Programs

WAITLIST   This camp is for independent riders with stamina (no training wheels, able to start/stop/control speed independently). Participants will build bike endurance, skills and confidence through group rides and exploration of nearby neighborhoods and local roads. Mileage and daily rides vary, but we always include visits to community friends like Fire/Police, outdoor yoga and an ice cream ride adventure! *Option to rent a bike for $50/week. If you bring your own bike it must be a geared bike with hand brakes. You must have a helmet. *Students will be riding off campus each day. Please note that this is a strenuous and active camp. Refunds will not be provided if your child is not able to maintain the demands of the program.

WAITLIST   This camp is for independent riders with stamina (no training wheels, able to start/stop/control speed independently). Participants will build bike endurance, skills and confidence through group rides and exploration of nearby neighborhoods and local roads. Mileage and daily rides vary, but we always include visits to community friends like Fire/Police, outdoor yoga and an ice cream ride adventure! *Option to rent a bike for $50/week. If you bring your own bike it must be a geared bike with hand brakes. You must have a helmet. *Students will be riding off campus each day. Please note that this is a strenuous and active camp. Refunds will not be provided if your child is not able to maintain the demands of the program.

This two-week review class is intended for high school students moving into Algebra 2 for the upcoming year. We will provide opportunities to practice algebraic concepts such as solving linear and quadratic equations, systems of equations, inequalities, and equations incorporating absolute value, functions, polynomials, exponents, graphing, and more. This program serves as a reinforcement of key concepts and foundational skills that will help students find success in their Algebra II class. Prerequisite: Completion of Algebra I.

An insider’s look at the people, policies, and debates currently dominating American politics. We will hear directly from the thought, policy, and political leaders who are setting the parameters of the debate, delve into the strategies they are using, and learn what they are doing to drive the debate forward. Students will either take field trips to locations in D.C. to meet with special guests or guests will come to GDS.

We won’t be attached to any one project. We won’t be focused on discipline or craft. We will lean into the idea that quantity over quality will, weirdly, lead to works of art that we’ll love. We’ll use free writing, journaling, and sketching exercises for artistic inspiration. Lynda Barry’s “What it is” will be the text for our two weeks together. We’ll examine what sparks enjoyment within us–is it music/TV/movies/internet? If so, let’s figure out why and make some art about it. What do we love and hate about our favorite artists? On the flip side – what is boring and mundane about our human experience? Do we text too much and eat the same thing for lunch every day? Let’s document it through drawing, photo, video, or words. No artistic experience is necessary – just a desire to be inspired and create and, when we feel like it, share. At the end, we’ll know ourselves just a little better, too.

WAITLIST   This co-ed camp is for young athletes who want to learn the fundamentals of basketball, improve their basketball skills, and further develop their on-court athleticism in a fun & engaging environment. Participants learn to improve their footwork, dribbling, passing, and shooting through exciting drills, games and activities. *No camp on Monday June 20th

For the morning portion of this course, students will learn to make their own video games! We use block coding (i.e., scratch, blockly, etc..) to simplify the concepts that real game engineers use while creating hit video games. In the afternoon, students will focus on 3D printing using TinkerCAD and other 3D Design software campers will be learn to create 3D Models that they will be printed at the camp!

In this course, you will learn the skills of a coder and the mindset of an entrepreneur, through actually building and releasing an iPhone app with your friends! You’ll gain an exciting set of 21st-century tech skills and learn how to make your own apps and games. To start, you’ll learn about logic, coding (Javascript and React), and design, through fun, group-based activities, led by an enthusiastic instructor. At the end, you’ll complete a final project where you make an app for a real non-profit organization. Previous students have created real apps being used right now by a mental health charity, a New York non-profit, and a charter school in the UK for their final projects. You don’t need any previous experience or special software for the course: all you need is your creativity! SEE OUR PROGRAM IN ACTION (Click to watch a video)! Watch a group of 5th grade students meet with a non-profit CEO after building his app Hear one of our students talk about the mental health app she built to help kids get through lockdown

WAITLIST Love to read comics or graphic novels? Learn how to create your own in this fun class! Students will spend the morning half of the day reading several examples of comics and graphic novels and then they will learn how to draw and write one of their own! For the afternoon portion of each day students will have lunch and free time outdoors and then participate in activities such as arts and crafts, science experiments, simple cooking, games, etc.

WAITLIST Calling on aspiring young authors! The morning portion of this program is designed to allow students to develop their skills as fiction writers. Through reading sample stories, campers will develop an understanding of the structure and story in fiction and compare the techniques of various authors. They will use their knowledge to plan for and create their own stories that will include a developed character, a problem and solution, dialogue and details. During the afternoon portion of the day students will have lunch and free time outdoors as well as participate in activities such as art, science experiments, simple cooking, games, etc.

*If you are a current GDS 9th grader taking Algebra 1, please reach out to us directly about taking this class. The summer Geometry course will take place over 6 weeks. This is an accelerated semester-long course, which is challenging due to its fast pace. Students cannot miss more than 3 days or 9 hours of class time. This class will be graded as a pass or fail course. The minimum percentage to pass the course is 60%. There will be a midterm and a final exam. Course topics include logic and methods of reasoning, angle relationships, parallel and perpendicular lines, polygons, congruence, similarity, circles, right triangle trigonometry, volume, and area. The teacher for this course will provide a mid-semester progress report at the end of week three to all parents via email. There will be an end of course transcript with the final grade of pass or fail emailed to all parents. The teacher will also be available by email if there are any concerns or discussions needed by families. *If you are a non-GDS student and require a letter grade on your transcript, please be sure to request this by the first day of class and provide any contact information for your school.  

Our outdoor Hiking Camp is designed for students to explore the opportunities for outdoor enrichment within and beyond the borders of our city. Through collaboration and personal challenge, students develop an understanding of the natural world around them. Our goal is to promote personal growth through exposure to new and exciting environments and situations, ultimately leading to an appreciation for what the outdoors have to offer. Emphasis will be on how to have fun safely in the woods. For this five-day camp, students will participate in a variety of outdoor activities such as hiking, bouldering, playing in the water and Geocaching. All day-trips will be within a short drive of GDS and utilize the public spaces in the District, Maryland, and Virginia. No outdoor experience is necessary, but an open mind is a must! Participants will bring a bag lunch and water bottle each day. Locations and Activities: Sugarloaf Mountain—Geocaching and forest games Catoctin Mountain Park—”Bouldering” and creek-stomping Sandy Point State Park—service project and beach/swim time Part of Great Falls Billy Goat trail and cookout at Carderock Bull Run State Park *Please also note that the schedule is subject to change based on weather, park condition, etc. Trips are rain or shine. However, if there is extreme weather expected for the whole day, students will do outdoor education activities on campus.

Ever wonder why and how DC looks as it does today? Who designed DC and how did it grow into the diverse collection of neighborhoods and sprawling metropolis it is today? How did the topography of the region, the transportation advances of the past centuries, and the people who lived here determine the shape and identity of the neighborhoods and regions? The teacher will present different aspects of Washington’s history and development from the late 18th century through to the present day. Topics include 1) The founding and mapping of the city, 2) A study of maps from different time periods to help trace the development of the different sections of DC, 3) A look at how the topography, layout and elements of the city help determine how the city has grown and developed the neighborhoods and identity it has today, 4) How the current city reveals traces of its past. Potential field trips could be involved.

Using real-world applications and hands-on projects, this introduction to 6th grade math will help prepare students for the upcoming school year. We will provide opportunities to practice mathematical note-taking, and study skills and explore topics such as mathematical expressions, fractions, decimals, percents, estimation and more. This program serves as a reinforcement of key concepts and foundational skills that will help students find success in their 6th grade math class. *Note this class is not an acceleration class. Only students entering 6th grade in the fall will be permitted to take this course.

This introduction to 7th grade math and pre-algebraic concepts will help prepare students for some of the critical thinking required in 7th grade math. Through hands-on projects and real-world applications, we will provide opportunities to practice mathematical study and note-taking skills and explore arithmetic operations and topics that include equations, expressions, problem-solving methods, estimation, probability and more. This program serves as a reinforcement of key concepts and foundational skills that will help students find success in their 7th grade math class. *Note this class is not an acceleration class. Only students entering 7th grade in the fall will be permitted to take this course.

Students will learn the basics of public speaking, argumentation, and how to rebut arguments. This class will focus on introducing students to various debate forms used around the country and the world including Spontaneous Argument Debate, Public Forum, and Middle School Public Debate. This fast-paced course will give students the chance to debate different topics including those on the economy, social issues, foreign policy, and education. Debaters will learn how to make an argument, speak in public, rebut arguments, and more in this summer week-long debate course.

WAITLIST This is the perfect camp for students who are just becoming interested in debate and public speaking and would like to gain more confidence. Students in grades 3rd through 5th will learn the basics of public speaking, argumentation, and how to rebut arguments. This camp will focus on various introducing students to various debate forms used around the country and the world including Spontaneous Argument Debate, Public Forum, and a glimpse of what Middle School Debate might look like. This fast-paced course will give students the chance to debate different topics at an age-appropriate level including those on the economy, social issues, foreign policy, and education. Debaters will learn how to make an argument, speak in public, rebut arguments, and more in this summer week-long debate course.

Do you love writing? Have you ever wanted to publish articles online, or have something you wrote go viral? In this club for budding writers, you’ll work on all of the above, as you learn how to be a junior journalist. You’ll interview your friends, learn how to write really well, and craft an article about events at your school. At the end of the class, you and your friends will team up to write a real article that will be published in a local newspaper. *Computer or tablet is required. GDS will provide a Chromebook if you do not have access to your own device.

Do you love writing? Have you ever wanted to publish articles online, or have something you wrote go viral? In this club for budding writers, you’ll work on all of the above, as you learn how to be a junior journalist. You’ll interview your friends, learn how to write really well, and craft an article about events at your school. At the end of the class, you and your friends will team up to write a real article that will be published in a local newspaper. *Computer or tablet is required. GDS will provide a Chromebook if you do not have access to your own device.

WAITLIST FOR ALL SESSIONS Say goodbye to training wheels! Participants will learn to ride safely and confidently over the course of the camp week; first by mastering balancing and gliding , then will easily transition to riding independently. We’ll master starting/stopping, speed control, turning, steering, riding in groups and around obstacles and hazards and learn basic traffic safety and bicycle maintenance. Even the most reluctant riders will be beaming by week’s end, encouraged by our expert instructors and caring staff, specialized equipment and lots of practice through games and fun. Students will participate in bike riding lessons during the morning half of the day. In the afternoon students will have time for lunch, free play outside, and other activities such as arts and crafts, games, science experiments, and more. *Bike rentals are included in the cost of the camp! Instructors used specialized bikes to help campers learn to ride. If a camper would like to bring their own bike towards the end of the week, they are welcomed to do so.

WAITLIST FOR ALL SESSIONS Say goodbye to training wheels! Participants will learn to ride safely and confidently over the course of the camp week; first by mastering balancing and gliding , then will easily transition to riding independently. We’ll master starting/stopping, speed control, turning, steering, riding in groups and around obstacles and hazards and learn basic traffic safety and bicycle maintenance. Even the most reluctant riders will be beaming by week’s end, encouraged by our expert instructors and caring staff, specialized equipment and lots of practice through games and fun. Students will participate in bike riding lessons during the morning half of the day. In the afternoon students will have time for lunch, free play outside, and other activities such as arts and crafts, games, science experiments, and more. *Bike rentals are included in the cost of the camp! Instructors used specialized bikes to help campers learn to ride. If a camper would like to bring their own bike towards the end of the week, they are welcomed to do so.

WAITLIST FOR ALL SESSIONS Say goodbye to training wheels! Participants will learn to ride safely and confidently over the course of the camp week; first by mastering balancing and gliding , then will easily transition to riding independently. We’ll master starting/stopping, speed control, turning, steering, riding in groups and around obstacles and hazards and learn basic traffic safety and bicycle maintenance. Even the most reluctant riders will be beaming by week’s end, encouraged by our expert instructors and caring staff, specialized equipment and lots of practice through games and fun. Students will participate in bike riding lessons during the morning half of the day. In the afternoon students will have time for lunch, free play outside, and other activities such as arts and crafts, games, science experiments, and more. *Bike rentals are included in the cost of the camp! Instructors used specialized bikes to help campers learn to ride. If a camper would like to bring their own bike towards the end of the week, they are welcomed to do so.

The morning portion of this program includes innovative, hands-on and research-based math games and activities to reinforce and preview topics in upper-elementary math classes. Students in grades 3rd-5th will spend the week doing problem-solving activities that will develop mathematical skills and create a growth mindset in math, reinforcing concepts and topics that will enable students to find mathematical success in the new school year. Concepts covered may include base-ten numbers, fractions, data analysis, elementary geometry concepts, simple mathematical algorithms, mathematical reasoning, problem-solving and more! In the afternoon students will have lunch and free time outdoors, as well as participate in fun and engaging activities such as art, simple cooking, games, science experiments, and more.

This camp is specifically designed for kids looking for a challenge! For the morning portion of this program, students will learn problem solving strategies, model and practice sample problems, then have the opportunity to work independently for some time, then come together to collaborate in teams to solve the problems, and finally come together as a whole group to compare and share solutions and convince each other that our answers are correct. For the afternoon portion of this program students will have lunch and free time outside, as well as participate in fun activities such as art, science experiments, simple cooking, games, etc.

This camp takes a hands-on approach to your favorite Nintendo video games. Using the Nintendo Switch’s Labo, we create our own controllers to enhance the fun of the gameplay. We will build basic and complex engineering mechanisms, learn cardboard construction techniques, use real tools, and play video games with our constructions! Class participants are required to wear closed-toed shoes and pull long hair back into a ponytail for safety.

This camp takes a hands-on approach to your favorite Nintendo video games. Using the Nintendo Switch’s Labo, we create our own controllers to enhance the fun of the gameplay. We will build basic and complex engineering mechanisms, learn cardboard construction techniques, use real tools, and play video games with our constructions! Class participants are required to wear closed-toed shoes and pull long hair back into a ponytail for safety.

The morning part of this program will allow students to explore a range of nonfiction texts and learn to analyze and explain the material they read and translate what they have read into their own words. Students will also have an opportunity to work collaboratively as researchers in order to develop their skills as nonfiction writers. In the afternoon students will have lunch and free time outdoors as well as participate in fun activities such as art, science experiments, simple cooking, games, etc.

Outdoor art creations class is designed to have children outside learning about nature while making art projects. Students will learn about birds, flowers, trees, the sun, insects, and much more!

Outdoor art creations class is designed to have children outside learning about nature while making art projects. Students will learn about birds, flowers, trees, the sun, insects, and much more!

Outdoor art creations class is designed to have children outside learning about nature while making art projects. Students will learn about birds, flowers, trees, the sun, insects, and much more!

Outdoor art creations class is designed to have children outside learning about nature while making art projects. Students will learn about birds, flowers, trees, the sun, insects, and much more!

This two-week review class is intended for rising 8th and 9th grade students moving into Algebra 1 for the upcoming year. We will provide opportunities to practice pre-algebraic concepts such as variables, formulas, and algebraic expressions as well as key concepts for algebraic success such as equations, fractions, decimals, percents, exponents, ratios and more. This program serves as a reinforcement of key concepts and foundational skills that will help students find success in their Algebra I class. Prerequisite: Completion of Pre-Algebra or Intro to Algebra.

In this week-long program intended for students with some prior debate experience, students will improve their skills in Public Forum Debate under expert guidance of GDS’s Middle School debate coach. Public Forum is a two-on-two debate that focuses on various domestic and foreign issues. Debaters will learn how to make an argument, speak in public, support their arguments, and more in this summer debate course.

WAITLIST FOR ALL SESSIONS This camp is designed for our youngest campers who are ready to spend the day learning and having fun! We recognize that this might be the first camp experience for our Little Hoppers. Through different play-based activities ranging from arts and crafts, drama, read alouds, active games, music, STEM, and more, children will develop friendships and skills designed to prepare them for school. School readiness skill-building will include various explorations, fine motor skills practice, and activities related to following directions, working with and listening to others, and more! *Students must be at least 4 years old to participate.*

WAITLIST FOR ALL SESSIONS This camp is designed for our youngest campers who are ready to spend the day learning and having fun! We recognize that this might be the first camp experience for our Little Hoppers. Through different play-based activities ranging from arts and crafts, drama, read alouds, active games, music, STEM, and more, children will develop friendships and skills designed to prepare them for school. School readiness skill-building will include various explorations, fine motor skills practice, and activities related to following directions, working with and listening to others, and more! *Students must be at least 4 years old to participate.*

WAITLIST FOR ALL SESSIONS This camp is designed for our youngest campers who are ready to spend the day learning and having fun! We recognize that this might be the first camp experience for our Little Hoppers. Through different play-based activities ranging from arts and crafts, drama, read alouds, active games, music, STEM, and more, children will develop friendships and skills designed to prepare them for school. School readiness skill-building will include various explorations, fine motor skills practice, and activities related to following directions, working with and listening to others, and more! *Students must be at least 4 years old to participate.*

Summer Jazz at GDS will engage students in all aspects of developing as an improvising musician. Students will learn the history and context of jazz music through text, recordings, and videos, and apply theory and methods in improvisation to their instruments. In addition to listening and playing, the course will address developing a personal style and touch on aspects of performance practice and recording. An instrument of any type is recommended to fully participate in this program.

This is a two week long program. Students will spend half the day working with author and teacher Marc Tyler Nobleman and the other half of the day students will engage in other activities that may include recess and free time outdoors, games, art, science, cooking, etc.

This is a two week long class.   Students will spend half the day working with author and teacher Marc Tyler Nobleman and the other half of the day students will engage in other activities that may include recess and free time outdoors, games, art, science, cooking, etc.

Get your volleyball on with with the GDS varsity volleyball team and coaches! Learn the basics of the game or improve upon your existing skills with one of the top volleyball programs in the DMV. Camp is open to rising 5th-8th graders, from beginners to advanced/experienced players. Coach Brandon Wiest and his coaching staff (our varsity players!) strive to bring a positive experience to all campers, while training in a FUN, hard-working environment. We strive to provide a quality volleyball experience for rising 5th-9th graders, grouping campers by experience level on separate courts to ensure they’re working on the skills most appropriate to their skill and experience level. At camp, we will use a combination of individual skill development drills, multi-contact team drills, fun games, and competitive playing sessions to apply each of the learned skills. Our goal is for our campers to leave GDS Volleyball camp having formed lasting friendships, feeling confident in their own abilities, and with an ignited passion for the sport that we all love so much.

Have you ever wanted to be a hacker? Or wanted to learn how to code? On the Internet these days, it’s important to understand how hackers work, so you can stay safe from them. In this speciality camp, you will learn how to “hack” through fun coding (and code-breaking) exercises. You’ll learn about the three main methods hackers use, hack websites we set up, learn how to code, and build fake websites to spoof your friends. Along the way, you’ll learn how to stay safe online. Finally, you’ll examine the cyber-security for a real local business and give them recommendations on how to improve. Get ready to have fun breaking things! *Computer or tablet is required for this class. GDS will provide a Chromebook if you do not have access to your own device.