Jennifer Swope

Jennifer Swope, a DC resident since 2003, transitioned from humanitarian work to freelance editing in 2012 to stay home with her two kids. This shift sparked her passion for finding fun ways to keep them entertained—and inspired her to contribute to Mommy Poppins. When she's not navigating DC's chaos with her kids, she and her husband love watching sports, planning their next trip, and attending concerts. Follow Jennifer on Instagram @jenniferswope.

Latest posts by Jennifer

Top Easter Egg Hunts in DC, Maryland, & Northern Virginia

Submitted by Jennifer Swope on Sun, 03/23/2025 - 10:41am

Eggstravaganza! at Tudor Place features both an egg hunt and an egg roll. Event photo courtesy of Tudor Place Historic House

It's time to dust off those baskets and get ready for some Easter egg hunts! Easter egg hunts are one of the top springtime kids' activities, and they're happening all across DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia for Easter 2025.

From toddlers to teens, there is an Easter egg hunt that works for every kid in your family. These even include some free egg hunts!

Read on for our list of the best Easter egg hunts at DC parks, farms, churches, and more for family fun. Many of them require advance registration and are filling up fast, so book soon!

Our Easter Activities Guide and Spring Activities Guide for Families have even more fun ways to enjoy the holiday, from awesome Easter movies to easy Easter crafts.

Best Summer Camps in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia

Submitted by Jennifer Swope on Sun, 03/09/2025 - 1:00pm

Kids can have lots of outdoor adventures at Beauvoir Summer Camp. Photo courtesy of the Beauvoir Summer Program

Summer camps are a win for both kids and parents. Summer day camps allow parents to tackle work and home responsibilities while their children have fun learning new skills, making friends, playing, splashing, and creating. And with so many great day camps in the DC area for kids of all interests, you're bound to find one your children will love. Traditional summer camps, STEM camps and other academic programs, theater camps, and art camps are just some of the options available.

Here are 17 summer day camps in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia we're sure your kids will love. Note that some of these camps may already be full, so be sure to check camp websites for registration and dates, rates, and up-to-date availability.

Looking for more options for summer camps near DC? Bookmark our local Summer Camp Guide, and peruse our full Camp Directory for more programs to fit any budget and interest, from free and affordable summer camps to overnight summer camps and everything in between.

Best Summer Camps for Teens in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia

Submitted by Jennifer Swope on Sun, 03/02/2025 - 7:00am

Kids can learn from top tennis coaches at Nike Tennis Camp. Photo courtesy of the camp

If you feel your teenager has outgrown camp, the variety of summer camps for teens throughout the DC area may convince you otherwise. There are summer day camps in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia that will keep teens busy all summer long no matter their interests. These teen summer camps include all sorts of big-kid activities like sports, coding and robotics, theater, art, and so much more.

Here are 15 summer camps for teens in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. Bookmark our local Summer Camp Guide for more options for summer camps near DC, and peruse our full Camp Directory for more summer camps to fit any budget and interest.

Best Overnight Summer Camps Near DC in Virginia and Maryland

Submitted by Jennifer Swope on Sun, 02/09/2025 - 12:00pm

Sandy Hill Camp & Retreat Center offers lots of fun outdoor activities, including water sports. Photo courtesy of the camp

Overnight summer camps are a time-honored tradition for many children. The freedom to choose daily activities, learn independence, and sleep in cabins are just some of the best parts of going to sleepaway camp.

Luckily, there are a variety of overnight summer camps near DC that help kids learn new skills, have fun, and build lifelong friendships. Ideal for kids as young as 5 and up to 17, these overnight summer camps in Virginia and Maryland are located in the mountains, in forests, along the shore, and on farms.

Here are 12 overnight summer camps we're sure your kids will love and ask to return to year after year. Many sleepaway camps begin sign-ups in the winter, so be sure to check their websites for registration and camp dates, rates, and up-to-date availability.

Looking for more options for summer camps near DC? Bookmark our local Summer Camp Guide, and peruse our full Camp Directory for more programs to fit any budget and interest, from sports summer camps to STEM summer camps and everything in between.

How to Plan Cheap, Crazy, Amazing, and Affordable Family Vacations

Submitted by Jennifer Swope on Sat, 01/11/2025 - 10:54am

Cheap ways to get the whole family to London? Read on!

Planning affordable family vacations is tough! One of the best parts of parenting is planning memorable family vacations. There are so many wonderful places to visit and the learning opportunities of exploring places near and far is unmatched.

However, travel costs can be immense. How can you make sure your kids have the magic of travel as a big part of their lives, while also not sacrificing your bank account?

I'm here for you! I am a master of planning affordable family vacations. I know exactly how to find family vacation trips that don't break the bank. Here, I'm sharing my tips, in an easy step-by-step guide. Read on for my tried-and-true steps for planning affordable nearby road trips, week-long trips across the country, long weekend jumps to Europe, and more.

Fun Free Activities for Kids in January 2025: 25 Free Things To Do in DC with Kids

Submitted by Jennifer Swope on Sun, 12/29/2024 - 11:11am

STEAM Saturday at the National Building Museum is always a fun event. Photo courtesy of the museum

There is lots of free fun to be had all around the DC area this month!

New Year's Eve Weekend 2024 in DC: Noon Year's Eve, Fireworks, and More

Submitted by Jennifer Swope on Wed, 12/25/2024 - 10:23am

Experience Tingle Bells at ARTECHOUSE. Photo courtesy of ARTECHOUSE

Enjoy these great things to do in and near DC with kids this New Year's Eve weekend.

24 New Year's Eve Fireworks, Balloon Drops, Drone Shows, and Other DC Celebrations for Kids

Submitted by Jennifer Swope on Sun, 12/22/2024 - 3:08pm

Ring in the new year at First Night Alexandria. Photo by Geoff Livingston via Flickr 2.0

New Year's Eve with kids might feel as wild as those pre-children celebrations with sugar highs and post-holiday excitement. You're just likely celebrating it a bit earlier in the day. I know when my kids were little I wanted to ring in the coming year, but also be asleep well before midnight. (Let's be honest—I still want to be in bed before midnight).

When my now teenagers were a baby and a toddler, we attended the very first Noon Yards Eve. It's grown and become the premier DC event for kids to celebrate the new year. I can't recommend it enough.

But this isn't the only incredible event. Check out early celebrations at Shipgarten or the B&O Railroad Museum. Families with older kids might enjoy nighttime parties like the popular First Night Alexandria or the new New Year's Eve Drone & Fireworks Show in Baltimore's Inner Harbor.

Still clinging to Christmas? Most holiday light shows in the area are open on New Year's Eve, or you can get tickets to a holiday performance before they end their seasonal runs. Happy New Year!

Jennifer Swope

Latest posts by Jennifer

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