Our Summer Nature Program on Long Island
Hands-On Ecology, Sustainability, and Gardening Classes For Kids
Usdan’s forest is an ideal place to experience and learn about the natural world. This hands-on program, led by experienced nature educators, helps students foster a connection with the environment through exploration, creativity, and mindfulness. At our Nature Center and Organic Garden, students learn about the plants and wildlife of Usdan, make art from natural materials, grow food and other plants, learn about sustainable practices and design, and connect with other nature enthusiasts. Nature & Sustainability students spend most of their day outdoors.
Summer Camp Busing for Long Island, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens Kids
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.
Classes
Nature, Ecology & Design
4-Week A
Major: Grades 2–6
Minor: Grades 2–6
REC - N/A
4-Week B
Major: Grades 2–6
Minor: Grades 2–6
REC - N/A
1-Week Rec
MAJOR - N/A
MINOR - N/A
REC - N/A
Usdan’s amazing woodland setting provides an ideal opportunity to explore Long Island’s vibrant ecosystems. Get your hands dirty as you gain an appreciation for the natural world, viewed through the lenses of creativity and sustainability. Connect with nature through learning, mindfulness, observation, and reflection under the guidance of experienced nature educators. Learn about plants, wildlife, sustainable practices, and more with daily activities in gardening, art-making, and forest exploration. Students remain outdoors except when it rains; then they continue their projects in a studio with plenty of windows, exposed to their natural surroundings.
“You get to see animals, do crafts, go on hikes, and make new friends.”
—Jayden
Organic Gardening & Simple Food
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
Attention caring creatives looking to get their hands dirty: Let’s garden! Turn your love of nature into action by learning how to plant and sustain an organic garden. Led by an experienced nature educator committed to greener living and healthy eating, this course offers young gardeners hands-on experience planting, caring for, and harvesting herbs, fruits, and vegetables from Usdan's sunny organic garden.
In addition to starting a garden, students deepen their understanding of sustainable practices, learn ways to turn unconventional and found materials into garden structures, and travel to the Usdan kitchen to learn simple food prep and sweet and savory recipes, including how to make yogurt pops, salads, and beverages.
Students spend most of their days outside, but no matter where they’re learning — in the kitchen or in the garden — all classes are situated among 140-acres of natural beauty, providing the perfect backdrop to further their commitment to sustainable practices and deepen their appreciation for Mother Nature.
Pre-requisite: No prior experience is required. Classes are grouped according to age division and grade.
“It's a nice experience learning how to garden.”
—Marcus
“My favorite part was that we got to grow our garden.”
—Benjamin
Sustainable 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
A class for artists who see the world a bit differently. Sustainable Design students turn objects of the everyday into unexpected sustainable design solutions. Students use unconventional materials — sunlight, wind, found objects — to create sustainable design solutions that address modern environmental challenges. In past years, students worked collaboratively to make a wind-powered air conditioner, a bike-powered generator, and a solar barbecue.
Led by an accomplished art gardener who works with natural materials and employs sustainable practices, classes are held both inside and outside amidst the greenery of the Usdan woods. This course encourages thinkers from all disciplines to share their ideas and bring their visions for a greener future to life.
Pre-requisites: No prior experience is required. Classes are grouped according to age division and grade.
“I enjoyed the tasks that we had to complete using mostly things we found on our own.”
—Luke