Behind the Scenes of Asphalt Green’s Summer Day Camp Program: What it Takes to Build NYC’s Favorite Summer Camp
For decades, Asphalt Green’s Summer Day Camp has been a place where New York City’s children can discover new interests, build confidence, develop friendships, and create memories that last well beyond the summer.
But unlike many popular upstate or suburban camps for New Yorkers, AG Summer Day Camp is hosted right in our backyard and remains a vital part of Asphalt Green’s legacy of serving New York City.
The program prides itself on going beyond being a place where students can have an active summer. We strive to make each summer at Asphalt Green an impactful experience for every camper and pursue the proven developmental outcomes of camp programs.
“We want our campers and families to feel a true sense of community through their time with us. There is a chance to build meaningful connections with peers and staff, develop confidence and skills through a wide range of activities, and feel encouraged to try new things. We want campers to leave with happy memories, new friendships, a healthy sense of self, and a feeling that they are part of the Asphalt Green community.”
Katie Duffy, Camps Director
Before the first week of camp, we sat down with the leadership team behind Summer Day Camp to learn more about what makes our program special, and what it takes to make it happen.
When Does the Planning for Summer Day Camp Begin?
The day after the last Summer Day Camp ends.
During the fall, we take time to evaluate every aspect of the program—from activities and staffing to schedules, policies, communication, camper care, and overall operations.
We also gather feedback from our leadership team, counselors, coaches, instructors, and seasonal staff to understand what worked well and where we can improve. From there, we begin making decisions for the next season, including program dates, enrollment needs, activities, special events, staffing, and operational updates.
Our goal is to ensure that every summer is even better than last year.
How many campers and staff members are part of Asphalt Green’s Summer Day Camp each year?
Across our Upper East Side, Battery Park City, and Brooklyn locations, we welcome more than 900 campers each summer.
To support those campers, we hire approximately 250 to 275 staff members, including counselors, coaches, instructors, and camp leadership. It truly takes a dedicated team to create the experience our campers and families have come to expect.
What activities do Asphalt Green Summer Day Campers participate in?
Asphalt Green’s Summer Day Camp curriculum is designed to allow kids to explore new interests, develop their skills in the passions they have, and most importantly, have a blast.
We expose campers to many different experiences, including:
- Sports
- Instructional swim
- Arts and crafts
- Creative arts
- LEGO robotics
- Woodworking
- Creative writing
- Cooking
In addition to these activities, campers can participate in special themed events like Halloween at camp, color war, magic shows, talent shows and trips including HAPIK, Legoland Discovery Center, and Powerhouse Studios!
How does Asphalt Green instill its camp values of community, kindness, independence, energy, respect, and confidence?
It is all about education and celebration! We start each Monday off by highlighting one of our camp values in morning assembly. From there, our coaches, instructors, and group counselors help keep the conversation going throughout the week.
We talk about what each value looks like in action: How do we show kindness to a friend? What does respect look like during an activity? How can we practice confidence when trying something new? We also look for moments to recognize campers who are exhibiting these values throughout the camp day. At the end of the week, we celebrate the value during our Friday Shecky Social morning assembly, and campers receive a values bracelet from their group counselors as a commemoration of what they contributed to the camp community.
In your opinion, what makes an excellent camps program? And what makes Asphalt Green’s Summer Day Camp program unique?
Our top focus is on safety. Asphalt Green Summer Day Camp is an American Camp Association accredited camp that follows a rigorous set of safety standards. Campers and staff need to feel safe and cared for in order for everything to work well. Beyond that, a strong camp program is rooted in clear values and intentional experiences. At Asphalt Green, we focus on helping campers develop character, confidence, and community. We want children to try new things, build friendships, practice independence, and feel proud of themselves. Here at Asphalt Green, we combine this values-driven approach with our incredible campuses right here in New York City. We are able to offer campers access to ample space to play, and a wide range of high-quality activities and special events. It’s a true camp experience right in the city!
What can we do to expand access to summer camp and recreational opportunities?
As a non-profit, we are very proud to offer scholarships that help make the camp experience available to more families, including those who may not otherwise have access to high-quality summer programs. We really believe in the value that camp brings to children. Investing in scholarship support allows us to reach more families and ensure that camp remains accessible and welcoming for a wide range of children in our community.
What are you most excited about for this year’s Summer Day Camp program?
We have some new theme days this year, including World Cup Day and I Love New York Day! We are welcoming international staff to our community for the first time, with coaches coming from places like Australia, the Netherlands, Spain and more. And of course, the Talent Show – my favorite day of the summer! I love to see our campers feel proud of themselves on stage and cheer each other on.
Explore More Parts of the Summer Day Camp Experience
Our Summer Day Camp page can take you through all you need to know about what Asphalt Green can offer new campers, with dates & rates, age divisions, activities, scheduling for tours, and so much more.
If you’re interested in seeing how we can give your child an unforgettable summer, explore our page below or contact us to speak with a Camps staff member directly.
