Summer Camp at New Generation Learning Center in Staten Island
Summer is long, and for most working families on Staten Island it arrives as a logistics problem before it arrives as a holiday. Ten weeks of school is out, the routine disappears, and children who were busy all day suddenly are not. Our summer camp exists to solve exactly that, and to do considerably more than fill the hours. Every week brings somewhere new, something to watch, something to build and somewhere to cool off, in a licensed center your child may already know well.
New Generation Learning Center runs summer camp for children ages 5 to 13 at 389 Seaver Avenue in Staten Island, open Monday through Friday from 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM. Here is what the summer actually looks like.
A Full Day, Not a Supervised Room
The difference between a camp children ask to return to and one they tolerate is whether the day has a shape. Ours is built so that something is genuinely happening, and so that the high-energy parts and the quieter parts are balanced rather than relentless.
- Full days of activities and shows, including magic, science demonstrations and bubbles
- Weekly themed field trips, so each week takes children somewhere new
- Weekly themed guest entertainment, bringing fresh faces and experiences on site
- Water activities when the weather allows, with children encouraged to bring bathing suits
- Movie screenings on our state-of-the-art projector, perfect for the hottest part of the afternoon
- Hours of play on our large, safe, modern playground
- Hands-on gardening under shaded tents, which teaches patience and is quietly one of the most popular activities we run
- A welcoming environment where children make new friends and build memories that last past September
The gardening and the movie sessions matter more than they might appear in a list. A full day of constant activity through a New York July is too much for any child, and the calmer blocks are what make the active ones sustainable. Our camp follows the same thinking as our year-round curriculum and extra activities, where variety and rhythm are designed in rather than left to chance.
Why Weekly Themes Change the Summer
Most children attend camp for several weeks, and this is where a lot of programs quietly fail. Week four looks like week one, the novelty is gone, and children who were enthusiastic in June start resisting by late July.
We build the summer around weekly themes, with field trips and guest entertainment that change alongside them. A child attending six weeks with us has six genuinely different weeks rather than the same week repeated. That is the single thing parents mention most when they tell us their child wants to come back the following year.
Ages 5 to 13, and Why the Range Works
Our camp spans a wider age range than our school-year programs, and parents sometimes ask how a five-year-old and a twelve-year-old share the same summer.
In practice, children are grouped for most activities and brought together for the things that genuinely work across ages, such as a magic show, a science demonstration, a movie screening or a water day. The mixed-age element turns out to be a benefit rather than a compromise. Older children grow noticeably in confidence from being the capable ones, and younger children stretch to keep up in a way they simply do not among children of exactly their own age.
It is also practical for families with more than one child. Siblings several years apart can attend the same camp, at the same place, on the same schedule, which removes a genuine headache from the summer.
A Camp Built on a Year-Round Center
This is what separates us from a camp that exists only in July and August, and it is worth understanding before you compare us against a seasonal program.
New Generation operates all year. Our programs run from the toddler room at age 2, through preschool and pre-kindergarten, and we offer before and after school care for elementary school age children. Summer camp then carries the same children through to age 13.
For many of our families that means a child arrives at camp already knowing the building, the playground and the staff. There is no settling-in period and no anxious first morning, because for them it is not a new place. For families joining us only for the summer, it means the camp is staffed and run by people who work with children professionally every week of the year rather than for ten weeks.
Hours That Fit a Working Summer
Summer childcare only works if it covers the day you actually work, and this is where a lot of camps fall short for Staten Island parents.
We are open Monday through Friday from 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM, twelve hours a day, right through the summer. For a parent commuting off the island by ferry or over the Verrazzano, that is early enough to drop off and still make the morning crossing, and late enough to absorb a delayed return without a penalty or a scramble. A camp that runs nine until three does not solve the summer problem, it reshapes it.
We also close only on major holidays, with the exact dates distributed to families annually in August, so the summer schedule is predictable from the start. Tuition is billed monthly with payment due by the 5th, and we accept cash, credit cards and checks. More of our operational detail is on our FAQ page.
Licensed, Safe and Properly Staffed
Summer camp is a category where standards vary widely, and some programs operate with far less oversight than a year-round childcare center.
New Generation Daycare holds a valid license issued by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Bureau of Child Care. Licensing covers staffing ratios, health and safety standards and facility requirements, and it is something you can verify independently rather than take on trust. Our playground is fenced in, recently renovated, and has a garden attached, which is where the gardening sessions happen.
We share pictures and daily updates with parents through Procare, our communication platform, so you see what your child actually did rather than relying on the answer to “what did you do today?” at pickup. Our safety and security page covers our approach in more detail, and why families choose us sets out what we believe distinguishes the center overall.
Reserving a Place
One practical note. Families already with us often re-register for the following summer well before it is advertised, and the weeks around the start of summer and either side of July 4th tend to fill first.
If summer is on your mind, the sensible sequence is to visit now, see the space while the center is running normally, and reserve the weeks you need once school calendars are confirmed. Visiting commits you to nothing. We offer tours at 6:00 PM on weekdays, or by arrangement at weekends, which keeps it off your working day.
For the safety and privacy of the children in our care, parents are generally not inside the classrooms during the day outside of a scheduled visit, which is exactly why the tour matters. It is your opportunity to see the playground, the classrooms and the team properly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What ages is New Generation summer camp for?
Our summer camp is for children ages 5 to 13. That is wider than our school-year programs, which serve children ages 2 to 5. Children are grouped for most activities and brought together for shows, screenings and water days. The range also means siblings several years apart can attend the same camp on the same schedule, which removes a real complication from the summer.
What do children do at your summer camp?
Full days of activities and shows including magic, science demonstrations and bubbles, weekly themed field trips, weekly themed guest entertainment, water activities when the weather allows, movie screenings on our projector, hours on our large fenced playground, and hands-on gardening under shaded tents. Weekly themes mean a child attending several weeks gets genuinely different weeks rather than the same one repeated.
What are your summer camp hours?
We are open Monday through Friday from 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM, twelve hours a day, right through the summer. For parents commuting off Staten Island by ferry or over the Verrazzano, that is early enough to drop off and make the morning crossing and late enough to absorb a delayed return. We close only on major holidays, with exact dates given to families annually in August.
Is your summer camp licensed?
Yes. New Generation Daycare holds a valid license issued by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Bureau of Child Care. Licensing covers staffing ratios, health and safety standards and facility requirements, and you can verify it independently. We are a year-round childcare center rather than a seasonal program, so camp is staffed by people who work with children professionally every week of the year.
When should we register for summer camp?
Earlier than most families expect. Current families often re-register for the following summer before it is advertised, and the weeks at the start of summer and either side of July 4th usually fill first. The sensible approach is to visit now, see the center while it is running normally, and reserve your weeks once school calendars are confirmed. A tour commits you to nothing.
Come and See It Before You Decide
The only reliable way to judge a camp is to stand in it. New Generation Learning Center is a licensed childcare center at 389 Seaver Avenue, Staten Island, running summer camp for ages 5 to 13 alongside year-round programs for children 2 to 5, open Monday through Friday from 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM. Call (718) 987-7596 or schedule a tour at 6:00 PM on a weekday or on a weekend, meet the team, see the playground, and reserve your child’s weeks for the summer.
