Summer Camp for Preschoolers

Do you remember the days of summer camp? Those carefree, summer days filled with fun when you’re connecting with old friends and making new ones too? Camp feels like a respite from learning when, in fact, so much learning is happening!

During the early years, a child’s main job is to play. Summer camp offers a time for purposeful play in a setting that provides structure and fun with other kids. So what should a parent look for in a summer camp for preschool-aged children?

Screen-Free Play

Each family has its own approach towards screens and rules for how much or how little access their children will have to tablets, TV, etc. Because your children are likely allowed some screen time at home, look for a camp that doesn’t add to that by having regular screen-time built into their program.

Open-Ended Projects

Structure and adult guidance is a good thing. Structure encourages a child to build routine habits such as hanging their tote bag in its place, putting toys away when they’re finished playing with them, and throwing their garbage away after lunch. Adult guidance helps a child learn sequencing and how to follow one and two-step directions for an activity. Still, a child’s imagination is most open and creative when they’re offered materials to create something – with no directions for how the end result has to look.

Time Outside

The benefits of outdoor play are welldocumented. While you need to take precautions against sunburn, nothing beats sunshine for making Vitamin D – a vitamin crucial in the development of strong bones and a strong immune system. Outdoor play also provides greater opportunity to build gross motor skills as kids run, climb, hop and maybe even dig. The great outdoors offers limitless opportunities for creativity!

Schedule – Half day camps are age appropriate when it comes to preschoolers. Whether it is camp or school, kids are “on” when they’re away from home. Adults know how tiring it can be to perform at work all day – kids are no different! Half day camps allow them to come home and take a nap, or simply have down time to play at home.

Purposeful Play

The benefits of summer camp are numerous, but maybe it isn’t an option for you. Don’t underestimate your ability to nurture the same learning at home! To be clear - purposeful play is not play that has meaning for us as adults; it is open-ended play that enables children to imagine their own purpose in what they’re doing. One of my favorite examples occurred one day at my preschool.

Kate, age 4, was happily threading beads on a string. “What are you making?” I asked. Kate explained that it was her mom’s birthday. “Mommy’s getting dressed up for dinner with Daddy, so she needs a pretty necklace.” When is Mom’s birthday, I inquired? Kate looked across the table to her friend, Megan. “My birthday is tomorrow!” Megan exclaimed. Oh, how the girls giggled as they told me Megan is the mommy and Kate is her daughter. When left to themselves, creativity will naturally bubble up. The story gives purpose to their play.

Whether you’re planning for play at summer camp or at home, remember to make time for purposeful play.

Academic

Club SciKidz MD

Odenton, Severna Park, 443-561-4000, clubscikidzmd.com

Idea Lab Kids

Columbia, 443542-2242 idealabkids.com/location/howardcounty

Pongos Learning Lab

Crofton, 301-789-1815 pongoslearninglab.com

PreK-8th grade

We are a community center for all things science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM). Located in Crofton, Maryland, we offer clubs, camps, classes, birthday parties, and enrichment programs in Robotics, Coding, YouTube, Minecraft, and more.

See our ad on page 26

Skate Zone

Crofton, 410-721-7155 sk8zone.com

6 years – 13 years

Participate in a unique experience that gets students excited about Science, Technology, Engineering and Math! Campers will understand that S.T.E.M. concepts can be found in everyday experiences, even fun experiences like roller skating. Advance reservations required.

See our ad on page 17

Smart Fit Kids Academy Severna Park, 443-597-7173 smartfitkidsacademy.com

Summer at Summit Summer at Summit Edgewater, 410-798-0005 thesummitschool.org

1st grade-8th grade

Camp Summit is for bright children entering grades 1-8 who struggle with reading, writing and math. Academic mornings include one hour each of reading, math, oral/ written expression. Afternoons are filled with fun and recreation!

See our ad on page 14

UMBC Summer Day Camp

Catonsville 410-455-2638 summerdaycamp.umbc.edu

IARTS, DANCE, & MUSIC

ArtFarm Annapolis Annapolis, 410-570-1581 artfarmannapolis.com

Artworks Studio Annapolis, 410-271-3343 artworksstudio.info

Ballet Chesapeake Abingdon, 410-877-0777 balletchesapeake.org

Ballet Theatre of Maryland Annapolis, 410-263-8289 balletmaryland.org

Davy Dance Academy Annapolis, 240-476-6145 davydanceacademy.com

Design in Motion Dance Camp Gambrills, 410-923-9925 designinmotion.com

L’Ecole de Danse Annapolis, 410-216-9112 lecolededanse.org

4 years - Adult

Maryland Hall Summer Camps

Annapolis, 410-263-5544 marylandhall.org/classes/ summer-camps/

Maryland Hall offers a variety of summer camps offered Monday through Friday. Your camper can experience the arts all summer including visual arts, dance, and music.

Music Together

Chesapeake

Annapolis, Severna Park 301-262-9538 musictogetherchesapeake.com

Naptown Sings and Plays!

Summer Music Camps

Annapolis, 410-279-3208 naptownsings.com/summer-campsand-classes

3 years – 11 years

Our Summer Music Camps are jam-packed with music, more music, and fun! Students of all levels and abilities will have the opportunity to learn to sing in our pop glee clubs, drum their hearts out in world drumming class, play various instruments, and participate in fun musical activities. In addition to group instruction in voice and instruments, students will make friends, play games, and have an all-around musical good time. See our ad on page 14

Priddy Music Academy Summer Band Camps

Millersville, 443-988-3970 priddymusicacademy.com

8 years – 17 years

ENVIRONMENTAL/ OUTDOOR ADVENTURE

Adventure Camps at Terrapin Adventures Savage, 301-725-1313 terrapinadventures.com/ adventure-camps

Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park Summer Camp

Annapolis, 410-295-0104 x 31 amaritime.org/education/camps

Cylburn Arboretum Friends

Summer Nature Camp Baltimore, 410-367-2217 cylburn.org/programs-events/ nature-camp

Eco Adventures Millersville, 410-987-1300 ecoadventures.org 5 years -12th grade

Echo Hill Outdoor School Summer Explore Worton, 410-348-5880 ehos.org, 4 years – 12th grade

River’s Edge Forest Play West River, 410-703-6157 riversedgeforestplay.com

Gymnastics

Docksiders Gymnastics Millersville, 410-987-8780 docksidersgymnastics.com

Thrive Gymnastics

Annapolis, 410-995-8130

Severna Park, 410-709-8130 thrivegym.com

MULTIPLE THEMES/ GENERAL CAMP PROGRAMS

Adventures in Camp

Columbia, 240-997-1700 AdventuresinCamp.com

Annapolis Area Christian School Summer Programs

Severn, 443-257-3923 aacsonline.org/summer

3.5 years - 12th grade

Annapolis Recreation and Parks Summer Camps

Annapolis, 410-263-7958 annapolis.gov/354/Camp- traditional day camps with field trips and themed sessions while special interest camps include sports, STEAM, stand up paddleboarding, LEGO®, nature and baton twirling. ALL campers will enjoy swimming at the Kenneth R. Dunn Municipal Pool at Truxtun Park.

See our ad on page 28

Anne Arundel County Recreation and Parks

Annapolis, 410-222-7313 aacounty.org/recparks

Ages 3-12th grade

Anne Arundel Recreation and Parks is THE destination for camps and programs for all ages including: Summer Day Camps, Summer Fun Centers, Art Camps, Science and Engineering Camps, Theatre Performance and

Camps for all abilities.

See our ad on page 26

Bayside Summer Adventure Camp

Annapolis, 410-266-6132 baysidesummercamp.com

4 years – 8th grade

Bright Beginning Children’s Learning Center

Crownsville (license# 130684)

410-923-3192

Glen Burnie (license#160256)

410-768-4526 bright-beginning.com, 2–5 years

Camp Wabanna

Edgewater, 410-798-0455 campwabanna.org

4 years-16 years

Camp Wabanna is a day and overnight camp for ages 4-16 located on a 23 acre peninsula at the convergence of the Chesapeake Bay and Rhode River. We offer adventure based programming like sailing, kayaking, crabbing and fishing, banana boating and tubing, rock climbing, zip-lining, giant swing, and team building. All geared to grow the campers in basic life skills in a faith filled environment.

See our ad on page 25

Chesapeake Montessori School Summer Camps

Annapolis, 410-757-4740 chesapeake-montessori.com

Edinboro Early School

Summer Program

Severna Park, 410-544-2476 edinboroearlyschool.org

2 years-2nd grade

Running for nine weeks, we feature a single, multifaceted topic and culminate with a lunch program for children ages 2 to 2nd grade. Weekly “water days” and two weeks of optional swim lessons.

See our ad on page 16

Grannie Annie’s Summer Program

Pasadena, 410-255-0478 granniecare.com

IDEAS Summer Camp

Annapolis, 844-516-2267 ideassummercamps.com

Discover Summer at Rockbridge Academy

Crownsville, 410-923-1171 Rockbridge.org

1st grade-12th grade

Discover Summer with us in a safe, nurturing, Christ-centered community. Offering sports, music, art, Lego robotics, and academic camps for kids entering 1st-12th grades! Camps fill quickly!

See our ad on page 15

Summer Academy at St. John's College

Annapolis, 505-984-6060 sjc.edu/summer-academy

15 years-18 years

The best pre-college program for top high school students seeking true intellectual engagement. Students challenge themselves by engaging in deep discussions with small groups of their peers in seminar style classrooms led by St John's College full time faculty. Summer Academy is uniquely suited for high school students passionate about literature, philosophy, history, politics, law, the arts, and the history of mathematics and science.

Summer at Friends

Baltimore, 410-649-3218 fscamp.org

Summer at KEY Annapolis, 443-321-2575 keyschool.org/community/ summeratkey

3.5 years – 12th grade

With more than 150 fun and enriching camps to choose from in 2023, we are confident that you'll find something to match your child's interests. From themed traditional camps for the youngest campers to specialty STEM, cooking, art, and athletic camps, we are committed to creating a memorable summer experience for all of our campers. Back this year is the option to combine a morning and afternoon camp to create your

Camp dates June 19th-August 25th Full summer package available | Full & Half Day Single Week Options Available Sibling and multi week discounts