FAQs

Camps begin on June 24 and run through August 23, 2019. Some camps begin later, or end earlier.

All camps begin at 8:30am and end at 4pm. Extended care is offered from 7-8:30am and from 4-6pm.

Please email any changes with your child’s full name to Camps@ColumbiaAssociation.org and we will be happy to assist you!

Three ways to register

1. Customer Service System
2. Electronic submission form
3. Mail or in person (CA Camps office)

For all three options, either pay in full or leave a deposit and credit card on file. The balance will be charged the week of June 10

Columbia Association Headquarters
6310 Hillside Court, Suite 100
Columbia
Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm

The Income-Qualified Program is for families in need of financial assistance for CA Camps. This program is only available to people who live on or work full-time on property subject to the CA assessment and whose household income is within the guidelines developed by HUD. CA Camps does not accept DSS vouchers. Please allow 3-5 business days for approval. Call 410-715-3165 for more information.

For more information on the Income Qualified Program and to download the Income Qualified Application Form – CLICK HERE.

Summer seems far enough away, it still being February and all, and yet this is the prime time to begin thinking about what your child will do when schools let out and the days are suddenly wide open.

One of the best ways to have a memorable summer is at Columbia Association’s camps, which range from recreational to educational, from artistic to athletic, with options available for pre-K all the way through 10th-grade. (For a full guide to the 16 summer camps, visit ColumbiaCamps.org.)

It can be hard to decide where to enroll your child in camp. We sat down with camps manager Charlie Thomas and assistant manager Shelley Wilson to answer some frequently asked questions that show why CA’s camps are a great choice.

Columbia Association’s camps go beyond the regulations put forth by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. CA is accredited by the American Camp Association, the highest-possible standard in the camp industry, which has peer-reviewed monitoring of more than 300 health and safety standards.

CA’s camp, supervisory and administrative staff are teachers and other professionals who are experienced with children. They are subject to background checks and receive a  minimum of 24 hours of pre-camp training each year, including safety, how to respond to a wide spectrum of situations, and preparing for the fun activities that your kids will participate in. CA also uses specialists for certain activities such as canoeing, archery and rock climbing.

CA has several options for you!

Art Camp allows kids to explore their imaginations and experiment with colors, textures, mediums and performance methods through daily projects and lessons. Art specialists teach visual and performing arts processes, including printmaking, painting, 3-D design, collage, drawing, clay works, puppetry and skit creation.

Camp C.O.O.K. — Culinary Outreach Opportunities for Kids — is our newest camp expanding kids’ skills in the kitchen as they prepare recipes and learn about food handling, kitchen safety and healthy meal planning.

Camp Make a Difference combines recreational and volunteer experiences with at least four volunteer projects over the course of the week, plus plenty of time still for swimming and playing.

S.T.E.A.M. Innovators provides students with opportunities to explore S.T.E.A.M. disciplines — science, technology, engineering, arts and math — in a fun-filled environment.

Yes! Access to Nature Camp is an inclusive program for campers with disabilities, modifying Nature Camp activities for their enjoyment while they participate alongside their peers in canoeing, archery, fishing, sports, crafts, recreational swimming and more.

Of course! What would summer camp be without a chance to cool off, swim and play with your friends? Thankfully CA has 23 outdoor pools to help make that possible. In addition to CA’s highly trained lifeguards, our staff are assigned to help monitor the safety of kids both in and around the water.