Landon Boys camp was great. My 2nd grader was excited to go everyday for a few weeks. They communicated well and drop off/pick up was well organized I think it’s best for kids that enjoy sports but he also loved the woodworking and other activities.

GDS was kind of a bust. Neither kid really enjoyed their program. And I understood one of them was supposed to be full day but the instructor only stayed for half the day. The lunch was a good and they did like the playground.

Stone Ridge is a favorite for my younger DC. This is our 3rd year. Very organized, love the pool time and the counselors are always really friendly and fun.

I have two kids who have each done a few weeks at Sandy Spring. I was super nervous with all the drama this spring but camp has been similar to past years and pretty good. I like that they get to select their workshops- this is one of the few places my two very different kids can find stuff they like to do (we live relatively near the camp).

Drop off and pick up have been better than in the past, I wonder if enrollment is down and that’s why? I do hope that the camp survives regardless of what happens with the school.

Curious if others have had similar experiences this year.

DD is having a blast in the equestrian program at Camp Friendship (overnight camp).

DS has really enjoyed the sports camp run by Kids Adventures in Takoma Park.

Anonymous wrote:This is really niche, but my kids favorite camp this summer has been TIC at the Langley School campus in McLean. I think they also have other locations in DC and Maryland. Early in the summer when it was SO out outside, they had a lot of great indoor options. (My kids also did a week at Calleva - it felt safe, but my kids hated the bathroom situation.)

Is your kid male? My DD was really turned off by being put in an all boy group with only male counselors for her group at TIC McLean. She was also the absolute youngest (9 yo) in a group of boys aged 10-14 yo. That's too big an age range, IMO. It really wasn't okay and showed poor judgment on the part of the camp.

11 year old girl really enjoyed Camp Olympia. She’s there for the horses, and also enjoys swimming twice a day. She is unfazed by the heat and sometimes hangs out rather than participate in sports in the heat. She has friends who tried it before her and did not like the changing rooms or being outside all the time.

As a parent, I don’t love the camp’s lack of communication and their non existent cancellation policy. I’d also want other parents to know that this isn’t a general camp, there are no arts and crafts, for example. That said, my kid has enjoyed it for multiple years. And horses.

This is really niche, but my kids favorite camp this summer has been TIC at the Langley School campus in McLean. I think they also have other locations in DC and Maryland. Early in the summer when it was SO out outside, they had a lot of great indoor options. (My kids also did a week at Calleva - it felt safe, but my kids hated the bathroom situation.)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Now that camps are in full swing, I thought it would be helpful to start a 2025 camp review thread.

So far, we have only done Calleva, and it has not disappointed by 7 or 13 year olds. Calleva is especially good for older kids. One thing to know about Calleva is that they have camp every day, including on Juneteenth and the 4th of July. I love sending my kids on those days because DH and I get date day, as we both have them off.

Calleva is not a safe camp

Love it when the bus drivers go to Harris Teeter for beers
Or when someone gets hurt the rest of the group sits in the emergency room

Never send a kid under 12

Calleva is awesome! Bus drivers do not go buy beer or make all the kids sit in the ER. This is totally made up and laughable. Calleva is wonderful! Amazing counselors and has always been a highlight of my sons' summer.

DP here. We have had more than a few concerning incidents at Calleva and not sure if we will return next year. The counselors have a strange tendency to teach mean behavior and songs to the kids in an attempt to be fun and cool.

The songs were great… one of the joys of summer is being there at pick up and you can hear the kids singing on the bus before you can see it.

The cyber truck song is the only slightly mean one but it’s deserved.