Summer Day Camp · Grades 2–8 · New Rochelle, NY

Find Your Spark.

Arts STEAM Innovation and More

A different kind of summer day camp: a morning Academy in something your child loves, plus Chugim, sports, friends, and real summer fun.

Register for Summer 2027 See dates & details
Who
Grades 2–8 Campers entering these grades
When
June 21–25Aug 2–6Aug 9–13Aug 16–20 Summer 2027 · four one-week sessions
Camp day
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM Mon–Fri · individual days available
Where
New Rochelle, NY150 Stratton Road
New Rochelle, NY 10804
Three campers work together in a kitchen, pouring brownie batter into a baking pan
A smiling camper in a kippah holds the straps of his backpack

About Yetzira

A different kind of summer.

יְצִירָה

Yetzira means creation, and that’s at the heart of everything we do.

Yetzira is designed for children who want to create, build, perform, experiment, design, discover, cook, compete, and explore.

Rather than moving from one short activity to another, each camper chooses a primary Academy and spends meaningful time developing that interest every morning, all week long.

But specializing doesn’t mean giving up the fun of camp. Every day also includes Chugim (electives), sports and recreation, friends, and special programs.

Academy
Depth. More than two hours every morning in the passion they choose.
Camp
Variety. Chugim, sports, friends, special programs, and something new.
Yetzira
Part specialty academy, part traditional summer camp, and entirely Yetzira.

Our Philosophy

Every child has something that excites them.

Sometimes they already know what it is. Sometimes they just need the opportunity to discover it.

  • A dancer might discover robotics.
  • An artist might try cooking.
  • A scientist might love theater.

Academies give campers time to dive deeper into something they already love. Chugim, recreation, and new experiences encourage them to step outside their comfort zone. We want every camper to leave having grown in something they enjoy, and perhaps having discovered something completely unexpected.

Campers face off in a game of floor hockey on an outdoor court

The Yetzira Academies

Choose your passion. Create your summer.

Each camper chooses one Academy for the week. With Academy time running 9:15–11:45 AM every morning, campers go beyond simply trying an activity. They learn, practice, collaborate, and work toward a project, performance, competition, or other culminating experience.

Academies are designed for specific age or grade ranges, listed with each Academy at registration. Offerings may vary by week based on enrollment.

Arts

Acting & Theater Academy

Take the stage. Find your voice.

Whether campers are experienced performers or stepping onto the stage for the first time, they build confidence and creativity in a fun, supportive environment.

  • Acting techniques
  • Improvisation
  • Character development
  • Scene work
  • Ensemble
More about Theater

Throughout the week, campers work together to create and rehearse scenes and performances while developing communication skills, confidence, and friendships. The week may culminate with an opportunity for campers to share what they’ve created.

Dance Academy

Move. Create. Perform.

For campers who love to move, whether they have years of dance experience or simply love music and performing.

  • Hip-Hop
  • Contemporary
  • Jazz
  • Musical Theater
  • Choreography
  • Dance Production
More about Dance

Campers explore different styles of dance, learn choreography, develop technique, work collaboratively, and have opportunities to create choreography of their own.

The emphasis is on confidence, creativity, movement, teamwork, and fun.

Fine Arts Academy

Imagine. Design. Create.

Young artists get the time, freedom, materials, and guidance to explore their creativity while learning new techniques.

  • Drawing
  • Painting
  • Sculpture
  • Mixed Media
  • Jewelry
  • Fashion & Design
  • Photography
  • Digital Art
More about Fine Arts

Rather than simply completing a daily craft, campers have extended time to develop ideas and create work they’re proud to display and bring home.

Kosher Culinary Academy

Create. Cook. Taste.

Young chefs roll up their sleeves for a hands-on exploration of the culinary arts, all in a kosher kitchen under Orthodox kashrut supervision.

  • Kitchen safety
  • Measuring & mixing
  • Baking
  • Food preparation
  • Presentation
More about Culinary

Campers prepare a variety of dishes and desserts, with recipes that introduce cuisines and flavors from around the world while teaching the fundamentals of cooking and teamwork.

The week can culminate with a fun team cooking challenge where campers put their new skills and creativity to work.

Ingredients and kitchen procedures are supervised to Orthodox kashrut standards.

STEAM & Innovation

Wacky Science Academy

Experiment. Discover. Get messy.

Science is a lot more fun when you can touch it, build it, launch it, mix it, and occasionally make a mess!

  • Slime
  • Chemical reactions
  • Lava lamps
  • Catapults
  • Rockets
  • Edible experiments
More about Wacky Science

Wacky Science gives campers a hands-on introduction to scientific experimentation through exciting challenges and projects.

Behind all the fun, campers learn to ask questions, make predictions, experiment, problem-solve, and understand why things happen.

Build-A-Bot Robotics Academy

Build. Program. Explore.

Campers learn the fundamentals of robotics and coding through hands-on challenges using screen-free robots.

  • Motors & wheels
  • Sensors & LEDs
  • Sequencing
  • Rescue challenges
  • Mars missions
More about Robotics

Using components such as motors, wheels, sensors, and LEDs, campers build a variety of robots and explore how machines work.

They then move into coding, sequencing commands and programming robots to complete missions inspired by how robotics can help humankind, from rescue challenges to Mars exploration.

Video Game Creator: Scratch

Don’t just play games. Create them.

Campers become video game designers as they build interactive stories, arcade-style challenges, and animated adventures.

  • Characters
  • Animation
  • Scoring
  • Game mechanics
  • Logic
  • Storytelling
More about Game Design

Using Scratch and other age-appropriate block-based coding tools, campers learn fundamental programming concepts while creating games they can play and share.

Each project develops creativity, computational thinking, logic, and problem-solving skills while giving campers the satisfaction of creating something completely their own.

$

3D Printing & Entrepreneurship

Design. Print. Pitch.

What if you could dream up a product in the morning and eventually hold it in your hands?

  • CAD design
  • Prototyping
  • Printer operations
  • Branding
  • The pitch

Often geared toward older campers

More about 3D Printing

Campers get an introduction to accessible CAD design software and learn how ideas move from a computer screen to a 3D printer, exploring geometry, design principles, prototyping, and printer operations while developing their own 3D-printed products.

Then comes the entrepreneurial challenge: campers develop a product concept, name, brand, and pitch, bringing together technology, creativity, engineering, design, and entrepreneurship.

Sports June session

Arts, STEAM, and Innovation are at the heart of Yetzira. In June we also offer select Sports Academies, so younger campers get another specialty option while staying part of the Yetzira community, Chugim, and recreation.

Ages ~7–11

Basketball Academy

Dribble. Shoot. Compete.

Age-appropriate drills combined with challenges, contests, small-sided games, and plenty of actual basketball.

  • Dribbling
  • Passing
  • Shooting
  • Defense
  • Footwork
  • Court Awareness
More about Basketball

Coaches emphasize fundamentals, teamwork, sportsmanship, and confidence. The goal is simple: become a better basketball player while having a great week at camp.

Ages ~7–11

Playmaker Flag Football Academy

Run. Catch. Compete.

Young players develop football skills in a fun, non-contact environment, then put them into action through challenges and games.

  • Throwing
  • Catching
  • Route Running
  • Footwork
  • Defense
  • Offensive Concepts
More about Flag Football

Coaches emphasize teamwork, sportsmanship, and understanding the game while keeping everyone active and engaged. No tackle football, just skills, competition, teamwork, and plenty of touchdowns.

Chugim

Your Academy is just the beginning.

Chugim are Yetzira’s elective periods.

Twice a day, campers get the freedom to explore other interests, try something completely different, and perhaps discover their next spark.

New chugim week to week!

  • Cooking
  • Chess
  • Magic
  • Art
  • Dance
  • LEGO Challenges
  • Science Experiments
  • Yoga
  • Gaga
  • Pickleball
  • Basketball
  • Creative Writing
  • Theater
  • Music
  • Camp Games
  • Fitness & More
A counselor in safety goggles pours water into a camper's decorated bottle rocket
Science
A camper in a tie-dye shirt dances on the grass
Dance
Two campers paint with watercolors at an outdoor table
Art

A Day at Yetzira

Focus + exploration + camp.

We’ve intentionally designed the day to balance meaningful Academy instruction with electives, recreation, friends, and community.

  1. Arrival & Morning Welcome

  2. –

    Academy

    The same Academy all week, building toward a project, performance, competition, or challenge.

  3. –

    Chugim · Elective #1

  4. –

    Lunch & Community Time

  5. –

    Sports & Recreation

    Participation, movement, teamwork, friendship, and fun.

  6. –

    Chugim · Elective #2

  7. Dismissal

Two smiling campers sit side by side in a classroom
A counselor kneels on the field with her arm around a camper dressed as a superhero

Jewish Life & Community

A warm and meaningful Jewish summer.

Yetzira is built to feel like home for families in the Modern Orthodox and broader Jewish community.

Every day opens with morning tefillah and Torah time, and Jewish values run through the day alongside Arts, STEAM, Innovation, and the fun of summer camp.

  • Daily morning tefillah and Torah time
  • Kosher Culinary Academy under Orthodox kashrut supervision
  • Jewish values woven through the whole camp day
  • רוּחַRuachSpirit and joy that fill the camp day
  • קְהִלָּהKehillahA connected community where everyone belongs
  • זֶהוּתZehutJewish identity and values woven naturally into summer

Why Yetzira?

Find something you love.

Summer should give children the chance to pursue what already excites them, and the freedom to discover something entirely new.

  • Focused Academies

    More than two hours each morning devoted to learning, creating, practicing, and developing an interest.

  • Freedom to Explore

    Academies provide depth. Chugim provide variety. Campers never spend the whole day doing just one thing.

  • Outstanding Instructors

    Educators, artists, coaches, specialists, and professionals who are passionate about their fields and about working with children.

  • Hands-On Experiences

    Campers learn by creating, building, performing, experimenting, cooking, designing, competing, and doing.

  • Age-Appropriate Programming

    Academies designed for specific age groups, so younger and older campers each get experiences made for them.

  • Jewish Community

    Friendships, community, Jewish values, and a sense of belonging are an important part of the experience.

  • Real Summer Fun

    Recreation, special activities, friends, laughter, and plenty of chances to simply enjoy being a kid.

Two campers work at computers, one coding a game and one designing a 3D model

Operated by

Yetzira is run by Next Level Camps, the team behind day camps and specialty academies across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.

Summer 2027

Four weeks. Countless possibilities.

Attend one week or several. Campers who come for multiple weeks can choose a different Academy for an entirely new experience each time.

June Session

June21–25

Monday – Friday
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Arts & STEAM Academies, plus Sports Academies

Register for June

August Session I

August2–6

Monday – Friday
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Arts, STEAM & Innovation Academies

Register for Aug I

August Session II

August9–13

Monday – Friday
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Arts, STEAM & Innovation Academies

Register for Aug II

August Session III

August16–20

Monday – Friday
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Arts, STEAM & Innovation Academies

Register for Aug III

All sessions run in New Rochelle, NY for campers entering Grades 2–8. Individual day options are available. Specific Academy offerings and age groups may vary by session.

FAQ

Questions, answered.

Who is Yetzira for?

Campers entering approximately Grades 2–8. Individual Academies may have specific age or grade requirements so that programming is appropriate for each group.

What are the camp hours?

Camp runs 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Individual day options are also available. See a day at Yetzira.

Will Yetzira provide busing?

Busing will be available from Riverdale, Westchester, and Stamford at an additional cost.

Will Yetzira provide lunch?

A glatt kosher lunch is available at an additional cost.

Does my child need experience in an Academy?

No. Enthusiasm and curiosity are what matter most. Whenever possible, Academies will accommodate campers with different levels of experience.

Does my child have to attend all four weeks?

No. Families can choose individual sessions, attend multiple weeks, or sign up for individual days.

Can I sign my child up for single days instead of a week?

Yes, but availability depends on the Academy you select.

Can my child choose a different Academy each week?

Yes! That’s an important part of the Yetzira concept. A camper attending multiple sessions could spend one week performing in Theater, another experimenting in Wacky Science, and another designing in 3D Printing.

What are Chugim?

Chugim are electives. They allow campers to explore activities outside their primary Academy and try something completely different. See potential Chugim.

Who teaches the Academies?

Our goal is to bring together educators, artists, coaches, specialists, and professionals who are passionate about both their fields and working with children.

Is Yetzira a school or a camp?

Definitely a camp! Our Academies provide meaningful instruction, but Yetzira is designed first and foremost to be an exciting summer experience filled with friends, recreation, creativity, community, exploration, and fun.

Will there be sports?

Yes. Every day includes Sports & Recreation. During the June session, we also offer dedicated Basketball and Playmaker Flag Football Academies for younger campers.

Is the Culinary Academy kosher?

Yes. The Kosher Culinary Academy runs in a kosher kitchen under Orthodox kashrut supervision, covering both ingredients and kitchen procedures.

Maybe your child already knows what they love. Maybe they’re

an artist, a dancer, an actor, a chef, an engineer, a filmmaker, a scientist, a basketball player, or a programmer.

Or maybe they haven’t discovered it yet.

Find Your Spark.

Register for Summer 2027

June 21–25 · Aug 2–6 · Aug 9–13 · Aug 16–20
9 AM – 3 PM in New Rochelle, NY

Two foam-covered friends grin and give a thumbs-up
4 one-week sessionsJun 21–25 · Aug 2–20 Register