DS went to camp at St. Patrick's in DC last summer as a almost-swimming 4yo. The difference in one week was dramatic. The swimming was more lesson style than open swim, and you could separately sign up for private lessons during the group swim lessons.

I know it's a hike from Rockville, but I thought I'd mention it, just in case.

DC is 6 and I am dealing with the same issue. I have not been able to find a camp that does not take the children to the pool and I am very anxious about this.

I have enrolled DC in private swimming lessons once per week and I am really hoping that swimming lessons February through June will make a difference. Up until this year, she did not want to learn how to swim. Now that she is in kindergarten and is excited about summer camp, she's very motivated to learn.

Just wanted to see if anyone had additional feedback on swimming at Valley Mill. My concern would be how kids are supervised during free swim especially if they aren't strong swimmers. Does anyone else have feedback about this? My understanding is that there are 60-80 kids in the pool and 9 staff supervising but the free swim (and the chaos associated with it) makes me hesitate to send DC to a camp that otherwise seems great. Any additional information would be greatly appreciated.

I sent my 6YO to Valley Mill for the summer. He came into the program as not a very strong swimmer and left the program being able to swim across the length of the pool on his own. We now have him in swim instruction to develop his strokes.

He took formal swim instruction at the camp at least once a week and everyday there was a "free swim". I visited on Parents' day when there was a swim instruction and a free swim. I observed that they had the kids separated according to ability and worked with them to develop their skills. There were at least two counselors for each group of no more than 10 kids. During the free swim, there were multiple counselors in the pool with the kids. The area of the pool where DC stayed was the shallow part. Stronger swimmers, were in the deeper part of the pool, but still supervised and I don't think there was really a deep end.

We are really happy we sent DC to a camp with a daily swim program. We had him in swim lessons for years before that, but believe that daily exposure to the pool and swimming helped develop his skills and confidence.

Every camp I have sent my kids over the years (and there has been a lot!) gives a swim test and separates the non-swimmers in to a safe area with a lot of supervision. I would bet that most 5-year olds cannot swim and even those who can need constant supervision.

The camp at Georgetown Prep is ESF, and I'm pretty sure the kids are n the pool here once a day. A five year-old who CAN swim is more the exception than the rule.