Recommendations for STEAM/Maker/Engineering camps in NW DC

[Anonymous]

Hi,
Looking for an update on STEAM camps that focus on maker/engineering, not solely coding/programming for 9 year old DD. Don't want her inside all day, and need to try to stay inside NW DC for ease of our commutes. Bonus if there is a non-STEAM camp at same location for her sports-minded brother.

So far have researched Kid Museum, Great Adventure Lab, TIC, Sidwell, Beauvoir, Headfirst, and Holten Arms. The first two seem maker-oriented but are challenging for us commute-wise and appear to be mostly inside. The private school ones have some weeks that could work.

What other options might I be missing?

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Not sure where you are in NW DC, but my kid does Lowell every year (we live close by). This year it looks like they have a STEAM theme. Here's a link to the brochure.

http://files.constantcontact.com/4311191a401/270fde2b-bbf0-47e0-93eb-083be6257574.pdf

[Anonymous]

OP here, thank you to PP for the Lowell suggestion. They have some interesting options during the choice time that fit DD's interest in design and building. Can you share any thoughts on the swim instruction, bus/drop-off/pick-up situation, after-care, and general program? I assume you're happy given you've been going back for several years, but any highs and lows to share? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, thank you to PP for the Lowell suggestion. They have some interesting options during the choice time that fit DD's interest in design and building. Can you share any thoughts on the swim instruction, bus/drop-off/pick-up situation, after-care, and general program? I assume you're happy given you've been going back for several years, but any highs and lows to share? Thanks!

PP here. Sure, happy to comment on sending my 7yo there for the past few summers:

swim: not sure during the day--we have never found group lessons super useful, though. I sort of assume they're just doing free play in the water. We usually opt for a couple of private lessons per week during aftercare, and have been happy with those. Our kid loves being in the pool, and has been taking private/semi-private lessons at Lowell off and on since age 3.

bus drop-off: we usually walk, so can't comment--sorry! When we drive, the dropoff is usually chaotic the first day of the session, and then gets better. I'd recommend getting there right at the beginning of dropoff, if not before, the first few days.

after care: fine, I think--kid seems to enjoy it all.

general program: Pretty good, although there's always a bit of chaos with lost swimsuits, etc.--part of that is that my kid is a space cadet, lol. We try to put name labels on everything. The program is pretty general for rising 2nd and under. As a rising 3rd grader, this is the first time my kid was able to choose her activities, since she'll now be in Fabulous Friends (3rd-6th) next summer. She chose some interesting options. A neighbor's kid chose the news reporter option last summer--pretty cool, as the kids get to film a news cast, reporting around the campus.

We're now having her branch out, so she only does one Lowell 3-wk session instead of two. She does enjoy it, so I think we'll continue with one session per summer for the next few years.