New York City Explorers

Full disclosure: I just signed up for a 3^rd year of NYCE summer camp.
I can’t think of a better place for my soon-​to-​be 6 yr old to spend those heady summer days than with the smartest, hippest, most sensible and caring kid-​centered team in the borough. Having tried Park Slope Day Camp, and the YMCA at Court St for other school breaks, I can attest to the fact that this one is MILES ahead of the rest. I don’t really use the play-​space, but I live near the Underhill location so I can see the wee ones having a blast while we demolish Blue Marble cones (which deserve four stars, too.)
Oh, and ‘eliza b’ visited the Atlantic Ave space in March ’09 but in the Fall they moved to a huge space at 110 Schermerhorn so the picture above is obsolete. It’s true, they were growing out of the old space and it was beginning to show. But you’ve got to admire a young business going for expansion in a recession. Rock on.

my last review was taken down because it did not appear to be a «first-​hand» experience. interesting. i’ll try this again; this time i’ll elaborate.
i babysat 2 children and used this space in March 2009. it was awful. there were broken toys, the place was dirty (grit on the floor, slimy toys, and the red couch up front is fiiiilthy). the desk up front was cluttered and there was food all over the computer. the girl at the computer seemed to have no idea what was going on and could not provide me with any relevant information or answer my questions.
some of the teachers and teachers’ assistants appeared to be very nice & attentive to the kids they were watching — i found no fault there.
however; there is no natural light, and i saw toys far too small for toddlers to be playing with strewn about through the play space (one of the boys — 18 mos. — i was watching handed me a very small plastic toy fruit that could easily have caused problems if he had put it in his mouth).
check this place out if you’re unsure — the clutter and mess right in the front area is truly a telling sign of the overall condition of this place.
not good, not clean, not professionally run.

I go to the new one that recently opened in Prospect Heights on Underhill at Sterling.
I really like the vibe here and the natural toys are great.
My only problem with this place is that I went once or twice when there were no other children there which ends up being pretty boring for my 17-​month-​old daughter,
Otherwise, a wonderful addition to the hood.