Usdan’s Chess Department is uniquely designed to meet the needs of each player, whether that student is a new or experienced competitor.
The Usdan Chess Ladder groups students in varying levels, from absolute novices to advanced tournament players. New players learn rules, notation, and the opening, middle, and end games. Advanced players develop a vast repertoire of complex strategies and the ability to apply them in-game. All benefit from improved problem-solving, critical thinking, and concentration. Students hone their skills through game play and tutoring in competitive chess tournaments and exciting team competitions. Chess faculty are highly ranked tournament players with decades of experience. Chess players learn in our sunny and spacious Maurice B. Hexter Center.
For over fifty years, Usdan has offered an enriching 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.
| Class | Session | Major/Minor | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Festival Showrunners: Usher, Host & Capture! |
4-Week A4-Week B |
Minor
|
|
Recreational Camp |
1-Week Rec Camp |
Major
|
|
Chess |
4-Week A4-Week B |
Major and Minor and Recreational Activity
|
|
Performance: Children’s Theater |
4-Week A4-Week B |
Major
|
|
|
Performance: Musical Theater |
4-Week A4-Week B |
Major
|
|
|
Performance: The Usdan Troupe |
8-Week |
Major
|
|
|
Theater Skills: Improvisation & Theater Games |
4-Week A4-Week B |
Minor
|
|
|
Theater Skills: The Actor Sings |
4-Week A4-Week B |
Minor
|
|
|
Archery |
4-Week A4-Week B |
Minor and Recreational Activity
|
|
|
U Time |
4-Week A4-Week B |
Minor and Recreational Activity
|
|
|
Yoga |
4-Week A4-Week B |
Minor and Recreational Activity
|
|
Nature, Ecology & Design |
4-Week A4-Week B |
Major and Minor
|
|
|
Seed to Snack: Edible Gardening |
4-Week A4-Week B |
Major and Minor
|
|
Absolute Beginner Guitar Minor |
4-Week A4-Week B |
Minor
|
|
|
Absolute Beginner Piano Minor |
4-Week A4-Week B |
Minor
|
|
|
Chamber Ensemble |
4-Week A4-Week B |
Minor
|
|
|
Composition: Classical Music |
4-Week A4-Week B |
Major and Minor
|
|
|
Composition: Intro to DJ Basics and the History of Hip-Hop |
4-Week A |
Minor
|
|
|
Composition: Songwriting |
4-Week A4-Week B |
Minor
|
|
|
Concert Band |
4-Week A4-Week B |
Major
|
|
|
Guitar Minor (1-2 Years of Experience) |
4-Week A4-Week B |
Minor
|
|
|
Jazz Ensemble (Major) |
4-Week A |
Major
|
|
|
Jazz Ensemble (Minor) |
4-Week A4-Week B |
Minor
|
|
|
Junior Piano Major (3+ Years of Experience) |
4-Week A4-Week B |
Major
|
|
|
Junior Vocal Ensemble |
4-Week A4-Week B |
Major and Minor
|
|
|
Orchestra |
4-Week A4-Week B |
Major
|
|
|
Piano Minor (1-2 Years of Experience) |
4-Week A4-Week B |
Minor
|
|
|
Senior Piano Major (4+ Years of Experience) |
4-Week A4-Week B |
Major
|
|
|
Senior Vocal Ensemble |
4-Week A4-Week B |
Major and Minor
|
|
Ballet |
4-Week A |
Major
|
|
|
Broadway Jazz Dance |
4-Week A4-Week B |
Minor and Recreational Activity
|
|
|
Choreography |
4-Week B |
Major
|
|
|
Dance Adventure |
4-Week A4-Week B |
Major
|
|
|
Hip Hop Dance (Major) |
4-Week A4-Week B |
Major
|
|
|
Hip Hop Dance (Minor) |
4-Week A4-Week B |
Minor and Recreational Activity
|
|
|
Tap Dance |
4-Week A4-Week B |
Minor and Recreational Activity
|
|
Creative Writing |
4-Week A4-Week B |
Major and Minor
|
|
|
Creative Writing: Playwriting |
4-Week B |
Minor
|
|
Art Adventure |
4-Week A4-Week B |
Major
|
|
|
Beginner Painting |
4-Week B |
Minor
|
|
|
Ceramics |
4-Week A4-Week B |
Major
|
|
|
Comic Art |
4-Week A4-Week B |
Major and Minor
|
|
|
Jewelry Making: Mixed Media |
4-Week A4-Week B |
Major
|
|
|
LEGO™ Construction |
4-Week A4-Week B |
Minor and Recreational Activity
|
|
|
Painting & Drawing |
4-Week A4-Week B |
Major and Minor
|
|
|
Photography |
4-Week A4-Week B |
Major and Minor
|
|
|
Portfolio Development |
4-Week A |
Minor
|
|
|
Sculpture |
4-Week A4-Week B |
Major
|
|
|
Sewing & Fashion Design |
4-Week A4-Week B |
Major
|
|
Discovery |
4-Week A4-Week B |
Major
|
