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Top Summer Camps Near Washington, DC for Preschoolers

Summer at Sandy Spring offers eight full weeks of camp fun. Photo courtesy of Summer at Sandy Spring
Summer at Sandy Spring offers eight full weeks of camp fun. Photo courtesy of Summer at Sandy Spring
2/18/22 - By Drew Kristofik

With so many great options for summer camps near Washington, DC, finding a camp that's right for your kid always takes a bit of research. And finding good summer camps for preschoolers can be especially nerve-racking: You want your child's initial summer day camp experience to be fun, safe, and memorable, but not overstimulating or overwhelming.

We're here to help with a starter list of fun summer camps near Washington, DC for preschoolers. These summer camps in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia include theater camps, a soccer camp for beginners, and other great day camps for preschoolers that offer a variety of indoor and outdoor activities.

For more summer camps near DC, check out our Washington, DC Summer Camp Guide and our Camp Directory, where you can search for summer camps by type, age, and area.

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Pedalheads helps get kiddos onto two wheels. Photo courtesy of Pedalheads Bike Camps
Pedalheads helps get kiddos onto two wheels. Photo courtesy of Pedalheads Bike Camps

Summer Camps in Washington, DC for Preschoolers

Polite Piggy's

Capitol Hill
Polite Piggy's offers six weeks of summer camp for kids ages 3 to 10. Activities include performing arts, music, sciences, sports, cooking, hiking, and more. There are also weekly water-play sessions and lots of popsicles.  READ MORE

Lowell School Summer Camp

Rock Creek/Colonial Village
Lowell’s eight-acre campus bordering Rock Creek Park invites campers ages 3 1/2 to 15 to participate in games, art, sports, water play, and more. Campers can enjoy Lowell's technology center, library, three art workshops, gym, and expansive outdoor space. Campers can enroll in one or two sessions that are each two weeks long, plus an additional Last Call week. Sessions 1 and 2 take place from 8:30am-3:15pm with optional after-care from 3:15-6pm, while Last Call runs from 9am-3:15pm.  READ MORE

CASA @ Sheridan Summer Camp

Tenleytown/North Cleveland Park
Sheridan School's Creative Arts Summer Adventure (CASA) offers summer art classes for children ages 3-13. The classes offer low student-to-teacher ratios in a home-like setting filled with family festivities for campers. CASA's Creative Little Kids summer-camp program for preschoolers offers the best of all worlds: Early-childhood teachers team up with working artists, dancers, musicians, and athletes in an engaging, full-day program. Three camp sessions are offered, each two weeks long and taking place from 8:30am-3:30pm, with optional before- and after-care.  READ MORE

Steve & Kate's Summer Day Camp

Northwest and Capitol Hill
At Steve & Kate's summer camps, kids ages 4-12 can choose their own activities based on their interests. Activities include performing arts, coding, baking, sewing, sports, water play, arts and crafts, and even pie throwing. Parents can purchase day passes to be used any day during the summer (no need to schedule them ahead of time; campers can just show up), or opt for a summer pass that covers the whole season. Camp runs from 8am-6pm and includes lunch and snacks.  READ MORE

Adventures on the Hill

H Street Corridor/Takoma
Sports, games, crafts, STEM projects, and swimming are just a few of the activities that take place at Adventures on the Hill Summer Camp. The full-day camp for ages 3 to 10, which takes places from 8am - 6pm, also includes field trips to museums, the National Mall, and more.  READ MORE

Pedalheads Bike Camps - DMV

Capitol Hill and Central DC
Pedalheads is a learn-to-ride bike camp for kids ages 3 and up, known for helping kids get off of training wheels and riding on their own. The popular weeklong day camp combines a fun group setting with specialized equipment and tailored lessons to build confidence and get some of the most tentative kids biking on their own. Pedalheads offers 90-minute Trikes 'N' Trainers and Balance Bikers camps for ages 3-4 and half-day or full-day camps for ages 4 and up.  READ MORE
Bring out your child's inner performer at Encore State and Studio. Photo courtesy of the camp
Bring out your child's inner performer at Encore State and Studio. Photo courtesy of the camp

Summer Camps in Northern Virginia for Preschoolers

Green Hedges Summer Camp

Vienna, VA
Green Hedges offers full- and half-day summer-camp programs for kids ages 3-8, with extended-day options. The full day runs from 9am-3pm, while the half day is 9am-12pm. The Montessori-based programming includes cooking, sports and games, outdoor play, science, music and drama, storytime, and arts and crafts.  READ MORE

Browne Summer Camp

Alexandria, VA
Browne Academy's summer-camp programs feature weekly themes, swimming, sports, art, music, dance, archery, academic offerings, and more. Camp runs from 8am-4pm. On Fridays, parents are invited for weekly assemblies. READ MORE

Little School Summer Camp

Fairfax, VA
At Little School Summer Camp, preschoolers and rising kindergartners can enjoy age-appropriate activities that include arts and crafts, entertainers, games, and water play. Campers are grouped based on age and remain with the same children and staff all summer. READ MORE

Encore Stage and Studio

Arlington, VA
Encore's half-day summer camp for preschoolers includes songs and movement, music and rhythm, theater, storytelling, and crafts with a new theme each week, such as Peppa Pig and Bluey. Camp takes place 9am - 12pm. There will be a special sharing day for families on the last day of camp.  READ MORE

The Little Theatre of Alexandria

Alexandria, VA
The Little Theatre of Alexandria is hosting four separate weeks of summer camp for preschoolers ages 3-5, including Musical Tots and Theatrical Adventures. The half-day camps run from 9am - 12pm and include songs, dancing, theater, and more.  READ MORE

Camp Griffin at Westminster School

Annandale, VA
Camp Griffin offers full- and half-day summer-camp programs (with before- and after-care options) that include games, arts and crafts, water play, and lots more. The Explorers Program, for ages 3 through rising kindergarteners, includes fun weekly themes such as Full STEAM Ahead!, Pint-Sized Gourmets, and Blast Off! Each week also includes fun field trips to nature centers, pools, parks, museums, and more.  READ MORE
Who you gonna call this summer? Photo courtesy of Summer at Sandy Spring
Who you gonna call this summer? Photo courtesy of Summer at Sandy Spring

Summer Camps in Maryland for Preschoolers

Brit-Am Tots Summer Camp

Bethesda, MD
Brit-Am's soccer camp for ages 4-5 uses small games (Stuck in the Mud, Red Light/Green Light, and more) to help little ones develop motor skills and cognitive abilities. The camps run from 9am - 12pm, and campers can win prizes in the Best Dressed Soccer Player competition and the Best Soccer Hat competition. READ MORE

Summer at Sandy Spring

Sandy Spring, MD
Summer at Sandy Spring, for kids ages 3-15, takes place on the 140-acre campus of Sandy Spring Friends School and runs continuously for eight weeks between June and August. Campers will experience the Adventure Park and swimming while fostering friendship, having fun, learning, and discovering. Camp highlights include chef-prepared lunches, certified educators, and a low staff-to-camper ratio.  READ MORE

Imagination Stage Summer Camp

Bethesda, MD
Imagination Stage offers performing-arts summer camps for kids ages 3 1/2 to 18 at its main theater in Bethesda as well as in Rockville and northwest DC. There are two separate camp weeks for kids ages 3 1/2 to 5, Mini Hullabaloo at the Zoo and Mini Commotion in the Ocean. Both camps run 9am-12pm at the Bethesda location. READ MORE

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About the Author

Drew Kristofik

Drew Kristofik's early career editing teen magazines somehow morphed into a seven-year stint at MacNeil/Lehrer, followed by a very long sojourn at Nickelodeon/Viacom as Director of Content for Nick online and then Editor-in-Chief of ParentsConnect.com local. She was a founding member of the WebbyAward winning GoCityKids, has written for Family Fun Magazine, Vanity Fair, and New York, and her novel for middle schoolers, The Time Boat, is available on Amazon Kindle. She strives to keep the MommyPoppins New York Events calendar packed and accurate, and can be reached at events@mommypoppins.com.
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