2016 Summer Camp Recommendations and Reviews

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

We looked at this and it sounded great, but I was worried about potential disruptive behavior from some of the kids - because a person I spoke to at the school said slightly cryptically "we get all different kinds of kids"

And that made you take a pass on the camp? Wow.

Yes, I don't want my kids taking part in any camp which is FULL of people who are out of control. If that's what you're looking for in a camp for your monkey, that's fine.

Oh my goodness. McLean is a school for children with mild to moderate learning differences, so yes, they get all different types of kids. I don't know why you would assume, based on that, that the camp is "FULL of people who are out of control." Please, do take a pass on the camp so that the rest of us can continue to enjoy it without your negativity.

Are all the kids out of control? or not? (genuine question!)

None of my very verbal children complained about out of control children. To the contrary, they loved it and want to go back next summer. FWIW, at drop off and pick up the kids appeared very mannerly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

We looked at this and it sounded great, but I was worried about potential disruptive behavior from some of the kids - because a person I spoke to at the school said slightly cryptically "we get all different kinds of kids"

And that made you take a pass on the camp? Wow.

Yes, I don't want my kids taking part in any camp which is FULL of people who are out of control. If that's what you're looking for in a camp for your monkey, that's fine.

Oh my goodness. McLean is a school for children with mild to moderate learning differences, so yes, they get all different types of kids. I don't know why you would assume, based on that, that the camp is "FULL of people who are out of control." Please, do take a pass on the camp so that the rest of us can continue to enjoy it without your negativity.

Are all the kids out of control? or not? (genuine question!)

None of my very verbal children complained about out of control children. To the contrary, they loved it and want to go back next summer. FWIW, at drop off and pick up the kids appeared very mannerly.

ok, good to know - thanks for responding!

[Anonymous]

15:01 your post broke my heart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:15:01 your post broke my heart.

me, too.

[Anonymous]

DC has enjoyed Knights of Columbus camp in Arlington. Free swim and swim lessons daily, crafts, games, and lots of outdoor time.

The extended day room is LOUD, though, which DC hated. Counselors and kids all seemed sweet when dealing with the little ones. DC has asked to go back for at least part of next summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree on the Head First multi sport. Our kid loved it and the swim reports were excellent. never got a single report from Beauvoir.

Unfortunately, we did the Sidwell Jr. Explorers Day Camp. DC seems happy and they've had cooking and Chinese and music but I didn't realize how much inside time they spend. That's on me though. DC likes it but has complained that there hasn't been a single sport all week (when I went to day camp we played basketball and kickball and soccer and still did music and art and crafts). We probably will skip Sidwell next year. The price is right, but summer should be outside.

We had a similar lackluster experience with Sidwell Jr. Explorers. Also found Beauvoir to be mediocre and agree that there was basically no communication.

Our 5YO has really enjoyed Camp Calleva. I was a little worried because this summer has been so hot and the program is basically all outdoors, but the kids seem to be having a blast. A lot of exhausted but happy-looking campers getting off the bus at the end of the day.

[Anonymous]

My kids love Valley Mill. They are exhausted in a really good, the day was well spent kind of way. Priceless.

[Anonymous]

Another happy Valley Mill customer. Had a boy and girl there, and they both loved it.

[Anonymous]

DS liked HoopEd Sports & Games camp (1 week) at Grace Episcopal Day School. Not enriching or skill-building, just fun. A good option for mid-late August.

[Anonymous]

Last day of camp for us at Valley Mill (3 weeks). My camper cried when coming home bc it had ended ... And declared that he will go back each year and when he's a teenager, work as a counselor!

Also had positive experiences at other camps, but this was the clear favorite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another happy Burgundy Farm camper here. My daughter is 4 and has seemed to have the best time. When I asked her if there were any special friends she wanted to try to have playdates with in the fall, she named her head counselor! They have been very warm and caring all summer long.

You got lucky. My 5 year old had a horrible experience at Burgundy. My sweet quiet exceptionally well behaved boy left behind his water bottle in the classroom as the counselors rushed him out the door to dump them at car line. It was 100 degrees, his face red, and sweaty, he asked the girl assigned to his group of he could get his bottle. She told him to shut up and just get it the next day. One morning he asked me to please remember to pack a fork in his lunch because he didn't like eating pasta salad with his hands. I said when have you ever eaten with your hands? He goes, yesterday you didn't put a fork in and I asked my counselor if she could please get me a fork, she told me to be quiet, there's no forks here, and eat with my hands. I brought this up to another counselor, who profusely apologized and told me that is absolutely not the case, they have plenty of disposable utensils for use by campers, but you need to walk over to another building to get them.

This is awful. Did the camp administration respond?

[Anonymous]

DD really enjoyed her first summer at CASA (she's 6). It was very well-run and well-staffed. I wasn't ready to let her go far from home every day on a bus, so this was a good option for us.

[Anonymous]

My rising first grader loved his summer at Valley Mill. Spent the whole summer there and just loved it...talking about coming back next year, etc. He learned how to swim.

My only critique is that I literally never got a single report or photo or anything about this summer. If not for parents days, I wouldn't have a clue what went on beyond what he told us. Since it's a camp that has a bus ride, parents are never at the camp so you'd think the camp would make more of an effort to communicate. But that's less of an issue with older kids- they can just tell you.

I'm glad to hear from PPs that the girls have also liked the camp. I couldn't tell from my son's reports whether girls camp was as cool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find it really hard to believe that all the good camps are in MD or DC (plus I suppose Camp congressional although that's crazy expensive) if you want them outside and not only doing county-run camps.

Are there NO good outdoorsy private camps in Fairfax county??

My kids did Adventure Links this year (not cheap) and had a great time. Outdoors all day (besides transit time) and during the van rides singing and talking--no electronics allowed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My rising first grader loved his summer at Valley Mill. Spent the whole summer there and just loved it...talking about coming back next year, etc. He learned how to swim.

My only critique is that I literally never got a single report or photo or anything about this summer. If not for parents days, I wouldn't have a clue what went on beyond what he told us. Since it's a camp that has a bus ride, parents are never at the camp so you'd think the camp would make more of an effort to communicate. But that's less of an issue with older kids- they can just tell you.

I'm glad to hear from PPs that the girls have also liked the camp. I couldn't tell from my son's reports whether girls camp was as cool.

I kind of like the lack of updates. The fact they are not sending emails and photos means they are getting on with the day and not wasting time "marketing".