our programs

• Day Programs
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    • Junior Explorers
    • Explorer Day Camp
    • Voyager Program
    • ExploreStar Program
    • CAPs
    • Community Service
  • Bethesda Day Camp
  • Chinese Culture / Language Program
  • Sports Programs
  • Extended Day Programs
• Overnight Programs & Trips
• Summer Studies
• Programs by Grade & Topic

Community Service (Grade 6 - 10)

Dates: Varies, click here for dates
Hours: 9:00 am-3:00 pm
Location: Wisconsin Avenue campus
Fees: $250/week
Deposit: $100/week

Are you looking for an exciting place to give back to your community and make new friends?  Sidwell Summer offers opportunities for you to help others and make the world a better place while having fun! Workshops are theme based, provide hands-on service experience, help to build skills, and offer a time for quiet reflection. Listed in parenthesis below is the number of service hours of each workshop. If there is a specific form to be completed for the participant’s school, please submit it to the Sidwell Summer office prior to the program.

All Day, Week Long Workshops with ExploreStar

• ABC's of Child Development
• Clean UP!
• Helping Hands

ABC’s of Child Development with Safe Sitters™ Babysitting Course (10 hours) – Join us for a hands-on week of playing and learning the skills to care for children, and exploring with ‘experts’ the A, B, C’s of childhood development. The morning will consist of the complete Safe Sitters™ course.  The afternoons will be spent working with Juniors (ages 4-6) and guest infants for hands-on service and experience.  Participants may register for the morning course or only the afternoon service through ExploreStar, or may combine both for the full ABC workshop. (July 7-11; July 21-25)

Clean Up! (22 hours) – An experienced adult will lead our environmentally focused service weeks which emphasize trail maintenance, cleanup, and grounds work at different locations throughout the DC area (e.g., Great Falls Park and Potomac Park.)  Classroom time is spent exploring environmental issues as well as reflecting on how we can be better stewards for our world. (June 16-20; June 23-27)

Helping Hands (22 hours) – Hands-on community service opportunities as well as time for classroom learning and group reflection. Students will volunteer with different types of nonprofit organizations during the week. These may include a nursing home, a day care center, a homeless services provider, and an environmental agency.  Some days the service project ends before 3:00 pm and the afternoon will be spent in fun activities together. (July 14-18; July 28-Aug 1)

Note:  Sidwell Summer also offers a community service workshop, Little Hands, to our Explorer Day Campers.