It's wedding season!

And boy did Cristina have wedding bells on the brain as she enjoyed the beauty that is Wave Hill Pond with the senior campers on Wednesday afternoon! The 28-acre garden, located in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, overlooks the Hudson River and the Palisades, and is truly an oasis from congested city life. http://www.wavehill.org/gardens/gardensin_Aug.html While the campers took in the sights and scents of the water lilies, fennel and silver lace vine that bloom every August, Cristina, our event planner and babysitting coordinator extraordinaire, was busy imagining herself, a crown of wildflowers adorning her head, walking down the aisle into the arms of her beloved, surrounded by the flower garden, wildflower garden and herb garden that teased her nose as she led the campers through the park.

The tranquility of Wave Hill was a welcome respite after a train ride that proved more spooky than relaxing. After Edwin told a tale of a camper who wandered too far from his camp sight, Liam, Ozzy, Alexandra and the rest of the group spent the rest of the train ride filling each other with fright as they told story after story of camp gone awry, each one more toe-curling than the last. After the impromptu narrative session was over, everyone agreed that Noa's story was the spookiest. Good thing the subways are so brightly lit, or our campers surely would have been arguing over who got to sit next to Cristina and Edwin on the way back to Brooklyn!

There was no pool at Wave Hill, but when the counselors saw Ozzy's trousers start to slide off in the garden, they thought maybe he had heard otherwise. While it appeared as though Ozzy was getting ready for a swim, he was actually just suffering the consequences of too much fun! After a particularly funny joke was told by one of the other campers, Ozzy laughed and jumped up and down so hard that his pants started to fall clear off! Perhaps on next year's campers' checklist, right next to "water bottle" and "sunscreen" there should be further suggestion for what to pack for a day at camp: a belt!

They may be 2: Cool for School...

... but they're not too cool for field trips! With rumors of the campers' adventures drifting over to the New York City Explorers Underhill location, Sarah Crow, Yamileth and the crew from 2: Cool for School decided it was high time for an adventure of their own. While the program's half-day schedule makes it difficult to make the trek to Manhattan, the coolest, raddest, baddest toddlers in Brooklyn found plenty of fun right in their home borough.
After a nervous goodbye to her mom, Ocean, Sarah's newest Explorer, surprised even herself by how quickly her frown turned upside down, as she rode the bus from Underhill to the Brooklyn Children's Museum with Vaughn, Tommy, Thelonius and the rest of the 2: Cool for School gang. As the tikes noshed on a morning snack of bananas and Veggie Booty, they talked about which exhibits they planned to fit into their two hours at the museum. After some debate, a decision was reached, and the morning was spent looking at crawfish, playing with the multicolored sand at the water table, and careening down the best children's slide in Brooklyn. With Yamileth by his side, Joshua even felt brave enough to make funny faces at the crawfish, as Thelonius played an encouraging beat on the drums behind his brave friend.
It's a good thing Thelonius' dad came along for the fun. With Tommy so tired that he fell asleep on the bus ride back, Sarah and Yamileth needed all hands on deck to carry their Sleeping Beauty back into the play space!
Joshua sure was brave peering at those crawfish, but Brittany and her junior campers spent the morning with someone far less brave: a wimpy kid, in fact! Thanks to the Brooklyn Public Library's celebration of the newest book in the series Diary of a Wimpy Kid, the campers and their teachers enjoyed ice cream, crafts, and a story time in the library's children's section. After his ice cream, Sebastian opted for a ride on the tire swing at Prospect Park, proving that his stomach, at least, is not wimpy at all!

FAOh-Boy!

Who says the holiday season is the most wonderful time of the year? Without the long lines, cold weather and crowds of tourists, who needs holiday shopping when our campers can enjoy nearly empty stores right now! With the city at their fingertips, the New York City Explorers enjoyed the magic of the season in 85 degree weather with a trip to FAO Schwarz on Monday morning. While Haven enjoyed a day with her Mama, Brittany and Kai Yiu led the rest of the junior campers, along with special guests Lili and Simone from the Explorers Club on a tour through the most kid-friendly store in Manhattan! While story hour in the children's book section was the main destination on Brittany's brain, our intern Kai Yiu, from Hong Kong, was so amazed by the toy soldiers that she could barely stop taking pictures of them long enough to give the campers a chance to pose next to the six-foot tall live-action men dressed as toys!
Our campers may not be old enough to have watched Tom Hanks' younger self entertain millions with his rendition of Chopsticks in Big, but they were certainly old enough to enjoy playing some tunes of their own on the giant floor-style keyboard on the second floor of Manhattan's famous toy store. The line was long, but our campers were unanimous in their verdict: four minutes of uninterrupted jamming was worth the wait!
The campers' day was completed with a visit to another, albeit, less well-known New York City treasure. The Billy Johnson Play Ground on 67th Street and 5th Avenue gave Sebastian, Audrey and the rest of the group the perfect way to work off energy after keeping their behavior on the up-and-up in FAO Schwarz. Giggles and screams filled the park as the campers took turns going down the giant slide built into the side of a hill! The only thing that could have made this play session any better would be a pool waiting at the bottom the best slide in the city!

Explorers Club takes a staycation!

While money woes have some New Yorkers opting out of summer travel in favor of enjoying their own city, Lili, Simone and Shelton's Friday field trip to the American Museum of Natural History was motivated by good old-fashioned toddler curiosity. With Lev and Shayna still away at Grandma's house, Gayla and Amy took advantage of the fantastic student to teacher ratio and headed uptown on the C train, bound for 81st Street and dinosaur bones aplenty!

After a morning learning about sea life as they dodged the giant whale and octopus hanging from the ceiling, the group headed outside for an authentic New York City picnic lunch, including people-watching from 77th Street, while Shelton gave in to to good health and nestled into Amy's back for an afternoon nap.

With full bellies and fuller minds, the Explorers Club traversed the rest of the museum, stopping on the way out to make souvenir pennies in the gift shop. That T-Rex looked much friendlier scaled down to penny size than he did up close and personal in the dinosaur wing, where the group learned that despite previous thoughts to the contrary, the T-Rex did not walk upright on two legs, but rather hunched over (In a similar fashion to Amy and Gayla were as they took turns carrying Shelton in her baby backpack!)

Having heard all about the delicious treats that the campers enjoyed during their Whole Foods Market tour, Lili and Simone were eager to try some organic fare of their own. A detour to the Union Square Green Market on the way back to Brooklyn was just the ticket: The girls enjoyed fresh local peaches and heirloom tomatoes, and washed it down with a sip of cool water and a chocolaty, cakey brownie, fresh-baked by one of the vendors at the Green Market! Supporting local farms sure can be yummy work!

Campers took healthy eating to a WHOLE new level!

Parents of Explorers already know that at New York City Explorers we maintain a commitment to healthy organic eating and green cleaning. That's why our campers and Explorers Club tikes enjoy a daily menu of fresh, 90% organic meals and snacks, including delicious hot lunches from our neighborhood market, Brooklyn Fare. Since the West coast sensation Whole Foods Market made its way to the Tri-State area, the local fervor for organic produce and grass-fed beef has reached a fever pitch, so on Wednesday, Brittany, Edwin and Cassie led their campers to downtown Manhattan to learn what all of the excitement is about. www.wholefoodsmarket.com/

Patrick, Liam, Lilliana and all of their friends received the VIP treatment with private tour of Whole Foods Market! The fantastic ration of counselors to campers, with intern Kai Yiu on board to help as well, allowed the campers to divide into groups to explore the produce, pizza and bakery departments on the yummiest day trip yet! After learning what goes into growing and producing the organic fare that fills the bellies of New Yorkers every day, the group did some research of their own, gobbling samples of pizza, pineapple and fresh fruit sorbet! While the hands-on tour was a hit, the best part of this party was the surprise at the end: goody bags for everyone to take home! Each reusable shopping bag was filled with treats like flower-infused water, granola bars and recipe booklets.

While the campers enjoyed a snacks in every hue on the color wheel, Vino's Field Day Fantastic students found a colorful way to burn calories instead. Using beanbags, cones and hula hoops, Sebastian, Luke, Ariel and Tommy reviewed colors as they hopped, ran and tossed their way through an active morning in Fort Greene Park. Join them next Wednesday to get in on the action!

Explorers celebrate the arts!

Brooklyn residents are known for being patrons of the arts, with many of our Explorers' parents being writers, painters and photographers themselves. Surprisingly, while our home borough is also home to countless museums, theater troupes and galleries, it was to Queens that the senior campers travelled on Tuesday to be filled with the creative spirit. When artist Mark di Suvero presented his vision for an illegal dump site in Long Island City to be turned into an outdoor museum and exhibition site in 1986, there were more than a few skeptics. Today, however, the Socrates Sculpture Park is a New York City institution, housing large-scale and installation pieces in one of the gems of the Parks Department. http://www.socratessculpturepark.org/

While the senior campers learned about philosophy and concepts of aesthetics, the junior campers enjoyed a view of another New York City artistic treasure: the view of the Statue of Liberty from the Staten Island Ferry is a quintessential New York experience, and the breeze that brushes past ferry riders made the outing a perfect way for Brittany and her Explorers to spend a humid day! After picnicking and running through the sprinklers at Staten Island's Clove Lakes Park, the campers hurried back to the Atlantic Avenue play space to build their own statues with Cassie, Edwin and Keyanna's favorite childhood toy--- K'NEX!

Not to be outdone, Lili, Simone, Reza and Josh decided that rather than brave the heat, the Explorers Club could create art of its own. The crew proved they had the right idea with the musical masterpieces that could be heard coming from the classroom as Kisha led Gayla's and Amy's Explorers in an all-out jam session during the Tuesday morning Miles, Marley and Mozart class!

Tuesday's ending was bittersweet as the Explorers Club and the junior campers enjoyed their last Mandarin class of this session. Lilliana, Sebastian, Haven and the rest said Zai Jian to DiDi and her puppet dog Cosmo for the summer. The Explorers are all so thankful to Lango for all of the international fun they've had!

It wassss ssssso much fun!

Discovery Channel may celebrate Shark Week, but the boys at 2: Cool for School were positively reptilian today, as they made sure that every activity planned for the day received a snake-themed twist!
While Sarah Crow enjoyed a day off, Amy and Yamileth took the reins as Vaughn, Thomas and all the rest did what little boys do best: laugh and play! Thomas sang a scaley version of Old MacDonald with snakes hissing here and there, and John and Vaughn chased each other around the play space with Vaughn's rubber snake toys! Would story time provide a respite from the madness? No way! The boys were indulged further when a reading of Disney's Aladdin devoted an entire page to a villainous snake sorcerer!
The pages of Aladdin didn't hold all of the magic today. New York City Explorers' Atlantic Avenue location was transformed into a wonderland for both children and adults as Kisha and Keyanna welcomed several dozen children and parents to an event celebrating all that New York City Explorers has to offer! While older children enjoyed three mini-classes, including Mini Michelangelos, Kid Fitness and Miles, Marley and Mozart, younger tots played in a playroom that was just the right size for them! While everyone brought home crafts and memories, six pint-sized winners were lucky enough to take home raffle prizes as well!
To make a craft or experience a class for yourself, stop by October 4th during Atlantic Antic where you can also meet out Bag of Tricks Babysitters, have your little one's face painted and make some new friends!

I'm bringing home a baby bumble bee...

...so I hope Haven's not coming home with me! As fearless as she is about riding on the train or playing with the older campers, three-year-old Haven is a bit yellow when it comes to animals. She took one look at the bumble bees pollinating the flowers at Brooklyn Botanic Garden and wanted to head for the hills. Unfortunately for Haven, the hills at this New York City treasure are full of bee-luring flowers too! http://www.bbg.org/vis2/

While the junior and senior campers were on their best behavior during today's trip, the plants on display at the Garden's Wicked Plants exhibit were a different story. From plants that imprison to plants that poison, these flora made Little Shop of Horrors feel a bit too close to home, so when Brittany suggested a visit indoors to the Garden's Steinhardt Conservatory, the campers were only too pleased to oblige!

"Look at the white house," said Brittany, over the shouts and giggles of Audrey, Julian and the rest of the campers. "Who wants to go in to that white house?" Audrey perked right up when she heard this invitation to make her way in to the beautiful white building that houses the Conservatory, as well as the Garden's administrative offices.

"I do!" Audrey enthused. "Will Obama be there?!" Some days it's easier than others to understand the ease with which Bill Cosby was able to fashion an entire television program around what comes out of the mouths of little ones.

While it was surely a let down after the prospect of visiting the commander-in-chief, the foodies among the group couldn't help but be interested when a tour guide explained that some of the yummiest flavors in the kitchen, black pepper, vanilla, and cocoa, all share humble beginnings as plants. It's a good thing lunch was next on the agenda, because tummies sure were growling after that delicious botany lesson!

Our campers know that a garden can't thrive on sunshine alone, so they understood that they shouldn't be too disappointed when the clouds began to roll in after lunch, but curiously enough, although they each got watered a bit on the walk from the train back to New York City Explorers, not one single camper sprouted any taller today!

And the award for best camp day trip goes to...

....the sprinklers at Central Park! It's not often that our campers get to douse their counselors with water balloons, but the day trip to Central Park's sprinklers was an exception for Keyanna and Edwin's senior campers.
With the last few weeks of New York City Explorers junior and senior summer camps upon us, we took a look back this week at some of our campers' favorite outings thus far. Let's let our campers speak for themselves:

What has been your favorite camp trip so far?

Zach: Victorian Gardens, because we went on all the rides.

Liam: The sprinklers in Manhattan, because all the people we're friends with were there. It was the best trip. I don't know why; I think it was because I threw water balloons at the referee!

Alexandra: Going to Central Park and playing water games with Cassie and Edwin and Keyanna.

Dalia: Victorian Gardens, because of the swing ride that went swirling around. It was so fun!

Tosa: The sprinklers, because we threw water balloons at the counselors!

Nicholas: Fishing in Prospect Park. It was really fun because we all caught seaweed!

Patrick: Going in the Central Park sprinklers, because we got to get the counselors wet.

Laila: Sony Wonderlab because did you know that we saw all these moving words and we stepped on them, trying to catch them?!

Alex: Toys R Us, because there was a big ferris wheel and there was even a Barbie house!

It's clear that our campers have their favorite trips, but with a summer list that has included lunch in Harlem, the Queens Hall of Science, the Museum of Natural History and the Cloisters, there's something for everyone to enjoy at the camp that won the 2008 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Parents' Pick Award for Best Indoor Play Space/Party Space for Big Kids in Brooklyn and was nominated for 2008 Best Big Kids' Camp in Brooklyn! Summer camp may be drawing to a close, but our dynamic counselors lead amazing day camps during every school break from September through June, so stop by and talk to Lyouba about enrolling your favorite Explorer!

If April showers bring May flowers...

...then what do August showers bring? Giant homemade sunflowers, of course! Spring's blossoms have bloomed, but this summer's skies have yet to get the message. Never ones to complain, our Explorers Club artists spend a rainy Thursday and Friday afternoon creating some flowers sans sunshine with the help of some construction paper, paper plates, cardboard tubing, and lots of glitter! Little hand prints were traced and cut out for the little ones to glue on to sunny summer crafts. We sure will be missing Lev and Shayna, and Lili and Simone while they're away this week, but I know two sets of Explorers Club twins whose Grandmas will be receiving the most beautiful bouquets they could ask for when their adorable grandchildren visit! To help your Explorer plant some love in a family member's life, gather some supplies and follow these directions: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/flowers/sunflowerplate/

It's no wonder our Explorers are so talented. With our resident artist Gayla Martin keeping her day job as one of our Explorers Club teachers, creative inspiration and encouragement is with them all day long! Gayla, who graduated from Vassar College in 2007, received honors in Studio Art and currently has paintings on display in private businesses throughout Rockport, MA as well as on the walls of of New York City Explorers' Atlantic Avenue location. Gayla was recently the featured artist at the June 27th Brooklyn Independent Designer Trunk Show, and continues to work on her craft in her Williamsburg studio. Visit Gayla's blog at http://gaylajmartin.blogspot.com/ or stop by and take a look at her work on your Explorer's next visit!

It's my party, and I'll cry if I want to!

But who would want to with a party celebrated at New York City Explorers' Underhill location? Last Saturday lucky birthday boy Aidan celebrated entry into his terrible twos with party facilitators Audra and Cassie leading the animal-themed fun!

An overcast sky may have kept the revelers indoors, but Aidan still let his wild side out as he and his friends made animal masks. After gluing, feathering and coloring their way to the jungle, the party animals went hunting for dinosaur eggs on a scavenger hunt led by Audra, one of the best of New York City Explorers' team of creative dynamic Bag of Tricks Babysitters.

Hunting for dinosaur eggs may be fun, but it doesn't make for much of a lunch. Luckily for Aidan's friends and family, his mom had cooked up chicken and rice for everyone to enjoy! It's a good thing Audra and Cassie had a game of freeze dance planned as an after-lunch treat, because little bellies needed a rest before the birthday cake came out.

Animal-themed games and crafts not up your alley? Let our resident party planner, Cristina, tailor a party package perfect for you and your little Explorer. Eliminate the stress of planning, clean-up and even cooking and trips to the bakery by having your next birthday party at either of our two New York City Explorers locations. Enjoy the larger playspace at Atlantic Avenue or the cozy backyard at Underhill with packages starting as low as $395. Suggest a party theme based on your Explorer's own interests or choose one of our pre-designed themes, including Fear Factor, Little Divas, Superhero Party, The Mah-velous Tea Party, The Magical Party, and The Ultimate Athlete. Decide whether to include crafts, games, goody bags, or even to have catering arranged through our party partner on Atlantic Ave, Downtown Atlantic! It's hard for homemade treats to beat the cupcakes offered at this sister eatery to Manhattan's Magnolia Bakery. http://www.magnoliacupcakes.com/ http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/downtown-atlantic/