Temps may be chilly, but the heat is on to register for summer camps. They fill up fast in this area, and some have already opened for registration. Trying to get a handle on the vast array of options in and around Arlington? Here are 25 day camps where kids from tots to teens and with all abilities can thrive.
Arlington Parks and Recreation
Ages: 3-21
Registration open: Feb. 14 (partner camps), Feb. 21 (Parks and Rec camps) for Arlington County residents and March 4 for out-of-county residents
Arlington Parks and Recreation offers a wide variety of summer camps with themes such as visual and performing arts, cooking and wellness, nature and history, and sports. Fee reductions are available for those who qualify. Click here to see the 2024 camp catalog that came out Jan. 17. Note that Arlington County residents get first pick of the camps and lower prices, although campers from throughout the region are welcome. // Locations vary. June 17-Aug. 23; $39-$1,120 per program. Camp hours vary.
Art House Seven
Ages: 5-18
Registration open: Late January
This arts center on Langston Boulevard offers several visual arts camps for the kids of all ages. Offerings include Painting, Drawing, Ceramics, Sewing, Printmaking and Arts & Crafts. New this year are portfolio development classes for the serious young artist. // 5537 Langston Blvd., Arlington. Camp hours 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 3-5 p.m., with extended hours available for morning camps and 1 p.m.-4 p.m. for afternoon camps.
Baroody Camps
Ages: 4-14
Registration now open
Baroody offers a variety of camps for a variety of tastes and interests. From July 5-Aug. 31 at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington (4444 Arlington Blvd.), it hosts a general-interest day camp for kids ages 4-11, with themes that change week to week. Activities include art, sports, STEM and more. For budding ballers ages 7-14, Baroody has two basketball-focused camps at Meridian High School (121 Mustang Alley, Falls Church)—one for boys and one for girls. High school coaching staff lead campers in skill competitions and games, plus kids will hear from special guest speakers. The girls’ camp is June 26-30, while the boys go July 17-21. Both cost $275-$295. // Locations and fees vary. Baroody offers a nine-week summer pass for $3,600. All camps run from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. with extended hours available at no additional cost.
Boolean Girl
Ages: 7-13
Registration now open
This 10-year-old nonprofit offers camps for girls and nonbinary children interested in coding and engineering. Each camp is led by women who are college-level STEM students from schools across the country. The weekly sessions explore topics such as Code Your Own Adventure, Create an Artificial Intelligence Application and Micro:bit Robotics. Scholarships are available for campers who need financial assistance. //Marymount University-Ballston Center, 1000 N. Glebe Road, Arlington. June 17-Aug. 16; $320-$399 per week. Camp hours 9 a.m.-3 p.m. with extended hours available at an additional cost.
Camp Levine
Ages: 4-12
Registration now open
Levine Music’s camp aims to expose kids to musical instruments that are new to them. The youngest kiddos explore music through song, storytelling, crafts and imaginative play, while campers in grades 3-6 participate in Instrument Focus, selecting at registration three instruments they have never played before. At the end of the 3-week session, they will be ready to perform a song on their camp-provided instrument at a final performance. Pre-teens and teens can participate in a Teen Apprentice Program in which they help younger campers while learning new skills themselves. // 601 S. Oak St., Falls Church. June 24-Aug. 2; $988-$1,500 per session. Camp hours are 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. for a half-day and 9:30 a.m.-3:45 p.m. for full day extended hours available at an additional cost.
Camp Sarraka
Ages: 5-12
Registration now open
This local camp got its start 10 years ago when brothers Jake and Brody Karton, who loved playing outside in their Barcroft neighborhood, were asked to create a week-long outdoors-based camp for their community. They were 13 and 11 when it started and still run it to this day. A typical day includes outdoor sports (such as Capture the Flag and street hockey), arts and crafts (painting, T-shirt decorating) and other fun activities. We’re told there may be a few lip-sync battles, too. For children who need financial assistance, the brothers have formed a nonprofit that provides scholarships. // Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, 4444 Arlington Blvd., Arlington (pickup and drop-off location). June 17-Aug. 23; $460 per week. Camp hours 9 a.m.-4 p.m., with extended hours available at an additional cost.
Claymagination Art Camp
Ages: 6 and older
Registration open: Feb. 1
Got an art aficionado who needs to burn off some creative energy? This art-intensive summer camp at Clay Café Studio offers small-group instruction in various artistic media, such as clay building, glass fusing and pottery painting, giving kids a chance to hone those fine-motor skills while interacting with peers. Call the studio at (703-534-7600) or stop in to register in person. // 101 N. Maple Ave., Falls Church. June 17-Aug. 23; $345 per session. Camp hours are 11 a.m.-3 p.m. with discounts for multiple sessions and siblings.
CommuniKids
Ages: 2.5-7 years
Registration now open
Youngsters will engage in cooking, music, dance, art and stories as they immerse themselves in Spanish, French or Mandarin languages—the only language the teachers use during the camp day. Kiddos in classes of no more than 14 campers and two teachers will be so busy playing, crafting and singing they will hardly notice they’re learning a language. // 115 Hillwood Ave., Falls Church. June 17-Aug. 9, with full- and half-day options; $365-$530. Camp hours are 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. with extended hours available at an additional cost.
Congressional Camp
Registration now open
Voted Best Summer Day Camp by Arlington Magazine readers, Congressional Camp (a.k.a. “Congo Camp”) has offered local kids a host of outdoor summer adventures since 1940. Its primary campus spans 40 acres in Falls Church and is home to horses, ponies, a creek, pools, ropes courses, a 40-foot climbing tower and an archery range. A variety of weeklong day camps, travel camps, specialty camps (Outdoor Adventures, Robotics and Coasters, Star Lab) and academic enrichment programs are available. // Three locations in Arlington and Falls Church. Ages 4-14; June 12-Aug. 18; $690 per week. Camp hours 9 a.m.-4 p.m. with extended hours available at an additional cost.
Cookology
Ages: 5-17
Registration now open
Looking for a way to reduce your workload in the kitchen? Or solve the riddle of a picky eater by broadening their food horizons? Put the kids to work with this culinary summer camp in Ballston. Children from kindergarten through high school can tie on an apron and participate in an array of cooking programs, from Baking Boot Camp to Around the World Cuisine. Each camper will prepare 15-20 “adult-level” recipes and bring home what they don’t eat in class. A Munchkin summer camp is also available for ages 5-7 on Tuesdays-Thursdays for two hours. //4238 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. Dates June 17-Aug. 26; Pricing details to be announced. Camp hours 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. for morning camps and 1:30-5 p.m. for afternoon camps.
Educational Theatre Company
Ages: 3-18
Registration now open
Budding actors can find their muse in some 28 camps staged by this Arlington-based arts education organization, including Macbeth: A Shakespeare Teen Intensive and Toys Alive! for the youngest campers. Theater professionals lead the workshops, which culminate in a performance for family and friends. Fee reductions and scholarships are available for campers needing financial assistance. // Locations vary. June 10-Aug. 23; $240-835 per session. Camp hours 9 a.m.-3 p.m. with half-day options available, as well as extended hours available at an additional cost.
emPOWER Kids All-Stars Camp
Ages: 5-13
Registration: Feb. 1
Kids will stay on the move throughout the day at this active camp, which offers tumbling, ninja-style-challenges, sports (new this year) and open gym time in addition to craft and STEM activities. // 4700 King St., Alexandria. June 17-Aug. 23; $450 per week. Camp hours are 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Encore Stage and Studio
Ages: 3-15
Registration now open
Whether your children are tots or teens, there’s a performance opportunity for them with Encore this summer. Camps for kids ages 3-5 focus on movement, music, storytelling and crafts. Early elementary-age campers participate in weeklong adventures such as The Magic School Bus; the Wizarding World of Encore; and Minions. For tweens and teens, the options include Broadway Bootcamp and the Stage Door and Tech Camp, which explores the many facets of staging a production, from stage combat to makeup design and the rehearsal process. Fee reductions and scholarships are available for campers who need financial assistance. //Locations vary. June 17-Aug. 23; $220-$1,120 per program. Camp hours 10 a.m.-4 p.m. with extended hours available at an additional cost.
Kids Give Back Summer Volunteer Camp
Ages: 6-12
Registration now open
With the goal of inspiring the next generation of volunteers, Kids Give Back is hosting its sixth year of summer camp. For three hours each morning, campers will participate in service projects such as making meals for food-insecure families, creating art kits for hospitalized children, making cards for overseas military service members and assembling sensory bins for peers with disabilities. Teachers and teen counselors manage camp sessions, which take place at Bethlehem Lutheran Church and are capped at 24 children. // 8922 Little River Turnpike, Fairfax. June 17-Aug. 2; $160 per session with sibling discounts available. Camp hours are 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Knights of Columbus
Ages: Rising kindergartners-rising 8th graders
Registration open: Feb. 7
Each week at this day camp features a different theme, from “Going Green” to “Decades” (we expect the daily attire to be entertaining for that one). Campers at the KC spend plenty of time playing sports, working on arts and crafts and swimming at the site’s multiple outdoor pools. //5115 Little Falls Road, Arlington. June 10-Aug. 9; $378-$450 per week. Camp hours 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. with extended hours available at an additional cost.
LCF Kids Summer Camp
Ages: 5-16
Registration now open
Children with special needs will enjoy sports such as soccer, tennis and volleyball at this camp designed to help build their strength, confidence and social skills. They’ll have opportunities for leadership roles and practice fundamental skills such as giving and following directions. // 150 S. Washington St., Falls Church. June 19-Aug. 30; $350 for half-days, $570 for full days. Camp hours 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Love The Ball
Ages: 4-12
Registration now open
Got soccer lovers in your household? Make it a goal to check out this camp with locations throughout Arlington County and Falls Church. Kids will kick their game up a notch under the guidance of trained coaches who also know a thing or two about having fun. Note that all activities are outside, but kids can go indoors for water and lunch breaks. // Locations and dates vary; $219 per week for half-days and $319 per week for full days. Camp hours are 9 a.m.-12 p.m. for half-days and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. for full days.
Madeira Camps
Ages: Rising kindergarten-10th graders
Registration now open
Why should the Madeira School’s nearly 400 acres of land sit unused between June and September—especially when it has a high ropes course? It offers three camp options. Camp Greenway, for rising kindergartners through 10th graders, is a traditional co-ed day camp. Girls First is a 2-week residential camp for rising 6th-9th grade girls, or one week for rising 5th-8th graders. Madeira normally offers a Riding Workshop for rising 4th-6th graders, but the barn is under construction, so check back in March to see if that camp is a go for this summer. // 9328 Georgetown Pike, McLean. June 10-Aug. 9; $528-$3,300. Day camp hours 9 a.m.-3 p.m. with extended hours available at an additional cost.
Medstar Capitals Iceplex Camps
Ages: 4-14
Registration now open
If ice sounds nice on scorching summer days, this camp at Ballston Quarter will help kids chill out while staying active. Campers can learn to skate, perfect their puck maneuvering or compete in freestyle ice skating, depending on which camp option they choose. A newly added option is the All Caps All Hers Girls Camp with guest instruction from female hockey players and coaches, including former Olympians. // 627 N. Glebe Road, Arlington. Dates vary by camp type; $280-$675. Camp hours vary by program.
Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington
Ages: 5-18
Registration open: Early February
Artsy campers will find many ways to get creative at this arts center in Virginia Square. Find more than 50 camps that explore art history and teach techniques for crafting projects such as original 2D and 3D works. Register for MoCA’s mailing list to see the 2024 offerings once they’re announced. Studio art camps in media such as drawing and painting take place at the museum (3350 Wilson Blvd.), while ceramics happens at Marymount University (2807 N. Glebe Road). Tuition assistance is available. Campers ages 5-10 can enroll in half- or full-day camps. Those 11-18 attend camp from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. // MoCA Arlington and MoCA Arlington at Marymount University. June 17-Aug. 16; $274-$645 per camp. Camp hours vary with location and extended hours available at an additional cost.
Pentagon Mixed Martial Arts Camp
Ages: 5-11
Registration open: Feb. 12
Looking for a camp where kiddos can blow off steam and get excess energy out of their systems? This active camp off Columbia Pike promises just that, with classes in mixed martial arts, arts and crafts, and four field trips per week to destinations like NOVA Wild (formerly Roer’s Zoofari) and the International Spy Museum. Through the discipline of martial arts, participants learn school-ready skills such as “respect, discipline and self-control.” //1041 S. Edgewood St., Arlington. June 24-Aug. 23; $590 per week. Camp hours 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Steve & Kate’s Camp
Ages: 4-12
Registration now open
For more than four decades, this summer camp with a national footprint has been putting kids in charge of their experience. Campers choose which activities they want to do and for how long—including options such as stop-motion animation, sewing, coding or water play on inflatable water slides. Special weekly events include performances and workshops. Signups for the camp are just as flexible. Get a one-day pass ($120), a bunch of ’em, or a full-summer pass ($3,600). Steve & Kate’s will refund passes that aren’t used at the end of the summer. Bonus: Drop off or pick up at any point in the camp day. Note: Past camps have been offered in Arlington, but this year the nearest location is in Alexandria. // Alexandria Country Day School, 2400 Russell Road, Alexandria. June 17-Aug. 16; $120-$3,600. Camp hours 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Summer at Potomac
Ages: 5-15
Registration now open
For more than a half-century, this Best of Arlington 2024 top vote-getter has offered an array of camp experiences on the 90-plus acres of The Potomac School campus in McLean. Surrounded by streams and nature trails, rising kindergarteners thru 10th-graders can take advantage of weeklong and multi-week camps such as Discovery Camp, Woodworking Studio, and Girl Power Sports and Leadership. //1301 Potomac School Road, McLean. June 17-Aug. 2; $425-$2,000 per program, available in three-, four- and five-day options. Camp hours 9 a.m.-3 p.m. with extended hours available at an additional cost.
TIC Summer Camp
Ages: 7-15
Registration now open
This 40-year-old summer camp pairs technology enrichment with athletic activities, allowing campers to get a full day for their brains and their bodies. Tech offerings include Programming, Robotics, Minecraft Modding and 2D Animation. During the other half of each day, campers can explore a variety of sports or opt for alternative enrichment such as Dance (new this year) or Chess at an additional cost. //Various locations. June 17-Aug. 9; $1,150-$1,220 per two-week session. Camp hours 8 a.m.-3 p.m. with extended hours available at an additional cost.
YMCA Arlington Summer Camp
Ages: 5-15
Registration now open
There is no shortage of specialty camps, travel camps and sports camps with the YMCA Arlington Summer Camp. Take your pick of themes like World Traveler, Lunar Mission, It’s a Thingamajig and Water Park Adventures. The nonprofit also offers a weeklong leadership training camp for counselors in training, who can then assist with other camps this summer. And if you need financial aid to help send your kid to camp, or want to help a child in your community, the YMCA also has a camp scholarship fund. //Locations vary. June 17-Aug. 9; $235-$435 per week. Camp hours 8 a.m.-6 p.m. with extended hours available at an additional cost.