Building young lives on a firm foundation of global education

Hello and welcome to 2024! Thank you for your interest in registering for the Summer Language Institute this year, which is now 10 years old! This DC based summer camp has roots throughout the DC metropolitan area, having hosted students for summer camp from schools in DC, Maryland, and Virginia.

This camp is unique as it is for children ages 3-10 and runs for the entire summer, beginning on June 17^th this year and ending on September 6th 2024.  The camp offers 3 options for FULL IMMERSION language learning in a choice of either Mandarin, Spanish, or Arabic and all of our teachers are educated and native speakers of the languages we offer and have worked with our program for many years.  For everyone’s safety for the integrity of this camp, we do not hire strangers for the summer to work with our students.  Our teachers are the lifeblood of what we do and we respect them so much.  We know you will get to love them as much as we do!

Camp hours are 9am-6pm Monday through Friday, except for June 19^th and July 4^th when we will be closed.  However, for those who are requiring care prior to 9am, before care begins at 8am-8:59am and will require a separate arrangement that should be shared with us prior to the first day of camp or no later than the day before care is needed. Before care is $15/day of use.

This summer camp is also highly regarded by many families across the area who have children attending schools that teach either one or more of the languages we offer and slots typically move very fast once camp registration opens.  However, if your child has never been introduced to any of the languages we offer or only speaks English and hears English at home, this camp is still an appropriate option because it is about fun, friendships, and learning new things.

Our summer camp will have a location in DC and one in Maryland; the DC location is at 2420 Rhode Island Avenue, NE in Washington DC and the Maryland location is directly up the street from the DC camp location at 3833 34^th Street in Mount Rainier, MD. Because we always have special requests for camp and an overwhelming response, we attempt to accommodate all families as best we can, but we ask that families who are registering for camp at either location are flexible with requirements for location, due to the fact that we like to place children of similar ages together and children who already attend school together.  If you are not flexible and open to your child being at either location, we kindly ask that you please do not register for this summer camp.  There are also other times throughout the summer that the children attend in-house field trips between the DC and MD locations and this year, we will also host outdoor field trips.

The outdoor field trip schedule typically includes museums, cultural events, and other kinds of fun and interesting outings our students have enjoyed in the past. Outdoor trips may or may not be taken every week, due to scheduling and availability.

Here is other information families may find helpful in learning more about this camp:

·        This camp is for FULLY POTTY-TRAINED children ages 3-10 years of age.  The majority of children who register are between the ages of 3-8 years of age.

·        Nap time is offered to any child who would like to nap; nap time is between 1pm-2:45pm daily—please bring in your child’s bedding and we will provide a clean cot.

·        All meals should be provided by families.  If leaving by 3pm, families should provide 2 snacks and one lunch that does not need to be heated; if leaving after 3pm, families should provide 3 snacks and one lunch that does not need to be heated.  All food items and containers should be labeled every day.  We are not an allergen-free school, so pack whatever your child will eat!

·        Please also bring a labeled refillable water bottle every day and one full change of clothing.

·        We have our own playground for outdoor play that is for at least one hour twice a day—once at 11am and then again between 3:30pm-4:30pm.  Please plan your pickup either before 3:30pm or after 4:30pm but before 6pm. 

·        Our team is vaccinated, but your child does not have to be to attend this camp.  This year, masks are optional at our camps for everyone, including teachers.

·        Children do not have to register for each week of camp to participate—only register for dates you want, but registration availability is first come, first served.  Early registration is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

·        If your child is attending summer camp with other children, please email us at director@thesocraticschooloflanguage.com and let us know the child(ren’s) name(s) and school the child attends.  Please note each family in this arrangement will need to separately do this for their own child.

·        If you are interested in attending at a specific location—either in DC or MD, please also email us to let us know that so that we can coordinate to accommodate you as best we can.

·    At this time, camp is not refundable for any payments made.  Thank you in advance for understanding this policy.

·        This summer camp is the same as last year at $385 per week and there is a one time $80 registration fee per child.  There is a 10% sibling discount off one child if siblings living together register for the same weeks. 

·        No fees are pro-rated at any time.  There is no refund for weeks/days that children do not attend for any reason except for if we will need to close the DC or MD summer camps for any reason.

·        Registration for these camps requires the following to be emailed to director@thesocraticschooloflanguage.comand for you to provide the following information:

1.       Name of your child(ren)

2.       Age of your child(ren)

3.       School where your child(ren) currently attends

4.       Language you are interested in—Mandarin, Spanish, or Arabic

5.       Weeks you are interested in (weeks are not guaranteed without registration)

6.       We will send you specified instructions for submitting registration for each week.

7.      You will then receive paperwork for you to complete registration and sample curriculum. You will receive a receipt via Paypal and an emailed receipt from us once the refund period passes.  The emailed receipt will have our tax ID, which is 90-0706442, for your tax planning purposes.

Toys, money, keys, books, cell phones, computers, tablets, jewelry, pacifiers, security blankets, plush animals, costumes, capes, tiaras/crowns, stickers, candy, gum, or other personal items from home not necessary for in-person camp are not allowed while at camp and are not the responsibility or liability of MindBloom or it's staff in the event the items are lost or damaged. If families provide their children with these items prior to bringing them to camp, they will be responsible for taking them away from their children and consoling them prior to the children being admitted into the premises.

Children attending camp must be registered for the weeks they attend. MindBloom staff will not permit any child to remain at camp if they are not registered in advance for the camp week upon start time.  Registrations for all camps must be completed no later than the Friday prior to the camp week no later than 5pm to ensure enrollment for the next week.

MindBloom cannot provide refunds, pro-rations, or make up days for children who do not attend camp days due to any reasons outside of MindBloom, including illness or any kind of emergencies.

MindBloom will not be able to keep children with behavioral issues enrolled at any time--no exceptions. Our program has a zero tolerance policy for biting, hitting, kicking, intentional property damage, or other violence towards our students or staff. 

MindBloom will not be able to grant a pro-ration or refund at any time for undesirable behavior on behalf of a camper who intentionally physically hurts other children or our staff or commits intentional property damage at any time.