Garden School, in the independent tradition, affirms the primacy of learning. We empower every student in our educationally diverse community to meet responsibly the challenges of everyday life by promoting academic achievement, personal development and social involvement. We further believe that by recognizing each student’s individual identity, Garden School fosters the self-worth necessary to succeed.
What an exciting week we had during Week 8 of our summer camp program, themed “Lights, Camera, Action!” This week was all about encouraging creativity and building confidence, allowing our campers to explore the fun world of acting, storytelling, and art. From bringing characters to life to making cool props, our campers truly let their imaginations shine both on and off the stage!
Our campers enjoyed a variety of engaging activities that helped them grow both creatively and physically. In Arts & Crafts, they expressed themselves by making fantastic characters like R2-D2 from Star Wars and little stage sets to go along with their performances. These creative projects allowed everyone to have fun while learning new skills. During our Theater & Performing Arts sessions, our young stars discovered the basics of acting, like how to use their voices, show emotions, and develop characters. They will also perform scenes from the beloved Disney classic “Pinocchio” next Friday, August 8!
The fun continued at the pool, filled with laughter and swimming games, all supervised by our caring staff. On dry land, campers engaged in Team-Building Games that encouraged teamwork and leadership while they took part in exciting challenges and friendly competitions. Outdoor Play included classic games like tag and relay races, keeping everyone active and enjoying the great outdoors with friends.
As we look ahead to the final three weeks of our 2025 camp season, the excitement is growing! We can’t wait for the upcoming Talent Showcase where campers will show off their unique skills. We also have hands-on Science Experiments planned to spark curiosity and learning, along with creative STEAM Projects that blend Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math into fun challenges.
We’re especially thrilled to announce that the New York Islanders will be visiting us as part of their Summer Community Outreach Program! This special event will include giant inflatables, bounce zones, carnival games, and an epic obstacle course. Campers will have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet local athletes and create unforgettable summer memories!
Thank you for being such an important part of our Garden School camp community. As we approach the end of this amazing season, we’re dedicated to making every moment special— ensuring campers are safe, building friendships, learning new skills, and creating wonderful memories. We hope you have a fantastic weekend and can’t wait to welcome everyone back for Week 9 on Monday, August 4, 2025! Let’s keep the excitement going!
Your Garden School Summer Camp Team,
GENERAL CAMP REMINDERS
• Please treat each other with RESPECT.
• To ensure everyone’s safety, campers need to wear closed-toed shoes every day to fully participate.
• Please make sure your child dresses appropriately for the weather, including hats and rashguards if needed for extra protection in and out of the water.
• Label your child’s belongings.
• You must sign your child in and out each day.
• For your child’s safety, we will ask for ID from anyone picking up your child whom we do not recognize.
• Electronic devices and toys should stay at home.
• Each camper should bring their lunch, a water bottle, two towels, two bathing suits, and sunscreen daily.
• If you’d prefer not to receive the newsletter or if you don’t want your child’s photo included, email us at campdirector@gardenschool.org.
EARLY ARRIVAL & AFTER CAMP
All campers arriving between 7:30 am and 8:45 am should check in at the 79th Street Main Entrance. A flat rate of $20 per child per day will be billed.
All campers remaining after 4:15 pm will go into the aftercamp program, which runs until 6:00 pm. Departure will be from the 79th Street Main Gate. A flat rate of 40 dollars per day will be billed.
TRANSPORTATION
You will be contacted the weekend before your camp week with your child(ren)’s bus pick-up and dropoff times. We schedule bus routes based on need, so we finalize the exact times that weekend.
Campers using the bus service should be:
Outside and ready at least 3 minutes before the scheduled morning pick-up time.
Picked up promptly at their assigned afternoon drop-off location.
Staying on schedule helps us ensure a safe and efficient ride for all campers.
THE DAZZLING ART GALLERY CORNER
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE BUZZ SQUAD
MONARCHS ON THE MOVE
This week was absolutely thrilling for our Monarch participants as they dove into an action-packed program! Kickball stole the show, bringing tons of energy and laughter to their camp experience. Campers showcased their creativity by building an impressive R2D2 model from Star Wars. They also engaged in fun team-building activities with indoor games like Jeopardy and Booklet, enhancing their critical thinking while having a blast. But that’s not all—creative sparks also flew during their musical theater workshop, where they delved into the world of theatrical performance. Get ready for a spectacular showcase next Friday, featuring their own adaptation of Pinocchio that you won't want to miss!
CATERPILLAR REFLECTIONS
his week both Caterpillar groups started off the week with pure bravery! Some of our friends jumped off the diving board during swim, as all of their other friends cheered them on! Throughout the week, we created our watched and made our own shadow puppets, and to end off the week, we had our red Our caterpillars were true superstars this week!
THE BUTTERFLY TRAIL ADVENTURE
This week, the Butterflies explored the enchanting world of shadow play—an ancient form of storytelling that uses cut-out figures to cast silhouettes and shadows on a screen. The children designed paper bag puppets, crafted unique silhouettes, and experimented with light and movement to create their own shadow puppets. They also made fun sun masks, discovering how light and shadow interact to bring their stories to life.
JR. BUTTERFLIES IN ACTION
This week, the Jr. Butterflies were bursting with energy and creativity as they moved and created throughout the campus—from the classroom to the playground—bringing smiles and colorful fun wherever they went. One of the standout moments was when they danced to the Macarena, enjoying the lively music while staying cool in the warm weather. It was a week full of activity, laughter, and vibrant self-expression!
CAMPERS ON STAGE
In Musical Theater this week, students were exposed to many concepts and how each one of them relate to a real show, such as the roles of the main cast, ensemble, tech crew, set, and props. Students also had the opportunity to visit our Garden School Theater closet, which contains props from our past productions. In class, we started learning about the famous musical "Into The Woods," a canon in the musical theater world. We watched a few professional and school productions as examples of how actors do their job. Guilherme Andreas, Performance and Visual Arts Department Chair
CAMP PACKING LIST
CAMP COUNSELOR SPOTLIGHT
Registration, Camp Orientation & Required Forms
To help you stay informed and ensure your camper is fully prepared, please use the following links below, which gives you access to our Summer Camp Registration, General School Information, and other important forms.
� Summer Camp Registration
• Sign up for upcoming camp weeks
• View weekly themes, activities, and enrichment course descriptions
• Learn about age-specific programs, staff, and facilities
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General School Information
• Discover more about Garden School’s year-round academic offerings
• Explore after-school programs, admissions, and open house events
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Important Forms
• Escort Authorization Form – Required to designate who may pick up your child from camp.
• Aquatics Permission Form – Required for participation in swimming and water-play activities.
Note: These forms must be completed before your child’s first day of camp to ensure their full participation and safety in all activities.
� If you have any trouble accessing the forms or completing registration, feel free to reach out to us at: campdirector@gardenschool.org
