Very happy with camp experiences this year: Stone Ridge continues to deliver great options and is well-organized. Washington Sailing Marina has awesome sailing camps and teaches great skills; runs a bus from Bethesda so both MD and VA campers can attend. Tennistar at Bethesda Sport & Health was also terrific and I appreciated that you could pick from morning or afternoon sessions (or do both); it's hard to find a pm only option.

2 weeks at Camp Sonshine in Silver Spring was a big hit. It is Christian based but they are welcoming to everyone, no indoctrination or anything. DD is 7 and went to the pool twice a week, rode go carts, went in a pond, crafts, camp songs etc. She loved it.

This week she is doing a camp at Brookside Gardens, she told me yesterday she held a fish and went in the creek and also held larvae, she is so happy....

Sonshine is 9-4 and Brookside is 9-330

Fairfax Parks and Rec camp at the Watermine at Lake Fairfax is a hit. Activities in the morning (Creeking, archery, paddle boats, fishing, kayaking) and the afternoon at the Watermine. Each kid has a swim buddy they have to stay with and the life guards and staff at the Watermine are very good. Reasonably priced and camp runs from 9-4, which works for our family. There is aftercare available but I have no clue on the cost or what they end up doing because we don't use it.

Sun screen was applied throughout the day and the Counselor mentioned adding another sun screen time period due to the heat and additional sweating off sun screen.

Another awesome year at Winshape camp. Won’t be for everyone as it is a Christian camp but it is phenomenally run. Both DCs loved it - 8 and 11. Affordable, 7:45-5 coverage and in Springfield.

Funbot day camp in McLean, shuttle from Arlington, was a hit with my kids. Low ratios, lots of fun stem projects, great counselors, and some running around sports activities too. Both of my kids loved it - even wanted to cancel their other camp plans to enroll in more Funbot!

Reston Association's Sportsters camp has been a hit. It is a 2 week camp. The kids play 2-3 different games each day both more "formal" (hockey, basketball, baseball, soccer) and more school yard (dodge ball and other gym/recess type games). I have been impressed with how the Counselors have handled the hotter weather, my sons step count went down indicating that there were more breaks and less activity in the more extreme heat. DS has enjoyed the camp and comes home with a smile each day.

Coaches RJ and Dan are running the best baseball camp around at St. Albans - they are both full time teachers and really do an incredible job for young ballplayers. Its a small environment, and sometimes there are older players playing with younger players, but they are incredible teachers of the game. My son and daughter loved it, one is a good baseball player, the other is just beginning.

We loved kid ovation stage camp in Columbia Heights for 5 year old DD. Very nurturing, good mix of activities, and good communication with parents.

1) DD11 did a week of the NOVA STEM camp. It was one of the robotics sessions. She loved it. Price was surprisingly reasonable for high quality full day coverage.

2) DS8 did a week of Slimes and Potions through Fairfax County Rec. liked it a lot.

3) DS also did a cartooning camp through the county and liked that a lot too although never again will I ever take him to a camp at Mt Vernon Rec. Traffic was ridiculous!

Lakeside Adventures lived up to the hype. Huge fun. Kids very happy to go to bed in the evening afterwards. Also, sunburns. Send child in a hat, assuming your child will reliably wear one, and supervise the initial sunscreen process thoroughly.

Silver Knights chess was decent. Not as fun as L.A., obviously, but my newbie now has the basics of the game and was willing enough to go to the camp. They give out a free chess set at the end, which loomed large in her mind.

Just finished week 3 at Browne Academy summer camp. We love it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm curious about the more classic style day camps, as opposed to the one off specialty camps. Does anyone have experience with Steve and Kate in Arlington or Arlington DPR Summerfest?

It'd be helpful if people would note what are 1/2 day camps too. Knowing a camp is wonderful but also only operates from 9-12:30 is useful info for working parents.

Congressional has a good day camp.

I've read a lot about bullying at Congressional - in particular on the bus. I would never send my kids there.

My kids have ridden the bus there every year and have never reported being bullied or witnessing it.

RDU tennis was surprisingly good. It was significantly cheaper than most camps for a full day, and I heard ahead of time it was a bit disorganized. But honestly, our experience was great. The kids loved playing all the various sports/camps, swam every day, and were generally tired by the end of the day. They seemed to like the teachers and made friends. For what it cost, we were more than satisfied.

Two weeks of the Dance Craze hip hop camp at Dance Dynamix in PG County was great for my DD. The price was great as well as the end of camp performance. The kids seemed to bond really well and the dance instructor was great. It was definitely a hidden gem. I will try the other themes next year.

DD spent a week at Imagination Stage and loved it! Tons of communication before and throughout the camp.