Our Preseason Programs offer a focused and engaging way for students to ease into the summer through shorter, theme-based experiences. Running from 9:00am–2:00pm (unless otherwise noted), these programs invite children to dive deeply into a specific subject or creative theme—such as basketball, City Week, Sense Lab, Art Studio, or Cooking—while enjoying the spirit of learning and play that defines LREI. Students bring their own lunch each day, and all programs are taught by our highly experienced LREI teaching staff, who create thoughtful, hands-on experiences tailored to each age group. Families can explore each individual program for details and schedules.

2026 Sense Lab with Tess Neill runs Monday, June 15th through Friday, June 26th* 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
*no meeting on June 19th

Week 1-$550/full week registration

Week 2-$675/full week registration

or $150/day

*Program will meet at 272 Sixth Ave
**Campers are asked to bring bag lunches each day that do not contain nut or seed products and do not include glass containers.

Sense Lab is a playful, hands-on week of discovery through the five senses.

Led by Lower School teacher Tess Neill, children will explore sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell through creative projects, simple cooking, building, movement, and imaginative play. Activities may include making instruments and forming a band, creating colorful visual art and kaleidoscopes, working with clay and textured materials, and mixing playful “potions.”

Each day includes a balance of indoor studio time and outdoor play, giving students space to create, move, and connect with friends.

Sense Lab encourages curiosity, creativity, and joyful exploration — helping children better notice and engage with the world around them.

Sense Lab Registration Form

2026 City Week with Coach Luis runs Monday, June 15th through Thursday, June 18th* 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
*no meeting on June 19th

$600/full week registration 

*Program will meet at 272 Sixth Ave and travel by public transit to a different location each day
**Campers are asked to bring bag lunches each day that do not contain nut or seed products and do not include glass containers.

Have you ever wondered why field trips only happen once in a while?

At City Week, every day is a field trip.

Join Coach Luis for a four-day adventure exploring New York City. Campers will travel together to exciting destinations like the Bronx Zoo, Coney Island, and Prospect Park — each day bringing a new neighborhood, a new experience, and a new kind of adventure.

This camp is all about curiosity, movement, and discovering the city as a living classroom. We’ll explore, observe, play, and learn while navigating NYC by foot and public transit, building independence and confidence along the way.

City Week Registration Form

2026 Cooking Intensive

Monday, June 22nd through Friday, June 26th, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm

$700/full week registration 

> Held at the 272 Sixth Avenue location
> Campers are asked to bring bag lunches each day that do not contain nut or seed products, and do not include glass containers.

Let’s cook! This program will be taught by our very own Celeste Dorsey – Afterschool’s Cooking With Celeste Teacher. Every day of this four day program will be a new exploration of culinary techniques and delicious creations. Students will have a hand in all aspects of dish creation, from planning and shopping for fresh ingredients to making everything from main courses to appetizers and desserts! Who knows, students may even create some original dishes that become future family favorites.
***Please note that ingredients will include egg, gluten and dairy products***

Cooking Intensive Registration Form

2026 Art Studio Intensive runs for two 1-week sessions, Monday, June 15th through Friday, June 26th* 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
*no class on June 19th

Week 1-$550/full week registration 

Week 2-$675/full week registration 

*Program will be held in the Art Studio at 272 Sixth Avenue
**Campers are asked to bring bag lunches each day that do not contain nut or seed products and do not include glass containers.

This program, led by LREI’s MS art teacher Rohan Cassells, offers rising 5th through 8th grade artists a dynamic opportunity to explore and develop their artistic talents in a supportive and engaging environment. Students will work with a variety of age-appropriate materials in drawing, painting, and sculpture, honing techniques while creating personalized, portfolio-ready pieces.

In addition to hands-on art-making, participants will engage in the critique process, learning to articulate their creative vision with confidence and precision. By the end of the course, young artists will have a strong foundation in artistic techniques and the vocabulary to express their ideas effectively. Perfect for creative minds ready to take their art to the next level!

Art Studio Intensive Registration Form

There are three options for Fours entering our camp program to most appropriately meet the needs of each child during their first time with us:

• Half Day Fours/Nearly Fours
• Full Day Fours

The camp day for Half Day Fours and Half Day Nearly Fours is 9am-1pm Monday-Thursday and 9am-4pm on Friday for Field Trips. Full Day Fours meet 9am-4:00pm Monday-Friday. Registration is by two-week sessions. The camp program for children in the Fours includes organized activities in their Homegroups and outdoor play, daily workshop rotations of either movement, sensory, science, music or cooking, and Field Trips on each Friday of each session.

Please note that all campers are required to be toilet trained.

Fours Program Description

The Fours day begins at 9am.  Activity stations are set up throughout the room in order to engage children in the beginning of the camp day.  

Homegroup Time

Morning and afternoon circle meetings open and close the camp day and may include an activity such as a song or a game, a discussion of what will be happening in the day and the week, and a time for the children in the Homegroup to get to know one another.

Activities such as art, cooking, and outdoor play listed on the weekly schedule at times other than Choice Class blocks take place with the Homegroup.  Outdoor play happens at Downing Street Park, Minetta Lane Park or on our rooftop play area.  Outdoor play may occasionally include sprinkler time, so we ask all campers to bring a swimsuit and a change of clothes that they can leave at camp.

Lunch is served in Homegroup rooms for Fours.  A snack of fruit, cheese, pretzels, water, and juice is also provided throughout the day.

Rest time following lunch is an opportunity for children to quiet their senses and to play individually.  Some may really rest, while others may look at books or play quietly.  Fours may choose to bring a favorite stuffed animal, book, or blanket to have with them during rest time.

Block A and Block B

During Block A, each Homegroup is visited on a rotating basis by a visual art, music, sensory, or movement Specialist for an hour each morning on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.  Note that Half Day Four/Half Day Nearly Fours participate in Block A activities only. Fours (Full Day) also sign up for a Choice Class during Block B during General Registration, in advance of the camp season. Block B Choice Classes meet outside of the Homegroup rooms in the afternoons on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday for an hour each day over the course of a two-week session. Different classes are offered each session. Classes are taught by Specialists, Head and select Associate Counselors. Fours classes take place both inside and outside of the Homegroup room and are open to the participation of children in all Fours groups.

Camp-Wide Wednesday Activities

On Wednesday mornings, children from all Fours and Fives Homegroups gather together for age-appropriate activities, such as mural-making, a dance party, making a marching band, or a special cooking project.  This is a fun chance for children to interact with different Homegroups.  It is also a good opportunity for friends in different Homegroups to spend time with each other.  Wednesday afternoons (Fours- full day) are set aside for collaborative projects and activities with other Homegroups in the camp or for more extended Homegroup activities.

The second Wednesday of each session is a theme day, such as “The Shrinking Machine,” “Little Red Rocket Ship” or “Big Green Meadow.”  Camp-wide activities on those days are based on the theme, and each camp group chooses how it will participate in the theme.

Fridays

On Fridays, all Fours groups attend camp from 9:00am to 4:00pm for full day Field Trips.  On Field Trip Fridays, Fours travel by chartered bus to locations such as the Green Meadows Farm and Central Park Zoo and Carousel.  Our goal for Field Trips is to take the campers to “green,” natural spaces.  We have a 1:3 or 1:4 counselor to camper ratio for Fours on Field Trips.

Summer Camp Lunch Ordering How-To

This season, all lunches will be individually packed and must be ordered ahead of time. Orders must be submitted by 12pm on the Wednesday before the week you are ordering for. Below, find detailed instructions on the ordering process.

Begin by visiting this link –  Menus | (nutrislice.com)

Registering your account

• In the upper right -hand corner, click the drop-down menu represented by this symbol ≡
• At the bottom of the list that appears, click Log-in.
• Looking at the bottom you will see where it says, “Create an Account”. Click it.
• This will direct you through a series of questions and screens that will allow you to register with our ordering system.
  • If you are registering as a parent for your camper, select parent. On the next screen, you will be able to enter key information about each camper (student).
  • For allergy information, please be as specific as possible without writing in sentences. For example, use key words like “dairy”, “shellfish” or “strawberries”. You can also include dietary preferences in this space such as “gluten free” or “vegan”.
  • Underneath the camper info window, you will see a clickable tab that says “Add Another Student” with a + symbol. Click the + to add another camper under the same account. This allows you to enter orders for multiple campers using the same log-in information. When placing orders, you will be able to select which camper the meals are meant for.
  • On the next two screens you will be asked to enter information about yourself to create the account. Your email will be your you log-in name and you will need to create a password.
• Once you have entered all the information above, you will be logged in and the site will take you back to the main screen.

Placing an order

• In the center of the page, click on “Little Red School House and Elisabeth Irwin”. This will bring you to our menu page.
• At the top of the page, you will find some guidelines about ordering.
• Most importantly, you must place all lunch orders by 12pm Wednesday for the upcoming week. For example, orders for the first session of camp must be placed by 12pm on Wednesday June 16th. If you miss the weekly deadline, you or your camper will be provided with the hot entrée or vegan entrée of the day – depending on dietary needs and preferences.
• To filter by possible food allergies or dietary preferences, near the top of the page click on the three lines inside a circle. 
  • Here you will be able to click on any allergens or preferences that apply to you.
  • Once you choose the allergens/ preferences that apply to you, or your camper click the X in the top right corner. All menu items with these allergens/ ingredients will be crossed out in red.
• Further down the page, you will find menu options listed by date.
• To make your selection, scroll down to where it says “Entrée Selections” with a + symbol. Click the + symbol.
• Here you will see a list of hot and cold entrée options for the day.
  • You may select one item per day.
  • If you have filtered options by allergen, when you click on an item that contains one of your highlighted allergens, it will display a warning in red.
  • Select one of the hot or cold options available and click “Add To Order” highlighted in blue at the bottom.
• Continue by selecting one item for each day you or your camper will be attending camp.
  • Some items will offer “modifications”, allowing you to request changes or substitutions. For example, sandwiches will offer a “gluten free” modification. There are other options that are specific to each menu item.
  • You can order as far in advance as you would like. There is no limit to how far in advance you can place an order. You can order for the entire camp session if you like.
• Once you have selected menu items for all desired dates you must finalize you order in the checkout screen. To get to the checkout screen, click the shopping bag at the top of the screen and select checkout in blue.
• At the top of the page, you can select which of your registered campers/ users this order is for.
  • You can only place orders for one person at a time.
• Next, you must select a delivery location for each date in your order.
  • Click the drop-down menu and select the location where you or your camper will be eating lunch. This location will be provided to you in advance by the camp staff.
  • Camp staff that are eating with their assigned group of campers should choose that group/ location as the delivery location. If you are not eating with a group of campers, you should select “Little Red Kitchen” – and you will be able to pick up your lunch from the kitchen during normal lunchtime hours.
  • Once you choose a location for one date, the system will ask if you want to apply this delivery/ pickup location to all your meal selections.
• Once you have set the delivery or pick up locations for all of your meals, you should scroll down to the bottom of the page.
  • Select a division to help up filter your orders as we print them – Camper, Camp Staff/ Admin, or LREI School Staff
  • You may also include any special instructions for your orders. This can list any last-minute requests, more details about dietary preferences, etc.
• Once all this information is completed, click “Submit Order” in blue at the bottom of the page.
  • You will be taken to a confirmation page thanking you for your order. You should also receive a confirmation email with order details.
  • If you have not been brought to this page or did not receive a confirmation email, you order was not submitted. Check that you have completed all the steps and that your checkout “cart” is empty.
  • If you have successfully placed orders for one of your campers but need to place orders for someone else registered to your account – scroll to the bottom of the page and click “Start Another Order”. This will bring you back to the main page to begin the process again.

Troubleshooting

• If you are having issues placing orders or need help please email [email protected] and CC our Chef Manager Eric Baer – [email protected]. We will get back to you as soon as possible or put you in contact with a Nutrislice tech who can better resolve your problem.

2020 Summers Wrestling Clinic

June 15-19, 2020        9:00 am – 2:00 pm

$500/full week registration -or- $125/day

*Program will be held at the Thompson Street Athletic Center {145 Thompson Street}

**Campers are asked to bring bag lunches each day that do not contain nut or seed products and do not include glass containers.

Summers offers a one-week Wrestling clinic. The wrestling clinic is an opportunity for athletes, ages 8 to 13, to learn the basic concepts of wrestling, develop and enhance their wrestling skills, and compete. The program will focus on helping wrestlers learn takedowns, escapes, top control and tumbling while developing overall fitness, agility and athleticism.

Areas of focus will include:
– Grappling
– Defensive Wrestling
– Chain Wrestling
– Finishing moves
– Athletic Stamina
– Strategy

Wrestling Clinic Registration Form

2026 Summers Basketball Clinics

2026 Basketball Clinic runs for two weeks from Monday, June 15th through Friday, June 26th, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
*no clinic on June 19th

$550/$675 full week 1/week 2 registration -or- $150/day

*Program will be held at the Thompson Street Athletic Center {145 Thompson Street}

**Campers are asked to bring bag lunches each day that do not contain nut or seed products and do not include glass containers.

Summers one-week Basketball Clinics are designed to help players, ages 9 to 13 develop their basketball skills and compete against each other in games.

Training will include:

• Shooting
• Passing
• Dribbling and Ball Handling
• Rebounding
• Hand/Eye Coordination
• Defense and Agility
• Athletic Stamina
• Footwork
• Teamwork
• Strategy

Basketball Clinic Registration Form

Fours Choice Class Season Overview

Morning Enrichments Block and Choice Classes meet Monday, Tuesday and Thursday for an hour. Full Day Fours select one Choice Class from Block B.  Half Day Fours do not select a Block B Choice Class.

Please note: The classes below are from the 2025 season. Choice classes for the 2026 season will be announced in April 2026.

Session 1

Block A: 9:30-10:30

Rotating block of enrichment activities – music, sensory, movement, art, etc. (No need to register for this class)

Block B: 1:30-2:30 (Full Day Fours Only)

Animal Art (Lauren Barriocanal) – Let’s get our hands messy and let our imaginations run wild! In this playful art class, campers will turn their own handprints (and other stamping techniques) into adorable wildlife animals like birds, turtles, fish, and more. With a splash of paint and a dash of creativity, we’ll add fun details to bring each creature to life. Campers will head home with a colorful menagerie!

Pizza Shop (Clara Campos) – In this dramatic play/construction art class we will use our imaginations, pizza shop knowledge, and plenty of art materials to design and create our very own pizza shop! We will construct a pizza oven, cash register, menus, and of course paper pizzas with all the toppings. On the last day of the session we will have our Grand Opening and invite other camp groups to come be our customers.

Backyard Team Games (Anna Goldstein) – In this indoor/outdoor active class we will play our favorite team games, learn some new ones, and even develop some of own! We will have a great time running around, working in teams, practicing skills, and playing together!

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Session 2

Block A: 9:30-10:30:

Rotating block of enrichment activities – music, sensory, movement, art, etc. (No need to register for this class)

Block B: 1:30-2:30: (Full Day Fours Only)

Bubble Trouble (Sara Janoff) – In this class, campers will learn about the science of bubbles with hands-on experiments and projects! We will learn how bubbles are made, how to use different tools to make bubbles of different shapes and sizes, and even a special way to blow bubbles with our hands! We will learn why bubbles pop, and some magic ways we can make bubbles that DON’T! We will challenge ourselves to construct towers with bubbles, make the biggest bubble, & keep bubbles up. Finally, we will create beautiful works of art using bubbles.

Gaga for Gaga (Denzel Johnson) – Let’s play ball!! In this fun, physical ball games class, we will play Gaga, an LREI favorite, and various other games. Campers will have a safe and fun environment to build teamwork and coordination skills while having a great time!

Clay Creations (Cheryl Woodley) – Campers will use the imagination and creativity to make a variety of clay creations.  They will utilize many different clay making techniques to add the appropriate details and texture to their creations.  Then they will add color to their clay work and it will be put on display for all to view! 

LEGO City (Katherine Banos) – Let’s build, create and play! Have you ever wanted to create your own city out of LEGOS? During LEGO city we will build our own LEGO cities using our expansive collection of LEGOS and our big imaginations. Come ready to build people, cars, and buildings with all the accessories. We will work individually and as a group. Let’s see where our minds take us!

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Session 3

Block A: 9:30-10:30

Rotating block of enrichment activities – music, sensory, movement, art, etc. (No need to register for this class)

Block B: 1:30-2:30: (Full Day Fours Only)

Super Soccer (Denzel Johnson) – GOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL! In this soccer class, we will practice passing, shooting, and blocking, while learning about the different positions and even working on some game strategy. Fair play and teamwork will be encouraged when we take the “field” in friendly competition.

Animal Dance Party (Tess Neill) – In this fun and imaginative movement class, we’ll slither like snakes, fly like birds, jump like frogs, and bounce like bunnies! Through fun songs and imaginative play, we will work on our coordination, gross motor skills, and self expression. Each class will include a warm up, simple movement exercises, imaginative games and songs, and plenty of opportunities to dance like our favorite furry friends.

Fairy Homes and Castles (Catalina Cofone Polack) – In this art class, campers will use their imaginations to build fairy homes, castles, and dream houses using cardboard boxes, paint, and plenty of sparkle. First, each child will design their own special fairy or fantasy home. Then, we’ll team up to build a big, magical neighborhood together—because even fairies love having neighbors! Along the way, we’ll decorate, build, and create with friends. At the end of the week, we’ll show off our magical village to the whole camp. Wands, wings, and wonder welcome!

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