This Week: Free & Cheap Camps in NYC, Easter Egg Hunts, New Giveaway, Focus on Forest Hills, Queens

3/7/13 - By Raven Snook

Did you see NYC Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott's live webcast on Wednesday night about the core curriculum and New York State test changes? We did, and our Facebook posts sparked some interesting conversations. One of the best things about this site—beyond telling our readers about great things to do with kids in NYC—is being able to interact with our fellow NYC families. We also get lots of post ideas from your questions and comments, so don't be surprised if you see a post related to the webcast and your thoughts in the next week or two.

On a lighter note, the big March holidays are almost upon us, and we've got ways for you to celebrate St. Patrick's Day and Easter all over the five boroughs. Even though Easter isn't until March 31, you can celebrate this weekend at our Live Baby Chicks Portrait Event or at the first egg hunt of the season at Brooklyn Plantology. Of course some special holiday events only happen outside of NYC, like train rides with the Easter Bunny in New Jersey. They make for great day trips.

Since we know a lot of families are still trying to figure out what to do about summer camp, we updated our always-popular free and cheap summer camps for NYC kids post. The lottery for one of our favorite inexpensive summer programs, the NYC Parks Experience Summer Day Camp, which costs $500 for seven weeks, is currently underway. And speaking of inexpensive camps, how would you like a free week of Pony Camp at Dapple Hill Farm in Whitehouse Station, NJ? All you need to do is enter our giveaway and see if you get lucky. We launch new giveaways every week so be sure to bookmark our giveaway page.

Here's what else we covered on the NYC site this week:

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

It's a new month which means we have a new neighborhood spotlight: Forest Hills, Queens. We kicked off our coverage with a list of the top 25 things to do in the area with kids.

Our Staten Island writer, Nataki, rounded up her family's top ten restaurants in the borough, including retro spots and eateries where kids eat free.

The circus is coming to town! Make that many circuses. Find out about the eight awesome troupes playing NYC this spring.

We updated our popular free and cheap summer camps post for 2013. It's one of many informative articles in our Summer Camp Guide.

Our biweekly news roundup has info on a pair of free indoor swimming opportunities for kids and the reopening of the New York Aquarium.

Time to put an egg hunt or two (or 24) on your calendar. We probably have the most comprehensive list of NYC Easter egg hunts, anywhere.

Want your child to habla Español? We found 11 New York City spots that teach Spanish to kids, often as young as 18 months.

Brooklyn is a great place, especially if you're looking for a gym party. We highlighted a dozen Brooklyn kids' gyms and play spaces that host children's birthday bashes.

Best bets for the weekend include the VH1 Save the Music Family Fun Day, Sinister Pop Family Day at the Whitney Museum and Mommy Poppins' Live Baby Chicks Portrait Event.