2012 Summer Camps Reviews and Recommendations (rebuilt)

[Anonymous]

This year, Burgundy Farm Summer Day camp in Alexandria was very good. My DD also really liked the Summer Enrichment Program at UVA.


Can you please tell me more about the Summer Enrichment at UVA? Thanks so much!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We had a great experience at Head First. Lots of focus on sportsmanship and respect--along with pure fun. Very well run and organized. Frequent requests for feedback from parents.

Had a terrible experience at Beauvoir summer camp on the other hand. Would not recommend it unless you have a compliant, quiet kid who likes to do crafts and play quietly. Counselors did not seem to have enough adult supervision, and they often seemed annoyed or overwhelmed. Don't be fooled by the shiny facilities; the culture of a camp matters more than the playground!

We had similar experience in camp Sonshine. People keep raving to the degree that makes you doubt who is behind those reviews...

[Anonymous]

Today is 1/14/2014 - bumping for anyone looking for feedback on camps for upcoming summer.

[Anonymous]

I would avoid Calleva. I've seen their buses on the road many, many times during my commute and they're run-down, driven fast and usually full of very obviously rowdy children. As an aside: if a camp will be transporting your kids by bus for any reason, you can check out the safety record on saferbus.org (a government website similar to the CPSC). Eye-opening, useful information posted there.

[Anonymous]

Signing up for Voyagers with Sidwell - my son cannot get enough of the water parks! discount offered until 1/31, $100 off each week

[Anonymous]

DD all signed up for Summer Horizons Camp. She loved it last summer! Teachers are all professionals, at least in the lower grades. The rest seemed nice, though.

[Anonymous]

We liked Sidwell, Lowell and Casa at Sheridan for a commutable DC camp with green space and aftercare. Sheridan camp was particularly strong in fine arts.

[Anonymous]

Our kid's favorite thing about Sidwell were her homeroom friends, and the bouncy-house waterslide activity. DH did not like the congestion/traffic around the school at pickup time or lining up to go into the underground parking lot (he is coming by car from Logan Circle area) so we probably won't do it again this year. Otherwise it was fine.