Brooklyn Cultural Adventures Program (BCAP) Summer Camp

Reviews (11)

• Review from the 2023 Summer Camp Survey

  November 2023

  Location: Brooklyn Public Library GAP branch How old was your child when they attended camp this summer? 7 Review: Incredibly well run logistically - probably the best run kids program I’ve ever experience from an organization/oversight/planning perspective. My son can be slow to warm up and from day one he was very comfortable and happy. The counselors were excellent. The camp goes to lots of a Brooklyn cultural sites (BBG, BPL, Brooklyn Museum, Prospect Park Zoo and more). Everything was impeccably planned. My son goes to most if not all school of the included sites regularly so did not necessarily find the visits novel but still enjoyed himself. Seemed like a lovely group is kids and my son made some new friends. What would you change about the program, if anything, and why? Possibly just include some more “behind the scenes” elements that might be new for kids that go to these sites regularly, but this would be icing on the cake. The visits were all thoughtful and well planned. Would you like to add anything related to COVID and how the camp handled it? I found their protocols very appropriate to the stage of the pandemic we were in

• 2019 Summer Camp Review

  February 2020

  Age: 9, 10, 11 Review: The camp is for grades three through eight. My daughter started going there when she outgrew the camps that she went to when she was younger. The staffs at the Brooklyn central library, Brooklyn Museum, zoo, botanical gardens, children’s museum, Audubon Center and Lefferts house join together to create the camp for the kids. They go to two locations every day and do activities around a common theme that the staffs of these places have created for them. It’s really an amazing camp and very reasonably priced. The first two years my daughter loved it but this year she was not so crazy about it. as a rising seventh grader she was the oldest one in her group. Even though the youngest two grades are apart from the rest and do different things from the older kids she felt like too many of the activities were geared toward the younger kids. What would you change? I would put the 7th and 8th grade apart from 5th and 6th and come up with activities just for them. (Jul 2019)

• 2018 Summer Camp Reviews

  February 2020

  Age of child: 9 and 10. Summer 2018 Review: This is a great program when your child starts outgrowing younger camps. The museum, zoo, central library, botanical garden and children’s museym partner to create the camp and the kids visit each place at least twice. But they aren’t just visiting. The staff at these places work together to create a themes curriculum for the 2-week camp and some if the activities have a behind-the-scenes aspect. My daughter has gotten to do some very cool things and had so e unique experiences. The counselors are nice and get to know the kids. It’s the sort of experience that reminds you why you live in brooklyn. (Oct 2018)

• Review from the 2017 PSP Summer Camp Survey

  February 2020

  camp meets at the Brooklyn Museum and travels between the borough's major cultural institutions Review: I looked into this camp because my daughter wanted camps just for older kids and it starts at 7YO. Kids are broken up into 3 groups 7/8, 9/10, 11/12. And also the camp sounded cool. They kids go between the zoo, BBG, main library, art and childrens museums, Prospect Par Audobon Center and Lefferts House. At first my daughter wondered why she needed a camp to visit these places we go anyway and wasn't excited. But they aren't just visiting. They work with the staff at each place on activities designed specifically for the camp. So they learn and see things the public doesn't usually get to see. So at the art museum they saw the cleaning and restoration lab and learned about the equipment the staff uses there. At the zoo they got to feed the birds with the zoo keeper, and learned how the zoo keepers use feeding for enrichment and fitness for the animals.. The camp is well organized, communication is very good. The staff is good, counselors seem college age and responsible/engaged. Senior staff seem to mostly be young teachers and at each place they interact with the staff at that location. If you could change anything, what would it be? Each day seems split between an indoor and outdoor activity. i wish they would plan the outdoor activities for morning when it's cooler. they tend to do them in the afternoon when it's hot and my daughter has been just hot/cranky when I've picked her up. Some ice cream and time in air conditioning usually revives her, but it's a logistical change that would help. Her one complaint is that she feels the counselors do more babysitting than she needs. For example, they eat lunch at the school yard next to the Childrens Museum when they go there. One day she was done with lunch and wanted to go across the yard where other campers where playing at the playground and counselors were watching them. Though it was a small yard and no one else was there, a counselor had to walk her across the school yard to the play area. I'm sure they have their reasons and better too much oversight than not enough, but I think she feels like they are treating the kids younger than they are and it bugs her. Age of child: 9 Based on a Summer 2017 experience

• Review from the 2017 PSP Summer Camp Survey

  February 2020

  My middle child finished her 2nd year and my oldest did her 1st year. We really like the camp. It is really diverse and the kids get to do all kids of fun stuff from art projects to archeological digs to learning geology to water day. It is a 2 week program for ages 7-12. (2nd to 8th grade.). The get split into 3 age groups. The kids are all really happy and engaged. They are especially good with my special needs child. They really got her and would try to get her to open up more but also really appreciated the way she is. It is also really easy to pick up and drop off and the price is reasonable and they also have scholarships. If you could change anything, what would it be? Age of child: 6,7 and 10 Based on a Summer 2017 experience

• [ANONYMOUS] Affordable local summer daycamps?

  February 2020

  There is also BPAC, run by the Brooklyn Library with all the other nearby cultural institutions. It's a little more than $700 for 2 weeks. they run 3 2-week sessions and you can only do one. But even getting a break on one camp helps with the others. Registration opens in Feb. and i think it fills quickly, but you can try or keep it in mind for next year. it starts at 7YO and up. (April 2017)

• Review from 2013 Summer Camp Experience

  February 2020

  Camp Brooklyn Cultural Arts Partners (BCAP) Brooklyn Museum is their base camp Age of Child: 11 Likes: This is my daughter's 3rd year attending BCAP, and she loves it. Every year, she sees old friends and meets new. The counselors are responsible, yet lot's of fun, with nicknames like "Gummy Bear" and "B-Dog". The camp is a 2-week session (offered 3X/summer) with extended stay and play ('til 6 pm.) My daughter especially likes visiting the Botanic Garden and the library, where they meet staff, work on projects and get to see "behind the scenes", like the library stacks in the basement where the ghost of a girl still roams....no, REALLY. They also visit the Children's Museum, Zoo, Mt. Prospect Park, Lefferts Historic House, etc. What would you change? We love it, as is. I would love it if they could add a camp for tweens. BCAP staff, past and present, have mentioned trying to develop one. Would you send your child(ren) again? Yes Do you recommend? Highly recommend Do you have any other information to add? My daughter insists on returning to BCAP! She is lukewarm about returning to her other camps, and probably won't next year. But....BCAP is a must.

• Review from 2012 Summer Camp Experience

  February 2020

  Camp BCAP Brooklyn Art Museum is the base; visit surrounding areas Day Care or Sleep Away-- DC Program: Brooklyn Cultural Arts Age of Child: 10 Likes: My daughter loves the counselors and other campers. Although she attends school out-of-state, she felt welcomed and made friends quickly. The campers meet at the BK Museum, then venture to: Prospect Park, Children's Museum, Lefferts Historic House, Audobon Center, Botanic Garden, Zoo, Library, etc. This summer's theme was, Myths and Magic, so myths/magic inspired the activities at each institution. My daughter loves going behind the scenes at BK institutions. She especially liked visiting the library vaults and hearing the ghost story about a girl who, gulp, never returned from the vaults. She also loves after camp where they play *board games, jump rope*, etc. What would you change? Not one thing! Would you send your child(ren) again? Yes Do you recommend? Highly recommend Do you have any other information to add? Brian, Director, and Cheyenne, do an amazing job organizing the camp. Paperwork, Camp rules and regs, medical forms, etc are sent to the parents well in advance. They keep in touch re: dates forms are due back. Payments - there is an option to spread the payments for camp over several months i/o paying one lump sum.

• Review from 2011 Summer Camps Survey

  February 2020

  BCAP (Brooklyn Cultural Adventures Program) Location - Brooklyn Museum of Art How old is your child? (or the age when he/she attended camp) Age: - 7 What did you/your child like about the summer camp? She liked the varied activities, and getting to see "behind the scenes" at some of her favorite places (like the zoo and the museum.) There was a nice mix of physical and creative play. What would you change about the program? Drop off and pick up at the back of the museum is slightly inconvenient, though they will let you use the parking lot if you have a car. Will you send your child back to this summer camp program next year? (Or would you if you could?) Yes Would you recommend this program to other parents for their child in the future? Highly recommend If there is any other information you want to provide, let us know here: BCAP is structured as a two-week-long program. Every day they visit two of the "heart of Brooklyn" institutions. Each summer has a theme (for 2011 it was food) and their activities are based on this theme. For example this past summer they received basil and corn plants from the Botanic Garden, had the chance to eat crickets at the zoo (some kids tried them!), created bird feeders at the Audubon Center, etc. My daughter, who is a creative and curious soul, LOVED it.

• Review from 2011 Summer Camps Survey

  February 2020

  Brooklyn Museum is Home Base How old is your child? (or the age when he/she attended camp) Age: - 9 What did you/your child like about the summer camp? My daughter loved the camp, counselors, activities and other campers. We are new to Brooklyn, and this camp explored all the cultural institutions in the Prospect Park area: Brooklyn Museum, Zoo, Botanic Garden, Library and Prospect Park. The counselors are wonderful, fun and responsible. Stay and Play, offered after camp hours was a big hit, too. The campers often went to Mount Prospect Heights to play and once, watched a movie. It offers a good balance between structured and unstructured activity. What would you change about the program? Currently, a camper can attend only one session, per summer. If attending more than one session were an option, I'd take advantage of it! Will you send your child back to this summer camp program next year? (Or would you if you could?) Yes Would you recommend this program to other parents for their child in the future? Highly recommend

• Review from 2010 Summer Camps Survey

  February 2020

  Age of Child: 8 Likes: My child loved attending programs at all the cultural organizations in & around Institution Park. She especially loved the art workshops at The Brooklyn Museum. What would you change? There is not much I would change about the program. Security and accessibility of the directors are good. High level of interaction between campers and counselors. Would you send your child(ren) again? Yes Do you recommend? Highly recommend Do you have any other information to add? Parents should be aware that the camp starts at age 7. They can only select one 2-week sessions for their child to attend