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| Dates: | June 18 - 22, 2012 or July 2 - 13, 2012 (skips July 4th) |
| Hours: | 9 AM - 3 PM, Monday - Friday |
| Cost: | $325 – 1 week camp; $590 – 9-day camp |
| Place: | Parent Encouragement Program 10100 Connecticut Ave, Kensington, MD 20895 |
| Where the Focus is on Friendship |
| PEP's Friendship Camps are designed with a difference. Rather than organizing the day around activities like most camps, this Camp is planned around the social interactions of the children. The Camp offers fun-filled opportunities for girls to learn specific friendship and communication skills, build leadership qualities, and grow in self-awareness and self-confidence. |
| The limited group size (16 girls) and the generously scheduled free choice activities allow campers to practice their new social skills while receiving individualized feedback and support from the staff. Campers help design the week's program which usually includes organized games, group challenges and special performances, music, and dancing. The camp's focus on friendship is designed to foster healthy relationships at this Camp and beyond! Please note that this Camp program is not a therapeutic setting, because of staff-child ratios. |
| Camp Activities: Arts and crafts, singing, movement, indoor and outdoor generous free time to plan and carry out games and adventures, water day, board games, organized daily discussions and group challenges, and more – all designed to foster healthy friendship and leadership skills. |
| 2012 Camp Staff |
| 1-Week Camp |
| Amy Lear White: (Co-Director)
Amy has been an early childhood and parent educator for over 23 years. Amy has co-directed PEP's Friendship Camps since 2001. Amy is a longtime PEP parent and also was a PEP leader. Amy has two children, a 22 year old daughter and a son aged 21.
Ruth Sorenson: (Co-Director) Ruth has been a co-director at the Girls & Boys PEP Friendship Camps for five years. In addition to her two sons who will work at the Boy's Building Buddies camp again this year, Ruth also has 2 daughters, ages 24 and 23. Ruth has a background in P.E. & Early Childhood education. She is the Music Resource teacher at CCBC (Chevy Chase Bethesda Community Children's Center). Ruth's guiding belief is that programs that allow creative play are gems these days and her experience at work and at PEP is that the kids who participate find the experience really fun! |
| 9-Day Camp |
| Barbara Strom Thompson (Friendship Camp Founder and Co-Director) is a child development specialist in private practice in Chevy Chase, MD. She enjoys working with parents and teachers, along with public speaking on family life issues. Building on her experience in running PEP's coed Making Friends class, Barb founded the Girls Friendship Camp and looks forward to returning for her eighteenth summer. |
| Bekki Sims (Co-Director) has been affiliated with PEP for over 20 years, first as a "student" and subsequently as a PEP Leader, and Friendship Camp Co-Director since 2008. While parenting her three daughters, Bekki has been involved with many programs and activities focused on children and teens. Most recently, she organized Community Youth Summits held biannually at Walt Whitman High School. Because of the meaning and joy she's found working with younger people, Bekki is now completing a Masters in Clinical Community Counseling at Johns Hopkins University. |
| The basic necessities: Campers bring a bag lunch and drink each day. Refrigerator and bottled water on-site. Sneakers or sturdy shoes are necessary for outdoor games. Bicycle or scooter and bathing suit for water games on one day to be announced. Bring a blanket or throw for quiet times. |
| For parents of campers: A parent orientation on "Helping Your Child Foster Friendships" will be held at the PEP Office several weeks before the camp begins, date to be announced. |
| Parents are welcome to visit our Camp at 3:00 p.m. dismissal time on our "Welcome Wednesday." |
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Cost and Application Information: $590 for the 9 day camp. Additionally, all camper families must be PEP members ($50/year- you can choose to join/renew after your camp application has been accepted). Please note that there are usually more applicants for the Camp than spaces, and that returning campers and children of PEP Leaders and Board Members receive a preference in placement. Limited scholarships are available in case of financial need.
A non-refundable deposit of $100 is due with the application. This deposit is immediately returned if there is not space for your child in this summer's Camp. If your child is accepted into Camp, the deposit is non-refundable. Please make checks payable to the Parent Encouragement Program. Mastercard/Visa/Discover available. If desired, contact the office about setting up a payment plan beginning in March, 2012. The balance of the fee (plus PEP membership if applicable) is due by May 14, 2012, if not already paid. No refunds of the balance after this date. Applications are considered as they are received; the camp directors must review each application. All camper and medical information must be received or updated by May 14, 2012. |
Click here to download a printable copy of PEP's Girls Friendship Camp Information and Application Form.