In Arlington, you could do Knights of Columbus, Columbia Baptist or YMCA nearly every week of the summer. YMCA has different locations, but you can drop off and pick up at their 13th St/Kirkwood location so it's effectively the same location all summer. Congressional (Congo) Camp is expensive but it runs for the whole summer. Renaissance Child has sessions all summer long. I think Sports Camps 4 Kids does too.

For me, I don't really care if I have to go to 6-8 different camps (one per week) as long as I find camps that have extended day hours later than 5:00 and earlier than 9:00. We've always done a variety of camps because if you don't, how will you know what camps are good and work for you?

I don't put any thought into whether my daughter will know anyone at any of her camps because Arlington is small and she ALWAYS knows someone. And she'll make new friends, and she'll run into them later at school, a rec class or sport or another camp.

For a kid who has adjustment issues or has more trouble making "friends", your results may vary.

For young kids, pick 1 or 2 camps. 2 camps max.

Anonymous wrote:I am having a hard time finding a camp that offers a full summer in one place! I'm in Arlington. Beyond Steve and Kate and Congo, there doesn't seem to be much. And I'm not sure I want to pay $500+ a week.

I'm waiting for the Rec camp schedule to come out, so maybe Summerfest will help this? I'd much prefer to do the bulk of it at one camp, though I am nervous that if it's not a good situation then we're stuck....

Columbia Baptist grade school camp.

This is my first summer doing camp as well. We are doing all summer at a bare bones day camp run by a church with a large preschool program. We will do 1-2 weeks of specialty camp based on his interests once the county schedule comes out and the school calendar is set (we’re in Arlington and don’t know when school starts yet).

I know a few families who will be at the same camp because it’s where we did preschool. I did not coordinate with school kids. Next year when he has stronger friendships and opinions, I will send him where his friends go for 1-3 weeks.

OP, I did what you did my kid's first year, and I regretted it. I think we had her in six camps during the summer. Was running here there and everywhere (and I tried to pick camps either near our house or work). DD was more tired than I ever anticipated she would be, and honestly once she learned the "rules" and routine of whatever camp she was in, the next week she was somewhere different (and my kid is generally easygoing with stuff like that). Transitions were tough, not to mention making sure I followed all the rules for lunch, pickup/dropoff, etc. each week.

It gets easier as they get older.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I sign my kids up for one camp for eight weeks. A different camp each week seems ridiculously complicated and annoying.

yup this.

Mine were the opposite and always liked the variety. Once I tried 4 weeks of the same camp and they complained of being bored by the end even though the camp had different activities. A mix has worked for us ever since.

We’ve always looked at location to make sure it’s a reasonable commute with the hours, the cost and then the activities. Always a plus if they sign up with a friend but this isn’t a dealbreaker. The more expensive camps have not always been the best. It’s good if the sports camps have some type of inside alternative like a gym if you end up with severe weather or a streak of 100+ days. It happens. We have found sports variety camps that have some of the day in gyms.

For a 5 year old one camp. Too many transitions.

A lot of "sports camps" are outside all day, under a tent for shade but no AC - that can be too much for a 5 y.o,.

Have fun filling out pages of different camp and health forms for each of those camps.

Pick one camp like the Y that has different themes and programs.

I am having a hard time finding a camp that offers a full summer in one place! I'm in Arlington. Beyond Steve and Kate and Congo, there doesn't seem to be much. And I'm not sure I want to pay $500+ a week.

I'm waiting for the Rec camp schedule to come out, so maybe Summerfest will help this? I'd much prefer to do the bulk of it at one camp, though I am nervous that if it's not a good situation then we're stuck....

It seems like you have a pretty good plan. I keep notes after the camps are over as to what worked and what didn't so I can review for the following January (ugh). Now my kids are older so they have more ideas of what they want. We definitely look at cost and balance more expensive camps with the cheaper (less exciting?) ones.

I agree that trying to keep the schedule simple (the less changes to driving, etc. the better). I had one year where I did a different camp almost every week and thought I would lose it. And two years ago I had my two kids on opposite sides of the city. By the time I get it figured out they will be done with summer camps!

We do half sports, half non-sports. 2 weeks basketball, 1 week soccer, 1 week lacrosse, 2 weeks art, 1 week general/theater, 1 week sleepaway.

We don't do any camps with registration fees so there is no downside for us if we do a bunch of different camps.

It gets hotter here later in the summer so I schedule outdoor sports camps earlier in the summer and more indoor camps in August.

We do two camps, both for at least two weeks. The kids get time to get to know other kids and make new friends, and I'm not juggling new logistics every week. It's okay not to cover every single possible base. I do an outdoor-focused camp and a more arts- based camp for balance, and because my kids like it.