Programs

FULL   Students will be introduced to different 3D modeling software, as well as the process of turning their models into real world creations through 3D printers. Students will learn about the art of design and learn steps related to design thinking. The class will culminate with a competition for best design. Student designs will be printed at camp.

WAITLIST This camp is independent riders (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! *Students will be riding off campus each day. Each student must have their own bike and helmet to participate.

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.

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.

Full. This is a two week long course. 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. *Special guests and speakers will either come to GDS campus, speak virtually, or students will travel to meet with the speaker somewhere in the city. All safety protocols will be met and information will be provided ahead of time if leaving campus.

This 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.

Students in this course 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 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

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

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.

Learn how to use your DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) camera to become a more creative photographer. Classes will focus on the manual settings of a DSLR and how they can be used to better control light. You will learn about composition, lighting, and portrait and landscape photography. Photography assignments will be given to improve your work as an artist. A DSLR camera is required to take this course.

*This program will be virtual.* This 2 week course is designed for students at the intermediate level (levels 2 and 3), who want to brush up on their French over the summer and improve their oral and written expression. The class will help students develop oral proficiency through a series of fun activities and conversations with emphasis on pronunciation, vocabulary, and idiomatic expressions. Students will review grammar concepts while working collaboratively on writing a short story.

*This program will be virtual.* This 2 week course is designed for students at the advanced level (level 4+), who want to brush up on their French over the summer and improve their oral and written expression. The class will help students develop oral proficiency through a series of fun activities and conversations with emphasis on pronunciation, vocabulary, and idiomatic expressions. Students will review grammar concepts while working collaboratively on writing a short story.

Ever wanted to create your own computer game? This course offers the chance to learn the basics of programming, from understanding variables to implementing a conditional statement. In a culminating project, students will create their own game.

*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, for a total of 90 hours. 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.  

WAITLIST 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 *All locations and activities are subject to change. Families will acknowledge and sign a waiver when registering that their child will be riding on a GDS operated school bus and will be following all COVID-19 safety protocols, which include open windows instead of air conditioning for air circulation, sitting in separate and distanced rows, mask wearing, etc. While the program will take place outdoors and we will do our best to maintain social distancing, there may be instances where maintaining 6 feet apart from each other may be difficult. 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.

This is an art and design curriculum that helps students learn the basics of using Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign. The course explores Photography, Graphics, Advertising, Sports and Music / Art culture of the 1980s. Students learn about creative legends such as Madonna, Keith Haring, Grace Jones, David Bowie, Fab 5 Freddy and the social, political, issues that existed during that explosive decade. Students will have music listening sessions and music video analysis included. *No Prior Experience Necessary!

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.

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.

WAITLIST 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. *Students must have their own bike and helmet to participate. This camp is designed for students to participate in one session only.

WAITLIST 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. *Students must have their own bike and helmet to participate. This camp is designed for students to participate in one session only.

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.

FULL 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.

For the morning portion of this program students will participate in Novel Engineering with Jay. Novel Engineering is an approach to integrate engineering and literacy. Students use stories as the basis for engineering design challenges that help them identify problems, design realistic solutions, and engage in the Engineering Design Process while reinforcing their literacy skills. For the afternoon portion of this camp students will have lunch and free time outside, as well as participate in various activities including art, science experiments, games, etc.

For the morning portion of this program students will participate in Novel Engineering with Jay. Novel Engineering is an approach to integrate engineering and literacy. Students use stories as the basis for engineering design challenges that help them identify problems, design realistic solutions, and engage in the Engineering Design Process while reinforcing their literacy skills. For the afternoon portion of this camp students will have lunch and free time outside, as well as participate in various activities including art, science experiments, games, etc.

FULL 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!

FULL 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!

Join us for outdoor exploration camp! This camp will include a half day exploring nearby parks and forests, (Fort Reno Park, Glover Archbold Trail etc.), and a half day on GDS campus participating in outdoor appreciation activities. Students will go on adventures outside, play games, get dirty, make arts and crafts and learn skills that make being outside lots of fun. Some examples of what we will teach and offer are: outdoor skills environmental education leadership skills, teambuilding, and character building citizen science opportunities orienteering outdoor games Geocaching and nature based crafts *Please note that students will be riding on a GDS shuttle bus to nearby locations. We will follow all COVID mitigation strategies, but please understand that there may be times where maintaining six feet of distance between campers is difficult.

We will explore ways to take your cell phone photography to a new level. Each lesson will involve direct instruction on new ways to use your phone camera and compose better pictures. Assignments will be given to stretch your creativity and to show your work. Supplies needed: Cell phone with a camera

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.

Students will be given high interest narratives that will provide opportunities for oral reading to promote fluency. Focus skills will include identifying the main idea, supporting details, and sequencing events. Story elements such as character analysis, setting, plot, making inferences, and drawing conclusions will be covered. Each passage will be followed by comprehension questions which the students should answer by writing full sentences. *Each session will include the same reading passages, so please only sign up for one session.

Students will be given high interest narratives that will provide opportunities for oral reading to promote fluency. Focus skills will include identifying the main idea, supporting details, and sequencing events. Story elements such as character analysis, setting, plot, making inferences, and drawing conclusions will be covered. Each passage will be followed by comprehension questions which the students should answer by writing full sentences. *Each session will include the same reading passages, so please only sign up for one session.

Students will be given high interest narratives that will provide opportunities for oral reading to promote fluency. Focus skills will include identifying the main idea, supporting details, and sequencing events. Story elements such as character analysis, setting, plot, making inferences, and drawing conclusions will be covered. Each passage will be followed by comprehension questions which the students should answer by writing full sentences. *Each session will include the same reading passages, so please only sign up for one session.

Students will be given high interest narratives that will provide opportunities for oral reading to promote fluency. Focus skills will include identifying the main idea, supporting details, and sequencing events. Story elements such as character analysis, setting, plot, making inferences, and drawing conclusions will be covered. Each passage will be followed by comprehension questions which the students should answer by writing full sentences. *Each session will include the same reading passages, so please only sign up for one session.

In this course, upper elementary and middle school students will be taught the fundamentals of robotics, from what a robot is to how to get them to do what we want them to do.

In this course, upper elementary and middle school students will be taught the fundamentals of robotics, from what a robot is to how to get them to do what we want them to do. *Students should only sign up for 1 session as the content will be the same.

WAITLIST 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 will be in two separate cohort classrooms. If you have a specific friend request please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate the request. We can only accept friend requests up until 2 weeks before the program starts.

WAITLIST FOR ALL SESSIONS This day camp is about creativity, problem-solving, innovation, critical thinking, and collaboration. Each day, students will be given a challenge to address. Through a variety of activities and exercises, students will stretch their brains as they develop their 21st century skills. Students will learn how to learn from failure, explore the ideas of peers, brainstorm, and more!

WAITLIST 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 will be in two separate cohort classrooms. If you have a specific friend request please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate the request. We can only accept friend requests up until 2 weeks before the program starts.

WAITLIST FOR ALL SESSIONS This day camp is about creativity, problem-solving, innovation, critical thinking, and collaboration. Each day, students will be given a challenge to address. Through a variety of activities and exercises, students will stretch their brains as they develop their 21st century skills. Students will learn how to learn from failure, explore the ideas of peers, brainstorm, and more!

WAITLIST 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 will be in two separate cohort classrooms. If you have a specific friend request please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate the request. We can only accept friend requests up until 2 weeks before the program starts.

WAITLIST FOR ALL SESSIONS This day camp is about creativity, problem-solving, innovation, critical thinking, and collaboration. Each day, students will be given a challenge to address. Through a variety of activities and exercises, students will stretch their brains as they develop their 21st century skills. Students will learn how to learn from failure, explore the ideas of peers, brainstorm, and more!

WAITLIST FOR ALL SESSIONS This day camp is about creativity, problem-solving, innovation, critical thinking, and collaboration. Each day, students will be given a challenge to address. Through a variety of activities and exercises, students will stretch their brains as they develop their 21st century skills. Students will learn how to learn from failure, explore the ideas of peers, brainstorm, and more!

WAITLIST FOR ALL SESSIONS This day camp is about creativity, problem-solving, innovation, critical thinking, and collaboration. Each day, students will be given a challenge to address. Through a variety of activities and exercises, students will stretch their brains as they develop their 21st century skills. Students will learn how to learn from failure, explore the ideas of peers, brainstorm, and more!

WAITLIST FOR ALL SESSIONS This day camp is about creativity, problem-solving, innovation, critical thinking, and collaboration. Each day, students will be given a challenge to address. Through a variety of activities and exercises, students will stretch their brains as they develop their 21st century skills. Students will learn how to learn from failure, explore the ideas of peers, brainstorm, and more!

WAITLIST FOR ALL SESSIONS This day camp is about creativity, problem-solving, innovation, critical thinking, and collaboration. Each day, students will be given a challenge to address. Through a variety of activities and exercises, students will stretch their brains as they develop their 21st century skills. Students will learn how to learn from failure, explore the ideas of peers, brainstorm, and more!

WAITLIST FOR ALL SESSIONS This day camp is about creativity, problem-solving, innovation, critical thinking, and collaboration. Each day, students will be given a challenge to address. Through a variety of activities and exercises, students will stretch their brains as they develop their 21st century skills. Students will learn how to learn from failure, explore the ideas of peers, brainstorm, and more!

Do you find yourself doodling along the side of your paper while trying to take notes in class? Do you ever read your notes from class and have no idea what they mean? If so, SketchNoting is the perfect summer class for you! Research shows that note-taking that includes shapes, colors, lines, hand lettering, and quick sketches improves retention and promotes deeper learning… Not to mention it’s fun! Throughout the week, we will build our “visual vocabulary” and develop our SketchNoting skills by collaboratively SketchNoting videos, quotes, portions of books, tweets, news articles and more.

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.

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. Parent testimonial from our 2019 camp: “From our perspective, we were surprised [our daughter] was even willing to sign up for the camp. But immediately after the first day, she was excited enough to want to go to Modell’s to pick up some knee pads. We also bought a regulation size net and she’s been outside after camp every day with [her new friend from camp], me, and others to practice/play. Was surprised how much use the net has already gotten!”