Still need summer camp ideas? Some neighborhood camps have openings

Some families are able to lock in summer plans early. They know what they’re going to do and when, months in advance. So when summer camps open for registration in January or February, they are ready. They sign the kids up in time to get the early bird discounts.

This post is not for them.

People procrastinate. Vacation plans change. Or, you signed the kids up for camp early, yet there’s still that one week you haven’t figured out.

Local camps held at UDC, Hearst, Murch, Deal and Wilson still have openings for children as young as 2 – and as old as middle-school age.

Mayor Bowser and CommuniKids students at the May 2018 event announcing CommuniKids’ expansion to UDC’s campus.

CommuniKids: A Spanish-immersion camp that starts ’em young – ages 2 1/2 to 7. “Around the World Spanish Summer Camp” has limited openings at its Van Ness and Tenleytown locations (UDC and 4719 Wisconsin Avenue). Sign up for one week, or all eight between June 24th and August 16th.

Says CommuniKids Marketing Director Mindi Susskind: “Every week children explore a country through games, songs, crafts, and arts while learning a language!”

A Children’s Art Studio masterpiece.

The Children’s Art Studio: For ages 5 to 10. The art camp is based at Hearst Elementary from June 24 through August 2nd. Its August sessions are at Capital Memorial Church (3150 Chesapeake Street).

Says founder Nicole Brandes: “Over the course of one week with the Children’s Art Studio, students may work with water color, beading, embossing, oil painting, indigo dye, portraiture, book-making, sewing, block printing, drawing, collage, Japanese fish printing, mobiles, wood sculpture, still life, landscape, paper, found objects, clay, nature prints, drawing, ink, murals, puppets, vegetable prints, kinetic sculpture, sand painting, tie-dye, and more.” In between, there’s plenty of time for play. And aftercare is available.

Kids Elite Sports: For rising Kindergarten through 5th graders of all athletic ability. Campers participate in a variety of sports and recreational activities and “[h]ighly trained and motivated student athlete counselors ensure that campers learn and enjoy every moment of camp!” The Murch Elementary location is new this summer, with half and full-day camps during the weeks of June 24th, July 8th, July 22nd and July 29th. One-day drop-ins are also welcome.

FitCampNation photo via Facebook

FitCampNation: For rising 6th, 7th and 8th graders. And it’s located at Deal Middle School. Register here for any or all of the five week-long sessions between June 24th and July 26th.

Says Mehgan Jones: “FitCampNation summer camp is a fantastic option for your middle school student that takes the “work” out of working out by incorporating fun and exciting games and activities into our fitness based curriculum!”

This is not an exhaustive list. There are a lot of great summer camps nearby, catering to a range of ages (Levine School, CASA at Sheridan, Sidwell Summer, City Dance Tenleytown, Summer @ St. Columba’s among them). Check them out now, but they tend to fill up quickly.

And if your camp has openings, please let us know in the comments below.