Entering 2nd

Chess Trainers (Grades 2-5)

Chess Trainers (Grades 2-5)

  1 week sessions       9:00am - 12:00pm       $415

Checkmate!

How about a 1,500-year-old game played by kings and commoners, young and old, and boys and girls, that builds memory, concentration, and reasoning skills while you play? Learn basic moves and various strategies of chess through instruction, puzzles, group activities, and a few other surprises! Join lead instructor (and Chess Wizard!) Charlie Chess for a week of learning, playing, and fun!

Open to students with an interest in chess, students who have played once or twice, or students who don’t know the first thing about the game!


Dates, Hours, and Fees

2024 Dates
June 24 – 28
Hours
9:00am–12:00pm
Fees
$415/Week

Velocity Adventure Camp - DEAN Adventure Camps (Grades 1-4)

Velocity Adventure Camp (Grades 1-4)

  1 week sessions       9:00am - 3:00pm       $490-$675

Does your child love trying exciting new things, and leveling up their skills? Because we sure do and Velocity Adventure Camp is built for you! Our top-class action sports instructors can’t wait to teach your kids how to soar to new heights. We’ve got all kinds of team building, rip-roaring activities on the menu: skateboarding, water games, obstacle courses, fort building, slacklining, and loads more! We’re all about building confidence, living life to the fullest, and creating lasting memories. This camp is perfect for the "never done this before" kid up to the outdoor enthusiast. Come adventure with us!

Each week campers will experience core activities that ignite their curiosity and hone their skills. From the world of skateboarding to the art of balancing on slacklines, navigating challenging obstacle courses, engaging in team-building games and even water activities! Every camper will build and customize their very own skateboard to take home at the end of the week too!

Dates, Hours, and Fees

2024 Dates
Week Programs
June 17 - 21 (*4-day week) Eco Explorers
June 24 - 28 Multi Sport Mashup
July 1 - 3 (*3-day week) Catch the Cache
July 8 - 12 High Flyers
July 15 - 19 Pathfinders
July 22 - 26 Regatta Rush
July 29 - August 2 Camp Construction
August 5 - 9 Velocity Adventure Challenge
Hours
9:00am – 3:00pm
Fees
$675 5-day week / $580 4-day week / $490 3-day week

Programs

Embark on an adventure with Velocity Programs! In addition to crafting personalized skateboards, mastering skateboarding skills, exploring parkour, and conquering slacklining, each week brings an exciting new themed activity for an exhilarating experience!

Eco Explorers: Campers will become nature detectives, honing their skills in plant and animal identification, practicing respectful interaction with nature through scavenger hunts and crafting a bird feeder to bring the wilderness to their backyard.

Multisport Mashup: Flex your sports skills with us this week! You'll fling, flick, and finesse your way from the wild throws of disc golf to the fast-paced jukes of flag rugby, and the rapid-fire rallies of pickleball. If you've been looking for your new favorite sport: this is your week!

Catch the Cache: Gear up for a wild week of geocaching fun! Navigate to uncover hidden treasures across some wild terrain using cool GPS instruments (not from your parent’s car!) and create your own hidden caches for friends to find. Let’s go treasure seekers – adventure is calling!

High Flyers: Take to the skies with us this week! Engineer the ultimate paper gliders and kites, soar them through a week of road tests. Watch your designs take flight in a grand tournament where distance, accuracy, and flair will crown the champion of the skies!

Pathfinders: We may not use stars or moss to find our way, but we're going to learn the super cool skill of finding our way without a phone or GPS, orienteering.

Regatta Rush: Set sail on the high seas of excitement with Regatta Rush! Campers design and build their own mini boats, harnessing both skill and imagination, ready to take on ‘The Gutter Race’ challenge. Prepare to make waves and cheer as boats sail to victory.

Camp Construction: You know how the saying goes, If you build it…there will be fun! Aspiring builders learn to create impressive A-frames, bridges, and towers through the use of ropes, knot tying, lashing, and wood oh my! Campers will love climbing, and crawling across their hand-built structures!

Velocity Adventure Challenge: Gear up for an epic adventure where campers showcase their cultivated skills from weekly themes, skateboarding challenges, and dynamic obstacle courses.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a typical day of Velocity look like?

Each week we will focus on the core activities of skateboarding, parkour, and slacklining with the addition of a different featured activity each week. 

What experience level is needed?

No experience is necessary. New skateboarders are welcomed and encouraged to come with a willingness to learn.

What equipment does my camper need?

Each camper will build and customize their own skateboard for the summer. All protective padding and helmets will be provided, and assigned to a camper at the beginning of each week.

Each camper should bring a backpack with a refillable water bottle, non-refrigerated lunch, towel, and change of clothes.

Woodworking - DEAN Adventure Camps (Grades 3-8)

Woodworking (Grades 3-8)

  1 week sessions       9:00am - 3:00pm       Price: $675

What do you call a piece of wood with nothing to do? Board! Well, not at this camp!

Have fun while learning the practical and timeless craft of woodworking. Your child will learn to use traditional hand tools to create a range of projects, from toolboxes to your own custom creations that can be put to use. This weekly camp is where every child learns to use their hands in a constructive and fun way.

Hey—have you heard the “under construction” joke? It’s not done yet. Because all that’s missing is you.

Skills Learned:

Techniques such as measuring, various safe and proper sawing techniques, rasping, sanding, painting, using hand drills, and hammering. Fine and gross motor skills such as using hand saws, scissors, screwdrivers, hand drills, painting, hammering, and gluing properly. Skills such as building technique, drafting and other planning techniques, prototyping, and reuse of old materials. Design processes include sketching and rendering 3D and 2D concepts, conceptualizing, experimenting, and evaluating.

Woodworking, a timeless and valuable skill, offers campers the opportunity to experience hands-on construction. Participants will learn essential techniques, how to use hand tools like drills, saws, and planes, and the importance of safety precautions. Under expert guidance, campers will create a range of wooden items, from stools to sailboats and even gravity-powered cars. Join us to understand the true potential of craftsmanship.


Dates, Hours, and Fees

2024 Dates
June 24 - 28
July 8 - 12
July 15 - 19
July 22 - 26
July 29 - August 2
August 5 - 9
Hours
Full Day 9:00am – 3:00pm
Fees
Full Week $675/Week

General Daily Schedule:

Morning introduction

Activity period—approximately 1 hour

Snack and stretch break—approximately 15 minutes, outside weather permitting

Activity period—approximately 1 hour

Lunch and Recess break—approximately 1 hour, outside weather permitting

Activity period—approximately 2 hours (included in this time can be a stretch break as needed)

Clean up, pack up, dismissal 

Playful Explorers- DEAN Adventure Camps (Grades PK4-K)

Playful Explorers- DEAN Adventure Camps (Grades PK4-K)

Sidwell Summer is excited to offer morning camp programs with Skills on the Hill! Camps will focus on ensuring foundational skill areas stay sharp in order to support continued learning and school preparedness for children of all ability levels.