Welcome to TSL in Rotterdam
Local daycare, enriching before/after school program and Summer Camp
Our Rotterdam childcare center offers daycare, before and after school programs, and a summer camp to those who live and work in Schenectady County. Families in our close-knit community have come to rely on us, and for good reason. Our caring and dedicated staff are the heartbeat of TSL Kids Crew. Their genuine love for children shines through, making every child feel like they're part of an extended family. It's clear to see that their passion goes beyond just watching over the kids; they nurture their curiosity and development. One element of our programs that parents consistently rave about is the engaging curriculum we offer. Whether it's arts and crafts, science experiments, or outdoor adventures, we provide a well-rounded and enriching experience that keeps kids excited to come to us every day. Moreover, the strong sense of community that Rotterdam is known for is mirrored in our programs. Children not only learn, but they also grow emotionally, forming friendships that often last a lifetime. The program hours, including before and after school options, make life easier for working parents in the area, which is appreciated during the easiest of time, but particularly during these challenging times. We've created a place where children can thrive, where parents can feel at ease, and where the spirit of Schenectady County truly shines. Want to learn more? Continue reading or contact us.
Our Rotterdam Location
2617 Hamburg Street
Schenectady, NY 12303
Our Infant Daycare (6 weeks old to 18 months old)
2664 Hamburg Street
Schenectady, NY 12303
Program Hours
Before School Program
Before School: M-F, 7 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.
After School Program
After School: M-F, 2-6 p.m.
Daycare Program
Daycare: M-F, 7 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Infant Daycare Program (6 weeks old to 18 months old)
Daycare: M-F, 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Summer Camp
Summer Camp: 7:30 a.m.- 5:30 p.m.
Vacation Camp: 7:30 a.m.- 5:30 p.m.
Contact
You can call us at (518) 355-5578 or email us at [email protected] for more information about programs at our Rotterdam/Schenectady center.
FAQs for our Summer Camp - FAQs for our Before and After School Programs - FAQs for our Daycare Program
2026 Summer Camp Themes
Week 1 June 29-July 2 (closed Friday July 3) FUNSHINE WEEK
TSL's ice breaker week. Kids will enjoy a variety of get-to-know you games and activities and become acclimated to the summer schedule and routines while they reunite with old friends and make new friends.
Week 2 July 6-10 CARNIVAL
Children will have fun with themed focused activities and games celebrating carnival from sharing a bag of popcorn, playing classic carnival games, and making theme-based crafts.
Week 3 July 13-17 NICKELODEON
During this themed week children will celebrate, game and craft style, all the wonderful cartoons and shows created by the wildly popular media company, Nickelodeon. From Sponge Bob to Henry Danger, Dora, and the Ninja Turtles kids are sure to have a blast!
Week 4 July 20-24 SHARK WEEK (WATER)
TSL's traditional water week theme. Children will not only sink their teeth into the world of sharks with a variety of crafts and games, but they'll also have fun getting wet and wild with a variety of splash inducing activities. Campers cannot expect not to stay dry too long on any day this week.
Week 5 July 27-31 DANCE PARTY
This week kids will dance to the beat and move to the groove with some of their favorite music and dance games. From Freeze Dance to Karaoke Party, you can expect we'll be raising the roof with our hands and the boom box during this exciting and music filled week.
Week 6 Aug 3-7 FIRE AND ICE
During this week kids will be hot one minute and cold the next while they explore the culture of The Land of Fire and Ice: Iceland. Explore Viking history, the mystery of trolls, the power of volcanos, and play popular children's games from Icelandic culture as they celebrate this unique country and culture.
Week 7 Aug 10-14 SENSATIONAL SENSE
Kids will explore a variety of games and activities sure to tantalize and enhance their five senses during this week.
Week 8 Aug 17-21 BOOM PLOP SPLAT
Is it messy? Does it explode? Be prepared for mess and fun in this camp that includes everything that goes boom, pop, and splat! Projects include activating chemical reactions, comparing slime recipes, and designing the best egg drop contraptions all paired with our third annual COLOR RUN.
Week 9 Aug 24-28 STORYBOOK ADVENTURES
TSL will bring popular children's stories to life this week with games, projects and activities based on contemporary and classic story characters and books.
Week 10 Aug 31-Sept 3 HOOLA HOOP HOOLIGANS
TSL will wrap up its summer with a lot of hoopla as we engage in a variety of games, projects, and activities using the popular children's toy: the hula hoop.
Summer Camp FAQs
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?
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.
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.
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.
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 once per week. At our River Street location the kids travel to an area park and splash pad and have weekly visits to Central Rock Gym. Other than this, our programs are in one place.
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 Sacred Heart, Troy, Delmar, East Greenbush, Karner Road, North Colonie 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 DOH licensed location.
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 location camp hours vary by location - see specific location page for details.
See our summer price chart here.
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.
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.
Typically there is a 50/50 split between outdoor and indoor play.
Daily water play with sprinklers every day. Water relays, circle games, whole group games, scavenger hunts, nature hunts and much more!
Yes. Depending on the location they are either screened by the Department of Health or by OCFS. Many of our staff members are year-round employees of TSL in our after-school programs.
Depending on the site location we follow our governing bodies regulations. Under the department of health the ratio is 1:12 and under OCFS we follow a 1:10 ratio. Some locations are governed by OCFS and some are governed by DOH. Our staffing numbers vary on the number of children enrolled and what governing body the location is under.
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.
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.
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.
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.