Summer Camps in DC That Offer Aftercare
Summer in Washington D.C. is filled with sunshine, outdoor adventures, and endless opportunities for kids to learn and grow. But for many working parents, the joy of summer can come with the challenge of finding childcare that extends beyond standard 9:00am-3:00pm camp hours. Thankfully, numerous summer camps in the District understand this need and offer robust before and/or aftercare programs, providing peace of mind and flexibility for families.
The Aftercare Dream: Convenient for Parents, Fun for Kids
Aftercare programs are ideally more than just a place to wait. The best ones provide a continuation of the camp's themes, with additional activities, games, and creative outlets that keep children stimulated and happy. The not-so-great ones sometimes end up with lots of sitting around and not a lot going on which is no fun for kids.
Finding a camp that aligns with your child's interests and offers convenient aftercare for your schedule can feel like a Herculean task. While this is a growing list, here are a number of summer camps in DC that we know provide either a longer, full-day of programming or offer additional extended-day options, ensuring your kids are engaged, supervised, and having fun until you can pick them up.
D.C. Summer Camps That Run All Day
Again, while the norm is for camps to run from somewhere between 8:30am - 9:30pm (like a regular school day) there are a number of summer camps in DC that simply have longer-running days, that are more in the 8:00am - 6:00pm range. Here are a few examples.
Polite Piggy's: For kids ages 3-10, a full day runs from 8:00am-5:00pm. As a great general summer camps option, age-specific thematic programming runs from start to finish.
Discover Fun Camp: This camp emphasizes adventure, learning, and friendships for children ages 3-12. Summer camps run from 8 am – 6 pm, making them a great option for extended hours.
Adventures on the Hill: Camper-led activities allow for a full day of various activities from 8:00am - 6:00pm. 8:00-9:00 & 5:00-6:00 time slots are a bit lower key where campers either playground time or indoor game room time.
Steve & Kate’s Camp: Running from 8:00am - 6:00pm, this is a good option for drop-in days or a full summer where you need flexibility on the fly.
D.C. Summer Camps That Have Aftercare
Here are a few options in and around Washington D.C. that provide extended day services:
DPR Summer Camps: DPR offers affordable summer camps across the city, and many of their "Little Explorers" and "Discovery" camps include before and aftercare for an additional fee. Beforecare typically begins at 8:00 a.m., and aftercare ends at 6:00 p.m.
Apollo Summer Camp: This summer camp offers a dedicated summer enrichment program with both before and aftercare options. Before care is from 7:30 am - 9:00 am and aftercare is from 3:00 pm - 5:30 pm.
Beauvoir Summer Camp: Beauvoir School offers "Early Morning Connections (EMC)" and "Afternoon Beauvoir Connections (ABC)" for extended day services. EMC runs from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and ABC from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
MadScience: With a daily schedule of 9:00am - 3:00pm, before and aftercare are available from 8:00-9:00am and 4:00-6:00pm for an additional fee.
What to Consider When Choosing a Camp with Aftercare
Hours: Double-check the exact start and end times of both the regular camp day and the aftercare program to ensure it aligns with your family's schedule.
Cost: Aftercare often comes with an additional fee. Be sure to factor this into your budget.
Activities: Ask about the types of activities offered during aftercare. Is it structured play, quiet time, or a continuation of camp themes?
Staffing: Inquire about the staff-to-child ratio and the experience of the aftercare counselors.
Flexibility: Some camps offer daily drop-in options for aftercare, which can be beneficial for unpredictable schedules.
Registration: Note that aftercare registration is often separate from the main camp registration and may have different deadlines.
Good luck with your summer camp aftercare search! If you need help, don’t hesitate to reach out. DC Kids Camps offers a concierge service to take the stress out of the planning.