FIRST FLIGHT

A free, full-day theater and arts experience for young children from low-income families in Brooklyn’s District 39.

What is First Flight?

First Flight is a free, two-week summer program designed for children entering 4K (or Kindergarten if they’ve never attended a full-day program) in Fall 2025.

Led by the team behind White Bird Summer Theater, the program blends storytelling, puppetry, visual art, music, and movement in a nurturing, play-based environment.

First Flight is funded through Participatory Budgeting in New York City with support from Council Member Shahana Hanif and the District 39 community.

WHO
Children living in District 39, who are entering 4K (or Kindergarten and have never attended a full-day program) and whose families identify as low-income.
WHERE
Prospect Park Picnic House (40 West Drive, Brooklyn NY, 11215)
Optional After Care @ Park Slope United Methodist Church (410 6th Ave, Brooklyn NY 11215)
WHEN
August 4–15, 2025 (Monday–Friday)
8:30 AM – 3:00 PM

Optional After Care (Monday – Thursday)
3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
ACTIVITIES
Daily workshops in art, puppetry, movement, music, and more
COST
Completely FREE for eligible families

ELIGIBILITY INFO & APPLY HERE

ELIGIBILITY

Open only to families currently living in NY City Council District 39. Please confirm you live in District 39 before applying (click here for a map)!
Open to families identifying as extremely low-income and very low-income (according to this measure from the Department of Housing and Urban Development), with priority given to families receiving SNAP benefits.
Open to children entering 4K (or Kindergarten if they have never attended a full-day program) in Fall 2025.
Preference given to families who haven’t been able to access public 3K or 4K programs.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis; families will be notified of their application’s status with 7 days of applying. Eligible families will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis until the program is fully enrolled.

WHY FIRST FLIGHT?

Building confidence through creativity

First Flight helps young children adjust to full-day programming in a supportive, small-group setting. Our teaching artists use theater and art to support social-emotional growth, self-expression, and a love of learning.

“A wonderful group of theater professionals and musicians that provide a creative and fun atmosphere for children to learn stage and performance skills. Whether it’s a week program or a season class, White Bird brings out the full potential of their students.”
– Parent of a White Bird program participant

QUESTIONS?

Contact the White Bird Team for more info:

Cordelia@WhiteBirdProductions.org
718.398.3658

PARENT TESTIMONIALS

“My 7-year-old daughter has attended White Bird summer camp and afterschool, and she’s absolutely loved it. It’s a really ambitious program, where the kids are putting on sophisticated shows and they’re asked to help develop them (the script, the music, the set), but it’s also really fun for them. I wholeheartedly recommend White Bird to other families.”

“My daughters, 8 and 11, absolutely love White Bird. The community is caring and supportive. It allows them to be creative and teaches them all the joys of theater. I can’t recommend it more highly!”

“Our kid has had a great experience at this local gem. They do a wonderful job supporting elementary school kids in all aspects of the artistic process, from set making to improv games to performing to writing the script.”

“The teaching artists take what’s inherent in our children to make something beautiful. The creative process, the cooperation, collaboration, spirit of fun and shared goals and supporting each other…these are things we need to value in our world today.”

“Seeing my child play Hamlet (then go home and write his own version of the play) made my spirit soar. He’s learned so much about collaboration, theater, and storytelling over this last summer.”

Enroll your child today to be part of a theater adventure like no other!

ELIGIBILITY INFO & APPLY HERE