New York City

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Extracurricular Activities

After-school programs, sports, arts, and cultural activities offered for students.

Sections

1. Arts and Culture

NYC is a global center for arts and culture, offering activities in visual arts, performing arts, music, and more.

For Students:

  • Art Classes:

    • The Art Students League of New York: Offers affordable art classes for teens in painting, drawing, and sculpture.
      • Cost: $200–$300 per course (scholarships available).
      • How to Sign Up: Visit their website and register online.
    • Children’s Museum of the Arts (CMA): Offers after-school programs and weekend workshops for kids and teens.
      • Cost: $25–$50 per session.
      • How to Sign Up: Register on their website or call their office.

  • Performing Arts:

    • Broadway Youth Ensemble: A choir and performance group for young singers interested in musical theater.
      • Cost: Audition required; fees vary.
      • How to Sign Up: Submit an audition video through their website.
    • New York City Ballet’s Education Programs: Offers workshops and classes for students.
      • Cost: Free or low-cost.
      • How to Sign Up: Check their website for program schedules.

For Adults:

  • Art Classes:

    • The New York Academy of Art: Offers evening and weekend workshops in painting, drawing, and sculpture.
      • Cost: $300–$500 per course.
      • How to Sign Up: Register online.
    • Painting Lounge: A casual, BYOB painting class for adults.
      • Cost: $50–$65 per session.
      • How to Sign Up: Book a session on their website.

  • Performing Arts:

    • The People’s Improv Theater (PIT): Offers improv and acting classes for adults.
      • Cost: $300–$400 per course.
      • How to Sign Up: Enroll online.
    • Dance Classes at Alvin Ailey Extension: Offers beginner to advanced dance classes in various styles.
      • Cost: $25 per class or $200 for a 10-class package.
      • How to Sign Up: Register online or in person.

2. Sports and Fitness

NYC has a wide range of sports leagues, fitness classes, and recreational activities for all ages.

For Students:

  • Youth Sports Leagues:

    • NYC Parks Department: Offers free or low-cost youth leagues in basketball, soccer, baseball, and more.
      • Cost: Free or minimal fees.
      • How to Sign Up: Visit the NYC Parks website or your local recreation center.
    • Asphalt Green: Provides youth sports programs in swimming, soccer, and martial arts.
      • Cost: $200–$400 per season.
      • How to Sign Up: Register online.

  • Specialized Sports:

    • Chelsea Piers Youth Programs: Offers gymnastics, rock climbing, and ice hockey for kids and teens.
      • Cost: $300–$600 per season.
      • How to Sign Up: Enroll on their website.

For Adults:

  • Recreational Leagues:

    • ZogSports: A social sports league offering kickball, volleyball, basketball, and more.
      • Cost: $100–$200 per season.
      • How to Sign Up: Create an account and register online.
    • NYC Social: Offers co-ed leagues for dodgeball, soccer, and other sports.
      • Cost: $100–$150 per season.
      • How to Sign Up: Register on their website.

  • Fitness Classes:

    • ClassPass NYC: Provides access to hundreds of fitness studios across the city, including yoga, pilates, and spin classes.
      • Cost: $49–$199 per month, depending on the plan.
      • How to Sign Up: Download the ClassPass app and subscribe.
    • NYC Parks Recreation Centers: Offer affordable gym memberships and fitness classes.
      • Cost: $150 per year for adults; $25 per year for seniors.
      • How to Sign Up: Visit your local recreation center to apply.

3. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)

NYC is home to numerous STEM programs for students and adults, ranging from coding bootcamps to robotics workshops.

For Students:

  • STEM Programs:

    • NYC FIRST Robotics: Offers robotics programs and competitions for middle and high school students.
      • Cost: Free or low-cost.
      • How to Sign Up: Check their website for team registration details.
    • Code Nation: Provides free coding classes for high school students.
      • Cost: Free.
      • How to Sign Up: Apply through their website.

  • STEM Camps:

    • iD Tech Camps: Offers summer programs in coding, game design, and robotics.
      • Cost: $1,000–$1,500 per week.
      • How to Sign Up: Register online.

For Adults:

  • Coding Bootcamps:

    • General Assembly: Offers intensive courses in web development, data science, and UX design.
      • Cost: $3,950–$15,000, depending on the program.
      • How to Sign Up: Apply online.
    • Flatiron School: Provides immersive coding and data science programs.
      • Cost: $15,000–$17,000.
      • How to Sign Up: Apply through their website.

  • Workshops and Meetups:

    • NYC Resistor: A hacker space offering workshops in electronics, 3D printing, and programming.
      • Cost: $20–$50 per workshop.
      • How to Sign Up: Check their website for upcoming events.

4. Volunteering and Community Engagement

Volunteering is a great way to give back to the community while meeting new people and gaining valuable experience.

For Students:

  • Volunteer Opportunities:
    • New York Cares: Offers youth-friendly volunteer projects, such as tutoring and park cleanups.
      • Cost: Free.
      • How to Sign Up: Create an account on their website and attend an orientation.
    • Big Brothers Big Sisters NYC: Matches high school students with younger mentees.
      • Cost: Free.
      • How to Sign Up: Apply online.

For Adults:

  • Volunteer Organizations:

    • God’s Love We Deliver: Prepares and delivers meals to people with serious illnesses.
      • Cost: Free.
      • How to Sign Up: Sign up for a volunteer shift on their website.
    • Habitat for Humanity NYC: Offers opportunities to help build affordable housing.
      • Cost: Free.
      • How to Sign Up: Register online for a volunteer orientation.

  • Community Boards:

    • NYC Community Boards: Join your local community board to participate in neighborhood planning and advocacy.
      • Cost: Free.
      • How to Sign Up: Apply through your borough president’s office.

Local Considerations

  1. Transportation: NYC’s public transit system (subway and buses) makes it easy to travel to extracurricular activities. Consider getting a MetroCard for unlimited rides.
  2. Timing: Many programs fill up quickly, so register early, especially for seasonal activities like summer camps or sports leagues.
  3. Scholarships and Discounts: Many organizations offer financial aid or sliding-scale fees. Don’t hesitate to inquire if cost is a concern.
  4. Cultural Diversity: NYC is incredibly diverse, so you’ll find programs tailored to various cultural and linguistic communities.
  5. Networking: Extracurricular activities in NYC often double as networking opportunities, so be open to meeting new people and building connections.

By exploring these options, you can make the most of NYC’s rich extracurricular landscape, whether you’re a student looking to expand your horizons or an adult seeking personal growth and community engagement.