Did you love the camp(s) your child(ren) attended this summer?

[Anonymous]

Okay--really "crazy" question. Has anyone done any time in any of DC Parks & Recreation camps--Turtle Park? Macomb Park?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would not recommend Homerun. It's a mad house and drop-off and pick-up felt very unsafe. I felt like anyone could have grabbed my DC and no one would have been wiser. I also think they say 5:1 ratio and that is definitely not the case. It's a bit much for a 4-year old.

I have totally 2nd this. I was happy to get a refund after taking my son out after the 1st day last summer 8/09. It seems totally disorganized, and I was afraid to leave him there at 9 yrs old. He had a horrible day, and endured bullying and teasing, so I took him out. He enjoyed Sidwell Summer, CASA at Sheridan, and Kids Set Sail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would not recommend Homerun. It's a mad house and drop-off and pick-up felt very unsafe. I felt like anyone could have grabbed my DC and no one would have been wiser. I also think they say 5:1 ratio and that is definitely not the case. It's a bit much for a 4-year old.

I have totally 2nd this. I was happy to get a refund after taking my son out after the 1st day last summer 8/09. It seems totally disorganized, and I was afraid to leave him there at 9 yrs old. He had a horrible day, and endured bullying and teasing, so I took him out. He enjoyed Sidwell Summer, CASA at Sheridan, and Kids Set Sail.

Could you share more about your experience with Kids Set Sail? I've never heard of it (just read about it online from a google search) and it sounds very interesting. I'd love to hear more...

[Anonymous]

My DS has been to Beauvoir, Lafayette DPR camp, Audubon, Discovery Creek, the old Rock Creek International School, Macomb DPR camp and CASA at Sheridan. There's one or 2 others also, but I can't think of them. We have tried a lot of camps in NW DC and Mont Co.

DPR camps: they are a mixed bag and it depends on the camp director. My son was choked by another kid at Lafayette and no action was taken. This summer they will only do 3-5 yr olds which is good since supervision in such a large area is poor. He went to Macomb last summer and Mrs. Gee runs a tight ship, so no problems. This summer, they are only having 3-5 yr olds at Macomb. I plan on trying him at Hearst for 2 weeks of soccer camp, but I do have some concerns and will check it out before I send him. Palisades DPR camp last year seemed well run when I visited a few times. The downside of all general DPR camps (for 5 and up) is that there is not enough activities to fill the day and so kids spend a lot of time playing and getting bored and getting into trouble.

Audubon is good with excellent staff, but my son did not like the kids who came across as bossy and competitive.

Beauvoir was ok. I felt the same as PPs - but he didn't want to return there after a full summer. (He went the summer he finished K). It was very cliquish with the Beauvoir kids sticking together and the younger counselors were not nice to the kids - one male counselor was very intimidating and scared my son. But this was a while ago.

Discovery Creek has excellent content, but the day is short and it's a lot of money. He has had great time for some sessions and a so-so time for others.

I cannot praise CASA enough. Many of the counselors are teachers and considerably older than other camp staff. They are patient, know the kids, like them and play with them. The kids do an enormous amount of creative arts work. The boy ratio dropped off considerably after 2nd grade and as we go on, my son is often the oldest boy (he's 4th grade this year) in the sessions. But he loves this place - because they have many returning staff. There are a whole bunch of artistic male counselors - great role models, so he never feels alone. It is an arts camp - broadly so, but this is not a general camp or a sports camp. The Creative Kids is wonderful for little ones.

The only drawback I see is that since the different ages are mixed together in sessions, the teachers have to teach to a lower level so those first graders catch on. My son really needs to move on into some more advanced methods which isn't possible. The director knows this and is trying to figure out how to have more advanced levels for the many returning campers. The kids tell the story - they really like it and many return. But there are always new friends to make. There are enough sports if you need a break from the art and in fact, my son learned to swim in one summer at CASA thanks to great instruction at AU where they do their lessons. Last year, he played tennis and field hockey, but he also worked on the pottery wheel and did three dimensional sculptures. The tuition is very expensive, but after trying out so many places, I'd rather pay for a happy summer experience than a bad one. I just save up for it. When you find a good camp, it pays to stick with it.

Hope you all find a good place for your child's summer adventures.

[Anonymous]

Loved loved loved Beauvoir last year. My daughter (a student at Aidan) was in heaven every day. So happy, busy and fun. Am sending her and her younger sib this year. A lot of my friends send their kids to Beauvoir and are equally happy. Highly recommend.

[Anonymous]

I'm the director of Camp Columbia @ Columbia Baptist, Falls Church. I a little bias I guess but we had a great time. New theme every week with field trips. Limo ride to Laser tag, trip to the Nationals...it's a lot of fun. http://www.columbiabaptist.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=69140

[Anonymous]

STAY AWAY FROM MERRITT ACADEMY in Fairfax VA-- the worst ever! Here is another reason to stay away...
http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/124937.page

[Anonymous]

stay away from MERRITT Academy summer camp! The camp director didn't even know my kid was not there the day he was home and called to tell us he was on his way home on a bus! Here are more reasons to stay away from this if you value your kids' safety and well-being...
http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/124937.page

[Anonymous]

Holy cr*p 1:08! That's shockingly bad. Won't think about putting my children in Potomac School camp summer 2001!

[Anonymous]

My 15 , 10 , and 7 year old kids did soccer camp at St. John's with Kids Pro Soccer, and it was very, very nice--if you are looking for quality, European teaching style soccer, this is the place to go. My 7 year old is not too crazy about soccer, but she did really well under coach Marcel, so thank for the motivation there...We did other multi-sport, and soccer camps in the past, and it was really for fun, ONLY...
I called and was told that the schedule for next Summer will be out by November.

[Anonymous]

*bump*

I am already thinking about where to enroll my active 4 year old son this summer for the month of August. This will be his first summer camp experience so I want to be sure there is a high camp counselor to child ratio as well as many outdoor, fun activities for him. Right now I am torn between Norwood summer camp and Sidwell. We are located in Bethesda and would like to stay nearby to lessen our commute.

I would love to hear from others with active 4 or 5 year old boys who attended either of these summer camps. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

My 6 year old daughter LOVED Pinecrest Summer Pavilion in Annandale, sending her back this summer. Lots of options with "themed" camps and great staff, loved the Director who was very kid oriented.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 6 year old daughter LOVED Pinecrest Summer Pavilion in Annandale, sending her back this summer. Lots of options with "themed" camps and great staff, loved the Director who was very kid oriented.

Considering this camp for my 7 year old who will be a rising 2nd grader in FCPS. Do non-Pinecrest School kids also attend the summer camp program?

[Anonymous]

bump

[Anonymous]

My dd went to Green Acres summer camp and really loved it (I just posted this on the Green Acres thread, too). Nice range of activities (she did dance, arts and drama). Friendly counselors.