Anonymous
Post 01/27/2015 07:02     Subject: Valley mill camp
Wondering about people's experience with transportation to/from McLean. It seems like there are often traffic snarls on that stretch of the beltway between Va and 270. How much time do kids spend on the bus? Is the time for arrival at camp and drop off at the end of the day pretty consistent?
Anonymous
Post 01/09/2015 17:20     Subject: Re:Valley mill camp
Anonymous wrote:Very interested in Valley Mill. My only hesitation is that they seem to separate the boys and girls and my preference is for co-ed. For those whose kids have attended in the past, did you feel the gender separation made any difference to your kids' experiences there, either positive or negative? TIA.


I agree with you, in theory -- I would prefer a co-ed camp experience. For one thing, the activities are slightly different: the girls do arts and crafts and the boys do more team sports. But, my dd loves that it's single sex. Our first summer, she did the first, long, all-girls session and then went back for week 10, the much smaller, co-ed week. She did not like the co-ed experience as much as she liked the earlier part of the summer.
Anonymous
Post 01/09/2015 06:27     Subject: Re:Valley mill camp
Very interested in Valley Mill. My only hesitation is that they seem to separate the boys and girls and my preference is for co-ed. For those whose kids have attended in the past, did you feel the gender separation made any difference to your kids' experiences there, either positive or negative? TIA.
Anonymous
Post 01/07/2015 13:27     Subject: Valley mill camp
My 12 year old boy went there last summer and I'm going to send all three of my kids there this summer. Maybe not the whole summer but I like having one continuous session rather than split up into week-long sessions where the logistics get crazy with three kids. I love the outdoor focus.
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2015 20:49     Subject: Re:Valley mill camp
Anonymous wrote:For the afternoon pick up in NWDC, 5/510 will be a little hard for us to swing (could do it one week, maybe 2, if necessary). Was wondering if anyone has been successful in sharing after camp pick up with any of the other families (assuming I don't know any of the other families sending their kids). Is this something the camp would help coordinate (or give names of other families with the same pick up location to try to coordinate on our own)?


Because it's too early? I think one of their after care options is pick up at a Bethesda playground; that's probably more convenient for you than pick up at camp/coordinating carpool.
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2015 09:19     Subject: Re:Valley mill camp
For the afternoon pick up in NWDC, 5/510 will be a little hard for us to swing (could do it one week, maybe 2, if necessary). Was wondering if anyone has been successful in sharing after camp pick up with any of the other families (assuming I don't know any of the other families sending their kids). Is this something the camp would help coordinate (or give names of other families with the same pick up location to try to coordinate on our own)?
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2015 21:09     Subject: Re:Valley mill camp
My son did 6 summers there (ages 5-10). It was GREAT preparation for him to be able to go away to summer sleepaway camp when he was 11. For the kids, the bus experience is as fun as the camp itself! They seem to do a really good job choosing great counselors.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2015 20:36     Subject: Valley mill camp
My DS8 and DD6 love it there - this will be our fourth summer for my oldest. Agree dirty, tired and happy is how they come home - they've also learned to swim, kayak, canoe, rock climb, do archery, horseback ride, and made lots of friends.

Pick up and drop off is superb. Very easy - we've had the same bus driver every year. Aside from the $$, Valley Mill is perfect.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2015 20:23     Subject: Valley mill camp
My kids went there for a combined 7 years...they had a great time, always happy, never any issues, bus to NWDC worked out very well.

Anonymous
Post 01/05/2015 15:48     Subject: Re:Valley mill camp
Anonymous wrote:How does the bus drop off work if you are in NWDC? Is it generally on time, how is the supervision, what if parents are late to pick up?


Bus pick up is always on time, bus drop off in the afternoon is usually on time or even early, with the occasional traffic-related lateness. My child's bus was supervised by several counselors; we never hfad any problems. The counselor will hang out with your kid until you get there, but I imagine they'd talk to you if that was a habitual problem.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2015 15:44     Subject: Re:Valley mill camp
How does the bus drop off work if you are in NWDC? Is it generally on time, how is the supervision, what if parents are late to pick up?
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2015 15:19     Subject: Valley mill camp
It produces tired, dirty, happy kids. Which is my idea of summer bliss.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2015 15:07     Subject: Re:Valley mill camp
What specifically did you want to know? My dd has had a great time the two summers she has gone, and we've already signed up for summer #3
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2015 14:38     Subject: Re:Valley mill camp
Hoping someone has feedback on this camp as well!
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2015 12:46     Subject: Valley mill camp
Appreciate hearing about experiences with valley mill camp. Thanks