Free AfterSchool Classes and Programs for NYC Kids and Teenagers

[UPDATED 9/09] We've added some new classes to this post about free after-school programs and wanted to share it again. There are some great, high quality after school programs that are absolutely free. Here's a round-up of the best of the free after-school programs for kids and teenagers.

CAT Youth Theater
The Creative Arts Team Youth Theater Program offers Junior High and High School students the opportunity to explore their ideas and creativity and to build their skills through theatre games and exercises, improvisations and scene work, rehearsal, critical reflection and group discussion. Students participate free-of-charge and there is no audition for admission; students are admitted on a first-come first-served basis, with a membership of around 35 members and a waiting list. New members are admitted each semester. Youth Theatre companies create and perform a number of shows each year.

Battery Park City Parks Conservancy
The Battery Park City Parks Conservancy offers high quality free programs for preschoolers, kids, teens, and even adults. There's free after school programs Monday through Thursday in soccer, basketball, art and games for kids. In addition to the free classes they have programs such as chess lessons, gardening, and an amateur naturalists club for a small fee.

Parks Department Swimming
The Parks Department offers free beginners swimming lessons to kids ages 3 years to 14 at most indoor public pools, as well as a recreational swim team for kids ages 6 to 18. The Parks Department also offers free afterschool programs and sports leagues. Check their website for more information.

New York Junior Tennis League
NYJTL has free tennis programs throughout the all five New York City Boroughs all year long. Children may join at any of the free program locations at any time during the season – there is no registration deadline – but the parent or guardian must register in-person with their child at whatever location they choose to attend. NYJTL’s Community Tennis Programs include a comprehensive schedule of tennis instruction and match play, free books through reading clubs at each site and special events and field trips.

Harlem RBI Baseball
This East Harlem nonprofit features a year-round after-school program in baseball and softball with practices, conflict-resolution workshops, and peer mentoring for kids 7 to 18. The summer Real Kids program combines literacy training with arts projects, coed baseball practice, and field trips. Everything is free.

Bronx River Art Center
[UPDATE: These classes now have a nominal fee of just $75 per semester] The Bronx River Art Center offers incredible free art classes for children grades 4 to 12. Kids can take ceramics, comic books and portrait drawing, and printmaking. Oil painting classes are also offered for teenagers.

American Museum of Natural History
[UPDATE: These classes are now $300 per semester, but fee waivers are available based on need] Each school year the American Museum of Natural History offers over 40 free after-school courses for New York City high school students. Topics range from the exploration of the vast, uncharted regions of space to the microscopic world of DNA, from the evolution of dinosaurs to the study of world cultures.

The Museum of Modern Art
How much would you pay to take art classes at The Museum of Modern Art? NYC teens can take free art classes like photography, film-making and more at one of the world's top art museums.

Don't forget your local library. Most branches offer programs for children at least once a week. You can find the events at your neighborhood branch with this handy library branch event finder.

Another great tool for school-aged kids from the NYPL is homeworknyc.org a free service that offers homework help to students. Students can find articles and do research on the site and get free help from tutors, teachers and librarians. This is an amazing resource for NYC kids.

Find lots more classes in our Classes Guide.