Local daycare, enriching after school program and Summer Camp
Welcome to Guilderland's premier childcare center, where we take pride in providing top-notch daycare and before and after-school programs for your children. Conveniently located minutes from the Northway, Crossgates Mall and Albany, you can drop off and pick up your children with ease, no matter how busy your schedule may be. Our dedicated and experienced staff understand the importance of nurturing and guiding your child's growth and development. With low staff-to-children ratios, you can rest assured that your child will receive the attention and care they deserve, fostering a safe and supportive environment for their early years. At our center, we believe in more than just childcare; we believe in building a foundation for lifelong learning and well-rounded development. Whether it's our engaging educational activities or creative playtime, we are committed to providing your child with a nurturing and stimulating environment that encourages exploration, socialization and personal growth. During the Summer our Guilderland location also hosts a fun all day Summer camp. Join us on this exciting journey of childhood discovery, where we strive to be not just a childcare facility, but a partner in your child's growth and development. Want to learn more? Continue reading or contact us.
Redeemer Church (Albany Campus)
(518) 273-1100
183 Schoolhouse Road
Albany, NY 12203
Summer Camp
Summer Camp: 7 a.m.-6 p.m.
Vacation Camp: 7 a.m.-6 p.m.
Before School Program
Before School: M-F, 7 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.
After School Program
After School: M-F, 2-5:30 p.m.
Daycare Program
Daycare: M-F, 7 a.m. - 6 p.m.
FAQs for our Summer Camp - FAQs for our Before and After School Programs - FAQs for our Daycare Program
Week 1, July 1-July 5 WELCOME TO THE CREW
Old friends and new friends will get together in this introductory week and community building week where the crew administers lots of friendship and cooperative-based games and activities to assimilate everyone to the new environment and train them on the TSL way.
Week 2, July 8-12 MEDIEVAL TIMES
Campers will engage in a host of games, projects, and activities that revolve around the medieval period. Whether making dragon eyes, popsicle stick catapults, castle silhouettes, or playing thief, catch the dragon's tail, or protect the castle, kids will have a ball with this engaging theme.
Week 3, July 15-19 ALIEN INVASION
Kids will enjoy crafts, activities and games focused on aliens and the infinite outer space from where they come. Make a flyer saucer or drink some alien slime, play Star Wars and Aliens Vs. Monsters. It's bound to be a week that is out of this world.
Week 4, July 22-26 THE AMAZING RACE
Back by popular demand, the kids will team up with other campers and partake in an everyday race and complete in a variety of activities while visiting countries around the world to be the first ones to the finish line. Who will be this year's winners of...THE AMAZING RACE.
Week 5, July 29-August 2 TSL's GOT TALENT
Campers will get to showcase their skills this week as they engage in a variety of activities that showcase what they can do. Whether it be singing, dancing, acting, or athletics, everyone will have a chance to show what they got.
Week 6, August 5-August 9 UNSPOILED SPORTS
For this week, TSL will focus on traditional sports and gameplay from soccer, touch football, basketball, and baseball. Well...not everything will be traditional. This is TSL, after all. Teddy bear football, circle soccer, Alaskan baseball, and water balloon T-ball aren't exactly traditional, but they sure will be fun!
Week 7, August 12-16 ROY G BIV
Kids will explore a variety of games and activities focused on all the colors of the rainbow. Whether playing the circle game, colors, creating beautiful rainbow portraits, or having all campers wear a particular color each day of the week, it's sure to be a pallet of fun and games this week. Last year TSL did its first COLOR RUN and campers loved it. So you can expect the color run will make its return during this themed week.
Week 8, August 19-23 THROWBACK
Many locations and campers will celebrate their last week together with lots of classic and retro camp activities that capture all the great memories they had from the 2024 camp season. SEE YOU IN 2025!
Week 9, August 26-30 BACK IN THE "SADDLE" (Closed August 30)
For those campers onboard for TSL's supplemental week, they will participate in a variety of western themed activities as they get ready to get back in the saddle with school. TSL will give them a wild west sendoff! The key word being "wild".
Are you an academic camp that offers reading, writing, tutoring etc.
No. We are a recreational program. We play multiple small and whole group games, arts and crafts, special projects, activities, cooperative, indoor/outdoor, sprinkler. Think of it as your child attending a birthday party every day of summer. That's us! Your child will not be a NASA scientist, doctor, or lawyer at the end of their camp experience. Your child will perhaps learn social skills and how to get along with others better. Oh, and did we say they would have lots of fun?
What is important to know if my child has never participated in a summer day camp before?
Most importantly, you should know that transitioning a new or young child into a day camp is sometimes an ongoing process. It is not a one day or even a one-week process. Too often parents of young children, in particular, enroll for a full summer and expect that their child is going to magically integrate without any transitional time. We want parents to trust us and the process, or don't enroll for a full summer unless you are comfortable with the process. Parents can sometimes and unintentionally be their child's biggest hindrance in proper transitioning. Parents should also know what a summer day camp is, and what it isn't. Do your homework so your expectations are on point with what type of program your child is getting enrolled in. Summer camps under Department of Health are not self-contained daycare classrooms, nor do they run like school.
What are the facilities like in which you operate?
Our campuses vary in their aesthetic. We operate out of schools, church halls etc. some are older and some newer. Though most of our pictures are taken on location, some of our photos are stock photos. "Like" TSL Kids Crew on Facebook and see lots of actual pictures from all our programs and facilities.
Do you have to be a current member to enroll in summer camp?
Summer camp is open to all members of the community. You do not have to be enrolled in any clubs, obtain any memberships, or live in a particular place. Our doors are open for everyone at your most convenient location.
Are you a traveling camp?
TSL, in general, does not travel, except at our Rotterdam location, to Rollerama roller skating rink once per week. In North Colonie, the campers will have an opportunity to use the mini golf course and batting cages once per week. At all other locations we implement our standard program on campus. In Delmar, campers travel twice a week to our sister site on Schoolhouse Road in Guilderland for their outside water play adventure!
What is the age range for children?
Children going into Kindergarten (in this case 4 year olds can enroll in the school-age program) through age 12 are invited to enroll at any site. In our Troy and Cohoes locations, we offer the pre-school summer program for ages 3 to 5. Children ages 13-15 can apply to be a LIT at any site location.
What are your camp hours?
We are open 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. Our core program is 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and we like children to be present for the full core program. Drop off and pick up can be at any time. The price of camp is all inclusive, but we do add late fees if a child is picked up late after camp hours close (5:30). Daycare locations are open from 7 a.m. - 6 p.m.
What are your prices?
See our summer price chart here.
Can you tell me what the program template is?
Though we do not publish our template, we can say our summer day is broken down into a series of routine program components that flow nicely from one activity to the next and include time for the children to play, exercise, craft, unwind, engage in water games and play during the sprinkler time, or engage in small group play, whole group play and age-integrated play. They bond as a community all day long with multiple program subtleties and nuances that have community development in mind. This is the hallmark of the TSL program. We have established a unique culture that permeates every site and that is realized by the most invested of families who understand and appreciate our goals.
Each week has a theme. Please note that our themes serve mainly to help us focus our planning and are underlying and secondary to our community-driven program template, the true heart of the program. Our program template does not change from week to week, but the activities, games and projects do, based on the planned theme. Regardless of our theme, your children will enjoy the routine-based program.
Are the kids separated by ages?
Sometimes we break the campers down into two distinct groups: ages 4-7 or ages 8-12. Other times they work together in a cooperative and age-integrated fashion to accomplish tasks, challenges and projects. We employ a high level of diversity in how we mesh and mold the group throughout the day.
How much time is spent outdoors?
Typically there is a 50/50 split between outdoor and indoor play.
What are the kids' outside activities?
Daily water play with sprinklers every day. Water relays, circle games, whole group games, scavenger hunts, nature hunts and much more!
Are the staff members all screened for the safety of the children?
Yes. All staff members have multiple clearances as required by the Department of Health. Many of our staff members are year-round employees of TSL in our after-school programs.
How many instructors or staff members do you have at a site? What’s the ratio?
Our ratio is 1:12, per DOH requirement. Depending on the number of enrollees at each site, our staffing numbers vary.
How do you handle any injuries or emergencies if a child gets hurt?
For cuts, bumps and scrapes, we use soap and water, ice packs, Band-Aids and TLC. Parents are called in the event of serious injury or sickness, and if needed we will call 911.
Do you serve lunch?
We offer a lunch two days per week. Pizza on Tuesday and Friday. Friday is pizza and ice cream truck day. The other three days, the children bring a lunch and two snacks.
How are you different from other programs?
We are different in our planning, how we present programs, how we engage children, and how we integrate children. TSL is founded by elementary-school teachers who prefer to acknowledge the way children develop, their physical and emotional needs and preferences. We know children. Our staff members are trained to know children. Because our program is not dependent on unpredictable variables, the structure and integrity of each day is ensured. We ARE childcare, and if you want safety, love, engagement, professionalism, high-level communication, trust and affordability, you would come to us.
How does payment and invoicing work?
As you enroll, you will note an opportunity to read the Terms of Service. We encourage everyone to read and understand these terms prior to enrolling, as we do vigorously uphold them.
