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The Downtown Community Center is currently planning to begin membership activities in December. The classes listed below reflect the pre-covid offerings, and the robust schedule we will return to once it is safe to do so. Meanwhile, be on the lookout for our December weekend offerings and reservation system, coming soon!
Included with Membership
All of these classes, programs and experiences are included in your Manhattan Youth Family Membership. Drop in anytime! Digital Media Classes are included with membership but require registration. Click on each class to learn more.
- Water Otters (18mo–2.5yr)
- Bubble Babies (6–18mo)
- Family Swim (6mo–All Ages)
- Glide Fit @ The Downtown Community Center (Adult)
- Adult Lap Swim (Adult)
- Adult Beginner and Intermediate Swim Classes (Adult)
- MY Lounge (6mo–All Ages)
- Great Hall (6mo–All Ages)
- MY Clubhouse (6mo–5yr)
- MY Afternoons (2–5yr)
- MY Little Siblings (18mo–4yr)
- MY Move (18mo–4yr)
- MY Muscles and Moves (18mo–4yr)
- MY Open Gym (18mo–4yr)
- MY Tumble Tots (18mo–4yr)
- Sing, Dance and Play (18mo–4yr)
- Tummy Time (6mo–1yr)
- Toddler Sing and Dance (6mo–5yr)
- Treasure Trunk Theatre Adventures (18mo–4yr)
- Drop in Art (18mo–4yr)
- Family Pilates (6mo–All Ages)
- Weekend Art (6mo–All Ages)
- Lunchtime Concerts (6mo–All Ages)
- Drop-in Ballet (2–6yr)
- Family Movie Afternoon (18mo–All Ages)
- Storytime (6mo–All Ages)
- Open Digital Studio (All Ages)
- Digital Media Classes (Grade 2–5)
- Extended Animal Hour (6mo–All Ages)
- Animal Hour (6mo–All Ages)
- Circus Storytime (All Ages)
Water Otters
Water Otters offers the same drop-in fun as Bubble Babies, catered towards an older age group. Come splash and sing your way towards learning basic swim and safety skills! For children aged 18 months -2.5 years and their adult.
Water Otters classes are drop-in and FREE for Center Family Members.
Bubble Babies
This drop-in class helps our newest little swimmers become comfortable in and around the water. Songs and games introduce beginner swim skills (such as kicking, splashing, and blowing bubbles) and create a fun, positive experience for young children in the pool. For baby and their adult.
Bubble Babies classes are drop-in and FREE for Center Family Members.
Family Swim
Family Swim hours are offered every day at the Center. Have fun with family, meet new friends, and reinforce swim skills. See our schedule for current Member hours.
Glide Fit @ The Downtown Community Center
This high-energy aquatic fitness class will give you an intense workout on top of an unstable surface in the water on our Glidefit boards. You’ll be introduced to stretches and exercises to build strength from head to toe while you raise your heart rate in a fun new way.
Classes are FREE for Center Members or available to non-members for a fee.
Questions? Email swim@manhattanyouth.org or call 212-766-1104 x298
Adult Lap Swim
During designated hours, lanes are reserved specifically for Adult Lap Swimming. Please note that we can only guarantee lanes during these specified times - lanes cannot be guaranteed during other Family Swim hours.
Adult Beginner and Intermediate Swim Classes
These drop-in, Members-Only classes are great for Adults who have fears of the water, are new to swimming, or want to learn proper strokes and breathing enabling them to swim for longer distances. Our swim instructors for these classes are trained specifically to teach adults beginner and intermediate swimming skills. These classes take place at the same time in the pool, but we offer two groups each week based on skill level so we can be sure to offer the most appropriate level of instruction for each individual.
MY Lounge
Our Lounge area has tables, cushy chairs and indoor games. A cool hangout away from the bustle of the city!
Weekdays, 9:30 am - 2:30 pm
Weekends, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm
Great Hall
Our Great Hall is open daily for kids, parents and caregivers to spend time together. With seating, play space and microwave available, families are encouraged to bring snacks and interact with old and new friends. On the weekends, the Great Hall is home to Pottery Painting, Drop-in Art, and Saturday Family Movie Afternoons.
MY Clubhouse
With toys, climbing structures, a book corner and a helpful staff, the clubhouse is a wonderful cozy place to spend time moving, learning and making friends in an open setting.
Weekdays, 9:30am -2:30pm
Weekends, 9:30am -4:30pm
MY Afternoons
Join us at the Center after lunch and naps for art projects, rainy day movies, sensory play and more!
Every weekday afternoon, 2:30 - 4:30pm
MY Little Siblings
Movement classes that make room for baby and the big brother or sister! A wonderful way to encourage play and sibling relationships.
Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons in the Activity Room
MY Move
Our Classic Manhattan Youth movement classes: Muscle Tuesdays, Move Wednesdays and Tumble Tot Thursdays give your children introductions to coordination, strength building and flexibility all morning long!
Wednesday mornings in the Activity Room
MY Muscles and Moves
Our Classic Manhattan Youth movement classes give your children introductions to coordination, strength building and flexibility all morning long!
Tuesday mornings and early afternoons in the Activity Room
MY Open Gym
Our activity room is open for toddlers to explore and practice balance and coordination using gym equipment and props. Parents and Caregivers share the experience and socialize with other grownups too.
Saturdays and Sundays in the Activity Room
MY Tumble Tots
Our Classic Manhattan Youth movement classes: Muscle Tuesdays, Move Wednesdays and Tumble Tot Thursdays give your children introductions to coordination, strength building and flexibility all morning long!
Thursday mornings and early afternoons in the Activity Room
Sing, Dance and Play
Join our Manhattan Youth staff for an energetic and interactive sing and dance in our activity room. Jump, wiggle, sing and laugh, and finish the class with a little open play.
Monday mornings in the Activity Room
Tummy Time
Our littlest members in their very own class! A little movement, exercise and bonding for 4 - 12 months and their grownups.
Wednesday and Friday afternoons
Toddler Sing and Dance
Our talented teaching artists sing, dance and play with your little one in this cozy class that helps kiddos get their wiggles out!
Sunday and Friday mornings, and Friday Afternoons, in MY Lounge.
Treasure Trunk Theatre Adventures
The Center is proud to bring this newest adventure in creative movement for our members every Friday. Through the theatrical arts, children will learn to use their bodies, voices, and imaginations to express themselves and be connected with the world around them.
Fridays in the Activity Room
Drop in Art
An open art drop in with our teaching artists for our members in MY Lounge. Make something beautiful!
Wednesdays, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Family Pilates
Join these dedicated Pilates professionals for a great workout for you that's also a playtime for them! Great for Moms and Dads with babies and/or Toddlers.
Learn more at www.pilatesmamas.com
Saturdays at 9:30am and Thursdays at 1:30pm.
Weekend Art
Make a project that reflects our Family Movie, or a fun theme for the weekend or season!
Great Hall, every Saturday
Lunchtime Concerts
Bring your lunch to the Great Hall for some live music and fun!
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:30pm
Drop-in Ballet
Saturday Afternoons drop in for a sweet introduction to ballet with talented teaching staff.
Saturdays, 1:00 and 2:00pm
Family Movie Afternoon
Bring your family every Saturday at 3:30 pm for a family friendly movie just for our members. We'll provide the popcorn! The last Saturday of each month, we?ll show a movie based on a book that you can choose to read before you see the movie with us.
Every Saturday, 3:30pm
Storytime
Sit with your friends for storytime with Camille Diamond, Deputy Director of the Community Center. Join us for an imagination journey with every book, and stay for coffee and conversation after the reading.
10:00am, weekdays in the Great Hall
Open Digital Studio
Turn screen-time into productive, creative time. Members are invited to take full advantage of our computer lab every Saturday. Work on a project or learn something new.
Saturdays 10:00am to 3:00pm.
Digital Media Classes
Join us in our Digital Media Studio for Coding in Minecraft or Robotics and Coding.
Classes also open to MY Afterschool participants and General Public for a fee.
Free for Members, but registration is required.
Register here!
Extended Animal Hour
Our Science Lab has a secret; it's the home to Manhattan Youth's Animals! In Animal Hour, kids can see, hold, feed and learn about our resident turtle, fish and bearded dragons with our staff.
Saturdays and Sundays, drop-in anytime between 10:00am - 1:00pm in the Science Room
Animal Hour
Our Science Lab has a secret; it's the home to Manhattan Youth's Animals! In Animal Hour, kids can see, hold, feed and learn about our resident turtle, fish and bearded dragons with our staff.
Mondays and Fridays, 11:00am in the Science Room
Circus Storytime
Join us in MY Lounge for a storytime that also includes puppets, circus tricks and a whole lot of fun.
Thursdays, 10:00am and 11:00am
Drop-In Fee Classes
Drop in classes at the center give a small class experience with no commitment. You can join any of these classes by purchasing a ticket on the day of the class at the service desk. Click on the class to learn more!
- Art with Ashley (18mo–4yr)
- Family Clay Day (All Ages)
- Friday Nights (Grade 1–8)
- Mommy/Daddy and Me Ceramics (2–4yr)
- Music and Singalongs (2–4yr)
- Pottery Painting (1yr–All Ages)
Art with Ashley
Join us for an imaginative drop-in art class every Friday. A wonderful way to wrap up a magical week at the center.
Fridays, 10:00am (2-4 years) and 11:00am (18-23 months)
$10 drop-in fee
Family Clay Day
Spend an hour anytime from 12:00 - 3:00 pm with your whole family on Saturday afternoons. You can be led through a project or simply work on your own handbuilding project with access to our full ceramics studio. All pieces will remain in the studio to be fired and will be ready for pick up within two weeks time. All work is non-toxic and food-safe.
Saturdays 12:00 - 3:00pm
$25 drop-in fee for a family of four
$50 for non-members
Friday Nights
Our signature tween and teen program at the Community Center! Let your kids aged 1st - 8th grades spread their wings a bit on a Friday night. They'll have a great time doing activities like ceramics, sports, cooking and art, while you get a night out. Or at least a night off!
Friday evenings, 6:00 - 9:00pm during the school year.
Members pay just $5 drop in fee per child, per Friday Night
Non-Members can join the fun for a $50 drop in fee. Contact Tasha@manhattanyouth.org for more information.
Mommy/Daddy and Me Ceramics
You and your child can drop-in to our ceramics studio and work with an instructor who will take you through the process of making your own masterpiece! All work is non-toxic and food-safe.
Mondays and Wednesdays, 10:00 - 10:45am and 11:00 - 11:45am (2-4 years)
$10 drop-in fee
Music and Singalongs
A multi-lingual, gentle music and imagination class that allows your children to experience songs in Spanish and English, interact with puppets and musical instruments, and explore live guitar music while adding in their own voices and percussion.
Ages 5 and under.
Thursdays, 10:15 am and 11:15 am, $10 drop-in fee per class
Pottery Painting
Come on in and paint any pottery you like, assisted by our friendly and professional staff. Just pay for what you make! The artwork will then be fired in our studio for a later pick up.
Sundays, 12:00 - 3:00pm, pay for only what you make!
Class Registration Policies
Class Registration: You may register for classes online at manhattanyouth.org/center-registration or in person at the service desk. Some classes require membership for registration, others give members a significant discount. Fee based drop-in classes are for members only, and can be purchased at the Service Desk on the day of the class. There is no online registration available for drop-ins. Non-Members who are at the center on a guest pass may access drop-in classes by paying the drop-in fee.
Pro-Rating for Late Starters: When space permits, we will pro-rate the number of classes remaining for some Make a Mess, Digital Media, Animal Explorers and Language classes.
Transfer of Classes: Spaces for transfers are subject to availability. Please email servicedesk@manhattanyouth.org to request a transfer.
Single Classes and Trial Classes: You may pay a single class price of $25 for premium registration classes pending availability. Amounts paid for a trial class may be credited towards enrollment to that class.
Withdrawals & Refunds*: If after registering for premium classes at the Center you need to withdraw prior to the start of the 2nd scheduled class, you may receive a refund for the class fee. Class fees are non-refundable after the 2nd scheduled class. Written requests must be made to cancel a class registration by email. *All fees for Preschool Prep are not refundable. There are no refunds or pro rating for Preschool Prep.
Contact servicedesk@manhattanyouth.org to request a refund.
Make up classes: Manhattan Youth is not responsible for providing makeup classes or issuing credits or refunds for programs missed as a result of client illness, scheduling conflicts, emergencies, or other events beyond our control.
Class Closures: Premium classes, swim classes and Preschool Prep at the Center run on the Public School schedule. These classes do not meet on days in which schools are not in session, including emergency closings.