CASA v. Sidwell Junior Explorer for 5 yr. old DS?

[Anonymous]

Any feedback on which one would be the best fit for my DS who is relatively shy and cautious, not particularly athletic, and loves to create/build things? Both programs sound great so I'm having a tough time deciding. I'm leaning toward Sidwell, but I am concerned that there will be too many kids coming and going since you only have to sign up by week. Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Dont' have an answer, but wondering if your child is currently at Sidwell? I ask b/c I am reluctant to use its camp if my child will not be going to the school. Am I wrong to assume that the camp will be filled with the kids attending the school? If my kid really bonds with them, and can't then go to the school, why do it? Just really dont' want to love the camp and then be shut out/rejected from the school. Someone, please tell me why I am offbase.

[Anonymous]

CASA is all about creating and building things, so that would be good for your son. There are no athletics to speak of for 5 yrs olds.

However, there are 1 or 2 junctures every single day where the place gets loud and rocking, and my own cautious and quiet son <hated> that so much he begged not to go to camp. They have camp-wide performances, with music, improv, etc. and they crank the mic up high and encourage everyone to shout. Every single camper is encouraged to shout and sing.

Most of the kids seems to like it or at least tolerate it, but I can tell you from direct experience it was very painful for my quiet DS. I will say that CASA was very nice about accommodating him.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for the feedback. We are not at Sidwell and are not applying there for school. I am not sure if the camp is all Sidwell students, although at the PK-1 age, I assume a lot of those kids would be at the Bethesda location anyway. I spoke with the camp director and she was very helpful answering my questions so I'm sure she could address your concern as well. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

If it helps at all, I"m sending my preschool age kid to Sidwell summer camp and will not be sending her to school there.

[Anonymous]

FWIW, we know several non-Beauvoir families who send their kids to Beauvoir's camp for the convenience--and also one Beauvoir kid who refuses to go to camp there because he doesn't want to spend the summer at school. So I think the camp and school populations can be quite different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: So I think the camp and school populations can be quite different.

Absolutely agree with this statement too. My son was @ WIS last summer and I only encountered two other children who actually attended the school there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dont' have an answer, but wondering if your child is currently at Sidwell? I ask b/c I am reluctant to use its camp if my child will not be going to the school. Am I wrong to assume that the camp will be filled with the kids attending the school? If my kid really bonds with them, and can't then go to the school, why do it? Just really dont' want to love the camp and then be shut out/rejected from the school. Someone, please tell me why I am offbase.

Sidwell's Junior program only has about 5-10% Sidwell students - participants come from all over, private and public schools. 80% stay 4-6 weeks (sometimes leaving for a week in July to go on vacation). If someone is using it as a fill in program - they usually come the first week or the August week. hope this helps! (The Bethesda Day Camp at the Lower School might have 10% Sidwell students given its location.) a Sidwell Summer person