Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts invites children ages 5 to 18 to experience the natural beauty of its campus and the transformative power of the arts. Each summer, Usdan brings exceptional teachers and professional artists—actors, directors, playwrights, painters, sculptors, musicians, composers, dancers, poets, and novelists—to teach and collaborate with students. Usdan believes art making is brave making, friend making, freedom making, and future making. Students design their own summer camp experience by choosing classes in visual art, chess, creative writing, dance, music, nature and sustainability, and recreational arts. The Usdan experience is unique among arts summer camps in the region, as it brings together the rigor of artistic practice and the playfulness of a classic summer camp, with places to swim, play sports, and practice yoga and archery. It is no surprise that many campers choose to return year after year to continue their creative journeys in Usdan’s welcoming and inclusive environment.
The Usdan faculty and staff is composed of experienced arts educators and professional artists – actors, directors, playwrights, painters, sculptors, musicians, composers, dancers, poets, and novelists – dedicated to encouraging students to be creative in every endeavor throughout their lives. The Usdan staff works year round to create a memorable, transformative summer experience for all students.
Summer 2023 offerings include 4- and 8-week arts programs for students ages 5 to 18 and 1-week recreational programs for students ages 7 to 14. Bus transportation is available from Long Island and New York City to Usdan's day camp in Wheatley Heights.
By design, the Usdan campus combines welcome and wonder. With 140 acres of natural beauty, our campus forges the literal and metaphoric space students need to feel both safe and independent enough to step out of their school-year selves. When parents and campers describe the Usdan campus, “Amazing,” “Exciting,” “Inspiring,” “Awesome,” “Magical,” “Beautiful,” “Transforming,” and “Unforgettable” top the list, alongside “Safe,” “Home,” and “Family.” Students have access to 70 studios and theaters, including our 900-seat Amphitheater that hosts our daily Festival Performances. Clustered closely by department, students can move easily from studio to studio for collaboration and camaraderie. The campus also has three large outdoor swimming pools, two yoga platforms, an archery range, two gaga courts, and fields and recreational areas for basketball, tennis, badminton, and other games.
We believe that every student who wants to attend Usdan should be able to. Usdan has offered need-based scholarships since our opening in 1968 and 40% of our campers received some kind of scholarship in 2022. We welcome you to apply.
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Meet the Director Lauren Brandt Schloss joined Usdan in 2015. With her appointment, she became Usdan’s third leader in a half century and the first woman to hold the position. Bringing 20+ years experience in arts education, at the Queens Museum, MoMA, and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Lauren is committed to ensuring that Usdan is at the forefront of educational and artistic practices. |
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