Camps

We are excited to be expanding our camp offerings to new camp sites this year.

Locust Shade Park - this beautiful park setting, located on Route 1 in the Dumfries/Quantico corridor, will be host to a full day outdoor adventure camp this summer.  This camp will be able to take advantage of great outdoor settings, hiking trails, a small lake, and much, much more.

Locust Shade Mini Camp Information

Locust Shade Tennis programs

Birchdale Center - this small sized center, located off of Dale Blvd in Dale City will serve as a meeting spot of our Day Trippers camp, plus will offer full day camp programs for ages 5--7, plus an exciting line up of mini camps throughout the summer.  Birchdale Center is complete with a pool, playground and tennis courts on site.

Check out the Birchdale Buddy Camp

For more information on these new locations and programs please contact:

Mary Pope - 703-670-7112 ext 229 (Birchdale and Locust Shade)

Ron Neuhaus - 703-221-8579  ( Locust Shade only)

2010 Registration Dates

Registration for all of our camp programs will begin on Saturday, March 6th, 2010 and will continue throughout the summer depending on availability.

Registration will be available on line as well as taken in person at one of our registration sites - Ben Lomond Center, Chinn Center, Sharron Baucom Dale City Recreation Center and Veterans Park.

Camp Fees

Full Day Traditional and Specialty Camps

• Camp fees vary depending on type of camp, however your child’s spot will be held when you place a $40 deposit per child, per week of camp.  The balance is then due 2 weeks prior to the start of camp. 
• If you are registering on line for any of our full day camp programs, a 25% deposit will hold your child's space.

Partial Week/Partial Day Camps

• For these camps, payment, in full, is due at the time of registration.

 CANCELLATIONS/REFUNDS

• Refunds or credits are only honored if we receive notice prior to Monday of your child’s camp week. 
• Failure to give proper notice will result in forfeiture of all fees.
• Reminder –Deposits are always non-refundable. 

Download our 2010 Camp Brochure - available on February 8th

 

 

Full Day Traditional Camps at Chinn Center, Sharron Baucom Dale City Recreation Center and Veterans Park offer a variety of activies, games events as well as weekly fieldtrips.  

Birchdale Buddies - this brand new camp will be held at Birchdale Center is a full day experience for ages 5-7.

Outdoor Adventure Camps - located at Lake Ridge Park campers will take part in nature activities, boating, orienteering, hiking and much more outdoor fun. 

Camp Mawavi - in its fourth summer, this camp held at Prince William Forest Park, gives campers an unique opportunity to take part in specialized outdoor activities that include kayaking, canoeing, archery, nature, weekly excursions, plus so much more.  Campers are transported daily from both the Chinn Center and Sharron Baucom Dale City Recreation Center.  To learn more about Camp Mawavi, check out our Camp Mawavi Briefsheet.  Also, make sure to see where our Friday Excursions will take us!

Sports Camps - from soccer to lacrosse, to basketball and football, we have it all.  These specialized camps are sure to be a hit with all of our sports-minded campers!

Day Trippers - we only offered two weeks last year, but due to its popularity we are coming back in 2009 with six weeks of this camp.  Campers go on daily excursion to other parks, pools, and desitination in and outside of the county. Check out all the great places we will go -  Day Trippers Excursion Schedule

Day Trippers camp will be offered to ages 8-15.  NEW THIS YEAR - this camp will begin and end its day at its new location - Birchdale Center.  For more information, check out the Day Trippers Briefsheet

Totally Teens - this camp geared to our older campers is filled with fun and age appropriate activiites and trips. 

For those campers not interested in attending a full day camp, we offer many partial day options.  Some of the camps already underway for 2009 are:

Tot Camps

Tot camp offerings are geared toward ages 3-5 These half day programs provide an excellent opportunity for preschoolers to be introduced to a group setting, a variety of activities and to socialize with other children, all under the umbrella of fun!  Specifically designed for those campers not quite ready for a full day of camp.  

Jr Camp and Afternoon Advenuture

The camp offerings are geared toward ages 5-7.   These programs provided a longer camp experience than a Tot Camp program, but still are not full day camps.

For more information on Jr. Camp at the Sharron Baucom Dale City Recreation Center, click here

Mini Camps (partial day and/or partial week)

• The Park Authority realizes that all children are not ready for a full day camp experience or that some prefer camps that revolve around a specific skill or topic.  Our mini camps provide just that.  We have half day, partial week and evening camps that give children of all age opportunities to participate in a wide variety of activities.  types of camps include arts, drama, nature, sports, science, dance, cheerleading, martial arts, math, dinosaurs, cartooning, cooking, and more.

Please check the Park Authority's employment page for current job postings.

Our 2010 camp trips and themes are currently being developed. 

Please check back with us in February!

Our  Parent Handbook contains all the necessary information you will need regarding your child's participation in our camp program.

Our 2010 Parent Handbook is being compiled, please check back with us.

Forms for our 2010 camp season are being updated and will be available on line soon. 

All staff that working within our camp programs must meet the following qualifications

1. Must be 18 years or older

2. Must be certified in CPR and First Aid by the first day of camp

3. Must attend Blood Borne Pathogen Training

4. Must have at least 6 months experience working with children

5. Must successful complete a criminal background check

6. Must attend at least 16 hours of training prior to camp

Camp Staff (Specialty Instructors) that instruct camps that are specialized in nature are interviewed and hired based on their experience and certifications within their specialized area as it relates to the positions job description, as well as their prior experience in working with children.

I just realized that we will not be in town for one of the weeks of camp we had already registerd my child for.  What is your refund/cancellation policy?

If your child is registered for one of our full day camp programs then:

 Refunds or credits are only honored if we receive notice prior to Monday of your child’s camp week. 

Failure to give proper notice will result in forfeiture of all fees

Reminder – Deposits are always non-refundable

If your child is registered for one of our partial day/partial week camps then:

100% of payment will be refunded, less a $5 administrative fee, if you cance from camp at least one week prior to the start of camp

A 50% credit will be issued if you cancel from camp prior to the 2nd meeting day of camp

No refund or credit will be issued if you cancel from camp after the 2nd meeting day of camp.

I had put down a deposit for the second week of camp and did not pay my balance by the payment due date, do I now have to pay a higher fee?

Due to the popularity of our camps and the wait lists we maintain, if balances are not paid in full by the payment due date, your child will be cancelled from camp and your initial deposit of $40 will be withheld. You will then need to re-register your child, if space is available, and full fees will apply.

Could you please give me a list of the weeks of camp and the fees I paid so that I can prepare my taxes?

The Park Authority issues a receipt for all deposits or payments paid for Camp Registration. If you are required to have documentation of payments for child care expenses, for tax purposes or reimbursement, please retain the receipts you are given/sent when registering or making payments on your balances. The Park Authority does not issue a statement at year's end of your payment totals, nor can we retrieve your financial history at the next year's tax time. Please keep all of your receipts! If you do not receive a receipt, please contact your camp site before September 30, 2008 for a duplicate. The Park Authority's Tax ID number is: 54-1248104.

I have a 12 year old son who does not think that your Summer Camp will be something he will be interested in because he does not want to “hang out” with 6 year olds and do arts-n-crafts projects. What type of activities will be involved in your Summer Camp Program?

Our Summer Camp program will have 3 major age groups (ages 6-7), (ages 8-10), and (ages 11-13). Each age group will participate in age appropriate activities. For instance the younger age group may do arts-n-crafts projects and group games, whereas the older age group will participate in more sport activities, projects to include nature, science and community service as well as team building activities. Although the entire camp will go on the same fieldtrips and use the pool - the other activities will definitely be different within each age group and will be something that appeals to the campers. Also we have other camp options such as Camp Mawavi, Lake Ridge Park and Locust Shade Outdoor Adventure camp that are geared toward the older camper.

My child doesn’t seem ready for a full day of camp - can she attend only 3 days a week and receive a prorated fee?

Unfortunately, we cannot prorate our fees for our full day camps. However, we realize that some children may not be ready for a full day or full week of camp and that is why we have expanded our Mini Camp offerings this Summer. These type of camps give you child a “taste” of camp and at the same time they will enjoy learning a special skill or creating a unique project.

I have a 4 year old and they are too young for your full day programs, do you have any programs for this age group?

Ben Lomond Center (Manassas), Sharron Baucom - Dale City Recreation Center and the Chinn Center all have half day Tot Camp Programs for ages 3-5. These programs run Monday-Friday from 9am-12noon and incorporate learning through crafts, stories, and play. Also the Sharron Baucom - Dale City Recreation Center and Ben Lomond Center is also offering an Afternoon Adventure camp program as well as a Junior Camp this summer.

What is Camp Mawavi?

Camp Mawavi is a full day camp program for ages 9-14. This camp (in its 3rd year) caters to the child ready to explore hiking, fishing, canoeing, orienteering, camp games, stewardship, character development, archery, adventure, obstacle courses, arts & crafts, skills development, , nature treasure hunts, wildlife, outdoor, and nature education