Summer Camps » Resource Directory

The Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities is committed to providing innovative, inclusive, accessible and affordable programs which enhance the health, well-being, and quality of life for Alexandria residents with all abilities.

Online registration is not available for Therapeutic Recreation programs. Please contact the Therapeutic Recreation office at 703.746.5422 for more information and to determine whether the Therapeutic Recreation programs are right for you or a family member. School aged youth and teens are required to have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan. All programs require an initial assessment and eligibility approval by Therapeutic Recreation staff prior to participation in programs.

ASDEC Reach for Success Summer Programs in Reading, Math, Writing and Study Skills For Students in Elementary- High School:  Registration Opens in January.

ASDEC provides the only summer program in the DC region that is lead by Certified Academic Language Therapists teaching struggling learners.  The program provides intensive instruction in reading,  writing, spelling, study skills, and handwriting and math. Physical movement along with visual and auditory stimuli to provide multisensory learning. The hands-on aspect of the structured routines facilitates attention and concentration. The careful development of conceptual understanding and the high level of repetition reinforce memory. All activities build on the mastery of skills, which helps students build self-esteem as they experience success each day.

For close to two decades, ASDEC master teachers have been delivering the most powerful Orton-Gillingham teaching methods to students during our summer program. Our elementary students work with Academic Therapists one to one and in small groups while older students work in small groups with senior ASDEC faculty members. In addition, ASDEC-trained Math Specialists bring years of experience to our summer programs.

ASDEC  has over 20 years of experience serving children directly during the summer programs bringing the best components of our research-based training into the classroom..  We also have years of experience teaching students online, now an essential component during this pandemic. The Summer Program is for students who currently are struggling in school and require special accommodations as specified in an IEP or some other educational testing.

Camp Attaway is a three-week summer day camp for children ages 7-13 with emotional and behavioral disorders. It is a place where children who know failure too well can break out of their negative cycles and learn new skills.

There is a screening process for each camper interested in registering for Camp Attaway. The screening process serves four major purposes:

1. An opportunity for the parents to share their present concerns about their child’s development in the social, emotional and behavioral areas along with identifying their child’s strengths;
2. To gather vital developmental and family history of the camper along with reviewing psychological, educational, psychiatric, neuropsychological, speech and occupational evaluation reports, as well as Individual Educational Plans;
3. For parents to identify goals they would like Camp Attaway to address in working with their child;
4. For the child to be interviewed by the camp director in helping determine whether Camp Attaway would be a good fit for him/her.

Camp Free2BMe is designed specifically for children ages 8 to 18, who have a primary diagnosis of Asperger’s syndrome, autism, or developmental delay.Camp Free2BMe is a unique summer day camp offering social skills programming combined with recreational opportunities to children ages 8 and up. Each week is focused on a specific skill and is learned through outings, art, music, themed activities, individual and group projects. Our senior camp practices their skills out in the community three to four days per week. RAIN uses an evidence based peer to peer model in all of our programs. Peer to peer support programs and inclusion of students with ASD not only contributes to positive outcomes for the campers with ASD, but can also impact a number of outcomes for peers. RAIN also offers programs throughout the school year on Saturdays (Social Saturdays)

Sports & Adventure Overnight Camp:
Sports & Adventure Camp offers a different off-campus adventure each day of the week plus an overnight campout.
Camp Cougar:
Camp Cougar is a fun-filled, multi-activity day camp that allows the campers to map out each camp day.
Basketball Camp:
Campers will improve their fundamental skills while also learning more advanced concepts. Individual skills will be honed as well as team play.
E-sports Camp:
Esports camp offers Overwatch and Rocket League traininig & competitions.
Algebra II:
Algebra II is a one-credit course that is an extension of Algebra I.
Virtual Reality & Aerial Robotics
It will allow students to use the Oculus Quest 2 Virtual Reality systems to engage in individual and group virtual reality games.

The Xpress Yourself Summer Camp is designed to provide support to children and adolescents. Campers are assigned a small group for the week based on age and grade to work on problem solving, coping skills, management of anxiety, conflict resolution, organizational skills, self-esteem building, social skills and healthy emotional expression.

In-Person Campers
Camp will run from 10am-1:30pm Monday through Friday
Lunch is not provided by Expressive Therapy Center. Please plan to pack a lunch daily for your camper!
Temperatures will be checked prior to entering the facility
Masks must be worn at all times by camp participants, counselors and administrative staff.
Campers should be prepared to spend time outside.
Hand sanitizer will be available throughout the facility.
COVID-19 Informed Consent form must be submitted with application.

Celebrating 15 years, Fitness for Health professionals, in collaboration with Center for Communication and Learning speech-language pathologists, will provide an integrated movement and social thinking® program. Our summer program will integrate social cognitive thinking with motor activities.
Concepts will be introduced in a fun and motivating way encouraging participants to explore and improve their social thinking skills and motor development. This program will integrate social thinking with motor activities. Concepts will be introduced in a fun and motivating way encouraging participants to explore and improve their social thinking skills and motor development.
Program co-founder Susan M. Abrams M.A. CCC-SLP was featured in The ASHA Leader, published by the American Speech Hearing Language Association.
Concepts may include:
› Theory of Mind
› Cooperation
› Getting the Big Picture
› Perspective Taking
› Flexibility
› Self-Regulating Emotions
› Problem Solving
› Thinking with Your Eyes
› Being a Part of a Group
› Fitness Fun
› Big Problem/Little Problem
› Conversational Skills
› Exergaming
› and more…
Social learning is facilitated through direct instruction, coaching, and opportunities to practice the skills in a dynamic environment.
Our 4:1 Student to Professional Staff (speech-language pathologist and fitness specialists) ratio makes the B Social program especially beneficial for students with social challenges.

Children with intellectual disabilities are like most kids. They enjoy playing games, having cookouts, and going on hikes with friends.  But it can often be difficult for families to find these activities with the interests and abilities of their children in mind, which is why Jill’s House created an unforgettable two-night camping experience tailored specifically for these amazing children and the volunteers who celebrate them. 
Jill’s House trained staff, including child care specialists, nurses, and a team of volunteers, are always available during the day to ensure your child’s safety and give them a fun and positive experience.
At night, your child will sleep in a small cabin with attached bathroom, along with a few of their new friends. A child care specialist will be awake and available through the night to attend to any child’s needs.
Meals are prepared in the main kitchen by camp staff with your child’s special dietary restrictions in mind.

Leap Ahead, Inc. offers morning program, afternoon program, or full-day program options for children with autism & other related disorders. We are accepting children ages 5 to 11 years. If you are interested in your child participating in our Summer Program, please fill out the Program Request Form and the Summer Program Intake Form found on this page. Your request will be reviewed; you will receive a notification if your child has been accepted within 7-10 days. New families require an appointment to ensure you child meets the criteria for our Summer Program.  Registration of a minimum of 4 weeks is required (indicate any 4 weeks on form). Peer role models will be present to aid in facilitating language and social skills on Group Therapy days when available.

“GET MOVING GET SOCIAL” THERAPEUTIC SUMMER CAMP  will incorporate movement through the use of team sports such as: basketball, soccer, tennis, football, frisbee and volleyball; and other interactive equipment that aid in developing sport skills. By improving their sport skills they will build their self esteem, self confidence, their physical ability and social skills. It will also allow them to improve communication skills, team work, and cooperation.

This summer camp is for children with special needs, but we also accept siblings without special needs.
Your  children will:
 
Learn to work in groups with other children
Learn  the fundamentals of different sports
Learn leadership roles
Learn to give directions and follow instructions
Learn to take turns
And HAVE FUN!

SummerEdge 2022 will be offered in person from June 21-July 29. Our expert teachers are keenly prepared to support students whose most recent academic program may have caused confusion, or lack of progress. These are unprecedented times, but one thing will stay just the same: SummerEdge’s commitment to doing what we do best, which is provide a summer camp experience with fun paced learning and recreational activities, even in the most challenging of times.

Continuing 50 years of the Oakwood School experience serving students with Learning Differences, Summer @ Oakwood is a bridge between academic years, offering intensive morning academics in a relaxed summer environment.

The Summer Program is staffed by experienced Oakwood teachers who provide specialized instruction tailored to the individual needs of each student and who support each student’s social growth.

Siena’s Academic Summer School @ Oaken Campus

Our academic summer school at Siena Northern Virginia provides students with mild to moderate language-based learning differences entering grades 3rd-9th with a positive instructional experience that works on review, reinforcement, and enhancement of academic skills. Small classes and a nurturing environment provide fun and creative learning opportunities in reading, writing, and math skills and concepts.

Siena’s summer program uses the same curriculum and teaching methods that are employed at the day school. Instruction is tailored to each student’s individual needs, and all classes are multisensory and designed to support student achievement in a relaxed but rigorous setting.

Siena’s Academic Summer School @ Silver Spring

Our academic summer school at the Silver Spring campus provides students with mild to moderate language-based learning differences entering grades 4th-9th with a positive instructional experience that works on review, reinforcement, and enhancement of academic skills. Small classes and a nurturing environment provide fun and creative learning opportunities in reading, writing, and math skills and concepts.

Siena’s summer program uses the same curriculum and teaching methods that are employed at the day school. Instruction is tailored to each student’s individual needs, and all classes are multisensory and designed to support student achievement in a relaxed but rigorous setting.

Siena Summer Writing Workshop @ Silver Spring

The Siena School’s summer writing workshop provides rising 9th-11th grade students with a range of effective strategies to assist with each step of the writing process, including organization. Learn to scaffold written work and recognize the executive functioning skills essential for a successful essay.

SPDBasketball 2022 Summer Program @ Silver Spring

Train with former Division I Head Coach Robert Burke, who has over 20 years of college coaching experience. Instruction is focused on providing personal attention and building skills, confidence, and basketball IQ.

In a small group setting, an individualized approach is taken to meet each student’s specific needs. Participants learn multisensory strategies, create graphic organizers, and utilize assistive technology to compose persuasive writing while applying feedback to proofread and edit work.

Play with a purpose @ SOTH in the summer! The wide range of activities and experiences offered with Summer Groups at SOTH empower your child to get out of their comfort zone and learn something new. Our special staff and incredible facilities means everyone gets the chance to exercise their brains and their bodies.
Summer Social Explorers, Easy Rider Bike Riding Instruction, Early Learners Summer Booster, Organization Station: Executive Functioning Intensive

Sample Schedule
9:00-9:30 – arrival/check-in; free choice of collaborative activities
9:30-10:00 – snack
10:00-10:45 – outdoor time
10:45-11:30 – social skills focused activity, cooking, sensory
exploration, art, etc.
11:30-12:00 – lunch
12:00-1:00 – supervised water-play
1:00-1:30 – clean up from water play and “quiet” activity
1:30-2:15 – social skills focused activity, cooking, sensory
exploration, art, etc.
2:15-2:45 – games
2:45-3:00 – wrap-up/dismissal; free choice of collaborative activities
 

The Language and Behavior Center believes that a child’s natural environment is the best place for them to learn.  By following the child’s lead and incorporating learning opportunities in to play, the child enjoys their ABA or Speech Therapy sessions.

TLBC’s evidence-based treatment is built on a foundation of parent involvement. From the start of services, parents are trained on techniques that will allow their child to flourish outside of a therapy setting.
The Language and Behavior Center is excited to offer a Summer Social Camp for kids age 3 – 12!

Camp is held at our Silver Spring, MD clinic on Summer weekdays from 9AM – 12:30PM

Groups are intentionally selected with children’s age and needs taken into consideration to curate an ideal group for your child. Our highly trained play experts help support your child across a variety of social domains.

TLBC Social Camp is designed to promote the following skills

Social-Emotional Development
Identifying Social Cues
Coping Strategies
Identifying Emotions
Expected vs. Unexpected Behavior
Navigating Social Settings
Information Recall
Attending to Peers
Reciprocal Conversation
Listener Responding