Overview
This camp turns New York into the classroom. Every weekday morning, small groups of up to eight meet with their teacher somewhere new — a table in Bryant Park, a pier on the Hudson, a market hall in Brooklyn — and three times a week the lesson becomes a class excursion built around a real place. The focus is speaking and fluency, so teens get far more practice than in a school room, with Fridays set aside for the mistakes heard in class that week.
Afternoons and evenings are a full, supervised program of the city's big hits and local favourites: the Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park, Coney Island, a Broadway musical, a baseball game, the Summit observatory and a speedboat ride to the Statue of Liberty, plus movie nights, karaoke and a cultural exchange evening with teens from 20+ countries.
Campers live in a residence in Brooklyn Heights with live-in staff and a 10:30 pm curfew, and travel with an unlimited subway pass. The camp is for 14- to 17-year-olds with at least a pre-intermediate level of English.
What's included
A day at camp
- Morning Breakfast, then English class from 9:30 to 12:30 (Monday–Friday) in a small group of up to 8 — each day at a different indoor or outdoor spot in New York, with three class excursions a week
- Midday Packed lunch out in the city, or lunch together on location on Mondays and Fridays
- Afternoon Supervised outing with the camp chaperones — a museum, landmark, neighbourhood walk or something just for fun
- Evening Dinner, then an evening activity or a relaxed chill-out night at the residence; everyone is in their room by 10:30 pm
- Weekends Bigger outings — Coney Island, a Broadway musical, the High Line and Hudson Yards — plus a free choice on Sunday (an optional MoMA visit or shopping), a game night, and last-minute shopping before departure
Where campers stay
Teens live in a student residence in Brooklyn Heights, a 5-minute walk from the Brooklyn Promenade and its view of the Manhattan skyline, and one subway stop from Manhattan. Teens and young adults live separately. Rooms are twins or triples with an en-suite bathroom, shared with another camper of the same gender but a different nationality, and furnished with beds, desks and closets, Wi-Fi, cable TV, a fridge and a microwave. Bed linen is provided, but bring a bath towel — it isn't. Residence managers live on site and are there 24/7. The residence has 24-hour security and key-card access to the building and every room, lounges with a pool table and a movie room, vending machines, iPads in the lobby and a laundry room (about US$5 a wash and dry). Rooms are cleaned before arrival and once a week. No guests and no smoking in the residence.
Meals
Full board. Breakfast (from 8 am) and dinner (7 pm) are at the Montague Diner, a 5-minute walk from the residence, and the residence managers take the group there. A typical breakfast is French toast, bacon, sausages, yoghurt, cereal and juice; dinner might be chicken parmigiana with fries and vegetables, wraps or salads, always with a vegetarian option. Lunch is a light packed lunch on most weekdays, lunch together on location on Mondays and Fridays (pizza or burgers), and a diner lunch on Sundays. Most special diets and allergies can be catered for if they're listed on the enrolment form; teens with a severe allergy should bring their EpiPen or medication and carry it at all times.
Excursions
More photos
Frequently asked questions
Where do the English classes take place?
Not in a school building — the city is the classroom. Each morning the group meets at a different indoor or outdoor spot, for example Brooklyn Bridge Park, Bryant Park, Pier 57, Industry City or Brookfield Place. Locations are picked for comfort, space, easy access and nearby restrooms, and the class sits around a table in a group of 8 at most (5–6 on average). If it rains or is too hot, class moves to an indoor venue or becomes an indoor class excursion.
What level of English does my child need?
At least pre-intermediate — beginners and elementary-level students can't be guaranteed a class. Every camper takes an online level test before arrival (without help, so the result is accurate) and is placed in a group at their level. If the level feels wrong after the first day, a short speaking test sorts it out.
Is it just conversation, or do they learn properly?
It's structured, not just chatting. Monday to Thursday are topic lessons that build vocabulary and speaking, with three class excursions a week where the lesson is built around a real place — for example a lesson on architecture that ends with a tour of a famous building. Fridays are for accuracy: the teacher works on the mistakes heard in class that week. There's no textbook; materials are prepared for each topic. Teachers hold a teaching degree or certificate and have prior experience. Classes always mix genders and nationalities, and students come from 20+ countries, so English is the common language.
Who looks after them?
Camp chaperones lead every outing, at 1 chaperone per 15 teens, and stay in touch with the teens by phone. A camp coordinator and camp manager are on site throughout, and the coordinator is also the welfare officer, reachable 24/7. Residence managers live in the residence and are there round the clock. Teens wear a lanyard with their name and the emergency number, may only go out in the evening with the chaperones, and must be in their rooms by 10:30 pm — rooms are checked at 10:30 and again at 11:30. All activities are compulsory.
Can they keep their phone?
Yes, including in the evening and at night, but they're expected to be sensible after curfew. If a teen is visibly tired or late in the mornings, the residence managers will talk to them and may keep the phone overnight. An international phone plan helps in class too, as teachers share materials through the class chat — bring earbuds as well.
How do they get from the airport?
The camp runs a shared bus from New York JFK on arrival day (Sunday, flights landing 12 noon–6 pm) and back on departure day (Saturday, flights leaving 5–11 pm) — US$100 each way on the 2027 price list, plus US$130 each way for the unaccompanied-minor service (pick-up at the airline desk on arrival; check-in, security and boarding on departure). Outside those hours, or from Newark, a private unescorted transfer is US$205 (JFK) or US$255 (Newark) each way. Flights aren't included.
Can my child join without the residence?
Yes, if the family has its own place in New York: the 2-week day camp is US$1,550 and includes the English classes, the afternoon and evening activities and lunch on Mondays and Fridays. The subway pass and other meals aren't included. Day-camp dates are Monday to Friday: Jul 5–16, Jul 19–30 and Aug 2–13, 2027.
Can we combine New York with Toronto?
Yes — the operator runs the same camp in Toronto and sells combined packages, saving up to US$600 compared with booking separately. On the 2027 price list (US$, airport transfers included, the flight between the two cities not included): 2 weeks in New York + 1 week in Toronto, Jul 4–24: US$5,555; 2 weeks in Toronto + 1 week in New York, Jul 4–24 or Jul 18–Aug 7: US$5,795; 2 weeks in each city, Jul 4–31 (either order) or Jul 18–Aug 14 (Toronto first): US$7,495. Ask us and we'll check availability.
Does my child need a visa?
Families arrange travel documents themselves. Teens with a passport from most EU countries need an approved ESTA (the online US travel authorisation) before they board — apply well ahead. The camp confirms the program can be followed on ESTA or a tourist visa, not a student visa, and can supply supporting documents. For any other passport, ask us and we'll check what applies.
How much pocket money should they bring?
At least US$150 a week, changed into dollars before they leave. Teens often buy clothes or shoes as well as souvenirs, drinks and snacks. It's best to carry only what's needed for the day; the camp isn't responsible for lost money.
What insurance does my child need?
A comprehensive travel and health insurance policy is compulsory — every camper must have one before leaving home. Ask us if you'd like help choosing.
What if my child gets homesick?
The first couple of days can feel big — new country, new friends, a new language — and that usually passes once they settle in. A teen can go home early, but there's no refund for the unused part and any flight-change costs are the family's, so it's worth preparing them for the first days before they travel.
What do we need to send before camp?
A health form (allergies, treatments, diet), sent to you at booking and due back signed at least 6 weeks before the start, and the camper's flight details at least 7 days before arrival. For the Cultural Exchange evening, campers bring something from home to share — sweets or snacks, a small souvenir, or a game from their country.
What should they pack?
Comfortable walking shoes, light summer clothes plus a jumper for air-conditioned places, sun cream, plug adaptors, pocket money, a photocopy of the passport, a notebook and pen, headphones for lessons and a phone with a data plan set up before they travel. And a bath towel — the New York residence provides bed linen but not towels.
What are the payment and cancellation terms?
The operator takes a deposit when the place is confirmed (US$600 for a camp with accommodation) and the balance 28 days before the start. A residence booking cancelled in writing more than 28 days before the start is refunded in full; after that a US$300 administration fee applies. We'll send you the full terms before you book.