My child love Spanish Summer Camp at Waterfont Academy and he is learning!!! They go out regularly on field trips, splash pads, and to the playgrounds. They have themes for each week and get the vocabulary in each of these areas and science experiments to get even more new vocabulary. Learning, fun, and safe - awesome!!!

Kids Set Sail in DC got rave reviews from DS. The week included a capsize drill (!), which he loved, and ended with a regatta. Great coaches, too! We'll definitely be doing this camp again.

Second for TIC. My rising 2nd grader absolutely loves it. Awesome combo of programming and sports, with nice kids and counselors.

Highest recommendation for TIC Camp in McLean. My 6th grader likes the technology part of the day (he is in filmmaking) and is having a great time with sports as well.

Another for Camp Sonshine! My DC comes home happy, filthy, and full of camp spirit. They spend nearly the whole day outside which we love!

Another for Sidwell - my daughter is in the soccer camp now -loves it. No stories about any bloody noses

We also love the Explorer Programs and Voyagers (a whole week of water parks has my kid happy! and mom happy that she does not have to go too!). Agree - with the early bird discount - $100/off each week, made more affordable!

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.

I thought that, but the K was back on day 2 for more. I am not a contact sport person so I figured this was just the way things are when you're starting out with ball games. But I guess it doesn't have to be so.

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.

Anonymous wrote:Howard County parks and rec outdoors camps. Sent 9 year old for the first time last week and it was fabulous - outside the whole time, with canoes and kayaks and archery and fishing. And affordable!

WOW! That's amazing.

Howard County parks and rec outdoors camps. Sent 9 year old for the first time last week and it was fabulous - outside the whole time, with canoes and kayaks and archery and fishing. And affordable!

Another for Sidwell.

Soccer seems totally brutal and I had stories of Kindergardeners with bloodied mouths, kids getting winded and balls knocking them in the back of the head.

But I guess that can be fun.

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

Pg county parks and recreation. Very affordable, various options and the campers are always nice and friendly

I say this every year (5 of them now) but we love Sidwell Summer. Great options, well organized, wonderful teachers, kids see the same campers year to year and...possibly most importantly...its cheap if you sign up early.

Camp Sonshine - love love love!

Had a Pre-K & 2nd grader there last week. They had a great time and the counselors seemed very warm/enthusiastic. We've gone several years now & had a good experience each year. Normally do a few weeks, but for Pre-K it would work for a full summer.

Primary dislike: new nut-free policy (since DC lives on PB), although I realize that's a plus for many families.

Please provide reviews and recommendations (or camps to avoid) for 2016. The threads in previous years have helped me out but sometimes worry that the info is dated.


thanks!

Links to previous years threads:

2015 Summer Camp Reviews and Recommendations
http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/484238.page

2014 Summer Camp Reviews and Recommendations
http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/393886.page

2013 Summer Camp Reviews and Recommendations:
http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/314047.page

2012 Summer Camp Reviews and Recommendations:
http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/248167.page