Anonymous wrote:Most of the recs are for camps out of DC. How are the DC camps?

Where are you in DC? We like Lowell, but that's out of the way for most DC folks.

Anonymous wrote:Starting this thread as we finalize our summer plans and look at some day camp options (that are non-sport related)....

My son did the acting classes at Studio Theatre in the fall and LOVED it. Thinking of signing him up for the summer day sessions there this year. Good teachers and good cost.

https://www.landonsummer.com/page.cfm?p=4777

Most of the recs are for camps out of DC. How are the DC camps?

Any opinions (pros or cons) on summer camps at Landon (Day Camp) and Holton Arms (Creative Kids)? I have a daughter that will be entering the second grade.

Anonymous wrote:My 8 year old daughter liked Bar-T Ranch (swim and popsicles), Holton Arms Creative summer (lots of choices), Strathmore art camp (cool projects), Silver Stars gymnastics and ESF theatre camp (lots of friends there). She did not like Learn Now Music (boring to her/ she doesn't play instrument usually) or Bach to Rock (not nice teacher although cool end of week performance)

How would Hilton work for a 9 year old boy?

Anonymous wrote:Did anyone’s daughter go to valley mill? It seems like it could be just right for DD next summer but I hear more about it for boys.

Mine loved it when she was younger (2nd-4th grades, I think?). She loved being outside all day, and enjoyed getting to swim twice a day. Her only real complaint was that the boys got to do cool Native American crafts, and the girls got stuck making paper lanterns and useless crap. Oh, and the horseback riding ring was really hot and miserable in the middle of the day because it was the only place in camp with no shade, so she didn't want to sign up for that the next year. She even had fun on the bus rides, especially the "bus party" on Friday afternoons, when they were allowed to bring junk food to share.

After a few years, she got kind of bored with the same kinds of activities every summer, and decided she preferred the Girl Scout sleep away camps, where each week has a different theme. I think if she'd stuck with Valley Mill until she was old enough to do more of the off-camp trips and overnights at camp, she might have enjoyed it a little more.

9 year old DS had a great time at Bach to Rock. He went without a friend and made new friends and came home happy and enthusiastic every day. He didn't learn very much musically, which is fine.

My child's Calleva counselors, over multiple weeks of the summer, were not able to encourage inclusivity or discourage mean behavior. When it culminated in some physical stuff that the counselors ignored, I called the director, who handled it well. Because the director handled it well we will give it another try next summer, but it was not as good as in previous summers.

My 8 year old daughter liked Bar-T Ranch (swim and popsicles), Holton Arms Creative summer (lots of choices), Strathmore art camp (cool projects), Silver Stars gymnastics and ESF theatre camp (lots of friends there). She did not like Learn Now Music (boring to her/ she doesn't play instrument usually) or Bach to Rock (not nice teacher although cool end of week performance)

curious if anyone's kids did Levine in DC? We skipped this summer (after sending the kids for the prior 2) since last year they didn't seem to spend more than 15 minutes outside, even on a gorgeous day. I had to let them blow off some steam after picking them up from aftercare, which was not ideal...

Yes! They moved their longer outdoors time to the morning and added a shorter afternoon outdoor break. A great improvement.

Anonymous wrote:We sent our DD to Space Camp in Huntsville and it was a great experience- fun, educational, and iconic. We sent her the second week in August, and a Space Camp counselor said it was at 70% capacity that week because most school districts had already started. So mid to late August is perfect.

how much was it and what is the age range?

Replying above about my Congressional knowledge: no bullying I was aware of at all. Only happy kids and parents. Child attended about 8 sessions. Camp was well run.

Another great week at Adventure Links in Clifton. This camp is amazing - totally worth the high sticker tag for a week.

We sent our DD to Space Camp in Huntsville and it was a great experience- fun, educational, and iconic. We sent her the second week in August, and a Space Camp counselor said it was at 70% capacity that week because most school districts had already started. So mid to late August is perfect.

Congressional is always great camp