hi, wanted to bump this. any recent reviews of this? has anyone done camp there in recent years, especially for small kids? would you reccomend it or do it again?

Camp at the Y in Silver Spring is the only camp my easy going kids refuse to return to.

I’ve sent my kids on and off through the years. The last time they went though, they were enrolled in specialty camps and the place was so chaotic they were put in the wrong camps initially. It wasn’t a huge deal, as they were old enough to speak up and get it sorted out, but after that, even the kids aren’t too interested in going to the Y for camp.

We did one a couple years ago. The communication was not good and the schedule didn't seem to be followed, nor were they clear on what days were pool days. But my kid liked it well enough. I'd hesitate to send a younger camper there because of the disorganization. If my kid were super interested in one of the camp weeks there, I'd be willing to send him again.

The Reston Y camps are ok. DS enjoyed most of the camps he went to as long as they were outside and involved running around. As a parent, communication was awful, there was no real structure, and I am not sure how well supervised anything was. Last year they were renovating the Y so the kids were at a different location and the rooms that were used for weather were far too small for the number of kids. And they didn’t anything that the kids could do indoors for the rain and heat days. The Traditional Camp at Reston Y has been universallly panned by every family I know who did it.

The camp crowd I know in the Herndon/Reston area seem to prefer Overtime Athletics and Reston Association summer camps. A bunch use Tae Kwon Do camps and the like with a good deal of success.

The Reston Y Counselors are good people and care about the kids but the camps are not well coordinated.

Like I said, my child enjoyed them. He spent all day running around, playing games and in unstructured play. He was safe, he liked his counselors and had a great time. The parents were less thrilled with the organization. As a pro, the Reston Y provides scholarships and free camps for underprivlaged kids.

So I don’t have a problem sending my child to the Reston Y camps but they are not my first choice.

I have heard very mixed things. No one hated it but most didn’t go back for a second year either. But this was younger kids so it might be better for the older ones (who can supervise themselves more).

I think the quality can vary wildly between ymca's. Maybe check with your neighbors or the neighborhood listserve.

I have heard good things about the one in Bethesda.

I can only speak to the Reston YMCA camps and that might be a very different experience.

Hi,

I am planning to register my 10-year-old daughter for summer camps at YMCA Silver Spring (cooking and writing). We haven't tried summer camps there. It would be appreciated if you could share your reviews/thoughts with us. Thank you!