Barrie Camp - Overview

Camp Overview

Inviting all kids ages 3 1/2 to 14 to find their sense of adventure this summer!

Set on 45 acres just outside Washington, D.C., Barrie Camp provides a time-honored summer camp experience for children ages 3.5-14.

At Barrie Camp, we seek to develop your child’s best qualities and provide all of the things that are needed for kids to enjoy a fun and engaging summer camp experience. A Washington, D.C. area institution since the 1950s, Barrie Camp offers a safe, self-contained environment perfect for campers to freely explore and enjoy their favorite activities with friends old and new. We offer a range of traditional and new activities that make each summer unique. Through hands-on experiences, collaboration, and diversity of thought and culture, campers are encouraged to be themselves, try new things, explore, accept challenges, and find joy in all that they do. We also offer a Leader-in-Training (LIT) program for rising 9th graders, who can acquire leadership skills while earning community service hours.

Our Philosophy

Barrie Camp emphasizes social competence and friendship, positive values and inner growth, and cognitive and physical development. We create an environment where campers learn to work together as a team, respect and value others, develop practical life skills, expand their interests, assume responsibility and most importantly, be themselves.

The unique character, strengths, interests, fears, and needs of each camper are respected. Campers are encouraged, but not forced, to give everything a try. Finding a way of doing with support, acceptance, and encouragement from friends and counselors is the goal.

Barrie Camp is conveniently located minutes from the ICC and the Glenmont Metro stop. Bus transportation is available at select stops throughout Montgomery County and Northwest Washington, D.C.

Facilities

Barrie Camp is held on the 45-acre campus of Barrie School in Silver Spring MD. Facilities used for the summer camp program include:

25-meter Olympic outdoor swimming pool: 2 to 5 ft. deep
Fourteen air conditioned school buildings and cottages
A pond for canoeing and nature study
Makerspace classroom
Two Gymnasiums – one full-size and one half-size
Black Box theater
Art building, ceramics studio, and arts & crafts classroom
State of the art computer facilities
Outdoor amphitheater and stage for morning assembly, special events, and entertainment
Athletic fields, including a turf field
Archery range
Hiking trails including access to the Matthew Henson Trail
Three playgrounds
Tent platforms and fire pit for overnights
Two pavilions and innumerable shaded picnic areas

Typical Camp Day

Daily Schedule

9 am: The day begins with Flagpole, an all-camp assembly at the amphitheater.
9:25 am to 3:15 pm: Camper groups rotate through nine, 30-minute activity periods.
3:15 pm to 3:55 pm: Campers transition to dismissal and enjoy an end of the day popsicle!
3:55 pm: The camp day ends with car pick-up from 3:55 to 4:30 pm.

The schedule of daily activities changes from day to day and week to week except for set swim times. Most activities are scheduled once per week, weather permitting.

Lunch & Snacks

Lunch and the occasional free period are included in the weekly schedule. Lower campers enjoy a rest or nap period after lunch.

Campers bring bagged lunches that are kept refrigerated until lunchtime. Snacks are offered in the morning to Lower campers and to all campers in PM Supervision. Popsicles are available at the end of the day for everyone. Campers are strongly encouraged to bring a water bottle and are recommended to bring snacks.

Swim Program

Campers are scheduled for two, back to back, swim periods a day. Campers in Specialty or Super Camps have a single swim period. Seniors (rising 7th and 8th graders) swim once in the morning and once in the afternoon.

Lifeguards are fully credentialed and have demonstrated rescue competence. The number of guards on duty is determined by the number of swimmers in the pool. Typically, three guards are on duty with an equal number of counselors assigned as "lookouts."

Please note:

All campers going into first grade and above are given a swim skills check when they first arrive at the pool to assess skill levels and determine in which areas of the pool they may safely swim.
Rising Pre-K and Kindergarteners do not have their swim skills checked as they have a shallow section of the pool designated only for their age group.

About Our Staff

Barrie Camp employs over 150 people each summer to execute the vast number of activities for the campers in a safe and fun environment. All staff undergo an interview with the year round team and must have multiple reference checks from non-family members. Before working with campers, all staff must complete a criminal background investigation. They participate in a comprehensive pre-camp training program as well as trainings throughout the summer and daily staff meetings. Staff are trained to be patient, enthusiastic and playful, yet also understand how to manage camper safety and well-being.

Two or three staff members are assigned to each group depending on the number of campers. The average number of campers per group is 18, though this can change based on the group, week, or program a camper is enrolled in. Staff to camper ratios are based on American Camp Association requirements:

Lower Camp 1:6
Middle Camp 1:8
Upper Camp 1:10

Counselors-in-Training (CITs): CITS are staff who are rising 10th graders and are full-time volunteers assigned to assist camp counselors and activity specialists.

Camp Counselors: The camp counselors are a highlight of every camper's experience. Every group has senior counselors, who are high school graduates and college students, as well as junior counselors, who are rising juniors & seniors in high school. All counselors are trained to keep campers safe, be mindful of individual needs, to be engaging, caring and provide encouragement and support.

Activity Specialists: We also employ experienced specialists who have relevant college degrees or specific training, experience or certifications to lead activities.

Lifeguards: All of our lifeguards are Red Cross certified. Two to three lifeguards are on duty at all times, depending on the number of groups assigned to the pool.

Leadership Team: Experienced professionals with degrees in education or fields related to their roles. They are available to provide support to counselors as well as campers and their families. They ensure program quality, supervise specialists, create weekly schedules, and coordinate special event days.

Registered Nurses: Two registered nurses or a nurse and emergency medical technician (EMT) or certified nursing assistant (CNA) are on duty during the regular camp day. Staff trained in First Aid and CPR are on site during extended care hours.

FAQs

General FAQs

Where is Barrie Camp located?

What are the ages of campers at Barrie Camp?

What are Barrie Camp's hours?

How do you promote inclusivity?

When can I visit camp?

What should my camper bring to Camp?

Enrollment FAQs

How do I make a CampInTouch account?

Can I make a CampInTouch account before camper registration opens?

Does my CampInTouch account from another camp work for Barrie Camp?

If my child is enrolled in a Specialty or Super Camp, do I pay for the Specialty Camp and the Day Camp program?

Can I request that my camper and a friend be in the same group?

Camp groups are based on the grade that your camper is going into. We do our best to accommodate all friend requests. Campers in different grades are unable to be in the same day camp group.

Our Camper Application has a section for friend requests. Enrolled families can also go into their CampInTouch account and use the Friend Requests Form in the Forms & Documents section.

How does your waitlist work?

Campers are placed on a waitlist when a specific program has reached it's capacity. A program that is at capacity will be shown as such on our online Camper Application.

Should a spot open up for a camper on a waitlist, we will call that camper's family to see if they would like to enroll their camper in that particular week or program.

Historical data has shown that there is typically some movement on waitlists, but how much and when varies from year to year. Any movement on our waitlists depends on another families summer plans.

There is no financial obligation for a camper on a waitlist. Only enrolled campers have a financial obligation.

Transportation & Extended Day FAQs

Does Barrie Camp provide bus transportation to/and from Barrie Camp?
What if I need to drop my camper off before camp? Or pick them up late?

Does Barrie Camp provide bus transportation to/and from Barrie Camp?

What if I need to drop my camper off before camp? Or pick them up late?

Staffing FAQs

Who supervises my camper?

What are the camper to staff ratios?

What should I do if I want to work at Barrie Camp?

Barrie Camp employs a summer staff of over 150 counselors, specialists and leaders. Positions range from rising 10th graders as Counselors-in-Training working professionals as our Activity Specialists and Leadership Team members.

Our staff are the backbone of camp, and one of the aspects campers remember most! Staff members are carefully screened, educated, and evaluated prior to and throughout the summer. Our staff members are highlights of the Barrie Camp experience!

Begin the process of joining the Barrie Camp team by completing a staff application.

Activities FAQs

What activities will my campers be participating in at Camp?
Do campers in Specialty Camps get to do the activities?

What activities will my campers be participating in at Camp?

Campers of all ages participate in a wide range of activities. Our schedule allows for general day campers to experience 9 activities per day, including a lunch period, and two back to back swim periods. All campers enjoy swim, sports, arts and crafts, canoeing, dance, drama, outdoor living skills, and more! Campers going into first grade and above also experience archery and digital video production.

Schedules change from week to week. Specialty and Super Camp campers participate in their specialized program for half of the day, with the other half of the day reserved for day camp activities, including a swim period.

Do campers in Specialty Camps get to do the activities?

2026 Camp Weeks

June 15-June 18* : Warm Up Week
June 22-June 26 : Week 1
June 29-July 2* : Week 2
July 6-July 10 : Week 3
July 13-July 17 : Week 4
July 20-July 24 : Week 5
July 27-July 31 : Week 6
August 3-August 7 : Week 7
August 10-August 14 : Week 8
*no camp on Friday due to Juneteenth or July 4th holiday