Here comes another great summer
of learning through adventure!!

Online registration for SolPlay camps is OPEN!!!!   Registration instructions and camp information can be found by visiting us at www.SolPlay.net or emailing us at info@SolPlay.net.

Follow this link for a summary of all the exciting camps offered for the summer of 2015 and the registration forms. We hope you will consider SolPlay when making your selections for summer camps this year. 

BACKPACKING AND POETRY CAMP - A SolPlay adventure is afoot
Dates: June 22-26, 2015 (5 Days, 4 Night)
Ages:   11-15 

C&O CANAL BIKE - Your camping adventure on wheels
Dates: July 12-17, 2015

Ages:   12-16

EXPLORERS CAMP - My first away camp!
Dates: August 17-21
Ages:   9-11



Family Island Camp - SOLD-OUT!
Dates: May 23-25
Ages:   All

 

It's cold today... so why not think about summer!

The trees have turned and many have begun shedding their leaves.  Summer is still months away, but we are already planning for summer camps in 2015!  Check back soon for dates and details...

Help us with our plans... complete the our short survey and give us some of your thoughts and ideas!

All the World's a Stage

Our SolPlay campers have been on an Urban Adventure this week - making stages and doing performances all around town!    Check out some of their art and performances.

Where they've been:

Monday: Lubber Run Ampitheater
Tuesday: National Gallery (both East and West Wings)
Wednesday: Penrose Square
Thursday: Billy Goat Trail at Great Falls
Friday: Shirlington 

UP NEXT!

LAND, AIR, AND SEA CAMP
Dates:  August 4-8 (4 night overnight)
Ages:   11-14

Registration Form

 Join SolPlay's Land, Air, and Sea Camp for a week full of activity. Campers will scale Signal Knob (LAND), get up in the AIR on Shenandoah River's State Park new canopy tours, and finish with a relaxing paddle down the Shenandoah River (SEA). Teams will work to design and make vehicles which transport objects across land, over water, and through the air. We'll camp right on the Shenandoah River and will enjoy group games, challenges, night hikes, and cooling dips.  Join us for this great adventure! (Cost: $650)  

2014 LAS Camp Details: 
SolPlay is excited to offer Land, Air, & Sea (LAS for short) for a 2^nd year in a row. It is for youth ages 11-14 and is full of activities. Camp runs August 4-8. We will leave Arlington on Monday morning, set up our tents at Low Water Bridge Campground, and then embark on daily challenges!

 

The week consists of daily ‘challenges’. Tuesday (LAND) we’ll hike Signal Knob. Wednesday (AIR) is a canopy tour in Shenandoah State Park. Thursday (SEA) will be a canoe trip down the Shenandoah River. In addition, we’ll challenge the campers’ minds with an Odyssey-of-the-Mind-type activity: creating vehicles that can transport an object on land, through the air, or by sea. Campers will be allowed to bring a small Ziploc bag with materials that they think would help. We’ll provide additional materials. But the rest is up to them to create in small teams!

 

It wouldn’t be camp without swimming in the river, campfires, s’mores, night games, and plenty of time to bond and create new friendships from young people from different schools around Arlington (and beyond).

 

Our staff is top notch. Two of our staff are returning for their 2^nd year of LAS. Ariel Schwartz, Assistant Director, brings extensive experience with the outdoors and a genuine love of young people. She’s worked in Arlington County camps and outdoor camps. Michael Swisher, Camp Director, is a longtime outdoorsy-type with a love of trees and nature. Known as the ‘games guy’ he always seems to have some activity that can help the bonding process for the campers, or just to have fun together!

  Please complete the attached Parent Waiver and send to info@solplay.net or 4147B South Four Mile Run Drive, Arlington,VA 22204

Refund Policy:
$35 until May 1st
$100 until June 1st
Half camp fees refunded 30 days from camp start date. 
No refunds two weeks from camp start date

Up next!

First - in case you haven't heard... our Backpacking and Poetry camp was AWESOME!

We hiked...

We rafted...

We wrote poetry... and

We rested!

Up next - 

Explorers Camp is next week.  Monday and Tuesday activities will build team work and introduce new skills. Wednesday through Friday, the group will experience traditional overnight camping at nearby Pohick Bay campground.  Explorers campers will participate in activities such as a night hike, a park ranger naturalist presentation, disc golf course, intro to orienteering, creek stomp, archery instruction, team challenges, and a day at the Pirates Cove water park.   Pictures will follow!


Still looking for summer camp options?

ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE -  July 21-25 (day camp - 5 days)

All the World's A Stage is a summer learning experience that combines creative writing, drama and performance.  Campers will interact with natural and urban settings while coaxing out the inner creative artist harbored with in us all.  This summer experience will engage campers in poetry and theater arts by writing and performing in natural, open-air, public spaces.  Through this five-day experience, participants will develop their creativity and skill by studying the work of other creators, creating works of their own, and evaluating the creations of their peers.  Each day, campers will access, perform, and assess various creative forms. Activities will be open to interpretation and personalization. (Cost $400)


LAND, AIR, AND SEA CAMP -   August 4-8 (4 night overnight)

Join SolPlay's Land, Air, and Sea Camp for a week full of activity. Campers will scale Signal Knob (LAND), get up in the AIR on Shenandoah River's State Park new canopy tours, and finish with a relaxing paddle down the Shenandoah River (SEA). Teams will work to design and make vehicles which transport objects across land, over water, and through the air. We'll camp right on the Shenandoah River and will enjoy group games, challenges, night hikes, and cooling dips.  Join us for this great adventure! (Cost: $650, discount of $25 to first 10 sign-ups)  

Packing your Backpack - Poetry and Backpacking trip

Only a couple more weeks before we embark on our SolPlay backpacking adventure!  Now is a good time to look over the pack list and make sure you have everything you need.  Don't be tempted to pack items not on the list. I always think I need more clothes than I actually do! I have to remind myself to stick to the list... and I'm going to ask that you do the same.  Let us know if you have any questions about the list.

I thought it might be helpful to show you how I am packing for the trip.  Below are pictures of  what I will be packing:

Sleeping bag and pillow in a compression sac, pad,
headlamp and nylon cord

Clothing - Yes this is everything!
I use a compression for clothes - if you don't have
one use a stuff or synch sac.  I clip my crocs to the
outside of my pack with a carabiner.
I'll be wearing my boots and visor hat.

Hygiene and Meal Supplies

Everything in the pictures fit easily in to this backpack.  There is plenty of spare space for food (to be supplied by SolPlay) and shared tent components (also supplied by SolPlay).

Pack includes whistle, hydration pack
and water bottle
Every back pack is different, so do a trial pack before camp.  Take a walk around the block and test it.  You may need to adjust and readjust.  Check out YouTube for short video tutorials on packing your pack. 

"This pack is lighter than
my school book bag!"

After packing everything - you should
still have room for food and part of a tent 

SolPlay may have extra equipment, including backpacks, so feel free to contact us before purchasing.

ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE

ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE

A New Addition to the 2014 SolPlay Summer Camp Line Up!

Dates:  July 21-25 (5 days)
Ages:   11-14 
Cost: $400 
Registration Form

All the World's A Stage is a summer learning experience that combines creative writing, drama and performance.  Campers will interact with natural and urban settings while coaxing out the inner creative artist harbored with in us all.  This summer day camp experience will engage campers in poetry and theater arts by writing and performing in natural, open-air, public spaces.  Through this five-day experience, participants will develop their creativity and skill by studying the work of other creators, creating works of their own, and evaluating the creations of their peers.  Each day, campers will access, perform, and assess various creative forms. Activities will be open to interpretation and personalization.

Sample Activities

Location	Poetry Creation	Performing Arts Creation
Bon Air Park	Words Above, Words Underfoot	Poetry Slam: Say it Loud
Georgetown Waterfront Park	Words in the Water, Words in the Wind	Transformations in Motion: Say it through Movement
Penrose/ Journeys Yoga	Words for Passerby, Words to Take Home	Improvathon Say it through games
The Billy Goat Trail at Great Falls	Words Worth Effort, Words Worth Time	Rage Against the Rock: Say it like you Mean It!
The Lubber Run Amphitheater	Words like Birds, Words to Set Free	Script it, Move it, Say it: Say what? A PLAY!

Instructors: Caitlin C and Johnny S are teachers at Gunston Middle School, and the creative forces behind such diversions as ShowStoppers, “Maritza on the Fritz”, the Sounds of Gunston, Buzzwords, A No-Name Moose, V-Camp, and Club Loud. They have 1,000s of ideas, and nowhere near enough time.