Beltway Bambinos

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

Virtual camps from unexpected places

We understand the endless emails you receive with classes and camps which is why we condense our picks into just sporadic posts. This group of camps we are super excited for and the best part is that most are free and come from unexpected sources that are sure to having you fill up some more of your Bambinos day.

This summer, Apple Camp gives kids ages 8–12 FREE, fun, digital programs that they can experience from home. Choose from three creative projects to explore: video, art & design, and coding. Apple Camp projects include a self-guided Activity Book that Campers can complete at their own pace, and live, virtual Orientation sessions for guidance and Q&A sessions in case they need a little help. If you find that all sessions are full, we’ll be adding new sessions each week. Check back regularly for availability. In the meantime, Campers can download the Activity Book and work on their own

Camp TFK (Time for Kids) starts July 6! Join us for a whole new way to experience summer camp during a decidedly different sort of summer. Throughout July, the TFK team will create and curate daily roundups of FREE, kid-safe content that parents can trust and kids can enjoy on their own, or with minimal oversight. Campers will explore arts and crafts, sports and games, performance skills, scientific concepts, and the elements of storytelling—all in the safety of your base camp: home. Sign up to learn more!

Each day of Camp Kiwi Co is centered around a super fun theme. We’ve pulled together DIY activities, videos, printables, and more. Sign up for Camp and they’ll send more information about camp and other KiwiCo offerings! Purchase optional crates if you’d like. Note: all the content (videos, printables, DIY activities) for Camp KiwiCo are FREE and available to anyone! If you’d like to add more to your camper’s day, you can order the crates they have handpicked to go with each day’s theme. The content will be available all summer long, so you can access the sessions at any time that works best for you!

Camp Tinkergarten is 8 weeks of expert-designed activities that are easy on you and delightful for kids and are FREE. Releasing one new week of activities each Friday. The Camp Tinkergarten Map allows you and kids to get excited about our 8 themes and track your child’s progress throughout the summer. They’ll discover how to keep cool, enjoy a Silly Summer Olympics, and more. Sign up above to get your Trail Map by email today! With versions for baby, toddler, preschool and elementary ages, all kids can enjoy and develop our 8 core skills as they play.

DreamWorks Animation project presents #CampDreamWorks which is FREE. #CampDreamWorks is a seven week program that DreamWorks Animation has created to help families staying at home this summer due to COVID-19 by providing weekly show-inspired activities and livestreams, including arts and crafts, sing-alongs and more.

The Story Pirates Creator Camp $$
For the month of July, best-selling children’s book authors and illustrators will connect directly with hundreds of young people via the Story Pirates Creator Camp. Participating Random House Children’s Books authors and illustrators include Mary Pope Osborne (The Magic Tree House series), Nic Stone (Dear Martin, Clean Getaway), Danica McKellar (Goodnight, Numbers), Lincoln Peirce (Max & the Midknights, Big Nate), Vanessa Brantley-Newton (Grandma’s Purse, Just Like Me), and Judd Winick (Hilo). During four week-long sessions, kids will also enjoy hours of interactive live-streamed activities hosted by Story Pirates teaching artists.

  • July 6 – July 10: Illustration Vacation, featuring award-winning authors and illustrators Vanessa Brantley-Newton, Oge Mora, and Lauren Castillo talking about how they blend words and pictures in their books Just Like Me, Our Friend Hedgehog. and The Oldest Student
  • July 13 – July 17: Camp Cartoonist, featuring graphic novelist Judd Winnick sharing how he created the world of Hilo, his beloved middle-grade series. Artists Lincoln Peirce and Lucy Knisley will also discuss their recent works, Max & the Midknights and Stepping Stones.
  • July 20 – July 24: Story Pirates in Space! featuring author Danica McKellar talking about her new book, The Times Machine! Additional special guests this week are The Magnificent Makers series author Theanne Griffith, a brain scientist by day, as well as Dean of the Cornell University College of Arts and Sciences, astrophysicist,and author of Child of the Universe Ray Jayawardhana discussing “Our Cosmic Selves.”
  • July 27 – July 31: Time Travel Adventure is the topic of week 4, featuring author Nic Stone talking about her New York Times bestselling middle-grade novel Clean Getaway. Mary Pope Osborne, renowned for her internationally bestselling Magic Tree House series, will be discussing her William Shakespeare focused story Stage Fright on a Summer Night. Finally, fiction and nonfiction author Kate Messner will talk about her new series, History Smashers.

Related Posts:
Virtual Camps
Virtual Classes

Virtual summer camp options

While you can expect the summer to look much different than previous ones, you can count on most camps to have gone to a virtual option. Here is our 2020 summer camp guide where you can most likely click on a camp and see what their virtual offerings are. Below we have highlighted a few smaller organizations definitely worth supporting!

Anna Banana Arts & Crafts will be offering Art in the Park!  Meet at Montrose Park in Georgetown. Tuesday, June 16th or 23rd.  4-5 yr. olds from 9:30am-10:30.  A parent or caregiver must be present. Camp options at this point are Thursday, June 18th or 25th. 6-8 yr. olds from 9:30am-10:30. Only groups of 6 children. All will have been isolating and free of the virus. Bring your own art supplies, drink and snack. Social distancing and hand sanitizing will be strictly enforced. Masks are required for everyone. Please take into consideration that the restroom at Montrose Park is a public facility. There will be a teacher and a helper. Cost is $30

Arts on the Horizon has moved June summer camps online. Each weekly session has a different theme that will be explored through music, movement, stories, games, crafts, and more. Now you can explore in your own home! Camp will run Monday – Friday ​10am-10:45am. June 15 – 19, 2020 for ages 3-6: All the Places You Can Go and June 22 – 26, 2020 for ages 3-6: Musical Wonders. $65 Per Child Per Session (includes supply kit)

Secret Agent Society (SAS) is a breakthrough social skills approach for 8 to 12-year-old children, with a range of different social and emotional challenges. SAS has fun, espionage-themed resources and program that helps children learn how to feel happier, calmer and braver. It also teaches them how to make friends and keep them. This camp is designed for kids who identify with High functioning Autism / Asperger’s Syndrome, Anxiety Disorders, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Anger management difficulties. Other general challenges with friendships, team work, conversations or staying calm.

In YogArt, kids 5 and up have the opportunity to express themselves through movement and art. Join Dayna Heater for a class that includes breathing, yoga poses, games and mindful activities. Then, in collaboration with All Fired Up, kids will paint a piece of pottery related to that week’s theme which include: Ocean Life, Space Exploration, Going on Safari and Enchanted and Spellbound. This four-week series takes place via Zoom on Mondays June 8, 15, 22 and 29 from 10:00-11:00 and costs $130. The fee includes a set of brushes, paints, each week’s piece of pottery and having the piece glazed and fired. Art kits can be picked up at either Past Tense or the Cleveland Park location of All Fired Up on Sunday afternoon. After your kiddo paints their pottery, you can drop it off at All Fired Up and you’ll get a call when it’s ready for pick up. Please note: Pre-registration is required by June 6.

Healthy Cooking Camp Goes Virtual!
Taught by Natasha Nadel, Cookbook Author, Middle School Food Appreciation Teacher and Mom. Register now to receive art materials before camp starts, and to receive grocery/equipment list/menu 7-10 days before camp begins. Monday – Friday, 2pm-5pm [On Zoom] $195 per camper and a $75 Sibling rate. Campers will cook both a dinner and dessert every day and create fun art projects. You will receive an ingredient list approximately 7 days before camp begins. You will need to buy the groceries, but I will supply any difficult to find ingredients and the art project materials. It is important to register as early as possible so that I may order and deliver your art supplies. I apologize for the relatively short registration window, due to the continually changing situation. A note about allergies– We may be using peanuts, tree nuts, and sesame. All recipes will be plant-based.

Miss Amy’s Music Makers is offering a 6 week online Music Together summer session via Zoom and Facebook Live for you and your little ones featuring the Kazoo collection starting June 30! With Music Together Online, Miss Amy will bring music class to your living room. Like all our classes, the program is designed to teach the way young children learn: through play! Your whole family will have a blast singing, dancing, and jamming along to Kazoo collection songs during our weekly classes. Digital family resources, including recordings and bonus activities through our award-winning Hello Everybody app, plus a hard copy songbook, and CD that will be mailed directly to you and will inspire you to make music all day.  We will offer two weekly zoom and face book live classes a week plus a prerecorded video weekly to play whenever and wherever you choose!  Facebook live or zoom on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings! Private group invites sent after enrollment! ENROLL HERE

Join the Confetti Play Adventure Camp, Virtual Edition, with a thrilling all-day adventure in week long camps that offer fun, socialization, physical activity, creativity, problem solving, play, and learning! There are puzzles to solve, clues to find, and information to learn as campers move through adventures at exciting locations throughout the world, learning and playing as they go!  Camps meet virtually from 10am-4:30pm Monday-Friday starting June 8 and are lead by an engaging Confetti camp counselor, who is available (virtually) to your child during the full camp hours. There will be independent hands-on work away from the computer and physical activity. See more details on the daily schedule available on our website. A supply list of minimal, readily available materials will be provided so your child can have all they need for the week of exploration! This camp is best suited for children who have a comfort-level with reading independently. Younger campers can participate, but will require assistance from someone at home to engage in the activities. They also offer Confetti Explorer Kits (Summer Camp-in-a-Box!) Enrich your child’s summer and spark their curiosity with our unique Explorer Kits. Offering a range of themes, Explorer Kits offer a curated set of activities, games, experiments, cooking and crafts to engage your child – think of it as summer camp in a box! Weekly themes for the Virtual Edition are:

  • Adventure at the Smithsonian: June 8-12
  • Adventure on Mt. Everest: June 15-19
  • Adventure to Egypt: June 22-26
  • Adventure at the Louvre: June 29-July 3
  • Adventure to Ancient Greece: July 6-July 10
  • Adventure for the Quill of Beethoven: July 13-17
  • Adventure with the Ivory Queen: July 20-24
  • Adventure at the Library: July 27-31

Related posts:
Virtual classes
Toys and games that are educational
Subscription boxes for children

Pick your own fruit and veggies around Washington, DC

Strawberry and fruit picking looks a lot different this year but the farms are working with social distancing procedures in an effort for your family to enjoy their crop! A few farms sadly have closed while others are open for curbside and a few are offering reservation slots for you to come physically pick you own! Some things to keep in mind when planning to head to the farm: If you’re sick don’t go and pick! Kids should stay with adults at all times. Wash your hands before and after picking. Plan to pick with your own family this year instead of making it a group activity. Don’t plan on staying for picnics and running around. Keep a 6 foot distance from others.

Butlers Orchard– 22200 Davis Mill Rd, Germantown, MD 20876
A large variety of pick your own crops are available at Butler’s Orchard on a seasonal basis. Please see the Crop Calendar. May 18 is the kickoff date; weather dependent.

Homestead Farm– 15604 Sugarland Rd, Poolesville, MD 20837
They offer a variety of pick your own fruit options. Expected to reopen in early June.

Shlagel Farms– 12850 Shlagel Rd Waldorf MD 20601
Pick your own strawberry fields! They also offer pre-picked berries for those not wanting to pick. Check for updates on their Facebook page.

Wegmeyer Farms– 38299 Hughesville Rd, Hamilton, VA 20158
The Home Farm in Hamilton and the Oatlands field in Leesburg are open for strawberry u-pick by reservation only. Known for their delicious strawberries in the spring and unique and colorful pumpkins in the fall. Make a reservation for picking here. They are also offering pre-ordered drive thru options for farm fresh donuts, fresh squeezed strawberry lemonade, and pre-picked strawberries.

Larriland– 2415 Woodbine Rd, Woodbine, MD 21797
The strawberry plants are blooming now and hope to be ready to pick late May. The harvest of seasonal fruits goes through October.

Waters Orchard– 22711 Wildcat Rd. Germantown, MD 20876
Doc Waters Cidery is now open for curbside pickup orders only. Waters Orchard will reopen for apple picking in September.

Great Country Farms– 18780 Foggy Bottom Rd, Bluemont, VA 20135
As of now they are open for curbside pickup only. Typically you can pick your own strawberries, peaches, and blackberries. Also, don’t forget tomatoes, corn, green beans, and  peppers. And in the Fall, enjoy apples, squashes, potatoes, gourds and pumpkins through October.

Mackintosh Fruit Farm– 1608 Russell Rd Berryville, VA 22611
Pick your own is postponed right now. Instead they have opened an online store where you can order your favorite fresh grown produce, lunch, pies, or anything else they usually carry for onsite drive up-pick up.

Sharps at Waterford Farm– 4003 Jennings Chapel Rd Brookeville, MD 20833
Online ordering and curbside pickup at this time. Each week they will publish a new list of what is available. The list will change regularly, so keep checking back. Click HERE to see regularly updated list.

Summer camps in and around Washington, DC

This 2020 summer camp guide is sponsored by Red Panda Art Studio. Red Panda Art Studio provides hands-on art exploration for children in the Washington, DC area. Classes and camps introduce a wide range of artistic techniques and materials aimed at stretching participants’ skills and imagination.

Art, music & theatre camps:

Red Panda Art Studio (Little House at Westmoreland Hills Park: 5315 Elliott Rd., Bethesda, MD)

Red Panda Art Studio Summer Camp is designed for children ages 3.5 to 10, unless otherwise noted. Camp meets from 9:00am to 3:30pm, Monday – Friday. Each week, campers experiment with new art techniques and materials. Campers complete a wide range of projects together— painting, drawing, sculpting, collaging, weaving, and more! The camp day also includes lots of time outside, taking advantage of the awesome playground at the Little House. Clink above link for a sample camp day schedule. The camp week wraps up on Friday afternoon with an art show, the highlight of the week! EARLY BIRD SPECIAL: Register before 2/1/20 for a special camp rate of $400/child.

Adventure Theatre Camps– Glen Echo, MD
Anna Banana Arts & Crafts– NW, DC
Art in Motion via UpCycle/Local Motion– Alexandria, VA
Arts on the Horizon Summer Camps– Alexandria, VA
Bach 2 Rock– Locations throughout DMV
Berrend Summer Dance– Gaithersburg, MD
Camp Arena Stage– NW, DC
Camp Levine– NW, DC, Bethesda, MD & Arlington, VA
Camp Shakespeare– NW, DC
Creative Youth– Bethesda, MD
Encore Stage and Studio– Arlington, VA
Imagination Stage– Bethesda, MD
International School of Music– Bethesda & Potomac, MD
Little Loft Art– Takoma Park, MD
Meadowlark Ukulele & Instrument Making Camp– NW, DC
McLean Project for the Arts (MAP)– McLean, VA
National Conservatory of Arts– NW, DC
Round House Theatre– Bethesda, MD
Strathmore Art Camp– Bethesda, MD
Takoma Groove Camp– NW, DC
The Art League– Alexandria, VA
The Children’s Art Studio– NW, DC
The Theatre Lab School of the Dramatic Arts– NW, DC
Treehouse Atelier– NW, DC
Washington Episcopal School– Bethesda, MD

Multi-interest camps: 

Badlands Summer Camp (5200 Randolph Road, Rockville, MD 20852)

At Badlands Summer Camp your little adventurer will access their inner scientist, get a taste of victory at the Bad-lympic summer games and even take a ride on the seven seas! From culinary classes to archeological digs, there is always something new to uncover! Camp is geared for explorers grades K – 6th (ages: 5 – 12) and runs from June 15th – August 21st | Monday – Friday | 9:00am – 3:00pm with before/aftercare/drop-ins available upon registration! Payment plans are available. Use code “ADVENTURE20” now through January 31st for 20% off! For questions and details please email. 

Adventures on the Hill– Capitol Hill, DC & Takoma Park, DC
Aiden’s Village of Choice Summer– NW, DC
Beauvoir Summer– NW, DC
Camp Berry (Camp starting at age 2)- NW, DC
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
Concord Hill School Preschool Camp– Chevy Chase, MD
Edlavitch DCJCC Camp– NW, DC & Travel Camp
Glen Echo Summer Camp– Glen Echo, MD
Headfirst Summer Camp– NW, DC, Bethesda, MD, & VA
Landon Summer– Bethesda, MD
Lowell School Camp– NW, DC
Norbeck Montessori– Rockville, MD
Potomac School– McLean, VA
Sidwell Summer– NW, DC & Bethesda, MD
Smithsonian Summer Camp– NW, DC
Steve and Kates Camp– Capitol Hill, DC, Alexandria , VA & Arlington, VA
Summer Horizons Day Camp at NPS– NW, DC
Teddy Bear Camp (Camp starting at age 2.5)- NW, DC
YMCA Camps– Locations throughout DMV

Sports camps:

Bethesda Big Train Baseball– Bethesda, MD
Breathing Space Kids Yoga– Capitol Hill, DC
Brit-Am Soccer– Bethesda, MD
Camp Olympia– Rockville, MD
Capital Fencing Academy– North Bethesda, MD
Circle Yoga– NW, DC
CP Basketball Academy– Georgetown Day School, NW, DC
Dance & Gymnastics camps
DC Fencers Club– Silver Spring, MD
Earth Treks– Locations throughout DMV
Home Run Baseball Camp– NW, DC & Capitol Hill, DC
HoopEd– Locations throughout DMV
Kids Elite Sports Camp– NW, DC
Koa– Bethesda, MD
Lafayette Tennis– Chevy Chase, DC
My Gym– Bethesda & Potomac, MD
Nationals Baseball/Softball Day & Overnight Camp– Locations throughout DMV
Next Level Lacrosse– Bethesda, MD
Nike Tennis Camp– GW University
PPA– NW, DC & Bethesda, MD
RDU Tennis– NE & NW, DC
Squash on Fire– NW, DC
Table Tennis Camp– Gaithersburg, MD
TenniStar Sports– Chevy Chase, MD
The First Tee Golf Camp– NW, DC & Maryland
Top Golf– Locations throughout DMV

Adventure, nature-based & outdoor camps:

Washington Waldorf School Summer Camps (4800 Sangamore Road, Bethesda, MD 20816)

The Washington Waldorf School has week-long camps for preschool through high school that emphasize time outdoors, exploration, discovery, and creativity.  Camp offerings include: children’s garden camp (3-6 years of age). This camp is a designed to let young children develop and thrive by being encouraged to run, play, dig, explore, garden, and build. Early elementary age offerings include: adventure camp, nature detectives as well as around the world. Middle school offerings include: archery (campers make their own bows and arrows and learn to shoot), leather work and knife making as well as soccer. Middle and high school offerings include: day biking camp, overnight biking or hiking camp, paint pouring, cooking, musical theatre and more fun.

Adventure Links Day & Overnight Camp– Northern VA
Audubon Naturalist Society– Chevy Chase, MD
Calleva Outdoor Adventure Camp– Poolesville, MD
Camp Sonshine– Silver Spring, MD
Congressional Camp– Falls Church, VA
Summer at Norwood Adventure Camp– Bethesda, MD
Summer at Sandy Spring– Sandy Spring, MD
Valley Mill Camp– Germantown, MD

Animal camps:

Humane Rescue Alliance– NW, DC
Meadowbrook Stables– Chevy Chase, MD
Rock Creek Park Horse Center– NW, DC
Smithsonian Zoo Camp– NW, DC
Summer Safari Zoo Camp at The National Zoo– NW, DC
Woodland Horse Center– Silver Spring, MD

Building, coding, STEM & technology camps:

iD Tech Camps (held at American, Georgetown, University of MD, Johns Hopkins; Rockville location & Towson)

iD Tech is the world leader in summer STEM education, with over 450,000 alumni since 1999. Programs for ages 7-18 are held at 150 prestigious campuses including American, Georgetown, NYU, and more. Students build in-demand skills for futures in coding, game development, robotics, and creative arts, and learn in guaranteed small classes. In addition to the flagship program, iD Tech Camps for ages 7-17, iD Tech also offers all-girls camps, teen-only Academies, an advanced capstone program, and year-round online private lessons.

Apple Camp– Locations throughout DMV
ClubSciKidz– Northern, VA
Code Ninjas– Locations throughout DMV
Coder Kids– Bethesda, MD
Digital Media Academy Tech Camp– GW University
KID Museum– Bethesda, MD
Mad Science Summer Camp– Locations throughout DMV
National Building Museum Summer Camp– NW, DC
Play-Well TEKnologies– Locations throughout DMV
Summer Institute for the Gifted– Woods Academy, Bethesda, MD
TIC– 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

Even more camps around the Washington, DC area:

Alliance Française– NW, DC
Camp Aristotle at The Auburn School– Silver Spring, MD
CommuniKids Language Immersion (Camp starting at age 2.5)- NW, DC & Falls Church, VA
Girls in Politics– DC
Henry’s Sweet Retreat– Bethesda, MD
Language Summer Camps– Various locations
Spy Camp at the Spy Museum-SW, DC
Summer Therapeutic Intensives at MOCO Movement– Rockville, MD
Teens to Go– Rockville, MD
The Creative Difference– Arlington, VA
Washington Cathay Future Center– Rockville, MD

When school is out, these camps are in

By now you’ve looked over the school calendar and noted those all to frequent and random days in which school is not in session. Check out these reputable places before calling a babysitter or taking the day off work. Tip: consider asking a friend of your Bambino to join them so they are less likely to complain at the idea of going to camp. We’ll keep adding to the list as we build it– so please add your suggestions in the comments below! Most of these also host holiday and summer camps. 

The Agility Center
(Rockville, MD)
Kids will enjoy a variety of activities including hours of obstacle course, trampoline and tumbling instruction, practice/play time, arts and crafts, and games. Option for half day mornings, half day afternoons or full day for children ages 3+.

National Zoo Camp
(NW, DC)
Make the most of your K – grade 6 child’s day off school by exploring the “living classroom” at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo! Camp is held from 9:00am-4:00pm. FONZ members receive a discounted rate.

KID Museum
(Bethesda, MD)
A day off of school means an opportunity for making. Camp is for kids in grades K – 8 and is held from 9:00am-4:00pm. Members receive a discounted rate.

Salsa with Sylvia 4 Kids
(NW, DC)
One day dance and learning bilingual camp. Kids ages 4 – 9 years old are welcome, camp starts at 8:15am and ends at 3:30pm with option to extend the day.

Audubon Naturalist Society
(Chevy Chase, MD)
Do you want your children in grades K – 9 to be outside in nature learning and having fun on their day off from school? Then send them to explore the Woodend Nature Sanctuary, get muddy in the pond, build forts, and play games from 8:45am-5:00pm.

Capitol Language Services
(NW, DC)
Camps during DCPS closings, holidays and federal holidays from 8:30am-6:00pm.

Mini Camp at Hoop ED
(Various locations)
Sports overload for girls and boys ages 5 – 13 from 9:00am-3:00pm with option for after care.

DC Way Soccer
(SE, DC & NE, DC)
One day camps are offered on short holidays and teacher work days to provide your kid soccer fun on their day off school. Camp is for children ages 5 – 14 years with a CIT program for 12+! Camp runs 8:40am-3:15pm with before care & extended care options.

National Conservancy of Arts
(NW, DC)
Offering year around music and art camps for ages 7 – 15, the National Conservatory of Arts has no-school/out of school camps, winter camps, and spring break camps. Camps feature music, art, dance, and creative writing. Camp starts at 9:30am and ends at 3:00pm with before & after care options.

Valley Mill
(Darnestown, MD)
Valley Mill is offering holiday camp & adventure camp. Weather permitting, kids will do the usual fun activities at camp: kayaking and canoeing, archery & air rifle, rock climbing, group games, playing in the creek, and hikes. Tuition per day includes transportation for ages 5 – 14. Transportation will be from pick up points in nearby Montgomery County and DC.

Round House Theatre
(Silver Spring, MD)
Days Off! Play in a Day is a full day of theatrical fun for grades K – 5. Camp is from 9:00am-5:30pm.

Dynamite Gymnastics
(Rockville, MD)
Dynamite offers half day & full day camp programs for kids and teens ages 3.5 – 15 during winter and spring breaks, as well as MCPS holidays, and all summer.

Silver Stars Gymnastics
(Silver Spring, MD & Bowie, MD)
Gymnastics camp is appropriate for the beginner, intermediate and advanced gymnast. Full day camp is held from 8:30am-4:30pm with half day, before and after care options.

Red Panda Art Studio
(Bethesda, MD)
Extended art workshops for school days off! 9:00am-12:30pm, option to extend until 2:00pm for ages 3.5+.

Anna Banana Arts & Crafts
(NW, DC)
Anna Banana offers half-day art camps for children ages 4 – 8 during federal holidays which run from 9:30am-12:30pm.

The Children’s Art Studio
(NW, DC)
Art workshops meet from 9:00am-2:00pm for ages 5+.

Little Loft Art
(Takoma Park, MD)
Come to Little Loft on school days off! Full day camps for children in grades K – 3 from 9:00am-3:30pm.

Horse Days– Coming Spring 2020

YMCA
(Various locations)

American Parkour Academy
(NW, DC)
TBA

Urban Adventure Squad (UAS)
(Various locations)
TBA

DC Department of Parks and Recreation offer Fun Day
(Various locations)
TBA

The Player Progression Academy Camps
(Various locations)
TBA

13 highlights from our Summer

It’s hard to believe it is already mid-August and DCPS starts school on Monday. Summer flew by and we definitely didn’t do everything we had hoped to but we had a great time making memories and spending quality time together as a family. We wanted to make sure you hit some of OUR favorites before Summer is over. In no particular order, here are our top 13 highlights.

Ice cream + Jenga + Poconos sunset
  1. Baseball games at Nats Park and Bethesda Big Train (hello, champs!)
  2. Climbing, exploring, creating and inventing at Port Discovery Children’s Museum
  3. Splashing around at Yards Park and various DPR outdoor pools and splash pads and friends pools
  4. Hiking and biking in Rock Creek Park
  5. Experiencing Washington, DC’s most delicious restaurants with my husband and friends
  6. Jazz in the Sculpture Garden— (final concert is Aug. 23, 2019)
  7. Hitting the waves and boardwalk in Bethany Beach, Rehoboth and Ocean City. In need of an easy day trip?
  8. Milking cows and goats, getting dizzy on rides, winning stuffed animals and more fair fun at the Friends of Frying Pan Farm Park 4H Fair and Carnival
  9. Our annual trip to Dutch Wonderland + a new adventure afterwards to the Poconos
  10. Horseback riding at Rock Creek Horse Center
  11. Outdoor performance at Wolf Trap Children’s Theatre in the Woods
  12. Endless late nights and having so.much.ice.cream – my kids {and myself} will definitely go through sweet treat withdrawals
  13. Trying out tie-dye for our first time– it was SO easy and so much fun and will serve as a great reminder of the fun had in Summer 2019

GIVEAWAY: 4 tickets to Pirate Adventures on the Chesapeake

Photo: Stefanie Harrington

You may remember our review of the fun day spent in Annapolis with Pirate Adventures on the Chesapeake last summer. AYE! If you haven’t had the chance to set sail with the ship, now is your chance. Enter to win 4 tickets by commenting with a pirate phrase on our Facebook & Instagram post. Winner will be announced on Friday.

Celebrate summer with family fun at Pirate Adventures in Annapolis, Maryland! Sailing six times daily through Labor Day and weekends through Halloween climb aboard for an adventure to remember! Follow them at @chesapeakepirates on Facebook and Instagram! #mypirateadventure

logo design courtesy of New Leaf Design