There are a ton of great places to camp near New York City from the Hudson Valley to Montauk. Yet, camping within the five boroughs is limited to a few National Recreation areas or one of the highly coveted spots in Central Park available only by annual lottery. Luckily, every June, OutdoorFest (our sister site) transforms a 75-acre green space in Staten Island into NYC’s largest campground for a 24- hour experience unlike any other. Notably, they’re offering a Day Pass this year for those who want to enjoy an outdoorsy Saturday and then head back to the comfort of sleeping indoors.
The campgrounds, usually a private JCC day camp in the summer, offer a place for outdoor enthusiasts to create their own adventure landscape within New York City. This DIY outdoors event risks leaving even the most pro-active adventurer with FOMO so we’ve created a guide to the best parts of the event – so you don’t miss out.
Get Sweaty at OutdoorFest
The robust schedule for the night includes everything from slacklining classes to guided hikes. We’re most excited for the outdoor Vinyasa yoga class led by Brooklyn-based Pop Up Yoga NYC, a nomadic studio that leads classes everywhere from rooftop farms to museums to Herald Square. For those looking to up their cardio, the evening’s headlamp trail run offers a 5K timed course on the trails of the Greenbelt.
Learn Outdoor Skills in NYC
In between yoga and running, make sure to carve out time for the outdoor academy. Fly casting lessons, map & compass skills, survival techniques, fire building, photography and even campfire cooking are on the agenda.
The true highlight of this entire event is the astronomers who join in with their telescopes. They’ll stay up all night staring at the stars and let you peek into their telescopes to get an up close view of the moon, Saturn and more.
Eat, Drink and Dance Under the Stars
Grab an empanada or bandejita paisa for dinner served up by Mi Casa Foods. This team of chefs focus on whipping up delicious versions of latin foods that are traditionally considered “peasant” dishes throughout Latin America. As the night falls, grab a beer, and head to the stage in the woods for a live show by local Americana band Bridges & Tunnels.
Campout in New York City
How to Get to the OutdoorFest Campout
While the intrepid traveler can bike or bus (S54) to the campground, it’s easiest to hop on the Staten Island Ferry from Manhattan and hop into OutdoorFest’s shuttle to the campgrounds.
Register for the OutdoorFest campout.
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram