During the summer months, teens embark on a variety of activities to make the most of their school break. For teens living in New York City and the surrounding area, there are a range of creative hobbies and interests to explore, with a vast amount of action-packed creative opportunities in every borough.
The Best Things To Do in NYC in the Summer for Creative Teens
From summer camps to chances to volunteer, there are plenty of ways for teens to gain valuable hands-on experience in the film, media, and performing arts in New York City. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the best creative things for teens to do in NYC in the summer.
Enroll in an NYFA Summer Camp
NYFA offers summer camps and programs specifically designed for creative teens looking for hands-on experience. We offer camps in film, acting, photography, 3D animation, musical theatre, broadcast journalism, documentary filmmaking, screenwriting, and game design during the week and on the weekends (varies by discipline).
These camps allow students to explore their interests and build vital creative and technical skills while making new friends and connections.
Attend Online Creative Classes at Home
For teens who aren’t as extroverted, or unable to get out to our NYC campus during the summer, there are several online camps at NYFA. Students can take classes in filmmaking, acting for film, and 3D animation from the comfort of their homes, learning the latest best skills and techniques in their chosen discipline through hands-on projects and exercises.
Take Photographs Around The City
From the Brooklyn Bridge to Times Square to Central Park to views of the Statue of Liberty, NYC provides endless opportunities for photography. With lush greenery in over 1,700 parks, famous landmarks such as the Empire State Building, and plenty of people-watching, New York is a great place to learn how to capture engaging photos and practice using a camera.
Aspiring photographers can explore Luna Park in Coney Island, get some great aerial shots from the top of the rock, or even take photos of the New York City skyline from New Jersey. This image from Ramil Ugot on Pexels is great example of what a talented photographer can achieve in NYC.
Go to Shakespeare in the Park
Shakespeare in the Park is a beloved New York City tradition where free Shakespearean plays are performed outdoors in Central Park’s Delacorte Theater during the summer months. The teen-friendly event is a perfect way for visual storytellers to see literature on stage, and experience the outdoors at the same time.
Start a Podcast
Podcasting offers a unique platform for individuals to develop a variety of valuable skills, including content creation, communication skills, interviewing techniques, as well as public speaking. Topics can range from sports, film, books, comedy, pop culture, fashion, and more.
Visit a Game Cafe
New York City is home to several game cafes where patrons can enjoy board games, card games, and other tabletop games while enjoying food and a social atmosphere. Heading to a game cafe is an exciting way to spend time with friends or family, meet new people, and immerse oneself in a world of strategy, competition, and camaraderie.
Some game cafes offer tournaments and Discord channels for frequent patrons. It’s also a great place for teens interested in game design to explore different types of games without having to purchase them. Ticket to Ride, pictured in the photo from Cottonbro Studio on Pexels, is a great game that a lot of game cafes carry.
Learn a Foreign Language
New York City is one of the most diverse cities in the world and offers a vibrant and multicultural environment conducive to language acquisition. There are several avenues for teens to learn a foreign language in NYC, including classes at community centers, meeting with a private tutor, and attending language meetup groups. This can be a great idea for teens who plan to study abroad after graduating from high school or during college.
Attend a Film Festival
NYC is a film city, and during the summer, there are a range of film festivals for teens to attend. While film festivals will vary from year to year, previous festivals have included the Lower East Side Film Festival held in May, the Tribeca Film Festival in June, and the New York City Independent Film Festival in June. In the past, Bryant Park has also hosted Bryant Park Free Movie Nights, where visitors can sit in the park and watch films projected on a screen.
Explore with a Sketchpad
One of the easiest and most artistic ways to see New York City is through your sketchbook. Various cityscapes and skylines, parks, and NYC residents can be perfect sketch subjects. All you need is a quiet park bench or cafe to draw from, a nice afternoon, and your favorite sketchpad, pencils, or pens.
Make a Short Film
New York City’s dynamic streets, bustling markets, and diverse neighborhoods provide filmmakers with visually stunning scenes and inspiration for a wide range of narratives and characters. With its cinematic aesthetic and cultural vibrancy, New York City and the surrounding boroughs serve as an inspiring canvas for bringing stories to life on screen.
Whether teens work alone on a short film or choose to work together, collaborating on writing a script and editing the content, NYC provides a fantastic backdrop.
Do an Internship in Multimedia
As one of the major hubs for media, New York City has many companies with internships for high school students. While internships vary year by year, most can be easily found by visiting the websites of major entertainment and production companies or job sites. As many of these internships are competitive, so teens can also explore taking classes in broadcast journalism to prepare them for applying the following year.
Get Involved with a Community Garden
For teens living in NYC or the surrounding boroughs, there are hundreds of community gardens for residents to volunteer at. For teens who love the outdoors, community gardens can be a great creative outlet. Additionally, teens can learn key life skills in agriculture, nutrition, and environmental awareness.
Organizations such as the Trust for Public Land (photo above from their website) have done tremendous work in acquiring and maintaining community gardens all over the city.
Be an Extra on a TV Show
While becoming an extra on a TV show involves several steps to navigate the casting process, teens can research and stay updated on casting calls in New York City. Keep an eye on casting websites, social media platforms, and industry newsletters for announcements about open casting calls or opportunities to submit your information for consideration. Teens can also consider taking acting classes to polish their auditioning skills. Camera-shy teens can also look for chances to be a part of a live audience for the several television shows filmed in NYC.
Attend Museum Teen Nights
Museums such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art offer teen nights, providing a safe space for teens to meet new friends and work on fun activities. While events will vary, the Museum of Modern Art, the Guggenheim Museum, the New Museum, and The Whitney have offered teen nights and seasonal events in the past. Check websites and event calendars for more information.
Do an Immersive Experience
For teens who love 3D and animation, there are several types of events and activities in New York City that bring them right into the action. Art exhibitions that use special effects, lights, and interaction are becoming more and more popular, as well as escape rooms with a number of exciting themes.
Find Free Activities
There a number of organizations that offer free or low-cost activities. From checking out some of the workshops and classes on the events calendar at The Bronx River Alliance to strolling down The High Line to attending free concerts at SummerStage, there are plenty of free creative activities that New York City offers for teens. Many of these can also be a great family activity.
Rush for a Broadway Show
Rushing for Broadway tickets can be a great way to get affordable seats to some of the hottest shows of the season. Rush tickets are sold on the day of the show, so flexibility is a must. However, with a price range that can be (show-dependent) from $30 to $50, rush tickets are perfect for theatre and musical theatre fans with a tight budget.
If you decide to come to NYFA for a summer camp, you may even see former Broadway stars around campus! Kristy Cates, the chair of the NY Musical Theatre department (pictured above) has starred in shows such as Wicked, appearing on Broadway, Chicago, and the first national tour as Elphaba.
Take a Food Tour
A food tour provides an opportunity to sample a variety of dishes and specialties while learning about the cultural and historical significance of each culinary stop. Whether you’re tasting authentic Italian pizza in Little Italy, devouring mouthwatering dumplings in Chinatown, or savoring gourmet cupcakes in Greenwich Village, each neighborhood offers its culinary treasures waiting to be discovered.
Make a Documentary About Their Family History
For many immigrants, New York City’s Ellis Island was their first stop in the United States. With so much history available in NYC, making a short documentary about family history can be a fun way for teens to weave together personal narratives, make ancestral connections, and share memories. Through family interviews and historical research, teens can uncover the untold stories and hidden truths that shape their identity. Teens can also take classes in documentary filmmaking to help them create a different story.
Volunteer in the Arts
Museums, libraries, art centers, and many other creative organizations welcome teens to come and volunteer over the summer. With hundreds of opportunities for volunteer work, teens have their pick of a range of volunteer work that, as a side benefit, would look great on a college resume.
Flex Your Creative Skills This Summer at NYFA
Overall, summer for teens is a time of exploration, growth, and enjoyment, and a great chance to create lasting memories and embrace new experiences before the school year begins anew. NYFA’s summer camps and workshops for teens offer unique and educational classes in filmmaking, acting, photography, game design, and much more!
To learn more, explore our teen camps page today!
Header image via Katya Wolf on Pexels.