Whether your family’s schedule is booked with vacations or your child isn’t quite ready for a weeklong retreat away from home, these one-day camps and classes can help fill the gaps in their summer itinerary and offer opportunities for education and growth even while school’s out.
Classes at The Little Gym of Fairfax
For those with kids too young to attend camp on their own, The Little Gym of Fairfax holds introductory gymnastics classes daily throughout the summer to improve upon motor skills and strength. Kids have a wide range of activities to complete with other children in their age group while instructors oversee and encourage the youngsters. // The Little Gym of Fairfax: 3903 Fair Ridge Drive, Suite A-1, Fairfax
Congressional Camp day camp
In addition to its weeklong specialty camps, Congressional Camp in Falls Church offers day camp options with sessions that run through Aug. 18. Each camp is divided by age from as young as 4 years old to as old as ninth grade, and the activities on offer include arts, music lessons, sports, horseback riding, theater, cooking and more. // Congressional Camp: 3229 Sleepy Hollow Road, Falls Church
Fairfax County Park Authority day camps
Many Fairfax County parks and rec centers offer weeklong camps, but they also offer a spectrum of day camps divided up by age. Kids ages 3 to 5 years old can play music, make art and crafts and play outside. Kids ages 5 to 7 years old can participate in swimming, arts and crafts and games. Ages 8 and up can swim and participate in more afternoon activities. // Multiple locations in NoVA
Michaels Kids Club classes
Local Michaels art stores have many ongoing one-day activities for budding artists throughout the summer, including a class on how to decorate cookies like emojis. And the Summer Planters class that takes place July 29 teaches kids how to make a variety of plants out of tissue and construction paper and then pot them so they are easy to take home and display. // Michaels: 13061 Fair Lakes Shopping Center, Fairfax
Steve and Kate’s Camp for Kids
The Alexandria location of Steve and Kate’s Camp offers single-day passes for children ages 4-12 and the opportunity to choose their own learning experience. This camp encourages kids to pursue their passions, be it dancing, sewing, drawing, filmmaking, baking, computer coding, soccer or writing. The Alexandria location will intermittently host slip-and-slides, water gun tag mazes and Smart Kart go-kart driving, and the camp will be open and running through August. // Alexandria Country Day School: 2400 Russell Road, Alexandria
