you! - Shane, 2024














































































