2023 summer camp reviews
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Anonymous
Just jumping on the band wagon - we have a friend whose DD has needs and she does very well at Louise - for a few years now. I don't know the specifics of what they do for her succeed at camp but maybe being out of the home/school setting helps. She has ADHD, some behavioral issues and maybe HFA. As a side note, the camp has been around forever, my Mom went there as a kid!
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Anonymous
We’ve been at summer at Potomac for years and it’s consistently good. My kids love it. |
Anonymous
| We tried Sonshine this year - Germantown. My DD liked it. I feel they were very organized and kept the kids busy. Drop off/pick up was easy. The only touch of religion I saw was a note that the counselor sent home that had religious overtones to it (I knew going in about the amp background) but it was not a big deal and I would send my DD back next year. |
Anonymous
| DS - heard into 7th - did camp Horizons for the first time this year. Very positive experience. |
Anonymous
Very similar to our experience there. Early arrival, clear schedules, adult support (I think this is really where we struggled in the past, with just young staff), breaks and quiet spaces. And yes, those pre-camp calls were key - knowing in advance what kind of behaviours could pop up and possible triggers. |
Anonymous
Valley Mill is another camp like that, we did for 2 summers in a row, multiple pick ups in DC. |
Anonymous
| Can anyone report on CTY this year after last year's cancellation debacle? |
Anonymous
| Second summer doing the Italian Cultural Society Italian camp (rising K), so well-run and fun. |
Anonymous
We did the Potomac soccer camp last year and it was awful. They had the kids watching hours and hours of movies every day (like 3+ hour per day). There was supposed to be swimming, but they were very disorganized so the kids changed into swimsuits some days and then didn't have time to get in the pool. At max, the kids got to swim for 15 minutes per day. Some fancy soccer coach was running it, but it was literally the worst camp my kids have ever attended. Lazy, unengaged counselors. Zero programming outside of soccer and minimal soccer playing. And it was extremely expensive. |
Anonymous
| Calleva has been a disappointment again this year. It was so good pre-covid, but I think doesn't have the staffing it needs. This week, DS's group had to stay at Riley's lock the first day because neither counselor could drive the bus. They've also been told that they aren't allowed to leave the state for the Thursday overnight, which means they won't go anywhere different/special. |
Anonymous
| My son is in his last week at AFYP at GMU and he's loved every minute of it. The staff is great, they keep them engaged all day (I was worried it wouldn't be active enough but he's worn out when I pick him up), and the plays they do are so stinking cute. He's already telling me that next year he wants to skip the tae kwon do camp he did during the first couple of weeks of the summer and just do AFYP for all of their sessions. |
Anonymous
| My kids have done a few weeks at SSSA camps. This is their third year. They have done some sport camps and some academic camps. They love it! Transportation is so easy, they just really have their act together. |
Anonymous
| Does anyone have any reviews for sleep away camps? I've been looking for recommendations for my middle school boys for next year. Would go as far as Maine. |
Anonymous
My son loves Kabeyun, an all boys camp in New Hampshire that deemphasizes athletics and competition and instead offers waterfront activities, adventure activities and hiking, and arts and music. https://kabeyun.org/ |
Anonymous
| We actually had a great experience at the DCPS middle school program for our rising 6th gradee. |