Summer 2025 Camp Reviews

[Anonymous]

I have two kids who have each done a few weeks at Sandy Spring. I was super nervous with all the drama this spring but camp has been similar to past years and pretty good. I like that they get to select their workshops- this is one of the few places my two very different kids can find stuff they like to do (we live relatively near the camp).

Drop off and pick up have been better than in the past, I wonder if enrollment is down and that’s why? I do hope that the camp survives regardless of what happens with the school.

Curious if others have had similar experiences this year.

[Anonymous]

Landon Boys camp was great. My 2nd grader was excited to go everyday for a few weeks. They communicated well and drop off/pick up was well organized I think it’s best for kids that enjoy sports but he also loved the woodworking and other activities.

GDS was kind of a bust. Neither kid really enjoyed their program. And I understood one of them was supposed to be full day but the instructor only stayed for half the day. The lunch was a good and they did like the playground.

Stone Ridge is a favorite for my younger DC. This is our 3rd year. Very organized, love the pool time and the counselors are always really friendly and fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Now that camps are in full swing, I thought it would be helpful to start a 2025 camp review thread.

So far, we have only done Calleva, and it has not disappointed by 7 or 13 year olds. Calleva is especially good for older kids. One thing to know about Calleva is that they have camp every day, including on Juneteenth and the 4th of July. I love sending my kids on those days because DH and I get date day, as we both have them off.

Calleva is not a safe camp

Love it when the bus drivers go to Harris Teeter for beers
Or when someone gets hurt the rest of the group sits in the emergency room

Never send a kid under 12

Calleva is awesome! Bus drivers do not go buy beer or make all the kids sit in the ER. This is totally made up and laughable. Calleva is wonderful! Amazing counselors and has always been a highlight of my sons' summer.

DP here. We have had more than a few concerning incidents at Calleva and not sure if we will return next year. The counselors have a strange tendency to teach mean behavior and songs to the kids in an attempt to be fun and cool.

Can you elaborate on the concerning incidents that happened at Calleva this year? Teaching mean behavior and inappropriate songs?

[Anonymous]

In regards to the Police camp above, Fairfax Fire has a 1 week free camp for high schoolers every June that looks incredible for those interested in Firefighting.

[Anonymous]

I know we are late to the party, but my kid LOVED Camp Letts. Said it was the best week of their life!

[Anonymous]

Also had not a great experience at a GDS camp. On paper it seemed amazing, but something was very off with my kid all that week and he clammed up about it. (Not suggesting anything super bad happened, but it was definitely not a fit for some reason.)

[Anonymous]

Headfirst at St Albans has been a hit with our daughter. Not sure much science was happening in "science" camp, but she had fun, and also enjoyed the day camp. The counselors have been responsible and kind, and we've seen dramatic improvement in her swimming from the swim lessons.

[Anonymous]

Any feedback on Butler Equestrian?

[Anonymous]

Girl Scouts sleepaway camps for the win this year for my kids.

[Anonymous]

Camp Louise (sleep away) was a huge hit for my 9 year old. She's already signed up for next year. She also did a cooking class though City of Rockville (Tiny Chefs) and she liked that one too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 6 yo so far did one week at Kids After Hours at Flora Singer. She complained that we picked her up too early one day so it seems like she had a lot of fun. It did seem like she was a bit overstimulated afterwards because she was a bit irritable in the evenings. But I call it a win that she was happy there.

Updating this post to share that our DD did two weeks here and seemed happy but she also shared there were bullies there and rated it lower than other camps she did, so we probably won't be sending her back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Now that camps are in full swing, I thought it would be helpful to start a 2025 camp review thread.

So far, we have only done Calleva, and it has not disappointed by 7 or 13 year olds. Calleva is especially good for older kids. One thing to know about Calleva is that they have camp every day, including on Juneteenth and the 4th of July. I love sending my kids on those days because DH and I get date day, as we both have them off.

Calleva is not a safe camp

Love it when the bus drivers go to Harris Teeter for beers
Or when someone gets hurt the rest of the group sits in the emergency room

Never send a kid under 12

Calleva is awesome! Bus drivers do not go buy beer or make all the kids sit in the ER. This is totally made up and laughable. Calleva is wonderful! Amazing counselors and has always been a highlight of my sons' summer.

DP here. We have had more than a few concerning incidents at Calleva and not sure if we will return next year. The counselors have a strange tendency to teach mean behavior and songs to the kids in an attempt to be fun and cool.

Can you share more? My kid loved Calleva when younger, a few years ago. After taking a few years away to go to sleep away camp, he's considering applying to be a junior counselor next year, but your comment concerns me.

[Anonymous]

My kids have been at calleva for 7 summers and they love it. We are at the VA location and havent had any issues with mean behavior. My kids do learn songs but I don't view them as inappropriate (although they are ridiculous songs (like not inappropriate just talking about gross concoctions or eating gross things). They also sing occasional popular songs during the talent show but I dont consider this inappropriate.

My only concern is that my kid was swarmed by yellow jackets yesterday (not the camps fault). He was stung 7 times and the counselors took care of him appropriately (gave him first aide, comforted him, and fought off wasps, they burrowed in his hair so the counselors had to get them out of his hair). However no counselor told me it happened which i found weird but I guess since he was ultimately fine it was fine. It doesn't change my opinion of the camp because my kids love it and I think running amuck in the woods is good for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Now that camps are in full swing, I thought it would be helpful to start a 2025 camp review thread.

So far, we have only done Calleva, and it has not disappointed by 7 or 13 year olds. Calleva is especially good for older kids. One thing to know about Calleva is that they have camp every day, including on Juneteenth and the 4th of July. I love sending my kids on those days because DH and I get date day, as we both have them off.

Calleva is not a safe camp

Love it when the bus drivers go to Harris Teeter for beers
Or when someone gets hurt the rest of the group sits in the emergency room

Never send a kid under 12

Calleva is awesome! Bus drivers do not go buy beer or make all the kids sit in the ER. This is totally made up and laughable. Calleva is wonderful! Amazing counselors and has always been a highlight of my sons' summer.

DP here. We have had more than a few concerning incidents at Calleva and not sure if we will return next year. The counselors have a strange tendency to teach mean behavior and songs to the kids in an attempt to be fun and cool.

Can you share more? My kid loved Calleva when younger, a few years ago. After taking a few years away to go to sleep away camp, he's considering applying to be a junior counselor next year, but your comment concerns me.

My very responsible 16 yo DS just finished his 2nd summer as a paid junior counselor with Calleva. He's had a great experience, loves the kids (and they seem to love him). I asked him about the above and he has no idea about any counselors teaching mean behavior or songs.

[Anonymous]

2nd year as a 16 yo counselor says it all. I’m not the original poster, but I have been telling people for years about Calleva having had interactions with their team in a professional capacity. It’s not a safe camp. The training and standards are not adequate for the activities they lead, and the risks are high for serious injury or fatality.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Now that camps are in full swing, I thought it would be helpful to start a 2025 camp review thread.

So far, we have only done Calleva, and it has not disappointed by 7 or 13 year olds. Calleva is especially good for older kids. One thing to know about Calleva is that they have camp every day, including on Juneteenth and the 4th of July. I love sending my kids on those days because DH and I get date day, as we both have them off.

Calleva is not a safe camp

Love it when the bus drivers go to Harris Teeter for beers
Or when someone gets hurt the rest of the group sits in the emergency room

Never send a kid under 12

Calleva is awesome! Bus drivers do not go buy beer or make all the kids sit in the ER. This is totally made up and laughable. Calleva is wonderful! Amazing counselors and has always been a highlight of my sons' summer.

DP here. We have had more than a few concerning incidents at Calleva and not sure if we will return next year. The counselors have a strange tendency to teach mean behavior and songs to the kids in an attempt to be fun and cool.

Can you share more? My kid loved Calleva when younger, a few years ago. After taking a few years away to go to sleep away camp, he's considering applying to be a junior counselor next year, but your comment concerns me.

My very responsible 16 yo DS just finished his 2nd summer as a paid junior counselor with Calleva. He's had a great experience, loves the kids (and they seem to love him). I asked him about the above and he has no idea about any counselors teaching mean behavior or songs.