Children Services

Caring for our Children

We are deeply committed to our next generation of neighbors and their parents.

We demonstrate this commitment by creating a safe, nurturing and educational environment for school-age children, ages six through 13. Our after-school and summer camp programs offer them inspiration and the opportunity to learn, play and make friends.

Thanks to our many partners, close to us here, in the Lincoln Square community, we are able to offer our children the benefits of living at one of New York City’s greatest academic and artistic crossroads. From Fordham Law School to Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, The Walt Disney Company, WABC-7 and the American Bible Society, these partners are devoted to enriching our children’s lives by sharing their knowledge, their time and support.

Our programs are designed to:

Support academic growth
Nurture appreciation of the arts
Encourage healthy social interactions
Build self-esteem
Enhance a sense of community

For more information, please contact:

Coordinator of Children’s Services
Lincoln Square Neighborhood Center
250 West 65th Street
New York, New York 10023
212-874-0860

Our Program:

School Year Services

Open in the afternoons during the school week, half days and school holidays
Serve children six to thirteen years old
Escort children from three local schools to our Center
Provide nutritious meals and snacks
Offers homework assistance and access to a wide array of academic, arts, recreational activities, and our Technology Learning Center

Summer Camping Services

Build language arts skills around annual theme
Feature local and out-of-city bus trips to places such as art and natural history museums
Provide breakfast and lunch at a local high school
Operated by LSNC staff that knows children well and creates a respectful, trusting family atmosphere

Our Partners:

The LSNC/Fordham University Law Project

Fordham law students work with first through eighth graders through a four-month project designed to sharpen critical thinking and decision-making skills. This program culminates in a mock trial at Fordham’s Moot Court with all children participating in various roles of the judiciary system.

America Reads Fordham University

Work-study students help children with reading, math, writing and social studies homework 10-12 hours each week.

Mentoring USA

Caring mentors take a creative approach to one-on-one after-school mentoring.

Partners in Reading

A Partnership of the New York City Housing Authority and the New York City Department of Education support certified teachers, using exciting themes to coach children in strengthening their literacy skills through the use of good literature and art.

Lincoln Center Outdoor Festival of the Arts

Our children create puppets, costumes and acting roles with the Boston Puppetry Cooperative and participate in the exciting annual Lincoln Center Outdoor Festival’s Play day in a giant puppet pageant on the Josie Robertson Plaza in front of an audience of hundreds.

In keeping with our mission, Children YES! (Youth Empowered To Succeed) after school and summer camp programs strive to engage children to develop, support and strengthen their educational, social, cultural and recreational skills and competencies in an effort to prepare them for future challenges and become better decision makers.

Parental Involvement and School Collaboration

Key to the educational success of our children is support from their parents. We work to provide all of our parents, some who may lack college education and others who may manage single parent households, with the information they need to confidently engage their children in the learning process.

We also collaborate with schools to address the specific needs of our children. This is particularly helpful in supporting children who have been identified as at risk of failure, in need of clinical testing for a learning disability, or in need of more structure or focused parental support.