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Top Summer Camps for Preschoolers in DC, Maryland, & Northern Virginia

The DC area has no shortage of fun summer camps for the preschool set. Photo courtesy of Campers at Adventures on The Hill
The DC area has no shortage of fun summer camps for the preschool set. Photo courtesy of Campers at Adventures on The Hill
3/24/24 - By Drew Kristofik

With so many great options for summer camps near Washington, DC, finding a camp that's right for your kid always takes a bit of research. And finding good summer camps for preschoolers can be especially nerve-racking: You want your child's initial summer day camp experience to be fun, safe, and memorable, but not overstimulating or overwhelming.

We're here to help with a starter list of fun summer camps for preschoolers in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. These summer camps include theater camps, sports camps, and other great day camps for preschoolers that offer a variety of indoor and outdoor activities.

For more summer camps near DC, check out our Washington, DC Summer Camp Guide and our Camp Directory, where you can search for summer camps by type, age, and area.

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Pedalheads summer camps help get kiddos onto two wheels. Photo courtesy of Pedalheads Bike Camps
Pedalheads summer camps help get kiddos onto two wheels. Photo courtesy of Pedalheads Bike Camps

Summer Camps in Washington, DC for Preschoolers

Polite Piggy's

Capitol Hill
Polite Piggy's offers nearly six weeks of summer camp for kids ages 3-10. Activities include performing arts, music, sciences, sports, cooking, hiking, and more. There are also weekly water-play sessions and lots of popsicles. Breakfast and snacks are included.  READ MORE

Lowell School Summer Camp

Rock Creek/Colonial Village
Lowell’s eight-acre campus bordering Rock Creek Park invites campers ages 3-15 to participate in games, art, sports, water play, and more. Campers can enjoy Lowell's technology center, library, three art workshops, gym, and expansive outdoor space. Each camp session is two weeks long. READ MORE

CASA @ Sheridan Summer Camp

Tenleytown/North Cleveland Park
Sheridan School's Creative Arts Summer Adventure (CASA) offers summer art classes for children ages 3-13. The classes offer low student-to-teacher ratios in a home-like setting filled with family festivities for campers. CASA's Creative Little Kids summer-camp program for preschoolers offers the best of all worlds: Early-childhood teachers team up with working artists, dancers, musicians, and athletes in an engaging, full-day program. Three camp sessions are offered, each two weeks long. READ MORE

Steve & Kate's Camp

Northwest and Capitol Hill
Since 1980, Steve & Kate’s has put kids in charge of their own camp experience. Campers ages 4-12 choose from a variety of activities in real time including sewing, stop-motion animation, music, coding, sports and recreation, crafts, baking, and more. Families can buy as many days as they’d like and use them at any time, no reservations required. Camp runs from 8am-6pm, and lunch and snacks are included.  READ MORE

Adventures on the Hill

H Street Corridor/Takoma
Sports, games, crafts, STEM projects, and swimming are just a few of the activities that take place at Adventures on the Hill Summer Camp. The full-day camp for ages 3-10, which takes places from 8am-6pm, also includes field trips to museums, the National Mall, and more.  READ MORE

Pedalheads Bike Camps - DMV

Capitol Hill and Central DC
Pedalheads is a learn-to-ride bike camp for kids ages 4 and up, known for helping kids get off of training wheels and riding on their own. The popular weeklong day camp combines a fun group setting with specialized equipment and tailored lessons to build confidence and get some of the most tentative kids biking on their own. There are also advanced bike camps for experienced riders. Pedalheads offers both half-day and full-day camps.  READ MORE
Bring out your child's inner performer at Encore State and Studio. Photo courtesy of the camp
Bring out your child's inner performer at Encore State and Studio. Photo courtesy of the camp

Summer Camps for Preschoolers in Northern Virginia

Green Hedges Summer Camp

Vienna
Green Hedges offers full- and half-day summer camp programs for kids ages 3-7, with extended-day options. The full day runs from 9am-3pm, while the half day is 9am-12pm. The Montessori-based programming includes cooking, sports and games, outdoor play, science, music and drama, storytime, and arts and crafts.  READ MORE

Browne Summer Camp

Alexandria
Browne Academy's summer camp programs feature weekly themes, swimming, sports, art, music, dance, archery, academic offerings, and more for ages 3-13. Camp runs from 8am-4pm.  READ MORE

Little School Summer Camp

Fairfax
At Little School Summer Camp, preschoolers and rising kindergartners can enjoy age-appropriate activities that include arts and crafts, entertainers, games, and water play. Campers are grouped based on age and remain with the same children and staff all summer. READ MORE

Encore Stage and Studio

Arlington
Encore's half-day summer camp for preschoolers includes songs and movement, music and rhythm, theater, storytelling, and crafts with a new theme each week, such as Doc McStuffins and Blue's Clues. Camp takes place 9am-12pm. There is a special sharing day for families on the last day of camp. Encore also offers school-holiday mini camps and spring break camps.  READ MORE

The Little Theatre of Alexandria

Alexandria
The Little Theatre of Alexandria is hosting four separate weeks of summer camp for preschoolers ages 3-5. The half-day camps run from 9am-12pm and include songs, dancing, theater, and more.  READ MORE

Camp Griffin at Westminster School

Annandale
Camp Griffin offers full- and half-day summer camp programs (with before- and after-care options) that include games, arts and crafts, water play, and lots more. The Explorers Program, for ages 3 through rising kindergarteners, includes fun weekly themes such as Full STEAM Ahead!, Ahoy Matey!, and Go Wild! Each week also includes fun field trips to nature centers, pools, parks, museums, and more.  READ MORE

Congressional Summer Camp

Falls Church
Congressional Camp offers a wide variety of program offerings for campers age 4-14. Operating at Congressional School and Sleepy Hollow Elementary, campers can choose from traditional day camps, excursion-based programs, and academic and specialty camps. READ MORE

Summer Camps for Preschoolers in Maryland

Brit-Am Tots Summer Camp

Bethesda
Brit-Am's half-day soccer camp for ages 4-5 uses small games (Stuck in the Mud, Red Light/Green Light, and more) to help little ones develop motor skills and cognitive abilities. Campers can win prizes in the Best-Dressed Uniform competition and the Best Soccer Hat competition. READ MORE

Summer at Sandy Spring

Sandy Spring
Summer at Sandy Spring, for kids ages 3-14, takes place on the 140-acre campus of Sandy Spring Friends School and runs continuously for seven weeks between June and August. Campers experience the Adventure Park and swimming while fostering friendship, having fun, learning, and discovering. Camp highlights include chef-prepared lunches, certified educators, and a low staff-to-camper ratio.  READ MORE

Imagination Stage

Bethesda
Imagination Stage empowers young people to discover their voice and identity through performing arts education and professional theater. This nationally-recognized theater arts center, respected for high quality, innovative programming, serves more than 100,000 children and family members annually. Each year, it produces several professional theater productions for children ages 1+ and hosts classes, camps, and workshops in acting, musical theater, performance, dance, and filmmaking for ages 1-18. READ MORE

Barrie Camp

Silver Spring
Barrie Camp offers an environment perfect for campers ages 3.5-14 to explore and enjoy their favorite activities. Each summer is a unique blend of hands-on experiences, collaboration, and diversity of thought and culture. Barrie has an Olympic-size pool, a pond for canoeing, gyms, a Black Box theater, art spaces, archery, hiking trails, and more for campers to enjoy. READ MORE

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About the Author

Drew Kristofik
Drew Kristofik’s career took a twist from editing teen magazines to a seven-year stint at MacNeil/Lehrer, followed by a long run at Nickelodeon/Viacom as Director of Content for Nick Online and Editor-in-Chief of ParentsConnect.com. A founding member of the Webby Award-winning GoCityKids, she’s written for Family Fun, Vanity Fair, and New York. Her middle school novel, The Time Boat, is available on Amazon Kindle. Drew keeps the MommyPoppins New York Events calendar spot-on and can be reached at events@mommypoppins.com.
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