By Katie Bowles
The Arts
For arts-inclined kids, Camp Arena Stage offers both two- and four-week day camps in which campers can choose the concentrations they study—including over 75 options like Chinese brush painting, costume design and Shakespeare. Campers’ days will consist of classes in the arts of their choosing, as well as afternoon shows they can either perform in or watch and a special surprise period with different activities to choose from each day. Director of community engagement Anita Maynard-Losh notes that though campers are able to follow a certain track in their schedules, many choose to mix it up and learn a little about multiple disciplines. This year, Camp Arena Stage will be held at the Georgetown Visitation campus from June 27 to July 22 and July 25 to Aug. 5 and is open to campers aged 8-15. Registration opened in January and can be found at arenastage.org. Camp Arena Stage costs $950 per two-week session and $1,700 for the four-week intensive, and needs-based scholarships are available for the latter.
Congressional School Best Eats Camp
Got an aspiring chef in your home? Congressional School’s Best Eats Camp may be the place for nurturing that talent. This camp, open to students in third through sixth grades, provides a behind-the-scenes look at local foodie favorites by taking campers to restaurants in the Metro-D.C. area (think The Italian Store, Seasons 52 and Bayou Bakery) to enjoy a meal and learn about what it took to prepare it. Dan O’Neil, director of auxiliary programs for The Congressional Schools of Virginia, notes that in some cases, “before or after the field trip, we also try to make a similar dish on campus.” The weeklong camp costs $450 per camper, and Best Eats only occurs one week in the summer, so registering early online is recommended. Registration opened in February.
Congressional Camp’s Best Eats Camp is being held from Aug. 22 through Aug. 26 this year.
If your child loves museums, being immersed in a Smithsonian program would be a great way to spend a summer. According to program manager Brigitte Blachere, “the Smithsonian Associates offers one-of-a-kind learning experiences that spark the imagination and offer plenty of great fun. Campers can blast into space, take center stage, create a masterpiece, invent a fantasy world, relive history or learn to shape the future of the planet. The rich and exciting world of the Smithsonian is theirs to discover.” Over 90 camps are offered including new options such as Time Machine Basque Country, Monster Mash, Dinosaurs and Dioramas: Prehistoric Seas and President for a Week. Camps are divided by grade, are open to kindergartners no younger than 5 years old through rising ninth-graders and run from June 20 to Aug. 19 at the Smithsonian’s Dillon S. Ripley Center in D.C. Registration opened in January, and campers can register in person at the box office of the Ripley Center, online or by calling 202-633-3030. Camps are $460 for nonmembers and $395 for Smithsonian Associates members; a slight discount is offered for camps held during the week of July 4.
Overnight Camps
If your kids want to not only immerse themselves in nature but also learn about how to fully appreciate and work with the planet in a holistic sense, The Living Earth School is the place for them. This school offers summer camps and year-round programs for all ages (including adults) focusing on “appreciating and learning about the beauty and abundance of the natural world,” according to co-founder Kate Knott. Campers at Living Earth’s summer programs will learn skills like shelter-building, how to make a fire and other wilderness survival skills. Weeklong day camps are open to ages 7-12, and overnight camps are open to children ages 8-17. Overnight camps are divided based on skill level. New campers join the most basic level and can progress to higher camps or stay in the basic level, if they prefer. All camps are located in Charlottesville and range from $285 per week for day camp and $615-$725 for overnight programs. Registration opened in January.
Parents who want kids to have a faith-based summer camp experience can send their campers to Summer’s Best Two Weeks. Summer’s Best Two Weeks has two locations in Pennsylvania—one in Boswell and one in Hollsopple, both on bodies of water—with both locations offering similar programs. Office manager Alyssa Foldesy notes that neither camp is more “sporty or outdoorsy than the other,” so campers can have a great experience no matter the location or week they choose, with activities ranging from water skiing to high ropes courses and from sailing to a wilderness trip. Campers at Summer’s Best Two Weeks are divided based not only on gender, age and grade level, but also by team—at the beginning of the camp session, kids are split into either the Roman or Galatian team and get to return to the same team every subsequent year they attend Summer’s Best Two Weeks. If your child is interested (and aged 8-18), registration is open at sb2w.org or by mail at 111 Lake Gloria Road, Boswell, PA 15531. Both one-week and two-week camps are available, with tuition for one week ranging from $530-$550 (based on method of payment) and $750-$770 for two weeks. This summer’s camps will begin on June 16 and conclude on Aug. 19. It’s recommended that campers register as early as possible to reserve a spot, but Foldesy says that the waiting list is often utilized, and campers are encouraged to add themselves to it if unable to reserve a spot in time.
Adventure Links at Hemlock Overlook
Looking for an outdoor adventure-based overnight camp that isn’t far from home? Clifton’s Adventure Links at Hemlock Overlook provides one- and two-week sleepaway camps at its location in Hemlock Overlook Regional Park. At Adventure Links, kids get the chance to hike and backpack, rock climb, canoe, kayak and more. According to administrative assistant Anna Kim, Adventure Links offers camps that “emphasize individual development and strive to facilitate memorable experiences for participants in the backdrop of the outdoors.” If your camper wants to be even more immersed in the outdoors, Adventure Links also offers trips that hit highlights along the East Coast—think zip lining in the White Mountains of New England and backpacking in Shenandoah National Park. All camps are co-ed and divided by grade and are open to both novice and experienced adventurers in grades two-12. This summer’s session runs between June 27 and Sept. 2. To sign your child up for a camp, go online, call the office at 571-281-3556 or email summer@adventurelinks.net. Camp prices vary: Day camps range from $425-$550; one-week overnight camps are $695; two-week overnight camps are $1,295; and traveling camps range from $850-$1,995 depending on duration and location.
The Outdoors
Maybe your kids are dying to learn how to fish, but you’re more of a mallgoer. Completely fine—NoVA-based Fish and Explore has all your kids need for a satisfying week spent outdoors. Fish and Explore’s day camps (which include programs for fishing, nature photography, kayaking, hiking and more) are held in weeklong sessions throughout the summer. Aside from being split based on activity, camps (open to kids ages 7-17) are also divided based on age, so no need to worry that your third-grader will be stuck with older kids or vice versa. Other than that, Fish and Explore is open to all—according to founder John Lipetz, Fish and Explore “welcome[s] campers who have never ventured outside of their yards and others who are seasoned anglers or explorers. By providing a wide array of locations and camp options, we are able to provide a great experience for all campers.” Registration opened on Fish and Explore’s website in January, and Lipetz recommends registering as early as possible to secure your child’s spot in each 12-person camp. Each session is five full days; the camp picks up attendees to take them to the day’s location and provides all gear (minus food). Prices range from $400 to $600 per camper.
You may associate 4-H with local fairs and cattle shows, but 4-H also offers multiple weeklong camp programs for NoVA kids aged 9-13. Held at the Northern Virginia 4-H Educational Center in Front Royal, 4-H Camp is divided by week based on county. Katie Thomas, 4-H youth development extension agent, describes 4-H Camp as an “educational experience [with] hands-on, experiential learning. The program teaches youth decision-making skills, how to solve problems and responsibility through social and recreational activities, educational programs and classes that include archery, horseback riding, rocketry, outdoor living and high ropes, just to name a few.” If you have a child with multiple interests, this diverse option may be right for him or her. Prices vary based on campers’ home locations, with Loudoun County costing $265 and Alexandria, Arlington and Fairfax costing $305. Campers can register either at their local 4-H Extension Office or on the Virginia Cooperative Extension website, until April 1 or until all spots are filled, whichever occurs first.
If your kids want to be immersed in nature, New Castle’s Wilderness Adventure offers both an overnight backpacking retreat and, for younger campers, a day camp held in a cabin with an overnight campout held at the end of the program. Camps are open to all kids aged 8-17, and camping trips run from one to three weeks and include activities like hiking, canoeing, rock climbing and wilderness leadership, so your adventurous child is sure to be worn out by the end of the trip. This year, Wilderness Adventure will begin June 19 and end Aug. 13. Program director Kait Prairie recommends signing up early by calling 540-864-6792 or going online because Wilderness Adventure trips often fill up as early as April 30. The price for a one-week session is $945 and includes all amenities.
Athletics
Is your child hoping to be the next M.J. or LeBron? David Paulsen, head coach of George Mason University’s men’s basketball team, will be running two one-week basketball camp sessions this year. Camps are divided by both age and skill level (all kids aged 7-17 are welcome), so your child will have an opportunity to learn without fear of being overshadowed by those at a higher skill level. Director of operations Mike Quinn notes that the camps “will encompass all aspects of basketball instruction and skill work,” so your child will receive a well-rounded education whether he or she is a center, point guard or forward. This year’s sessions will be held June 27 to July 1 and Aug. 8-12 at the Field House at GMU’s Fairfax Campus. Registration opened in January and is $300 for the week—Quinn recommends registering online at camppros.com at least two weeks prior to your preferred camp session in order to reserve a spot.
Future Mia Hamms and David Beckhams can enjoy a professional soccer experience at D.C. United’s summer camps, held in weeklong sessions throughout the summer at RFK Stadium. Children ages 6-16 have the opportunity to learn a new skill each day in a co-ed environment and end each day with games to “experiment and implement what they’ve learned each day,” says camps and training programs coordinator Gus Teren. Though camps are co-ed, Teren notes that the summer camp is very flexible and happy to tailor camp groups based on skill, parental communication and other variables that might affect a player’s skill level. Because the camp is held at RFK, campers also have the opportunity to see D.C. United train, as well as partake in a stadium and locker room tour and have an MLS Championship trophy photo-op. Registration opened at the end of January, and participants can sign up online. Weeklong sessions are $400, but kids who are really dedicated can sign up for a two-week bundle at a slightly discounted overall rate.
Football-oriented kids are sure to enjoy Redskins Summer Camp, an instructional flag football camp. This camp occurs all summer—the first session begins June 20, and the last ends Aug. 12—and is held throughout Northern Virginia (as well as in Lynchburg and Richmond), with the main camp happening in “The Bubble,” the team’s inflatable practice area in Ashburn. Campers aged 6-13 are welcome, and teams are divided at camp based on age. Along with learning skills like catching, throwing, flag-pulling and route-running, each camper also receives a T-shirt, two tickets to a Redskins preseason game and an invitation for the camper and a guest to attend a Redskins training camp practice in Richmond. Ready to sign up? Registration can be found online, and the price varies from $175-$275 per camper depending on the week and length of the camp day (both full- and half-day options are available).
The Sciences
Children’s Science Center will offer its second ever summer camp series this year, expanding from the Children’s Science Center Lab at Fair Oaks Mall. The Center’s seasonal camps include a range of programs grouped based on age or grade featuring topics like engineering and codebreaking. Students can register for Children’s Science Center’s camps online, and marketing director Dorothy Ready recommends registering for camp as soon as the program is advertised to secure a spot. Children’s Science Center camps run weekly from June 20 through Sept. 2, and are $385 per week.
The Lake Ridge branch of Engineering for Kids offers STEM-centric camps for students ages 4-14, including programs focusing on aerospace, industrial and mechanical engineering. Half- and full-day camps are open to children in preschool through eighth grade and are divided based on grade. Campers in these programs have the choice of camps with a broad focus, like aerospace engineering, or more specialized options, such as marine engineering and girls-only engineering. Parents can register their children for camp online. Engineering for Kids of Lake Ridge (serving Eastern Prince William County) is running in weekly sessions from June 20 through Aug. 26 this summer.
For future engineers, Fairfax County’s STEM Camp provides a “hands-on opportunity to explore engineering careers and technology as they rotate through different classes over a one-week program,” according to camp director Scott Settar. The program, which is held in two one-week sessions (July 11-15 and July 18-22 this summer) at Robinson Secondary School, offers experience with robotics, rocketry, alternative energy, 3-D printing and more to upcoming third-, fourth- and fifth-graders. Registration opened in February, and students who sign up by April 8 at fcps.edu will receive a $100 discount off of the original rates ($375 for Fairfax County residents and $475 for nonresidents).