Jennifer Swope

Latest posts by Jennifer Swope

Best Summer Camps in Washington, DC; Maryland; and Northern Virginia

Submitted by Jennifer Swope on Sun, 03/05/2023 - 10:00am

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, art camps, and sports clinics are just some of the options available to children and teens ages 3-17.

Here are 17 summer day camps in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia we're sure your kids will love. Winter usually marks the start of camp sign-up season, 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 sports day camps to overnight summer camps to STEM summer day camps and everything in between.

Best Overnight Summer Camps in Virginia and Maryland

Submitted by Jennifer Swope on Sun, 02/19/2023 - 10:00am

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 not far from 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. While each camp offers an overnight experience and similar activities, no two camps are exactly the same.

Here are 11 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.

15 Things To Do for February's Winter Break in DC

Submitted by Jennifer Swope on Sun, 02/12/2023 - 11:30am

Learn how maple sugaring works at Brookside Gardens. Photo courtesy of Montgomery Parks

February winter break is right around the corner for Washington, DC public school kids. When does winter break start? It begins Monday, February 20 and ends Friday, February 24, 2023. When you add the weekend before and after, you've got nine days to fill with fun for your kids.

To help you make the most of winter break, we've rounded up a variety of fun things to do with kids in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. With both indoor and outdoor options on the list, you're covered in any weather. If you need more fun ideas, check out our lists of 30 fun winter activities in DC for kids and families, 15 free activities near DC this winter, outdoor ice skating rinks near DC, and top indoor playgrounds.

Best of January: Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Lunar New Year, and More Fun Things To Do in DC with Kids

Submitted by Jennifer Swope on Fri, 12/30/2022 - 10:03am

See traditional lion and dragon dances at the DC Chinese Lunar New Year Parade. Photo courtesy of dcparade.com

From New Year's Day to MLK weekend and beyond, January can be a great time for indoor and outdoor activities. Don’t miss our favorite things to do in DC with kids this month.

Go wild outdoors on a Wild Child Hike, or explore nature while using your imagination during Wild Forest Time. Indoors, there are incredible theater performances for all ages, including Aquarium at Imagination Stage and No Excuses, No Limits, a performance by differently-abled dancers at the Kennedy Center. There are also many ways your family can honor Martin Luther King Jr., from joining the MLK Holiday DC Peace Walk & Parade to the MLK Service and Learning Day at Frying Pan Farm. And don't miss the beginning of Lunar New Year celebrations at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and Burke Lake Park.

Find more things to do in DC in January in our list of the best places to go snow tubing near DC, our round-up of the best outdoor ice skating rinks near DC, and our Winter Activities Guide for DC Kids.

We’re adding more events to our family activity calendar every day, so don’t forget to check it frequently.

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24 Best Things to Do in DC December 2024 with Kids: Sing-A-Longs, Christmas Events, and New Year's Eve

Submitted by Jennifer Swope on Fri, 12/02/2022 - 9:01am

Kids can delight in a holiday train show. Photo courtesy of the College Park Aviation Museum and the Field of Firsts Foundation

This December is filled with sparkles and merriment from holiday lights and parades to menorah lightings and New Year's Eve events.

You've seen our round-up of must-do Christmas events and holiday activities, and you may have purchased tickets to a holiday show or a Christmas light display. Now I'm going to tell you about events this month that aren't on those lists.

Imagination Stage's Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood opens mid-month and runs until early February 2025. My kids have always loved this theater's productions, and I can't recommend them enough.

And the Udvar-Hazy Center is hosting a family day about Rocket Blasts and Star Bursts. I don't know about your kids, but explosions are super exciting to mine.

And when this year closes, so do two immersive experiences. Dopamine Land: A Multisensory Experience closes December 29 and Tutankhamun: His Tomb and His Treasures closes December 31.

We have so many more great events listed below for your family in December, but don't forget to check our family activity calendar every day, as we're always adding more events.