Summer Art Camp on Long Island
An Outdoor Summer Arts Camp Experience
Young artists love the Art Department because of its diverse course offerings, its incredible teachers, and the opportunity it provides them to make friends who share their passion for creating.
Dotted with open-air studios with large skylights that let in natural light and courtyards with outdoor workspaces, the Art Department’s section of campus provides constant inspiration through the nature that surrounds us.
With offerings from Comic Art to Ceramics, the department allows students to spend their days engaging in a combination of direct instruction by experienced art educators and professional artists, studio work time, collaboration with other young artists, and sharing and reflecting on their work. Students from beginner to advanced are welcome!
Summer Camp Busing for Long Island, NYC, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens Kids
For over fifty years, Usdan has offered an enriching arts, music, theater, creative writing and dance summer camp experience to children all over the region, from Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn in New York City, to Port Washington and Huntington, and all over Nassau and Suffolk counties. Usdan offers busing to and from camp from convenient central pickup locations. For more information on busing, please visit our Transportation page.
Classes
Art Adventure
4-Week A
Major: Grades 2–3
MINOR - N/A
REC - N/A
4-Week B
Major: Grades 2–3
MINOR - N/A
REC - N/A
1-Week Rec
MAJOR - N/A
MINOR - N/A
REC - N/A
An exploratory experience for young artists led by knowledgeable art educators and professional artists. Investigate the full spectrum of Usdan’s offerings in visual art—including drawing, painting, and sculpture—for a comprehensive and immersive summer arts program. Both traditional and contemporary media and practices are covered in a fun and playful manner that is perfect for our Partners in the Arts students.
Art Adventure students spend their days in open-air studios engaging in a combination of direct instruction, studio work time, collaboration with other young artists, and sharing and reflecting on their work. At the end of their session, students have the opportunity to celebrate their work by participating in the Art Parade, Open Studios day, or a celebration with their class in-studio. All levels are welcome.
“You do a lot of fun things, and you have amazing teachers, friends, and things to do!”
—Penina
“You get to experience all kinds of art in just one class.”
—Sara
Beginner Painting
4-Week A
MAJOR - N/A
MINOR - N/A
REC - N/A
4-Week B
MAJOR - N/A
Minor: Grades 6–12
REC - N/A
1-Week Rec
MAJOR - N/A
MINOR - N/A
REC - N/A
Beginner Painting includes the fundamental ingredients of any visual artist’s education, taught by experienced art educators and professional artists. Develop your own creative style as you learn traditional and contemporary techniques and concepts in two-dimensional art through media such as acrylic, watercolor, ink, graphite, and more. Create your own life drawings, landscapes, portraits, and abstract works, all while gaining exposure to a variety of artists and practices.
Beginner Painting students spend their days in open-air studios engaging in a combination of direct instruction, studio work time, collaboration with other young artists, and sharing and reflecting on their work. At the end of their session, students have the opportunity to celebrate their work by participating in Open Studios day or a celebration with their class in-studio. All levels are welcome. Classes are grouped according to age division and grade.
Ceramics
4-Week A
Major: Grades 6–12
MINOR - N/A
REC - N/A
4-Week B
Major: Grades 6–12
MINOR - N/A
REC - N/A
1-Week Rec
MAJOR - N/A
MINOR - N/A
REC - N/A
Explore and create traditional and experimental pottery, stoneware, and earthenware under the guidance of an experienced art educator and professional ceramicist. While focusing on hand-building and throwing on the potter's wheel, students study ceramic design, sculpture, and glaze technology.
Ceramics students spend their days in open-air studios engaging in a combination of direct instruction, studio work time, collaboration with other young artists, and sharing and reflecting on their work. At the end of their session, students have the opportunity to celebrate their work by participating in Open Studios day, or a celebration with their class in-studio. All levels are welcome.
For students who are particularly motivated to get full exposure to this unique art-making process, we recommend the 8-week session.
“Doing a combination of things in one subject is exciting. I loved hand-building and glazing.”
—Eleanor
“There was lots of experimentation and access to supplies.”
—Nicole
Comic Art
4-Week A
Major: Grades 3–12
Minor: Grades 2–12
REC - N/A
4-Week B
Major: Grades 3–12
Minor: Grades 2–12
REC - N/A
1-Week Rec
MAJOR - N/A
MINOR - N/A
REC - N/A
Graphic novels and comics—and the mythology behind them—are heavily ingrained in pop culture. Learn cartooning and graphic-novel story development while drawing on your own sources of inspiration. Develop and design your own creative comics from conception to finished product, while practicing graphic-design techniques and using color theory.
Comic Art students spend their days in open-air studios engaging in a combination of direct instruction by experienced art educators and professional comic artists, studio work time, collaboration with other young artists, and sharing and reflecting on their work. At the end of their session, students have the opportunity to celebrate their work by participating in Usdan's Comic Con, the Art Parade, Open Studios day, or a celebration with their class in-studio. All levels are welcome. Classes are grouped according to age division and grade.
“We learned techniques and were also free to work on our own stuff.”
—Anya
“We are able to freely design all genres of comic art.”
—Ashton
Jewelry Making: Mixed Media
4-Week A
Major: Grades 4–12
MINOR - N/A
REC - N/A
4-Week B
Major: Grades 4–12
MINOR - N/A
REC - N/A
1-Week Rec
MAJOR - N/A
MINOR - N/A
REC - N/A
Learn to create wearable art through mixed-media design. Become familiar with a variety of materials such as metal, glass, resins, and found objects to create your own unique jewelry and small sculptures. Techniques such as hammering, pendant-making, soldering, acid-etching, wire-wrapping, and bead-stringing will be taught under the guidance of an experienced art educator and jeweler.
Jewelry Making students spend their days engaging in a combination of direct instruction, studio work time, collaboration with other young artists, and sharing and reflecting on their work. At the end of their session, students have the opportunity to celebrate their work by participating in the Art Parade, Open Studios day, or a celebration with their class in-studio. All levels are welcome. Classes are grouped according to age division and grade.
Enrollment Note: This is a popular course with limited enrollment and tends to fill quickly. If you are interested in this course, we recommend enrolling as soon as possible.
“I had the ability to use tools I don't have otherwise and practice something fun.”
—Oliver
“It is fun and stimulating.”
—Noa
Painting & Drawing
4-Week A
Major: Grades 2–12
Minor: Grades 2–12
REC - N/A
4-Week B
Major: Grades 2–12
Minor: Grades 2–12
REC - N/A
1-Week Rec
MAJOR - N/A
MINOR - N/A
REC - N/A
Painting & Drawing includes the fundamental ingredients of any visual artist’s education, taught by experienced art educators and professional artists. Explore your individual interests and develop your own creative style as you learn traditional and contemporary techniques and concepts in two-dimensional art through media such as acrylic, watercolor, ink, graphite, and more. Create your own life drawings, landscapes, portraits, and abstract works, all while gaining exposure to a variety of artists and practices.
Painting & Drawing students spend their days in open-air studios engaging in a combination of direct instruction, studio work time, collaboration with other young artists, and sharing and reflecting on their work. At the end of their session, students have the opportunity to celebrate their work by participating in the Art Parade, Open Studios day, or a celebration with their class in-studio. All levels are welcome. Classes are grouped according to age division and grade.
“I was able to express myself freely.”
—Abigail
“My favorite thing was the guidance I received from the teacher and my peers.”
—Eleanor
Photography
4-Week A
Major: Grades 6–12
Minor: Grades 4–12
REC - N/A
4-Week B
Major: Grades 4–12
Minor: Grades 4–12
REC - N/A
1-Week Rec
MAJOR - N/A
MINOR - N/A
REC - N/A
Dive deep into the fundamental principles of composition and lighting with Usdan’s woodland campus as your backdrop. Mac computers and Photoshop are used in this class for imaging, photo enhancement, printing, and digital presentation.
Photography students spend their days in the studio and around campus engaging in a combination of direct instruction by experienced art educators and professional photographers, studio work time, collaboration with other young artists, and sharing and reflecting on their work. At the end of their session, students have the opportunity to celebrate their work by participating in the Art Parade, Open Studios day, or a celebration with their class in-studio. All levels are welcome. Classes are grouped according to age division and grade.
Students supply their own digital camera. A limited number of cameras are available to lend out.
“I loved all the fun projects we did, the fun photo walks, and how much I learned. Teachers were amazing too.”
—Sophie
“My favorite part of Photography was the collaborations between students and with other classes.”
—Danielle
Portfolio Development
4-Week A
MAJOR - N/A
Minor: Grades 7–12
REC - N/A
4-Week B
MAJOR - N/A
Minor: Grades 7–12
REC - N/A
1-Week Rec
MAJOR - N/A
MINOR - N/A
REC - N/A
For committed visual artists looking to fine tune their technique, receive personalized feedback, and prepare their art — and themselves — for admittance to selective programs or colleges. Under the guidance of an experienced arts educator and practicing artist, Portfolio Development students build their artistic portfolios and strengthen their artistic voices in a supportive community of passionate artists.
Classes are held in an art studio full of natural light, fresh air, and peaceful views of the Usdan woods, providing young artists a serene space to focus on their work and leave distraction behind. Students are provided high-quality materials, as well as daily feedback from an experienced arts educator and practicing artist. This class intends to help students build competitive art portfolios and equip them with advanced skills, industry know-how, and artistic confidence so they may further their artistic pursuits.
At the end of the course, students may share and celebrate their work during the Open Studios Day.
Pre-requisites: This is a course for advanced visual artists who are serious about developing their portfolios. All students are asked to submit a short statement of purpose and a sample portfolio shortly after enrollment. All genres and styles will be considered. Students must have an interest in submitting portfolios for high school, IB programs, college admissions, and specialized artistic programs.
Sculpture
4-Week A
Major: Grades 2–12
MINOR - N/A
REC - N/A
4-Week B
Major: Grades 2–12
MINOR - N/A
REC - N/A
1-Week Rec
MAJOR - N/A
MINOR - N/A
REC - N/A
Sculptors learn the techniques of creating three-dimensional art with wood, air-dry clay, plaster, metal, papier mâché, and more. Inspiration is all around as students experiment with new materials and imagery—both representational and abstract—and work together with classmates to produce large-scale installations and sculptures.
Sculpture students spend their days in open-air studios engaging in a combination of direct instruction by experienced art educators and professional sculptors, studio work time, collaboration with other young artists, and sharing and reflecting on their work. At the end of their session, students have the opportunity to celebrate their work by participating in the Art Parade, Open Studios day, or a celebration with their class in-studio. All levels are welcome. Classes are grouped according to age division and grade.
“In this class you can use different materials to create cool sculptures. I LOVED working with mixed media.”
—Emile
“I liked the freedom and experimenting with materials.”
—Maya
Sewing & Fashion Design
4-Week A
Major: Grades 4–12
MINOR - N/A
REC - N/A
4-Week B
Major: Grades 4–12
MINOR - N/A
REC - N/A
1-Week Rec
MAJOR - N/A
MINOR - N/A
REC - N/A
Create your own personal style and wearable art from concept to construction under the guidance of experienced art educators and professional fashion designers. Students learn sewing techniques including hand sewing and machine sewing. They have the opportunity to celebrate their creations at the end of the session in our annual Usdan Fashion Show.
Sewing & Fashion Design students spend their days in a studio equipped with sewing machines, engaging in a combination of direct instruction, studio work time, collaboration with other young artists, and sharing and reflecting on their work. All levels are welcome. Classes are grouped according to age division and grade.
“We were so expressive in our pieces and were able to accomplish so much.”
—Aaliyah
“I enjoyed learning to sew quickly and confidently so I can sew things on my own in the future.”
—Gari