2016 Summer Camp Recommendations and Reviews

[Anonymous]

We were very pleased with Knights of Columbus tennis camp in Arlington. DC got plenty of tennis instruction, but also enjoyed elements of the day camp including swimming. The counselors I engaged with all seemed to be very responsive and pleasant. DC wants to go back next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"On the downside, and this is for all camps--I'm quite tired of 3pm being considered a "full day". For those of us with 2 working parents, the added cost of aftercare and the pain of it only going til 6 is very frustrating. "

+1. It's just a way to make the base cost seem less. Since the sticker tag gets separated from the real cost of using the program.

Well, as someone with an au pair as child care I'm glad it's not till 5 where I'd be paying for care I don't need.

Agree and nice so many programs, like Sidwell, offer AM only options - those are nice to offer a break for the nanny from the older child...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a question about Sidwell Soccer camp. When the weather is like it is today and the next few days do they go inside? I've heard mixed things but wanted to see if anyone had a handle on what's actually happening.

My daughter was in Sidwell Soccer camp last week - they rotated through the air conditioned gym on those hot days - and took lots more breaks. She is older but said the younger kids did not go outside after lunch - only the game room and the inside gym. She is going back this week (forecast is in the 90s) and figures they will do the same rotations. They like the inside scrimmages but the older groups tends to vote for some outside time too even in the late afternoon. She said they also have some game room time after lunch (to digest lunch).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another for Sidwell.

Soccer seems totally brutal and I had stories of K[b]indergardeners with bloodied mouths, kids getting winded and balls knocking them in the back of the head.
[/b]
But I guess that can be fun.

Handwork camp - excellent, apparently, according to my DD.

What?! Not ok. Not ever ok for that age group.

Given the date of this post, it was probably my kid with the bloody mouth! It was an accident where another player kicked the ball into DC's face during scrimmage. It was not supposed to be part of the drill. These things happen in sports. Camp nurse treated the injury and wrote a full report. :>

Glad your camper was back on the pitch so quickly as a parent coach I know those kinds of accidents can happen (and too often given kiddos and how well they pay attention to one another!) - glad the camp nurse was helpful!

[Anonymous]

I'm surprised by all the rave reviews of Sidwell. My child attended KaleidoKids. The price was right, yes, and he had a great time, but I didn't find the program all that wonderful. He came home with printed-from-the-web reading, math, and coloring sheets, which I found weird. I like doing a little academics but I'd expect more from Sidwell than just a worksheet printed from the internet.

[Anonymous]

ID Tech's minecraft camp was a HUGE hit for 7yo DS. He wants to go again next summer for 2 wks instead of just 1. Major drawback is it's obscenely expensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone please suggest for a good drama camp in northern Va for 8-12 years old.

My slightly younger kids enjoyed Little Theater of Alexandria camp. There are different camps all the way through high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone please suggest for a good drama camp in northern Va for 8-12 years old.

My slightly younger kids enjoyed Little Theater of Alexandria camp. There are different camps all the way through high school.

DD went to Harmonia in Vienna. She's younger than yours but had a great time. They have sessions for older kids, too.

[Anonymous]

My rising first greater is at Congo. (Congressional school, Falls Church). He loves it. I love that, because I pay for bus, I don't have to pay for morning or extended day.

I don't love that he's lost 1 towel and 1 water bottle in two weeks and yes, they were labeled. I guess they expect the kids to be more mature than my son is.

Also, I feel a gap in what they do all day. For example, they ride horses 2X a week but we are not sent a typical calendar for a day and my 6 yr old is terrible at relaying info.

And an older kid bullies him. I'm grateful that APS don't allow bullying so was unsure on how to deal with it and hope that it's stopped soon.

I also love that they provide all food. So Convenient.

[Anonymous]

We've done KAH and Great Adventure Lab for rising 2nd grader. Both camps have been a big hit. From what I can tell, supervision by KAH staff is really good on field trips. They are assigned to a counselor and can't wander off.

[Anonymous]

Bar-T Mountainside and Academy of Fine Arts drama camps are big hits with my dds (10 and 8). Can't recommend them enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised by all the rave reviews of Sidwell. My child attended KaleidoKids. The price was right, yes, and he had a great time, but I didn't find the program all that wonderful. He came home with printed-from-the-web reading, math, and coloring sheets, which I found weird. I like doing a little academics but I'd expect more from Sidwell than just a worksheet printed from the internet.

Why are you surprised? The positive reviews have been for soccer and handwork camps, not the Kaleidokids you mention. That is why you're having a different experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised by all the rave reviews of Sidwell. My child attended KaleidoKids. The price was right, yes, and he had a great time, but I didn't find the program all that wonderful. He came home with printed-from-the-web reading, math, and coloring sheets, which I found weird. I like doing a little academics but I'd expect more from Sidwell than just a worksheet printed from the internet.

Why are you surprised? The positive reviews have been for soccer and handwork camps, not the Kaleidokids you mention. That is why you're having a different experience.

Since when does kaleidokids do academics? I've had my kids there for years and there's no math/reading and I've never seen a coloring sheet. It's a day camp, not a tutoring service.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised by all the rave reviews of Sidwell. My child attended KaleidoKids. The price was right, yes, and he had a great time, but I didn't find the program all that wonderful. He came home with printed-from-the-web reading, math, and coloring sheets, which I found weird. I like doing a little academics but I'd expect more from Sidwell than just a worksheet printed from the internet.

Is the camp run by an outside company? Or is it affiliated with the school?

[Anonymous]

My 6.5 year old son has really enjoyed the Virginia Baseball Club (VBC) summer camp. He's doing the full day camp at Yorktown, but they have camps at locations throughout Northern VA and they have a half day camp for younger kids. They do a lot of baseball drills and play two scrimmages per day. My son comes home happy each day and (surprisingly) wanting to play more baseball!

Although the full day camp technically starts at age 7, they'll also allow six year olds who have prior baseball experience to participate. Accordingly to DS, there are a good number of six year olds, so I think it's fine for this age too.

My only complaint is that, although it's "full day," the regular camp portion ends at 2. They offer extended day until 6, which DS does. I was a little worried that he would be bored with such a long time in extended day, but he seems to enjoy it. Apparently, they go inside for a short movie, board games, and basketball. Still, for a full day camp, I would prefer if the actual camp portion lasted a little longer. That said, we definitely like it and will do it again.