My daughter has done both Browne and SSSA. She prefers SSSA. The campus is prettier, counselors seem a bit peppier and engaged, and they offer more specialty camps. She and my son have both done SSSA Summertimes camp (includes bus to local swimming pool) and LOVE it. I wish they liked Browne more - better hours and the pool is on site. I think both are good programs.

We have done Browne over many years and also Stephen & Agnes one year. A big difference for us is that Browne is 8-4 so we can manage without aftercare if I do drop off and DH does pickup. One thing to know is they don't have many spots for older kids. I didn't realize this, and was without care for a week that I needed it. DS has friends that do the regular day camp all Summer. I can't see older kids really liking that though. DS does some day camp and some specialty camps.

Stephen and Agnes has some great camps, especially for the middle school years. Hours are 9-3 though so we have to use both before care and aftercare. Dropoff and pickup for this is at the lower school. We have not used the other camps, but a friend has used Congo for years and loves it.

My kids have done all of these for multiple weeks over the years, except Browne. In the end, they prefer SSSAS. I liked Congressional because it includes lunch, but they didn’t like the bus, just thought it made the day too long, and dropping off and picking up at the camp is just not an option for us. My kids liked that you can swim at extended day at Burgundy and were in the pool every afternoon when I picked them up, so I had to budget time for drying, changing, etc. In the end, there wasn’t enough sports camp variety at Burgundy for them. SSSAS seems to have wider options even as the kids get older into middle school. My one complaint about SSSAS is the cost of extended care seems high. My kids have friends who return to Browne every summer and attend every week of the summer so they obviously must enjoy it.

Bump

The Browne registration fee is a one-time thing, or it has been the past 2 years.

Any thoughts on these camps (or others, near/around Alexandria)? Am new to the area so would appreciate the insight.

Also, I see that Browne has a $65 registration fee for EACH 8-week session!! Is that accurate? If so, it seems absurd -- it's essentially a stealth increase in the weekly camp rate, no?