Beltway Bambinos

(re) discover Washington DC through the eyes of your children

Send your kids to Camp KidJam this summer

Camp KidJam is for rising 2nd- 5th graders created to encourage growth for kids in
their relationship with God and one another. Camp KidJam is excited to partner with
National Community Church for a unique Day Camp Experience. We’re bringing all of
the creative, engaging elements of CKJ to DC in July!

There will be compelling Bible stories, impactful small groups, fun track activities,
crazy team cheers, and of course, unforgettable games.

Learn more here!

Dates: July 25-28, 2023

Time: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Location: National Community Church, 700 M Street SE, Washington, DC 20003

Cost: $250.00 per person

Includes: Programming, activities, supplies, and t-shirt
Does Not Include: Meals and transportation

Celebrate Passover with PJ Library

Passover takes place April 5, 2023 – April 13, 2023 this year. PJ Library has so many great resources you can access to use this holiday. I particularly like the 15 minute seder, because well kids….the lunch box ideas are great and can come in handy any weekday of the school year and you know I am always a sucker for the books. We hope you find these resources useful this Passover.

PJ Library brings the age-old Passover story to life with a wealth of resources via their Passover hub. This holiday hub is packed full with everything from music, stories, crafts and recipes to games, history  and printables. Families can find a 15 Minute seder — a step-by-step video playlist where kids can learn (or refresh) their seder skills; the PJ Library Passover River Ride booklet which is the story of Passover in ten scenes; Printable Passover Recipe Cards; Passover-Themed Mad Libs; seasonal lunch box ideas, lists of Passover themed picture books and more.

PJ Library offers a downloadable and colorfully illustrated Haggadah for families: In Every Generation: A Pj Library Family Haggadah. While subscribers receive printed copies, this guide to the seder is also available to download for free in five languages, including English, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian and French. The printed English version of In Every Generation is available from the PJ Library store on Amazon. 

New this year, PJ Library books are available on the Novel Effect app. As they read along, seder guests will be treated to a synchronized soundscape to In Every Generation: A Pj Library Family Haggadah, including authentic music, sound effects, and even pronunciation of Hebrew words that help kids stay engaged and excited throughout the meal.

Also available this Passover holiday for the first time are large print, Braille, and audio versions of the Haggadah prepared by the Jewish Braille Institute, to ensure accessibility for anyone who is visually impaired, blind or reading disabled.

PJ Library Presents podcasts for kids are NAPPA Award-winners, and a new episode of “Afternoons with Mimi” is “Kiddo’s Passover Table.” 

The Hula-Hoopin’ Queen hits the stage

“Interactive joy and excitement” at imagination Stage!

The Hula-Hoopin Queen is based on the Oprah Winfrey recommended picture book, The Hula-Hoopin’ Queen by Thelma Lynne Godin and illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton. The play is adapted by Gloria Bond Clunie and directed by Angelisa Gillyard.

Now, Helen Hayes Award recommended!

Buy tickets here!!

Set in Harlem, this intergenerational story is a charming celebration of family and community ties.

“It’s already a classic as far as we are concerned. #puregold.”   – Colleen Moriarty, The adventure family

“A show that left us with big smiles, warm hearts and profound thoughts about the power of friendship”   – Desiree Roberts, Laces & Pages

This performance takes place at Imagination Stage:
4908 Auburn Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814

Imagination Stage is a nationally-recognized theatre arts center in Bethesda, MD, respected for more than 43 years of high-quality, innovative programming. Each year, it produces several professional theatre productions for children ages 1+ and hosts classes, camps, and workshops for ages 1-18.

Imagination Stage’s professional productions are also available for field trips, groups, and birthday parties.

Sign up for Jewish books and holiday resources! 

Did you know that every child under age 12 in your family can receive their own FREE book each month?

PJ Library sends free, award-winning books that celebrate Jewish values and culture to families with children from birth through 8 years old. Signing up is easy and takes less than 3 minutes.  Join today! 

PJ Our Way (PJOW) is for kids ages 9-12, and they choose their own books each month, creating a tailored experience totally based on their own interests and reading level. Learn more and sign up your middle grade reader. 

Both programs are open to families raising Jewish children. 

If you would like to share more about Jewish holidays and traditions with your child, please visit the PJ Library Holiday Hub for ideas, recipes, videos, and more. 

For the upcoming holiday of Purim (starts at sundown on Monday, March 6th), traditions include 

·         Dressing up 

·         Telling the story of the holiday from the Book of Esther 

·         Using groggers (noisemakers) to drown out the name of the villain in the story 

·         Sharing gifts of food with friends,  

·         Eating hamantaschen (filled triangular cookies), and  

·         Donating to those in need. 

Get ideas to celebrate at home on the PJ Library Purim Holiday HubPJ Library Purim Holiday Hub, or find an event to celebrate in the community at the local PJ Library events page. 

PJ Library and PJ Our Way in Greater Washington are made possible by The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, and generous local donors. 

 

Guide to 2023 Summer Camps in the Washington, DC Metro Area

We are grateful to our 2023 summer camp partners; Camp Arena Stage, Steve & Kate’s Camp, and Confetti.

Registrations have started at most camps so enjoy finding the one best for your Bambinos and register soon.

Camp Arena Stage is the official sponsor of this 2023 summer camp guide.

Join this summer at Camp Arena Stage — where community and art make magic! 

Hosted on the beautiful grounds of Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School, Camp Arena Stage is a multi-arts full-day summer camp for ages 8 to 15. A place to explore, discover, and create. 

Campers choose their own schedules from activities in theater, music, visual arts, dance, filmmaking, writing and more, such as acting for the camera, hip-hop dance, musical theater, publishing the Camp Arena Stage newspaper, filming movie trailers and painting — all taught by professional artists and educators. It’s the perfect place to try something for the first time or take current skills to the next level. The skilled staff at Camp Arena Stage is dedicated to seeing, recognizing, and appreciating each individual for who they are and the art only they can make.

At the daily Noontime Show, campers can share their art as an individual, group or class. Whether it’s a musical theater song, an original hip-hop dance, a trumpet solo, hula hooping, or showing a Lego creation, campers can expect the most supportive audience ever! If your young artist doesn’t love the spotlight, that’s okay too. No one has to perform at Camp Arena Stage. There are many ways to be an artist. 

Campers and staff alike enjoy Camp Arena Stage because it brings together a diverse group of people who share a love of the arts to create a joyful community — hear what they have to say. Visit the Camp Arena Stage website to learn more and register today.

Camp Arena Stage will have three sessions in 2023!
Session #1: June 26 – July 7
Session #2: July 10 – July 21
Session #3: July 24 – August 4

Music & theatre camps:

Camp Arena Stage

Adventure Theatre Camps: Glen Echo, MD
Bach 2 Rock: Locations throughout DMV
Camp Arena Stage: NW, DC
Camp Levine: NW, DC, Bethesda, MD & Falls Church, VA
Camp Shakespeare: NW, DC
Dance & Gymnastics camps
Encore Stage: Arlington, VA
Imagination Stage: Bethesda, MD
Keegan Theatre: NW, DC
The Theatre Lab School of the Dramatic Arts: NW, DC
Traveling Players Ensemble: Tysons, VA
Young Artists of America: Bethesda, MD

Sports camps:

Bethesda Big Train Baseball: Bethesda, MD
Boating is Fun Camp: Key Bridge Boathouse
Breathing Space Kids Yoga: Capitol Hill, DC
Brit-Am Soccer: Bethesda, MD
Camp Olympia: Rockville, MD
Circle Yoga: NW, DC
CP Basketball Academy: Olney & Colesville, MD
Dance & Gymnastics camps
DC Fencers Club: Silver Spring, MD
DC Way: SE & NE, DC
Flag Star Football: Locations throughout DMV
Home Run Baseball Camp: NW, DC
HoopEd: Locations throughout DMV
Kids Elite Sports Camp: NW, DC
Koa: Bethesda, MD
My Gym (Camp starts at age 3): Potomac, MD
Nationals Baseball/Softball Day & Overnight Camp: Locations throughout DMV
Next Level Lacrosse: Bethesda, MD
Nike Tennis Camp: GW University
Pedalheads: Locations throughout DC
PPA: NW, DC & Bethesda, MD
Summer at Sienna (Basketball): Silver Spring, MD
Squash on Fire: NW, DC
The St. James: Northern, VA
TopGolf: National Harbor, MD & Gaithersburg, MD
Top Rank Soccer Academy: Potomac, MD
Trapeze School: SE, DC
Urban Evolution: Alexandria, VA
Virginia Outside/Fishing Adventures: Alexandria, Arlington, Falls Church, Fairfax, VA

Kangaroo Cravings takes learning new words to a whole new level

Building, coding, educational, STEM & technology camps:

Apple Camp: Locations throughout DMV
ASDEC for Children: Silver Spring, MD & Herndon, VA
ClubSciKidz: Montgomery County
Code Ninjas: Alexandria, VA
Code WizardsHQ: Virtual
idTech: American University
KID Museum: Bethesda, MD
Lavern Camp: George Washington University Foxhall Campus
Mad Science Summer Camp: Locations throughout DMV
Summer at Sienna: Silver Spring, MD
Summer Institute for the Gifted: Georgetown University
The Lab School Summer: NW, DC
The Lane at Ivy City (Camp starts at age 3.5): NE, DC

Art camps:

Confetti Creative Arts Summer Camp

Confetti is excited to offer two formats for summer camp in July and August 2023!

July Creative Arts Camp for Kids
July 10-14 : Art Inspired by Artists!
July 17-21 : All About Illustrations!
July 24-28: Paints Galore!
July 31-Aug 4th : Collage and Mixed Media!

Over the four weeks we will learn about the style and technique of various artists. Campers will practice with watercolor, acrylic, pencil sketching, oil pastels, collage, and other materials. Woven throughout our sessions will be threads of collaboration and an appreciation for imperfection and experimentation. Campers will learn how to embrace the creative process while building friendships based on a mutual love of making art. 

Detailed descriptions of each week are available here. 

Ages: Camp is best suited to children ages 5-10. Instructor will consider exceptions to suggested ages. Email if consideration is needed.

When: Camp runs from 9-3pm, Monday thru Friday, during weekly sessions starting July 10, 14, 24, 31

Confetti Signature August Camp
August 7-11: Science, Art, Baking, Oh My!
August 14-18: Super Sleuths Club
August 21-25: Building and Creating Workshop

Confetti’s Signature weekly August summer camps engage campers with a weekly theme through art, science, creation, and imagination. Campers will also have outdoor play time at local parks and plenty of active play inside as well! Our activities will include hands-on fun, like making slime, decorating cookies, puzzles and problem solving games, building gumdrop structures, and the like! Our camps receive rave reviews and typically sell out.  We look forward to welcoming you to Confetti’s August 2023 camps!

Who: Rising 1st – 6th Graders

Where: Confetti – 4545 42nd St NW – #109, Washington, DC 20016

When: 9 AM – 4 PM during weekly sessions August 7, 14, 21


All Fired Up: Bethesda, MD & NW, DC
Anna Banana Arts & Crafts: NW, DC
Confetti Creative Arts Camp: NW, DC
Creative Youth Sewing: Bethesda, MD
District Architecture Kids Camp: TBD
Red Panda Art Studio: Bethesda, MD
Strathmore Art Camp: Bethesda, MD
The Loft Collective: Takoma Park, MD

Multi-interest camps:

Steve & Kate’s Camp

Since 1980, Steve & Kate’s Camp has put kids in charge of their own learning experience. Kids ages 4–12 choose from a variety of activities in real-time including, sewing, coding, building, baking, sports, and more! 

Families can buy any number of days, and use at any time–no weekly reservations required. Or, buy a Summer Pass, which covers the whole season. Either way, all unused Passes are automatically refunded at summer’s end. Lunch, snacks & all hours (8am–6pm) included. There are 5 locations in the Washington, DC area.

Adventure Links Day & Overnight Camp: Northern VA
Adventures on the Hill: Capitol Hill, DC & Takoma Park, DC
Aiden’s Village of Choice Summer: NW, DC
Audubon Naturalist Society: Chevy Chase, MD
Beauvoir Summer: NW, DC
Calleva Outdoor Adventure Camp: Poolesville, MD & Great Falls, VA
Camp Aristotle at The Auburn School: Silver Spring, MD & Chantilly, VA
Camp Sonshine: Silver Spring & Germantown, MD
CASA at Sheridan School: NW, DC
CCBC (Camp starting at age 2): NW, DC
Clara Barton Center for Children (Camp for ages 2-5): Cabin John, MD
Cleveland Park Club: NW, DC
CommuniKids Language Immersion (Camp starting at age 2.5): NW, DC & Falls Church, VA
Concord Hill School Preschool Camp: Chevy Chase, MD
Confetti: NW, DC
Congressional Camp: Falls Church, VA
Creative Summer at Holtan Arms: Bethesda, MD
Edlavitch DCJCC Camp: NW, DC
Headfirst Summer Camp: NW & NE, DC, Bethesda, MD, & VA
Henry’s Sweet Retreat: Bethesda, MD
Landon Summer: Bethesda, MD
Little Burgundy Farm Horse Camp: Alexandria, VA
Lowell School Camp: NW, DC
Meadowbrook Stables: Chevy Chase, MD
Potomac School: McLean, VA
Rock Creek Park Horse Center: NW, DC
Sidwell Summer: NW, DC & Bethesda, MD
Smithsonian Summer Camp: Washington, DC
Steve and Kates Camp: Capitol Hill, NW DC, Alexandria , VA & Arlington, VA
Summer at Burke (6th-12th grade): NW, DC
Summer at Georgetown Day School: NW DC
Summer at Norwood: Bethesda, MD
Summer at Sandy Spring: Sandy Spring, MD
Summer Horizons Day Camp at NPS: NW, DC
Summertimes: Alexandria, VA
Urban Adventure Squad: NW, DC
Valley Mill Camp: Germantown, MD
Washington Episcopal School: Bethesda, MD
Woodland Horse Center: Silver Spring, MD
YMCA Camps Day camp and overnight options: Locations throughout DMV

County camps:

Arlington County Summer Camps
Fairfax County Park Authority Summer Camps 
Montgomery County Parks & Recreation Summer Camps 
Washington, DC Parks & Recreation Summer Camps 

Local mom’s DIY learn-to-read innovation is now a tool for all parents to help their children

Jacquelyn Davis, a former Washingtonian of the Year who was honored for her pioneering work establishing the Thurgood Marshall Public Charter High School and D.C. New Leaders, recently launched Clever Noodle, an educational tabletop “learn-to-read” game company. Davis has set her sights on the national literacy crisis with a focus on the power of games as an essential tool to contribute to reading success.  Unlike oral language, reading is a learned skill that must be taught.  Many parents do not know this. (See tips below on how you can help your child.)

Davis is a Fellow and Entrepreneur-in-Residence at national education nonprofit Bellwether, where the new venture is being incubated. Her first product, Kangaroo Cravings, was first introduced on the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter in October, garnering 561 supporters! These early backers purchased or donated enough games to enable the young company to go into full production of 5,000 games, creating the first educational board game that teaches over 300 high-frequency, sight words aligned to the brain science of how children learn this foundational reading skill.  Good-bye boring flashcards, hello really fun and effective Kangaroo Cravings.

Davis has been a leader in the education space for years, but the pressing need to address the literacy crisis hits close to home. She is the mother of a young son whose struggle with reading was compounded by a recent dyslexia diagnosis. During the COVID-19 pandemic, her son was having a tough time hitting his reading goals, and traditional flash cards did not work nor did they keep his attention. So Davis got out the markers and glue, and using the back of a delivery box, she came up with fun ways to engage her son’s imagination while helping him learn his high-frequency, sight words.

Her son loved the game, and more importantly, his reading fluency improved dramatically! Word quickly spread among his classmates, teachers, and school leaders in Washington, DC. Over the next two years, Davis refined and tested the game with hundreds of kids, teachers, and education leaders. Initial responses exceeded Davis’ expectations. “Our literacy experts reviewed Kangaroo Cravings and we are all excited to use it in our classrooms,” noted Dr. Melissa Kim, Deputy Chancellor for DC Public Schools. 

Throughout her personal journey developing Clever Noodle’s first educational tabletop game,  Davis has enjoyed learning firsthand from top literacy experts why the Science of Reading is key in addressing the literacy crisis that impacts over 70% of America’s school age children.

Davis shares three tips for parents of young readers:

  • Read aloud more advanced texts to your children than they can read on their own.  In doing so, you’ll help your child increase their background knowledge and vocabulary critical to comprehension.  Engage with the text, asking your child what he/she/they predict will happen next. What’s the setting and how does that impact the story?  What character do you like best and why?  What do you think is most ____(e.g., funny, sad, surprising, etc) about this section of the book/chapter? Ask your child to let you know if there is a new word they don’t know, then explain it.  Discussing the literature with your child improves their critical thinking and vocabulary.    
  • Get your child screened in kindergarten for early reading success – or any possible red flags to monitor.  There are many free online dyslexia screeners to use if your school is not already doing this assessment.  Ask the school about their practice here. 
  • Ask your child’s elementary school what literacy/reading curriculum it uses.  Ask if phonics is included.  If the school says it uses Caulkins’ Readers, Writers Workshop or Fountas and Pinnell (often referred to as “F&P”), tell them these curriculums have been proven to be ineffective in teaching reading.   Ask the school to implement a proven phonics curriculum aligned to the Science of Reading.

To find out more tips and insights about children’s literacy, and to place pre-orders of Kangaroo Cravings (to be delivered in early 2023), please visit Clever Noodle.

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