Community Life

Summer Programs

Manhattan Country School offers two summer programs, MCS Summer in the City and Farm Summer Session, for current and incoming MCS students.

MCS Summer in the City

Manhattan Country School’s Summer in the City is open to all MCS families whose children were enrolled in the 4-5s through 9-10s during the 2022-2023 school year or will be enrolled in the 4-5s through 5th Grade during the 2023-2024 school year.

Summer in the City aims to provide children with the experience of MCS’s mission and progressive pedagogy through a play-based environment focused on collaboration and community building. It is a great way for current students to solidify friendships and make new ones across grade levels, and for new students to familiarize themselves with the school community before they begin in the Fall. For our youngest participants, there will be particular emphasis placed on supporting social-emotional growth and preparing them for the coming school year through introduction to the daily routines and expectations that closely mirror what they will see in September.

List of 4 frequently asked questions.

Q: When is MCS Summer in the City?

This year, MCS Summer in the City will run from Monday, July 10 through Friday, August 4.

The program operates Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. There will be extended day childcare offered Mondays through Thursdays from 3 p.m. until 5:45 p.m. for which families will register separately.
Q: What will kids do at MCS Summer in the City?

Summer in the City uses MCS classrooms and local community resources to provide enriching activities across a variety of content areas. Together with counselors and specialists, the majority of whom are MCS teachers, alumni, or current parents, children will engage in art, movement, language, music and science activities. Time will be spent outdoors every day: exploring nearby Central and Riverside Parks, walking to a variety of local playgrounds and sprinklers, and on excursions to museums or other locales throughout the city. Some previous excursions include: the Museum of Natural History, the MET, Children’s Museum of Manhattan, the Central Park Zoo, Museum of the City of New York, The Intrepid, and The Color Factory NYC. The program has historically visited an outdoor pool, the Secaucus Swim Center, once a week with children in the 5-6s through 5th Grade.
Q: What is the cost of MCS Summer in the City?

For the 2023 season, Summer in the City will operate at a flat weekly rate of $600 dollars per child, with discounts for early enrollment and enrolling for multiple weeks. There are no additional activity or materials fees.

The extended day childcare program program operates at a flat daily rate of $30 per day per child.

Summer in the City is a break-even program: prices are set based on the cost of staff salaries, programmatic offerings, etc. and may change from year to year. The Auxiliary Programs Department is working on moving MCS Summer in the City onto a sliding-scale, similar to tuition.
Q: How do I enroll my child in MCS Summer in the City?

Families enroll their child(ren) by submitting a registration form and deposit via MyMCS. Please reach out to Caroline Biggers, Director of Auxiliary Programs for information about how to enroll your child(ren).

Farm Summer Session

The Farm-Based Summer Enrichment Session is MCS’ summer program for current students in the 9-10s through eighth grade at the Manhattan Country School Farm in Roxbury, New York. Apply for the Summer Enrichment Session Today!

List of 6 frequently asked questions.

Q: When is the Farm-Based Summer Enrichment Session?
Manhattan Country School's Farm-Based Summer Enrichment Program will operate three one-week sessions this summer.

Each session runs from Monday to Saturday, with pick-up and drop-off from the West 85th Street campus. Each session is limited to 20 students and is open to students currently in the 9-10s to the 8th grade.

Enrollment begins on March 1, 2023, at 7:00 pm, and spaces will be assigned in the order of enrollment.

You are welcome to enroll your child(ren) in any or all sessions, and we will do our best to accommodate your child(ren) in at least one of their choices. Once all sessions are full, we will create a waiting list.

The three sessions are:
- Session 1: June 26th to July 1st
- Session 2: July 10th to July 15th
- Session 3: July 17th to July 22th
Each session is $1,200, and we will also offer a sliding scale discount in-line with your current tuition rate. There is also a discount for siblings attending a Farm-Based Summer Enrichment Program.

Enrollment closes on March 17, 2023, at 3:00 pm, and we will notify you of your child's acceptance decision by March 24, 2023.

To secure your spot, a $200 deposit for each camper will be due on April 7, 2023. Rolling admissions off of our waitlist will start after April 7, 2023
Q: What will kids do in the Summer sessions?

MCS students will participate in a host of activities at the MCS Farm. They tend the gardens; care for the animals (chickens, cows, pigs, sheep, goats and honey bees); explore fields, mountains and streams; prepare meals with our own beef, pork, chicken and organic vegetables, fruits and herbs.
Q: Who works the Summer session??

The Farm-Based Summer Enrichment Session is operated by the MCS Farm staff, the Farm Camp teacher, our Farm-based education intern and an MCS Farm alumni intern.
Q: What is the cost of the Farm-Based Summer Enrichment Session?

A sliding scale discount based on your current tuition rate is possible. There is also a $100 discount for siblings attending Farm Camp. Click here for full tuition rates.
Q: How do I register my child for the Farm-Based Summer Enrichment Session?

Click here to apply for the Farm-Based Summer Enrichment Session.
Q: What if I still have questions?

Please email John McDaniel.