The Washington DC area has some great resources for choosing the right camp for your child. Many summer camp programs in the Washington DC area fill up quickly, so plan ahead and apply early. Be sure to call the camp to check availability before submitting your application. To ask questions and learn about a variety of options in one place, attend a camping fair during the winter months.
- Summer Camp Programs at Washington, DC Museums – These world-class museums offer summer camp programs to educate and entertain children during the summer months.
- Arts, Music and Theater Camps in the Washington DC Area : See a guide to visual and performing arts camps in Washington DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia. Children of all ages enjoy developing their creativity while experimenting with painting, sculpture, ceramics, photography, musical theater, dance, and much more.
- Sports Camps in Washington DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia – Sports camps offer kids the opportunity to try something new or hone their skills during the summer months. A wide range of sports camps are available, ranging from rock climbing and martial arts to baseball and soccer.
- DC Area Community Summer Camp and Recreation Programs – Learn about local community camp programs. Most are reasonably priced and are held at local schools, parks, and community centers.
Additional camp resources
Summer camp fairs offer parents the opportunity to speak with the directors of camp programs for day camps and sleepovers in the Washington DC metropolitan area.
Washington Parent Magazine provides camping guides in its February through April issues. Publications are available at more than 1,500 locations, including Toys R Us, Zany Brainy, Fresh Fields, Borders Books, libraries, and community centers. The camp guide is also available online.
Washington FAMILY magazine publishes monthly and includes a summer camp guide with day and night camps in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia.
Tips on Trips and Camps is a free service that provides expert advice to help parents decide which camp or trip is best for their children or teens. They research camps across the country and travel around the world and provide information on hundreds of traditional and specialty overnight camps, travel, study, wildlife, cultural and language immersion for ages 8-18.
More than 17 YMCA branches offer specialty camps in everything from music and drama to non-competitive sports and games. Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine is a sports magazine that publishes an annual guide to camping in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina.
