Summer Camp

Summers at SHMS provide our campers with a safe, nurturing environment that ties the Montessori philosophy in with traditional summer camp fun! Each summer your child has nine weekly adventures to choose from. Please contact SHMS at 703-476-7477 for more information on enrolling in a camp program.

Popular themes include:

Amazing Animal Kingdom

Children are fascinated by the world around them and the diversity of creatures great and small! This camp will allow
our junior zoologists to explore the Animal Kingdom from insects found in the backyard to the characteristics of the
blue whale, the loudest mammal on the planet! Biomes, habitats, and diet - as well as their essential contribution to
our lives will identify creatures, even the earthworm, as valued members of our environment! Nature walks will allow
the campers to explore the natural world that can be found in their backyard, while in-class activities will provide creative
and engaging projects about our amazing blue planet!

Country Fair and Summer Traditions from Around the World!

The summer solstice, and longer days, have always been celebrated! Campers will construct a sundial, understand why
the earth’s tilt impacts seasons and celebrate summer traditions from around the world! In Sweden, Midsommarafton
(Midsummer’s Eve) is marked by wreaths of wildflowers and dancing around the maypole, while in Japan O-ban
is celebrated with paper lanterns, bonfires, and dances performed to the rhythm of the drums (Bon Odori). In the United
States, fireworks and fairs mark midsummer, and the campers will enjoy their very own country fair with games
and tickets! Even a modified celebration of La Tomatina from Spain, will allow for some messy tomato fun! Geography,
culture, and what makes all of us celebrate together will highlight these weeks!

Imagination and Creativity

Campers will explore their creativity through storytelling and imagination! Classic children’s literature and fairytales
not only spark the imagination, but also provide a wonderful opportunity for children to envision a world not quite like
their own while they learn about themselves! Are some stories or movies a little scary? Are they real? Could there
have been a different ending? What would you have done? Fantasy for children allows for creative expression and this
camp will provide dress-up and crafts that make children feel bold, empowered, as well as kind!

Young Artisans

Art is a fantastic way to allow children to explore their creativity! Campers will learn about famous artists and work
on crafts that reflect different forms of art. From sculpting, painting, drawing and much more, your camper will come
home excited to share his/her own interpretation of the medium! A camp room “gallery” will allow the children to
share their work, but art does not need to be presented or even permanent - so creating art with water or sand on a
warm summer day will be both fun and refreshing! Whether your child loves to create or would be quick to say, “I
don’t like to draw”, this camp will have every camper enthusiastic and confident!

Sports and Fitness

Get moving and have fun! Whether learning about food as energy, calculating how much water humans need per day,
or how movement supports health, campers will be excited with what they learn each day! Campers will be introduced
to a new sport each day, both individual and team based – and feel empowered to try new things! Sportsmanship
will also be a focus and team building activities will illustrate why everyone is essential! So, whether your child
loves to be active or would prefer an afternoon on the sofa, this camp will get everyone involved!