Home to a fun and popular Summer Camp program
If you live or work near Scotia, and are looking for the right Summer camp for your children, it's time to learn about TSL Kids Crew. Our programs are run by experienced counselors who prefer to acknowledge the way children develop, their physical and emotional needs and preferences. Our staff to children ratios are low to ensure you children get the attention they deserve. Want to learn more? Continue reading or contact us.
Our Redeemer Lutheran Church
103 South Reynolds Street
Scotia, NY 12302
Summer Camp
Summer Camp: 7:30-5:30 p.m.
Week 1, June 28-July 2 PARTY IN THE USA
Old friends and new friends will collide 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. Theme will also include some Fourth of July celebration!
Week 2, July 6-9 (closed July 5) QUEST
The best of Amazing Race week from last season, without the race. Children will take a thematic trip across the globe from France to Australia with many stops in between.
Week 3, July 12-16 MESS FEST
Pack a change of clothing for the children this week as we devote much of our activity time to projects, games, and activities that inspire our inner messiness.
Week 4, July 19-23 BEST OF THE BEST
This is TSL's record setting week. Who has the longest jump across all TSL locations? This week will be our first summer week to ever tie together our 10 summer camp communities. Maybe your little camper will set a company record!
Week 5, July 26-30 AMAZING RACE
This is TSL's competition week. Teams will race to complete a variety of tasks, challenges and chores throughout the "world" to see who can finish "first". Only one team will be the winner of....the AMAZING RACE.
Week 6, August 2-6 WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE
Campers will have adventures in the "wild" with all the creatures that reside there.
Week 7, August 9-13 ROCKIN RHYTHM
Kids will rock out this week to their favorite music, tunes, melodies and rhythms incorporated into a variety of games, projects and activities as we celebrate the wonderful world of music.
Week 8, August 16-20 FABULOUS FOOD
This week will focus on food, glorious food with games, projects and activities that incorporate various foods....the good the bad and the nasty.
Week 9, August 23-27 NAUTICAL NONSENSE
TSL'S water week. Kids should dress for wet as many of our activities, games, projects and fun will focus on all aspects of water from ocean, lakes, ponds and all the creatures that lie within.
Week 10, August 30-Sept 2 (closed Sept 3) TSL RE-RUN
TSL's final week is regularly devoted to closing it out with the favorite activities from the summer. With special days like pajama or hat day and a focus on reliving all the cherished memories of the season. See you next year, campers!
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 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 an particular place. Our doors are open for everyone at your most convenient location.
Are you a traveling camp?
In some locations we have added a travel component that is optional for families who would like to have their children take part in swimming options 1 of the 5 days in each weekly session. This will be each Wednesday. In these cases, we will have bussing to and from various swimming locales like Saratoga Spa State Park, Grafton State Park, Central Park or Collins Park. Cohoes families will use the Abram Lansing Pool.
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 12-15 can apply to be a CIT 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.
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 or 911 are called in the event of serious injury or sickness.
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 do vigorously uphold them.
