Congo Camp/How has your experience been so far

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is my DC's second summer at Congo capm. Their Day Camp offers many fun activities and my DC loves it. Their specialty camps are just so-so although my DC went to only two of the specialty camps (Other specialty camps may be good). Overall, Congo Camp is a good summer camp option, but we are not sure if we are going to come back next year. Their admin is weak, and I am tired of making phone calls and sending emails many times to solve issues (always answering machine and no reply to some emails). Probably the number of admin people is not enough compared to the number of campers. Overall okay but no attention to details and there are minor problems here and there. It may be okay for some people, but for me, it is not a well-organized camp.

This year was our first time in this camp. I absolutely agree with this statement. No organization whatsoever. Poor track of returning calls or following up on requests/questions. My DS was mostly bored. They were suppose to swim 3x that week and only did twice. The fabulous diving board was off-limits even to older kids. The food was atrocious (according to my DS who is not at all a picky eater).

The good thing is that DS got a lot of reading done while there as activities were not as enticing. The bad thing, we paid a heck a lot of money and DS could have stayed home reading.

Our experience was the complete opposite. I found the day camp to be much weaker than the specialty camp my son took. He had nothing much to say about the regular day camp. I really don't think they did much of anything each day. We did the specialty space camp last week and it was a completely different experience. My son camp home talking about what he was learning each day, he brought home projects he was proud of and he talked positively about his teachers.

I'm not sure we will do it again because it was so much money.

[Anonymous]

How much per week? Website is difficult to figure out...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How much per week? Website is difficult to figure out...

$425 a week. That doesn't include early cars or after care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How much per week? Website is difficult to figure out...

$425 a week. That doesn't include early cars or after care.

So, if I need 8:30 to 4ish, what am I looking at?

[Anonymous]

Drop-off is either 8:15-8:30 or 8:30-8:45 (depends on the week/program), so you wouldn't need morning care. Camp pick-up is 3:30-3:45. If you can get there by 3:45 you won't need afternoon care. The afternoon care this summer was $120/week (that covered 3:45 until 6:30pm if needed).

I'm kind of surprised by the negative comments about the camp. DS has been going for 3 years, and done a variety of camps (day, specialty, and travel), and has enjoyed all of them. He's also a finicky eater, and actually likes the food. I also haven't had any issues with organization or communication. On the very few occasions I needed to contact the programs (kid out due to illness, change in pick-up schedule, question about a program), I received responses the same day.

But for any large program (they sent an e-mail saying 1900 kids attended over the course of the summer), I think there are going to be kids/families for whom it's not the best fit. It happens to be a great camp for my kid.

[Anonymous]

I am also surprised by negatives. My DC has gone for part of summer 4 years in A row and it is one of the favorite camps. DC has done Piny Camp which is amazing. Tons of counsellors which show great care for kids, great pol and campus, bus from Arlington, but it is pricey.

[Anonymous]

At that price we could only afford two weeks or so. Worth it?

[Anonymous]

Yes. I think it's the best there is.

[Anonymous]

What exactly made you sign up for that?