Programs

*This is a two week program. This social justice boot camp will focus on planning, preparing, presenting, and protesting about common issues of inequity and inequality.  This program aims to empower individuals to become effective advocates for positive change in their communities. The course will be divided into the following: Understanding Social Justice Issues Planning and Researching perspectives and Stats Developing Action Plans Creating Communications and Presentations Applying Direct Action By using non-traditional means of instruction such as individual research, group collaboration, mock interviews, media and technology, and field trips, scholars will be equipped with the tools to plan, prepare, and present various ways to inform the public about different topics and how to resolve them.

This camp is for advanced 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 throughout the city. Mileage and daily rides vary, but we always include visits to community friends like Fire/Police, outdoor yoga, parks and playgrounds, and an ice cream ride adventure! Campers will be expected to carry their own water and lunch in a backpack each day on their ride. *Option to rent a bike for an additional $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. Because campers leave campus each day and ride to various locations, please DO NOT schedule appointments during this week where your child would arrive late or be picked up early.

This camp is for advanced 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 throughout the city. Mileage and daily rides vary, but we always include visits to community friends like Fire/Police, outdoor yoga, parks and playgrounds, and an ice cream ride adventure! Campers will be expected to carry their own water and lunch in a backpack each day on their ride. *Option to rent a bike for an additional $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. Because campers leave campus each day and ride to various locations, please DO NOT schedule appointments during this week where your child would arrive late or be picked up early.

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.

* NO CAMP ON WEDNESDAY JUNE 19TH Students will participate in the coding section in the morning. For the afternoon students will have lunch, recess, and have various camp activities such as games, arts and crafts, experiments, challenges, etc.  

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.

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.

Have you ever wanted to play the nationally-known game Dungeons and Dragons? Stretch your imagination telling stories with your friends, and build useful creative skills? What about playing the game they do in Stranger Things? Well this is your chance! In this class, we’ll be exploring collaborative storytelling through Dungeons and Dragons. Along the way, we’ll develop social and emotional skills that will serve us well outside of the RPG. Students will participate in the Dungeons and Dragons part of camp in the morning. The afternoon will consist of lunch, recess, and other camp games and activities.

Campers will go on a field trip each day during this specialty 3 day camp. Campers must bring a packed lunch.   *No camp on July 4 or July 5.

*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. *NO CAMP ON JUNE 19, JULY 4, and JULY 5.  

This is a one week program. Students will spend the morning portion participating in the writing camp and the afternoon will consist of lunch, recess, and fun camp activities such as games, challenges, experiments, arts and crafts, etc.  

This is a two week long class. Students will participate in the writing program in the morning and then for the afternoon portion they will have lunch, recess, and fun camp activities such as games, challenges, arts and crafts, etc.

Campers will participate in the hacking part of camp in the morning and then the afternoon will consist of lunch, recess, and fun camp activities and games.

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 specialty class, you will learn how to “hack” through fun coding (and code-breaking) games. You’ll learn about the three main methods hackers use, hack fake websites we set up, and learn how to stay safe online. 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.

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.

As the workload in middle school/high school builds, so does the stress level to keep up and “make it work.” Self-management skills are increasingly important in a complex world with many distractions and competing priorities. LetsMakeitWork will teach students how to organize, plan, prioritize, manage time, maintain focus, self-assess, and study/work efficiently.   *This is a great afternoon addition if your child is participating in a morning math class.

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. There is no designated nap time. This program may not be the best fit for every child. Please reach out if you have concerns or questions.

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. There is no designated nap time. This program may not be the best fit for every child. Please reach out if you have concerns or questions.

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. There is no designated nap time. This program may not be the best fit for every child. Please reach out if you have concerns or questions.

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. There is no designated nap time. This program may not be the best fit for every child. Please reach out if you have concerns or questions.

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. There is no designated nap time. This program may not be the best fit for every child. Please reach out if you have concerns or questions.

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. There is no designated nap time. This program may not be the best fit for every child. Please reach out if you have concerns or questions.

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.

No camp on Wednesday, June 19th. 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 day camp is designed for our older hoppers in grades 3 and 4. Each week will have a different theme and activities will include games, art, cooking, challenges, and much more. Each week will also include a field trip to a location that matches the theme of the week. All activities will be hands on and engaging for kids to make new friends with their peers, gain new skills, and become confident and independent learners.

This day camp is designed for our older hoppers in grades 3 and 4. Each week will have a different theme and activities will include games, art, cooking, challenges, and much more. Each week will also include a field trip to a location that matches the theme of the week. All activities will be hands on and engaging for kids to make new friends with their peers, gain new skills, and become confident and independent learners.

This day camp is designed for our older hoppers in grades 3 and 4. Each week will have a different theme and activities will include games, art, cooking, challenges, and much more. Each week will also include a field trip to a location that matches the theme of the week. All activities will be hands on and engaging for kids to make new friends with their peers, gain new skills, and become confident and independent learners.

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.

*NO Class on Wednesday, June 19. 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! There will be activities done inside the classroom and outside.

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.

The purpose of this class is to enhance/improve oral reading and comprehension skills to rising 5th and 6th graders. There will be 2-4 lessons taught daily, and active participation will be encouraged, particularly for oral reading. The lessons will consist of short passages with follow-up activities. The focus of the passages will be: character traits and analysis, comparing/contrasting, drawing conclusions, finding the main idea, interpreting figurative language, making predictions, personification, sequencing, and using context clues.   Students will participate in the reading portion of this program in the morning. The afternoon will consist of lunch, recess, and various camp activities such as games, arts and crafts, challenges, etc.

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.

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 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! This camp is designed for students in 1st and 2nd grade. There will be a field trip each week!

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! This camp is designed for students in 1st and 2nd grade. There will be a field trip each week!

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! This camp is designed for students in 1st and 2nd grade. There will be a field trip each week!

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! This camp is designed for students in 1st and 2nd grade. There will be a field trip each week!

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! This camp is designed for students in 1st and 2nd grade. There will be a field trip each week!

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! This camp is designed for students in 1st and 2nd grade. There will be a field trip each week!

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-9th 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.