There are many types of summer programs available to families through the school their students are enrolled in. Programs include:
- Extended School Year (ESY)
- Summer School
- Summer Enrichment
- Summer Bridge
- Credit Recovery
- Summer Camp
- Student Youth Employment Program (SYEP)
School-Specific Programs
Programs run through specific schools have a variety of enrollment and start dates, so refer to either the information below or your student's school website for the most accurate information. A majority of programs begin in the middle of June, though some don't start until July.
DC International School (DCI PCS) is again running their "Summer at DCI" programming. These sessions include a variety of courses and camps including team sports, theater and cheer, tabletop RPGs, art and cooking, and robotics. These sessions run from July 14-18 and July 21-24, as well as a two-week option spanning both sections, and are open to students of all levels.
KIPP DC runs an overnight camp for students in PreK through 12 called "Camp KIPP" with a variety of activity options ranging from music and chess to theater, sports, and language immersion. These programs are now offered both online and in-person, and they are available to students entering grades 4 through 9.
Through Lee Montessori Brookland, Apollo After School is running their 5-week camp again this summer. They are offered for students from grades PreK through 6 and will feature a unique exploration theme each week. The first day of this program is July 7; the deadline for early registration is February 20, and regular closes on May 20.
Community Programs
The DC Department of Parks and Recreation runs a number of summer programs for student-age kids--including sports camps, specialty and theraputic camps, and "boost camps" that allow kids to dive more deeply into activities like robotics, journalism, and leadership. Their enrollment lottery opens on Friday, February 14 and closes on March 3. Many of these programs begin as early as May.
The DC Library also offers a number of summer programs for everybody, not just kids in PreK through 12th grade. Their Discover Summer is a celebration of reading and a love of learning that encourages you to explore your neighborhood and community as a whole. It runs from June 3 to August 31 and features a number of specific events including Library Days where your DC Library card will get you into special experiences in local museums.
Free Summer Resources
The DC Department of Parks and Recreation also offers a number of non-camp activities and programs for all ages. These include swim lessons, fitness and sports classes, cultural arts & learning, youth and senior/adult development programs, and more. Many of these programs are free but require pre-registration.
For those who rely on school meals, there are options available throughout the summer months. For those families, there are a few options. There is the Youth Meals Program--which operates no-cost meal locations--, the DC Summer Meals Program--a program free to all ages 18 and below that's open from June through August--, and SUN Bucks (Summer Electronic Benefits)--which provides grocery funds to low-income families who have either children in school or are themselves adult learners.