Camp Directory

Each year, Alexandria families look for high-quality, engaging summer camps for their Alexandria City Public Schools students, but finding options in one place can be a challenge. The Alexandria PTA Council (PTAC) created the Summer Camp Fair and later the Alexandria PTAC Summer Camp Directory to make that search easier and to support every family in planning a meaningful summer for their children.

The Alexandria PTAC Summer Camp Directory is a free resource for all ACPS families.

Published online each winter and available in limited print batches at events—the directory highlights a wide range of camps across the Alexandria and DC metro area. Since 2023, the directory has expanded to include sleep-away and specialty camps throughout the region.

How Camps are Selected

The directory began with personal recommendations from Alexandria parents and has grown through partnerships with trusted community and regional resources. What started as invitations to just over 200 camps has expanded into an annual outreach effort to nearly 400 camps, representing:

Art
Adventure & Outdoor Exploration
Dance
Drama & Theatre
Music
Science & STEM
Sports
Specialty and residential (sleep-away) programs

Each year, the Camp Fair Chair or Co-Chairs lead this outreach effort, inviting camps to submit listings. Participating camps pay a small fee to be included. These funds directly support Alexandria students.

Supporting the Alexandria PTA Scholarship

Proceeds from the directory help fund the Alexandria PTA Scholarship, awarded annually to an Alexandria City High School (ACHS) senior pursuing higher education.

PTAC awarded its first scholarship in 2007 through the General Fund of the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria (SFA). Since the 2007–2008 school year, PTAC has invited all 17 school PTAs to contribute to this community effort by including a PTA Scholarship line item in their budgets.

Together, contributions from PTAC and school PTAs enable SFA to award a $3,750 General Fund Scholarship in the name of the Alexandria PTA Council (this amount will increase after the 2025–2026 school year to reflect rising college costs). In the 2024-2025 year, PTAC named its scholarship for the year in memory of Dena Penner, who was a tireless advocate for special education in Alexandria. She was the founder of PTAC's Special Education Committee. Penner was influential in PTAC's dedication to ensuring that camps serving children with special needs and diverse abilities were included in its directory.

Because PTAs share the same mission of supporting children and their education, school PTAs may donate to PTAC, and the council may donate to SFA, a 501(c)(3) organization serving the same student community.

To make a donation to the Alexandria PTA Scholarship, email Treasurer@AlexVAPTAC.org and President@AlexVAPTAC.org.

What's New This Year

PTAC is working to release the directory earlier than ever and share it with families at more events across Alexandria. With hundreds of camps in a wide range of categories, there truly is something for every child’s interest, ability, schedule, and budget.

Stay tuned for the first edition of the school year in January 2026!

Know a Camp We Should Include?

If you are aware of a program that would be a great fit for ACPS families, we’d love to hear from you.

Please email campfair@alexvaptac.org to share recommendations or connect us with camp organizers.