Our Summer Arts Camp
for Kids
(GRADES K–1 | 4- AND 8-WEEK SESSIONS)
In the Discovery Program, budding artists finishing Kindergarten and Grade 1 get a taste of Usdan in an introductory program at a more accessible price point. Surrounded by Usdan’s woodland campus, and using the Discovery Center as a base, children have experiences in Music, Art, Nature & Sustainability, Dance, Theater, and Recreational Arts, led by professional artists and educators. In addition to their core classes, Discovery students visit Usdan Classic courses, where Junior students act as guides, showing them various rich experiences offered around camp. Two college-age counselors help guide each small group throughout their adventurous day, fostering a safe, nurturing, and positive atmosphere while also creating a variety of engaging activities that are tailored to students’ interests.
After completing their grade 1 summer at camp, children from the Discovery Program head into Usdan’s Partners in the Arts Program feeling confident and excited because they have spent the previous summer getting a taste of its many opportunities.
The Discovery Center is open-air, with many sides exposed to our beautiful wooded campus.
Class Frequency
- Art: every day
- Music: every day
- Swim: every day
- Dance: in rotation
- Nature & Sustainability: in rotation
- Theater: in rotation
- Department visits: A few times each session
Typical Day (start and end times may vary):
- 9:30 a.m.: Children are welcomed by their counselor when they arrive on their bus.
- 10:05 a.m.–10:40 a.m.: Music
- 10:45 a.m.–11:00 a.m.: Snack
- 11:05 a.m.–11:45 a.m.: Art / Nature & Sustainability
- 12:00 p.m.–12:45 p.m.: Swim
- 1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.: Lunch / Supervised Play
- 2:05 p.m.–2:45 p.m.: Dance
- 3:05 p.m.: Ice cream, followed by children being walked to their bus by their counselor
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
Discovery
4-Week A
Major: Grades K–1
MINOR - N/A
REC - N/A
4-Week B
Major: Grades K–1
MINOR - N/A
REC - N/A
1-Week Rec
MAJOR - N/A
MINOR - N/A
REC - N/A
The Discovery Program provides a fun and exciting exploration of the arts for students who have just completed kindergarten or grade 1. Surrounded by Usdan’s woodland campus, and using the Discovery Center as a base, children have experiences in Music, Art, Nature & Sustainability, Dance, Theater, and Recreational Arts, led by experienced educators and professional artists. Two college-age counselors help guide each small group throughout their adventurous day, fostering a safe, nurturing, and positive atmosphere while also creating a variety of engaging activities that are tailored to students’ interests.
After completing their grade 1 summer at camp, children from the Discovery Program head into Usdan’s Partners in the Arts Division feeling confident and excited, because they have spent the previous summer getting a taste of its many opportunities.
“As his first ‘real’ camp experience, Discovery was a great blend of activities and allowed for two counselors that were consistent throughout his session.”
—Discovery parent/caregiver
“It was a great sampler.”
—Discovery parent/caregiver
“My son is a highly social, creative, and active child. I was unable to realize how much until his first week at Usdan, when his zeal and zest for life and relationships were reignited and he became his best social self again. I am so thankful for this.”
—Discovery parent/caregiver