2023 Summer Camps
Everywhere I go...people always ask me...who I am...and where I come from. So I tell them TSL. And if they can't hear me. I say it a little louder!
Looking for a fun camp here in the Albany region to send your kids to during the Summer of 2023? Look no more. TSL Kids Crew offers programs for children ages 4 through 12 in various locations throughout the Capital Region. This includes camps in Clifton Park, Cohoes, Delmar, East Greenbush, North Colonie/Latham, Troy, Guilderland, Niskayuna, Waterford, Rotterdam and Syracuse. In 2023 we are offering 9 weeks of programs - you can sign up for 1 week or all! Continue reading to learn more.
*At our Delmar location the group travels twice per week to Schoolhouse Road in Guilderland for their outdoor water play adventure. In North Colonie, our groups take advantage of the mini golf on the compound, and in Rotterdam, the group travels by foot to Rollerama for roller skating weekly.
*See more info below on LIT program
Camp hours are 7:30-5:30 and pricing includes full hours
- |
Per week fee, 5 Weeks or more |
Per week fee, 4 weeks of care |
Per week fee, 3 weeks of care |
Per week fee, 2 weeks of care |
Per week fee, 1 week of care |
1 Child |
$250 |
$260 |
$270 |
$280 |
$290 |
2 Children |
$450 |
$460 |
$470 |
$480 |
$490 |
3 Children |
$600 |
$610 |
$620 |
$630 |
$640 |
4 + Children |
$675 |
$685 |
$695 |
$705 |
$715 |
Value |
7 week Promo |
8 week Promo Deal |
9 week Promo Deal |
1 child |
$1575 |
$1800 |
$2025 |
2 child |
$2835 |
$3240 |
$3645 |
3 children |
$3780 |
$4320 |
$4860 |
- |
1 Child |
2 Children |
3 Children |
Daily Rate |
$65 |
$100 |
$125 |
LIT PROGRAM INFORMATION
LIT’s (Leaders in Training) will be children 13 to 15 years old who are selected after completing an online LIT application form. They -- not the parent -- should complete the application. Their camper tuition rate will follow the normal camper rate schedule. TSL has a leadership fund being used to provide summer stipends to our LIT's, the amount of which will be determined based on their experience with the program, age, and performance as a LIT. Stipends can range anywhere from $25-$200, issued as a check by September 30 of the given year. Parents must enroll their LIT on the website. Children not approved to be a LIT can still be registered as a regular camper to gain more experience/maturity with the program.
2023 Summer Camp Themes
Week 1, June 26-June 30 CommUNITY
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.
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 3-7 (closed July 4) FOODIE
Campers will engage in a host of games, projects, and activities that focus on the love of food, glorious food. Children will tempt their taste buds with yummy, gross, sweet, sour, never-had-before, and gear up for a lot of games where foods are the central theme. Have you ever tried to fling a slice of bologna and hit a target? Or stick gummy bears to your face? Yup. Yum. Whatever.
Campers will engage in a host of games, projects, and activities that focus on the love of food, glorious food. Children will tempt their taste buds with yummy, gross, sweet, sour, never-had-before, and gear up for a lot of games where foods are the central theme. Have you ever tried to fling a slice of bologna and hit a target? Or stick gummy bears to your face? Yup. Yum. Whatever.
Week 3, July 10-14 AROUND THE WORLD
Kids will explore various parts of the world and experience multi-cultural favorites from food to games to historic landmarks as they craft, play, and learn about the customs and traditional fun of other world cultures.
Kids will explore various parts of the world and experience multi-cultural favorites from food to games to historic landmarks as they craft, play, and learn about the customs and traditional fun of other world cultures.
Week 4, July 17-21 THE ELEMENTS
Kids will explore the earth elements including fire, water and wind as they engage in a host of games, projects, and activities that will instill a closer connection with the power of nature, and how other cultures have value(d) the elements as a sacred part of their traditions and cultures through time.
Kids will explore the earth elements including fire, water and wind as they engage in a host of games, projects, and activities that will instill a closer connection with the power of nature, and how other cultures have value(d) the elements as a sacred part of their traditions and cultures through time.
Week 5, July 24-28 SPLISH SPLASH
This is TSL's classic water week. Kids should be prepared to get a little soggy. This week features activities including bottle flip face-off, water limbo, pool noodle structures, dead fish, shark attack, bubble snakes, water color painting and magic paper towel art.
This is TSL's classic water week. Kids should be prepared to get a little soggy. This week features activities including bottle flip face-off, water limbo, pool noodle structures, dead fish, shark attack, bubble snakes, water color painting and magic paper towel art.
Week 6, July 31-August 4 MESS FEST
For this week, TSL will pull out the table and floor covers to make room for messy fun. Kids will engage in a variety of activities including games and projects that will challenge campers to tear down their inner neat freak and and embrace sloppy, slimy, messy, and oozy fun.
For this week, TSL will pull out the table and floor covers to make room for messy fun. Kids will engage in a variety of activities including games and projects that will challenge campers to tear down their inner neat freak and and embrace sloppy, slimy, messy, and oozy fun.
Week 7, August 7-11 DANCE IT OUT
Kids will bust a move this week with lots of music, dancing, singing and movement activities geared toward helping campers find their rhythm and groove. Bad singers and dancers are welcome.
Kids will bust a move this week with lots of music, dancing, singing and movement activities geared toward helping campers find their rhythm and groove. Bad singers and dancers are welcome.
Week 8, August 14-18 GAME SHOW
Kids will have fun this week competing and playing a variety of games inspired by popular television game shows. Don't expect them to be driving home in any brand new cars, but they'll still have fun. Question: A place where kids go to have endless fun? Answer: What is TSL? CORRECT!
Kids will have fun this week competing and playing a variety of games inspired by popular television game shows. Don't expect them to be driving home in any brand new cars, but they'll still have fun. Question: A place where kids go to have endless fun? Answer: What is TSL? CORRECT!
Week 9, August 21-25 BOOMERANG
Campers celebrate their last week together with lots of classic and retro camp activities that capture all the great memories had from the 2023 camp season. SEE YOU IN 2024!
Campers celebrate their last week together with lots of classic and retro camp activities that capture all the great memories had from the 2023 camp season. SEE YOU IN 2024!
Summer Camp FAQs
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 hinderance 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 an 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 above.
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.
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 hinderance 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 an 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 above.
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.