TPCDC Travel Camp, Summer 2026
Quick Details
- Dates: Monday, June 22-Friday, August 14, 2025 (8 weeks)
- Hours: 7 AM-6 PM | No extra charges for before or after care!
- Week-by-week registration
- For campers entering 1st-6th grade in Fall 2026 (We do not offer camp for rising kindergarteners.)
- General Weekly Schedule: Mondays: Play at TPCDC; Tuesdays & Thursdays: Swimming at Long Branch Pool; Wednesdays & Fridays: Field trips to parks, museums, etc. No extra fees for trips! Other activities include water play, arts & crafts, sports, cooking, outdoor walks, and time to play on our playgrounds.
- Breakfast and twice-daily snacks included.
- View the 2026 Camp Handbook
- Note: Because our camp includes extended bus travel, it is not recommended for children with significant car or motion sickness, or for those who find long rides challenging. Field trips can be up to two hours from Takoma Park.
Tuition
- Weekly tuition: $575. The week of July 4 is $460.
- Please note that the sibling discount has been removed for Summer 2026.
- Due within one week of registration: $75 Nonrefundable Deposit + $212 Part 1 Payment (per week) = $287 total
- Remaining balance of $288/$173 is due the month before your camp dates.
Registration & Payment Steps
- Register online.
- Receive an invoice, which will serve as your confirmation.
- Pay your invoice within one week, online or with a check. Checks should be payable to TPCDC and may be mailed or dropped off. Please write your child’s name and camp weeks on the check.
- If payment is not received within one week of your invoice, you will be notified and will be moved to the waitlist for the camp weeks that you have expressed interest in.
- The remaining balance is due the month before your child attends camp:
- June weeks due May 15
- July weeks due June 1.
- August weeks due July 1
- Reminders and invoices will be sent out one week ahead of time.
2026 Weekly Themes & Tuition
| Week | Dates | Theme | Tuition |
| Week 1 | Mon-Fri, June 22-26 | Star Wars |
$575 |
| Week 2 | Mon-Thu, June 29-July 2 Closed Fri, July 3 |
Our Cultures, Our Stories In this vibrant and heart-filled week, campers AND teachers come together to explore the amazing cultures that make our community unique. Each day, a different teacher will share a piece of their own heritage through stories, music, food, art, games, and traditions. Kids get to experience the world right inside their camp! |
$460 |
| Week 3 | Mon-Fri, July 6-10 |
WHODUNIT: The Case of the Kidnapped Camp Critter Camp’s beloved stuffed animal mascot "Cuddles the Camp Critter” usually sits on the welcome table every day. But on Monday morning . . . Cuddles is GONE. Only a tiny scrap of fur is left behind. Campers must solve clues throughout the week to rescue Cuddles and uncover the mystery. |
$575 |
| Week 4 | Mon-Fri, July 13-17 |
Adventure from Farm to Table
Let’s enjoy yummy, fresh food that comes straight from the farm to our plate. Campers will learn where and how fruit, veggies, and other food grow. We’ll visit local farms and make simple, kid-friendly recipes. This is sure to be a delicious week! |
$575 |
| Week 5 | Mon-Fri, July 20-24 |
Mine, Build, Create
Become a master crafter as we dive into the world of MINECRAFT. Campers will create unique Minecraft self portraits, build dioramas using textured bricks, construct cardboard creepers, design a city using recycled materials, and -- most importantly -- play fun and challenging games together. |
$575 |
| Week 6 | Mon-Fri, July 27-31 | HulaSplash Take a splash into a tropical adventure where water meets hula fun! Campers will enjoy water activities like slip n slide, spray tag, sponge relay races, and a vibrant color run. Our arts and crafts activities will keep the island vibes going as campers make leis and design their own "Hawaiian shirts” with tie-dye. We'll wrap up the week with a festive HulaSplash Party! |
$575 |
| Week 7 | Mon-Fri, Aug 3-7 | Jump into Fitness Join us for a week of fun fitness adventures at "PLANET TPCDC,” (aka the big gym). Campers will enjoy Zumba, yoga, relay races, rock climbing -- a fun week of friendly active fitness fun. They'll decorate team jerseys, batons, and their own sweat bands too. We’ll finish the week with a block party filled with active workout stations for the campers to explore. |
$575 |
| Week 8 | Mon-Fri, Aug 10-14 |
Spirit Week Get ready for the most exciting week of the summer: Spirit Week! This is your chance to show your pride, pump up the energy, and celebrate together as a community. Each day brings a brand-new theme, fun dress-up challenges, friendly competitions, and activities designed to make memories that last long after the summer ends. |
$575 |
Additional Details
What is your camper to teacher ratio?
What will a typical day without a field trip look like? (Subject to change)
- 7-9 AM: Arrival, free play inside or outside
- Morning meeting
- Morning snack (provided)
- Planned activity
- Outside playtime or walk around the neighborhood or to a park
- Lunchtime outside if weather allows
- Free play inside
- Outdoor time or water play
- Afternoon snack (provided)
- Planned activity
- 4:30-6 PM: Outdoor play and dismissal
Required Forms
- All change or refund requests must be in writing.
- Changes: Up until the Wednesday before the affected camp weeks, a child may transfer from one week to another as long as there is space available in the week they wish to transfer to. Tuition is also transferable between siblings. Tuition is non-transferable between unrelated children.
- Withdrawals before April 1st: $212 refund per week will be issued.
- Withdrawals between April 2nd and the Balance Due Date: $106 per week refund will be issued. Final payment for June weeks is due on May 15, July weeks' payment is due June 1, August weeks' payment is due July 1.
- Withdrawals after the Balance Due Date: No refunds will be issued after May 15 for June weeks, after June 1 for July weeks, or after July 1 for August weeks.
- No refunds or credits will be given for absences of part of any day or week due to inclement weather, holidays, illnesses, closures of the Center or a classroom due to implementation of a health and safety plan, or other circumstances.
- If TPCDC is shut down by state or county mandate, tuition will be refunded.
- All refund or change requests are subject to the discretion of the Center Director.
All above policies and plans are subject to change.
School-year K-5th Grade Programs
We pride ourselves on our quality programs for children of elementary school age. TPCDC teachers provide children with age-appropriate activities in a safe and secure environment that allows children to be children. Our school-age class has a fun-filled curriculum which engages each child's curiosity and allows them to explore mathematical, scientific, art, and literary skills all while in a comfortable, stimulating environment. Monthly themes and strong curriculum keeps our children actively involved.
Before Care, 7-9:15 AM
Before-school care is offered beginning at 7 AM. Breakfast is offered until 8:30 AM. Children engage in free play activities like board games, arts and crafts, and reading and then children head outside to play on the playground while they wait for their MCPS buses to arrive.
After Care, 4-6 PM
After-school care is offered beginning at 4 PM and ends at 6 PM when the Center closes. After getting off the bus, teachers escort children into the building and give all children a healthy afternoon snack. Enrichment and/or free play activities are provided and then children head outside to our playground to play. Teachers are also happy to help children with homework at the parent’s request. A junior library of non-fiction and fiction aged-appropriate books occupy the after-school classroom.
Classrooms
Children are grouped roughly by grade level:
- Bright Stars: K/1st
- Shining Stars: K/1st
- Rock'n Stars: 1st/2nd
- Super Mighty Stars: 2nd-5th
Bus Transportation to MCPS Schools
TPCDC has contracted with MCPS to provide transportation via MCPS buses to TPCDC from:
- Takoma Park Elementary
- Piney Branch Elementary
- East Silver Spring Elementary
- Sligo Creek Elementary
- Rock Creek Forest Elementary
Before & After Care Enrollment Options
Children may attend before care and/or after care from one to five days/week, either on a scheduled basis or on a drop-in basis if space allows. See the current tuition chart.
School's Out Camp Days
The Center follows federal government closings for weather and therefore is often open when the public schools are closed. On these days, TPCDC offers full day programs for school-agers. Families may also sign up for full day care/camp on other days when the schools are scheduled to be closed, such as teacher work days or school holidays when special camps and field trips are offered.