Your (Sidwell) Summer Questions Answered

So you have registered or are thinking about registering (don’t wait, REGISTER NOW!) for Sidwell Summer, but you have questions? Today we are sharing some of our most frequently asked questions to help you plan and prepare for summer. Let's get started! 

Who can attend Sidwell Summer programs? 

Anyone! All Sidwell Summer programs are open to anyone Age 3 - Grade 12. Sure we have Sidwell Friends students attend Sidwell Summer, but they are a minority of our summer population. We have participants from schools all over the DMV and beyond. So, come with a sibling or friend or meet new friends, Sidwell Summer is open to all!

Are all of your programs full-day? What if I see an AM Only program I like but need full-day care? 

You are in luck, Sidwell Summer has it all for you! At Sidwell Summer, we have many (like 40+!) full-day programs that allow your child(ren) to be engaged from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM (that’s considered full-day). However, we also have a number of AM Only programs (9:00 AM - 12:00 PM) that allow you to enroll your child(ren) in a morning of fun and enrichment! Not ready to pick up at 12:00 PM? We provide the option for you to add on a PM Only program (12:00 PM - 3:00 PM) to create a varied and full-day for your child(ren). This is a great option if your child likes variety in their day - think sports camp in the AM, enrichment programming in the PM! Note, on our DC Campus, PM Only programs are only available to participants enrolled in an AM Only program.

Does Sidwell Summer offer Extended Day (before or after camp care)? 

Sidwell Summer offers Extended Day until 5:00 PM on the DC Campus. This is a great option for  participants Age 3 - Grade 8 who need extra fun to round out their days. The Extended Day program is available on a weekly basis and you can sign up during registration (if already registered and need to add Extended Day, email us and we will take care of that for you!). Extended Day is a fun way to end the camp day with participants engaging in various indoor and outdoor activities - sports & games, arts & crafts, group games and more!  

Sidwell Summer does not offer any before care - carpool drop-off begins at 8:45 AM (for most programs) and staff will be ready to greet your child(ren) at that time! 

Is Discovery Day Camp right for my child? 

We get a lot  of questions about Discovery Day Camp. Is day camp just for younger children? What will my child do at day camp? With so many specialized programs (Culinary Arts, Robotics & Coding, LEGO, etc.) why do day camp?

Let’s clear the air about day camp! Discovery Day Camp is awesome and is for anyone in grades 2-5 (Discovery Junior Day Camp available for age 3 - grade 1). While day camp runs for 6 weeks, you can participate for 1 week, 3 weeks or all 6 weeks! Discovery Day Camp is filled with fun and the opportunity for participants to explore (hence the name ‘Discovery’) all different activities and interests.

At Discovery Day Camp, campers are encouraged to create, move, play and laugh in a safe and supportive environment. With a variety of workshops to choose from, campers can design their own dream camp day! Each workshop is led by a teacher and counselor, who are ready to engage and have fun with campers. The supportive and nurturing environment encourages campers to step out of their comfort zones and try new things.

The workshop offerings are diverse, spanning across categories such as Creative Arts, Sports & Fitness, Building, Theater, Music, Dance, Science/STEAM, and more! The workshops are designed to be hands-on, interactive, enriching, and screen-free, so campers can fully engage in the experience. We’ve found that day camp builds confidence, social skills, and independence.

My child is shy or new to summer programs, will Sidwell Summer be overwhelming?

Attending Sidwell Summer can be an incredibly rewarding and transformative experience. Every child is seen, accepted, and embraced. Sidwell Summer provides a safe and supportive space for all children to come out of their shells, build their social skills and experience the fun that is summer.

One of the most significant benefits of summer camp for all children is the opportunity to meet new people and make friends. At Sidwell Summer, children are often grouped with others (workshops, homebases, etc.), giving them a chance to connect with others who share similar interests. Children often develop cennections and establish meaningful friendships that can last long after (Sidwell) summer ends.

Additionally, summer camp helps children build their self-confidence and self-esteem. Through participation, children learn to feel more comfortable in their own skin. They can discover new talents and strengths and gain a sense of pride and accomplishment in their achievements.

By participating in activities outside of their comfort zones, children build their resilience and learn to push past their fears and limitations. This has a tremendously positive impact on their overall development, helping them to become more confident, resilient, and adaptable individuals and setting them up for success after summer ends.

We are confident that Sidwell Summer has something for everyone and we are excited to offer more programs than ever for summer 2023! Check out all Sidwell Summer offerings and Register Now! 

If you have additional questions or need assistance planning your (Sidwell) summer, please contact us at summer@sidwell.edu or 202-537-8133.