Sidwell Summer: Looking Back on Summer Camp 2022 in DC and Bethesda

2022 is almost over! And while we can hardly believe how fast it flew by, when we look back, the year feels incredibly full. We saw so many smiling faces and met so many new friends! We experienced more of the things we love and less of things we didn’t love (looking at you, necessary-but-isolating-covid-precautions!)

As we head into 2023, we are building on this momentum of more good things. Below, you’ll find our favorite highlights from 2022 that will expand in 2023! 

STEM

This year, campers proved once again that it’s never too early to learn coding and engineering fundamentals. In fact, we’ve found that, much like a second language, young minds absorb complex coding concepts quickly!

While some campers come into summer motivated to code and build, others are drawn in by an interest! Many of our STEM programs pair enrichment with a kid-focused theme, like Star Wars, dinosaurs, or Minecraft. Campers show up to play and, somewhere in between all of the fun, they learn!

Coding, Robotics, Design & Build allowed campers to have hands-on fun. Program themes vary weekly, so if your camper loves a specific program, they can return and have a new experience throughout the summer!

Sports

Sidwell Summer's Soccer, Tennis, and Baseball programs were SO popular this past summer. Sidwell Summer sports programs cater to beginners and advanced players alike. Experienced soccer and baseball players step onto the field to bond with friends and sharpen their skills. While novice players join in on the fun and develop skills along the way! 

*NEW for this summer* Sidwell Summer is offering additional sports programs! Field Hockey and Lacrosse camps will join the lineup! With weekly programs, your camper can get on the field and try several sports at Sidwell Summer. 

Creativity

Campers amazed us with their creativity in 2022! 

We know how important it is to give your child enriching experiences outside of academics. Because of that, Sidwell Summer offers just about any art program you can imagine! From painting to sewing to woodworking and even culinary arts, your camper will find an abundance of meaningful experiences to embrace.  

This year, we will offer several new programs, think Comic Creators, Soap Box Derby, Model Making and more, that are sure to get your campers creative juices flowing! 

Community

We were SO happy to be back with our Sidwell Summer campers and families this year. We had missed seeing all of your smiling faces each day and were glad to be back together! We missed hearing funny tidbits from your camper’s academic year. We missed seeing how much your kids had grown! In 2022, we felt like our community was back and we look forward to being together, in its fullest form in 2023!

Friendship

This was our favorite part of 2022. While we love seeing you and having you be a part of our Sidwell Summer community, nothing trumps the experience of watching a camper become friends. We had the honor of watching old friends reconnect and witnessed shy campers make friends. We watched campers draw the strength and courage from their friendships, new or old, to participate in new activities! 

Sidwell Summer is known for its variety of enriching programs, for being a place where a kid can play baseball one week and code the next. And while we love that so much, it’s the little moments between campers that stay with us and have us dreaming of summer all winter long. 

We hope you take time to reflect on 2022 and look ahead to all that (Sidwell Summer) 2023 has to offer!