Camp Gnarly NYC
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
Camp Gnarly NYC offers a unique, child-led summer camp experience with a strong emphasis on diverse, adventurous activities and exceptional staff responsiveness. Founded by a parent and an enthusiastic educator, the camp prioritizes personalized experiences, swift feedback resolution, and a wide array of choices from rock climbing and paddle boarding to daily swim instruction and special Friday excursions, all while being a more affordable option.
Key Highlights
- ✓Child-led, self-directed daily activities with electives and special programming where children choose their experiences.
- ✓Diverse and unique adventure activities including rock climbing, parkour, horse back riding, paddle boarding, and fishing.
- ✓Weekly swim instruction (4 days a week mentioned in one review).
- ✓Friday outdoor excursions culminating in fun treats like bouncy houses, snow cones, and cotton candy.
- ✓Door-to-door transportation is offered, and initial kinks were quickly resolved by responsive founders.
- ✓Seamless registration process.
- ✓Highly attentive, professional, knowledgeable, kind, loving, and caring counselors, many of whom are young and passionate.
- ✓Founders (Carol and Gabrielle) are exceptionally responsive to parent feedback and quick to implement changes and resolve issues.
- ✓Flexible pick-up and drop-off options (morning/afternoon) and extended hours are available.
- ✓Camp includes two field trips per week.
Standout Features
- ⭐The unique and varied activity offerings, allowing children significant choice in their daily experiences.
- ⭐Exceptional, dedicated, and caring camp counselors who actively engage with children, uplift them, and respect their preferences (e.g., sitting out activities).
- ⭐Unparalleled responsiveness of the founders to parent feedback, leading to rapid improvements and a feeling of being valued.
- ⭐Consistent inclusion of swim instruction multiple times a week.
- ⭐Convenience of door-to-door transportation (after initial adjustments) and flexible pick-up/drop-off times with extended hours.
- ⭐Memorable Friday excursions with special treats like bouncy houses, snow cones, and cotton candy.
- ⭐Strong value for money, noted as 'considerably less expensive' than other camps while offering a rich program.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →If using transportation, communicate any issues promptly to the founders (Carol and Gabrielle), as they are highly responsive and quick to resolve problems.
- →Encourage children to actively participate in choosing their activities, as the camp operates on a child-led model with a wide range of electives.
- →Leverage the flexible pick-up/drop-off times and extended hours if your family requires this convenience.
- →Be prepared for your children to express a strong desire to return to Camp Gnarly for future summers.
Things to Consider
- ⚠Transportation experienced issues during Week 1 (parents should be aware this might occur, but it was resolved by Week 2 after parent feedback).
Price & Value
The camp is described as 'considerably less expensive than other camps' while providing a full, eventful day of play, unique activities, swim instruction, flexible logistics, and responsive leadership. This suggests a high value proposition for the cost. Specific pricing details are not mentioned in the reviews.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •No specific accessibility accommodations (e.g., wheelchair access, sensory-friendly options) are mentioned in the reviews.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •The camp provides treats like snow cones and cotton candy on Fridays during outdoor excursions. The reviews do not specify a policy regarding outside food or other meal provisions.
🚗Parking Info
- •Door-to-door transportation is offered. For parents opting for self pick-up/drop-off (which is facilitated by flexible morning/afternoon times), the reviews do not provide specific details on parking availability (e.g., dedicated lot, street parking).
👥Crowd Levels
- •Reviews do not indicate any issues with overcrowding. The focus on individualized attention, child-led activities, and attentive counselors suggests a manageable camper-to-staff ratio.
🛡️Safety Features
- •Staff are consistently described as professional, knowledgeable, kind, loving, and caring, actively prioritizing and ensuring children's safety.
- •Counselors are highly attentive to children's needs, providing support to try new things while respecting their decisions to sit out activities.
- •The employment of young, passionate staff underscores a dedication to providing the best and safest experience for the children in their care.
⏰When to Avoid
- • Parents who prefer a highly rigid, pre-set activity schedule with minimal child input may find the child-led approach less suitable.
- • Do not assume door-to-door transportation will be entirely flawless from day one, though any initial issues are shown to be quickly and effectively addressed.
Pricing/Package/Events
Events & Schedule
Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)
Camp-Wide Events & Theme Days
Throughout the 6-week program
Included in weekly camp fee
Includes activities such as lip-sync performances, medieval water balloon battles, newspaper fashion shows, and shaving cream battles.
Birthday Shout Outs
Throughout the 6-week program
Included in weekly camp fee
Special recognition for campers' birthdays.
🍎Food Policy
- • Campers must bring lunch from home.
- • Caution advised for campers with allergies regarding the 'Sundae Monster' activity.
🛡️Safety Policy
- • Campers are ensured to wash their hands throughout the day: before meals, before and/or after specific activities, and after going to the bathroom.
- • Hand washing stations and hand sanitizers are located around Camp and on each dining table.
- • Refillable water stations are available to ensure campers stay hydrated.
- • Counselors remind campers to wear sunscreen, and sunscreen is available at many activity areas.
- • Counselors assist younger campers with applying sunscreen before the day begins.
- • A significant number of camp counselors are certified in American Red Cross First Aid and CPR.
- • Every member of the swim staff is certified for American Red Cross Lifeguard.
- • Campers undergo swim tests and are rated in one of five proficiency categories; personalized swim instruction is provided, and certain swim areas/activities may be restricted based on minimum swim criteria.
- • Lifejackets are mandatory at all times during waterfront activities.
- • Buddy swimming is required only in supervised areas.
- • On every trip, a staff member carries a complete medical kit and a copy of each camper’s medical history and emergency contact information.
- • A 5-day staff training program addresses topics such as anxiety, stress, and mindfulness.
- • All specialty activities are led by professionals in their respective fields.
- • Mandatory items for campers to bring daily: a backpack with extra clothes, lunch/snacks, water bottle, sunscreen, and bug-spray.
- • Recommended attire for land activities: closed toe shoes, shorts, or a dress with shorts underneath.
- • Recommended attire for water activities: long sleeve UV Protected Rash Guard (recommended), bathing suit/swim shorts, and closed toe water shoes (Crocs and Flip-Flops are unacceptable).
📅Booking Policy
- • Campers select their preferred specialties and electives at the time of enrollment.
- • Families are allowed 2 changes to their camper's selected specialties/electives prior to June 1, 2025.
- • Switching activities during the middle of the week is generally discouraged, but necessary and immediate changes will be accommodated.
🚗Parking Information
- • The camp location (The German School BK) is easily accessible by car. No specific parking details are provided.
Photos
What People Say
What's Great
- Fun and entertaining activities (mentioned in 3 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Meredith Prout
3 years agoI remember the first time I reached out to Carol and Gabrielle the two founders of Camp Gnarly. I was immediately impressed by their unique offerings. Carol a parent, who relates to the concerns and challenges of finding the right summer camp for your child. Gabrielle an enthusiastic spirit with a zeal for creating memorable experiences. They offered all the things, a full eventful day of play, door to door transportation and weekly swim instruction. Our family signed up for all 6 weeks. Now, I’d be remiss not to mention some of the challenges. Transportation was a bust week one, I spoke with both founders and they miraculously managed to iron out most kinks by week 2. I always felt like my feedback was considered and appreciated. I remain amazed at how open Carol and Gabrielle were to critiques and how quickly they were able to turn things around. Camp Gnarly is what I would call a self directed - child led day camp. They offer electives and special programming that the children get to choose. My children had swim instruction 4 days a week, enjoyed activities like rock climbing, parkour, horse back riding, paddle boarding and fishing to name a few!! It doesn’t end there folks… on Fridays after their outdoor excursion, the children were treated to a bouncy house and summer time favorites like snow cones and cotton candy. My children loved everyday at camp, from making new friends and trying out activities they would have never thought to explore. The camp counselors were great and attentive to my children’s needs. It was also great to see a neighborhood camp employ so many young people who displayed a real passion to offer the best camp experience to the children in their care. My children are already asking about next year. Thank you to everyone who helped make summer 2021 a memorable one. Way to go Camp Gnarly - a true Brooklyn gem.
Lygia Mitchell
a year agoThis was my daughter’s 1st day camp experience and she had an amazing time. Registration was seamless and all of the staff were professional, knowledgeable, and kind. The activities offered by the camp were unique and fun. She made so many new friends. In her words, “ This is the best camp ever and I’m coming back next year.” To all of the staff at Camp Gnarly, thank you for all of your hard work, dedication, and for keeping my daughter safe. This was such a memorable summer. I look forward to seeing you all next summer!
Larissa Metchom
2 years agoAfter trying a few different summer camps, we have finally found the best one after spending one summer at Camp Gnarly. The ability to pick up and drop off children in the morning or afternoon, the extended hours, and the excellent counselors were all very welcomed. The abundance of wonderful activities your child can select from during the camp, though, is its best feature. They put a lot of effort into customizing your visit for your child (s). Additionally, it is considerably less expensive than other camps we had looked into. They had outings on Fridays and swam four days a week, which I found to be wonderful. I sincerely suggest this camp.
Tara Anderson
a year agoCamp Gnarly was an awesome experience for our kids. The activities are fun and varied, but the real stars of the show are the incredible counselors, all vibrant, positive, fun young people who made our kids feel special and uplifted. Both of our kids can be reticent to try new things and the counselors helped them find their way to participating, and respected when they wanted to sit some things out.
Annalise Frank
a year agoCamp Gnarly is the best day camp there is! My son had the best time with all of the loving caring counselors and twice a week field trips. I cannot stress enough how excited he was everyday to go to Camp Gnarly. We’re so excited to return for next summer!