Camps

Download our 2010 Camp Guide
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2010 Camp Locations

Ben Lomond Center - sharrison@pwcparks.org

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. 

Campers participating in any of our 2010 Summer Camps must complete the Camper Registration Form.  This form is needed in order to register your child and will also be placed in your child's file. 

Please note:  the Camper Registration Form will be in a condensed format when downloading it from our web site.  You may pick up a original form at any one of our registration sites.

Prince William County Park Authority programs are inclusion based activities.  We make every effort to work with families to mainstream children with special needs into any of our programs.  At this time, the Prince William County Park Authority does not offer any specialized programming for children with special needs.

If you are requesting any type of accommodation for your child,  you must submit a written request form at least 14 business days prior to the start of the program.

Once a written request is received, you will be contacted to schedule an assessment meeting to further discuss the needs of your child. 

If you have additional questions, please contact Lisa Herr.

The Washington Mystics will be hosting a basketball camp at the Sharron Baucom Dale City Recreation Center. Don't miss out on this chance to learn from professionals!  Make it a full day camp experience and also register for the P.M. Sports camp held at the Sharron Baucom Dale City Recreation Center  from 1p-6p August 23 - 27th!

Check out all the Summer Camp Offerings at Veterans Park

A new Outdoor Adventure for ages 5-8 - Camp Goodwill..  Camp takes placeat Prince William Forst Park, a division of the National Park Service.

Make your move!  Sign up now for the Chess Camps being offered at Birchdale Center.

Do you have a young Food Network Star in your midst?  If so, you might want to check out the Cooking Camps being offered this summer!

Looking for something for ages 3-6?  Camp Friendship might be just what you are looking for!

Performance Dance Camps coming to Birchdale Center.

Due to popular demand, another session of Super Hero Camp has been added into the Birchdale Center Camp line-up

Interested in computers?  Computer Games? Then check out these offerings coming to Birchdale Center this summer.  Computer Game Design, Xbox 360 Game Design and How to Build and Repair a Computer

Calling all Creative Kids --- check out these programs that combine literature and drama.  Creative Kids Drama and Preschool Creative Kids Drama

Camp Natureplay  - for all the little explorers ages 3-6!

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 camp will be held at Birchdale Center is a full day experience for ages 5-8.  Check out all the fun, click here for more information.

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 fifth 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.  Want more information?  Click Mawavi Briefsheet

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 - Campers go on daily excursion to other parks, pools, and desitination in and outside of the county. Pick ups offered at Birchdale Center and Sharron Baucom Dale City Recreation Center. Check out the exciting Day Trippers Schedule

Chess Camps - make your move now!  Check out these new camps being offered at Birchdale Center.

Are you interested in where the Chinn Fitness and Aquatics Center campers will be going this summer?   Click below to check out the Chinn Center's fieldtrip schedule!  Day Trippers is back in full swing, an adventure every day!  

See where Day Trippers is headed this summer! 

Looking for something for your preschooler? Chinn Fitness and Aquatics Center has exciting and fun themes planned this summer in their Preschool Camp!

Feeling Adventuresome?  You will want to check out what is happening at Camp Mawavi this summer - take a look at the Camp Mawavi Briefsheet.

See all the fun these 5-8 year olds will have in their full day camp.  Check out all the happenings in Birchdale Buddy Camp!

Check out the exciting fieldtrip schedule for Sharron Baucom Dale City Recreation Center campers!

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

This 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.

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.

Sharon Harrison – 703-361-7126

• Birchdale Center

Mary Pope - 703-670-9118

• Chinn Fitness and Aquatics Center

Christy Moore – 703-590-3418
Kathy Harju - 703-730-1064

• Lake Ridge Park

Jane England– 703-494-5564

• Locust Shade Park

Ron Neuhaus – 703-221-8579

• Prince William Forest Park – Camp Mawavi & Camp Goodwill 

Mary Pope – 703-670-9118

• Sharron Baucom Dale City Recreation Center

Traditional – Mary Bockes – 703-670-7112 ext 222
Sports – Kellie Remick – 703-670-7112 ext 225
Preschool Age – Sharon Bryan – 703-670-7112 ext 223

• Veterans Park

  Janet LaFleur - 703-491-2183

   

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

Our camp staff are hired based on the following criteria:

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 specialize 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