2014 Summer Camp Reviews and Recommendations
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Anonymous
| 16 year-old rising junior is taking pre-calculus at Commonwealth Academy. All going very well. |
Anonymous
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Love these summer camps ... They are among my kids' favorites!
Madeira Camp Greenway (http://www.madeira.org/summer-programs/summer-community-programs/campgreenway/) Langley Summer Studio (http://www.langleyschool.org/summerstudio/index.aspx) Ideaventions (http://www.ideaventions.com/langley-summer-studio.html and http://www.ideaventions.com/summer-2014.html) HeadFirst Camps (MD & DC since VA closed) http://www.headfirstcamps.coml TIC in McLean (http://www.ticcamp.com) The popular camps fill up early when enrollment opens (Jan/Feb). |
Anonymous
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We are at DPR camp in DC, at Turkey Thicket. We are totally good with it, DS actually CRIED on Saturday when I told him it wasn't a camp day. It's obviously not as high end as many of the camps already mentioned, meaning the quality of arts and crafts or trips or the diversity of experiences (I wish they were feeding animals!) is not the same, but then again it costs all of $70/week including before and aftercare (so 8:00am-6:00pm) and it IS still fun. Great playground, spraypark, indoor pool (so swimming once/week at least (sometimes twice) no matter what the weather, plus a trip every other week.
It's not perfect, but it's fine, my kid is happy and enjoying it and the price is more than right, so we are good. And last year we were at Petworth DPR camp and we were also happy there. Today is "Bikes and Scooters Day", kids are encouraged to bring one of them but they'll also have extra there for kids who don't have them. They will play tennis and golf (golf!) before the summer is over, and there are more field trips coming up. It's actually amazing what a creative teacher can do with very little... the most important things are that my child is safe and having a really good time. |
Anonymous
Our 6 YO DS is doing Valley Mill this year and loves it. We have seen positive changes in him since he has been going. He is much more independent, self-assured, and willing to jump in and try new things. DH and I are thrilled. |
Anonymous
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Another thumbs up for Valley Mill. We are new to the area this year, so first year with summer camps. My 11 year old ds, rising 7th grader, absolutely loves it. It is heaven for outdoorsy kids -- swimming, rock climbing, sailing, canoeing, slack lines, gym, what they call pioneering (I guess learning to tie knots etc.), air rifles and archery. It's very organized and very active, and I love the door to door bus service. There are "bus parties" once a week. I wish the groups were a bit bigger -- although it's hard to get all the details from ds, I gather kids are put into one small group and then they stay with that group for the session. It would be nice to have larger groups or more mix and matching maybe -- although it's possible ds hasn't fully explained how all that works, he's a pretty laconic kid.
Butler Montessori for my girls has been more of a mixed bag. My middle kid in Outdoor Adventures mostly likes it although I think they somewhat over promise and under deliver in terms of all the activities they say they do, which may be attributable to counselors not being particularly organized. Like - whoops, we ran out of time again to go to the pool. Or we played soccer for the fourth time this week rather than doing ropes or creeking or whatever. My youngest loved Equestrian Adventures for the first two sessions but is totally bored in Young Adventurers, which is much more inside-based than we had been led to expect, and seems very preschool-y/daycare-y rather than summer camp-y. It might be good for a younger kid but she's at the top of the age range and is just not very thrilled with indoor playtime and arts and crafts all day. |
Anonymous
| Our 9yo and 7yo went to arts camp at the workhouse in Lorton, Va. Loved it. |
Anonymous
| Our children went to tennis camp at the Lee re center (Coach Rich camp). They want to go back next summer. |
Anonymous
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Our two just wrapped up two weeks of sleepaway at BYM Camp in Catoctin. Kids loved it. Came home having hiked, camped, swam, arts, games, canoeing, rock climbing and even enjoyed the chores.
http://bymcamps.org/ Although run by the Baltimore Yearly Meeting you do not have to be Quaker to attend. |
Anonymous
+1 6 and 8, did three weeks, loved it. Counselors are wonderful and the new director seems great. |
Anonymous
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5yo loved Norwood, WIS, Imagination Stage. Hated St Patrick's. Their daily swimming was boring and a waste of time. Hard to communicate with the teachers. Staffers were impersonal.
Favorites of older boy: Nationals, WIS, Norwood, Next Level. Not as excited about ESF sports, Sidwell soccer, Brit-Am soccer. |
Anonymous
| My son is at Manor Montessori School camp for the 2nd year (he is 4 1/2 years old). He goes to the school on Old Georgetown. They have sports almost every day from different sports companies, water play, arts and crafts every day, and have a lot of fun! All Manor Montessori schools have camp. Well worth their happiness. They accept kids starting at 2. I've seen older kids too at the age of 10. |
Anonymous
| 12 yr. old DD LOVES Arena Stage. Great for creative kids who love performing arts. |
Anonymous
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Another lover of Gymkana here. DC was in Gymkana for 5 weeks and LOVED it.
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Anonymous
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Favorites so far this summer (between two
kiddos): - Landon tennis camp (did half day) - Coach Lun's basketball camp at Whitman - Glen Echo claymation camp - and also no camp (just hanging out) 
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Anonymous
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My five year old's favorite camps so far:
Digital Kidz British Soccer (through Parktakes) Brooksfield Summer Camp Least favorite: Kids Pro Soccer (never, ever again) |