Dear Parents,
Below are several options for summer camps for school age children in Fairfax County. There are many more camps and programs in this area but the purpose of this overview is to focus on those camps that aim to be affordable for all families. These programs are not organized by our school but we thought the info might be helpful for families planning for the summer. For all programs below (except the V.I.P. camp), parents have to organize their own transportation.
1) The Fairfax County Park Authority organizes Rec-Pac for children who have completed Kindergarten through those who are entering 7th grade. Rec-Pac runs from generally runs for 6 weeks on weekdays from 8:30AM till 4PM starting July 1st and ending August 8th. Rec-Pac will be at several other Elementary Schools. The Rec-Pac site closest to Columbia Elementary is Weyanoke Elementary. There are also inclusion Rec-Pac sites. Those sites are supported by a site director and additional staff with disability training/ background. The cost varies between $12 and $120/week, depending on your family’s income. The website is:http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/rec-pac/
Registration opens on April 22rd.
Rec-Pac Phone Number: 703-222 4664
2) The Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services organizes RecQuest for children who have completed Kindergarten through those who are entering 6th grade. (They also offer the Teens in Action Program for teens who have finished 6th grade.)
RecQuest runs all summer 8:30AM -5PM from June 17th till August 23th. Free nutritious meals and snacks are offered. Rec-Quest is offered at several community centers, including the James Lee Community Center and Bailey’s Community Center in Falls Church. The cost varies between $30 and $70/ week (to be confirmed), depending on your family’s income. If you qualify for a scholarship, you pay $10 dollars (to be confirmed)/ week. You can find additional information, including an overview of all Rec-Quest sites and the registration forms at https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/neighborhood-community-services/recquest
Registration opens on April 26st but you can call before that date and ask to be placed on the interest list.
Bailey’s Community Center Phone number: 703-931-7027
James Lee Community Center Phone number: 703-534-3387
3) The Fairfax County Office for Children offers the School Age Child Care (or SACC) program. The summer program serves children who have completed Kindergarten through those who are entering 7th grade. Children are eligible to attend the SACC program when all adults living in the child’s home meet one or more of the following criteria, or any equivalent combination: work 30 hours or more a week, attend school full time (at least 12 semester hours), attend a job training program 30 or more hours a week or unable to work due to a disability. The Summer SACC Program runs for 7 weeks during the summer from June 24th till August 9th, each weekday from 7:00AM till 6:15PM. The Summer SACC Program is offered at several locations. Columbia will be a SACC site. The cost for the summer program varies between $11 and $269/ week, depending on your family’s income. You can find additional information about Summer SACC, including an overview of all Summer SACC sites at
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/familyservices/office-for-children/sacc/programs/summer
The program is currently accepting registrations.
SACC registration number: 703-449-8989
4) The Fairfax County Park Authority also organizes several other Summer Day camps at Rec Centers, lakefront parks, nature centers, historic sites, golf courses and schools throughout Fairfax County. The program is currently accepting registrations. There are no scholarships for the camps but they do have scholarships for the regular classes. For complete listings and to register: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/camps/
or call 703-222-4664
The Fairfax County Park Authority also organizes Parktakes classes: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/parktakes/There are scholarships for the swimming classes and other classes. Call 703-222-4664
5) There is a free Soccer Camp at Culmore which runs all summer from 1PM till 4PM on weekdays. https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/neighborhood-community-services/athletics/culmore-soccer
6) Value In Prevention (V.I.P.) Camp: Your teenager is a Very Important Person. Sign them up for a summer of fun and leisure at Value in Prevention (V.I.P.) Camp! V.I.P. Camp is designed to encourage teens to develop healthy and positive recreation interests and features a wide variety of leisure activities and programs. V.I.P. Camp runs from July 1st till August 1st Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and transportation is available. There is a $50 Camp Supply Fee required to participate and there may be some fees associated with field trips and special activities. Students who receive Free or Reduced Price Lunches can register for $25. This camp is sponsored by Fairfax County Public Schools and Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services guaranteeing a quality program for your child. To be eligible, participants must be rising middle school students residing in Fairfax County. The V.I.P. camp for our area will be at Holmes Middle School (6525 Montrose Street, Alexandria, VA 22312). Contact them at 703-846-8000 and ask for the after school specialist.
Info:
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/neighborhood-community-services/value-in-prevention-camp
