Summer doesn’t wait for your schedule, so we built a camp that bends with it. We sit down with Ed Metzendorf, founder of nextlevel Camps, to unpack how a choice-first model lets kids pick what they love each day—basketball at 10, DJ at 11, fencing after lunch—and why expert coaches change the game for real skill growth. If your family juggles travel teams, vacations, and late practices, you’ll hear how half days and flexible passes make camp feel possible again without losing quality.

Ed shares the path from creating camp software in Manhattan to running four day camps across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. We dig into the facilities that unlock serious variety—gyms, turf, dance studios, kitchens, and labs—and how that infrastructure keeps days smooth when weather or construction hits. You’ll hear the origin stories behind electives like fencing and even a yo-yo program, plus the “Try a Tuesday” tradition that nudges kids to step outside their comfort zones. The result: genuine discovery, better fundamentals, and the kind of confidence that carries into school and team life.

We also revisit the wild summer of COVID and the launch of “nextlevel To You,” a backyard micro-camp model that delivered thousands of two-hour sessions across three states. That pivot sharpened the team’s logistics and proved that great instruction can meet families anywhere. Along the way, Ed opens up about the realities of building a seasonal business—grassroots marketing, proactive communication, and why word of mouth remains the strongest growth engine. If you’ve been weighing town rec, travel-heavy weeks, or just need a smarter plan for July, this conversation offers practical insight and fresh ideas.

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nextlevel Camps
Ed Metzendorf
914-341-1488

Mailing address:
Next Level Camps,
2005 Palmer Ave #277
Larchmont, NY 10538

Summer Addresses:

The Ursuline School
1354 North Ave
New Rochelle, NY

IONA Prep Grammar School
173 Stratton Rd
New Rochelle, NY

Saddle River Day School
147 Chestnut Ridge Rd
Saddle River, NJ

nextleveldaycamps.com