Green Acres School

Can I take a tour?

Definitely! Just call Judy Shniderman at 301-881-4110 to arrange a tour. Generally, we do not do a 3:00 — 3:30 pm tour in order to avoid having you come during carpool. The tour takes about 30 minutes and you are welcome to bring friends and family with you.

Do I have to sign up for the whole six weeks?

The junior camp programs are offered as one six week session and you do have to sign up for the entire session. The longer time commitment gives us plenty of time to get to know the campers and for them to get to know us. Because campers have time to form connections with each other and with their counselors, we find this continuity makes for a more meaningful summer camp experience especially for younger campers. The senior camp programs are now offered in 2 three week sessions to allow campers more flexibility in making their summer plans.

Who actually runs the camp?

Green Acres Camp is run by Green Acres School which means we use the same progressive approach at camp making the experience very creative, child centered and hands on. The Camp Director, Marylouise Bracho, has been a teacher at Green Acres School for 25 years and the Camp Director for 12 years. She personally interviews and hires each member of the staff. We do not lease out our facilities to an outside program.

I have heard that Green Acres is really hard to get into. Do I have a chance of getting in?

Registration varies from year to year and there are no guarantees, but if you register on the first day when the online system opens, we are able to accommodate most of the people interested in signing up. Occasionally, in the younger groups, we will put up to 15 people on a waitlist and return any applications over that. Last year (2009), after the first day of registration, we had waitlists in Units A & B and very short waitlists in Kreative Kangaroos and Unit C. Ultimately there was only one person in Unit B who we could not accommodate - everyone else was offer a spot or had already withdrawn from the waitlist. The Camp always fills up but that may take several weeks to do since some age groups fill up faster than others. We always encourage people to sign up as soon as possible as the admission picture can change from year to year.

Do I have to carpool?

In an effort to cut down on the number of cars in the carpool line and reduce traffic in the neighborhood, every camper must be in a carpool of at least three campers, on the bus, or in aftercare. This applies in the afternoon only. If your child needs, by law, to be in a secure safety seat due to your child’s size or weight, you are exempt from the carpool rule. In these cases we strongly recommend a carpool of at least two campers.

Can we use the bus one way only?

Yes, you can sign up for one-way or round-trip. Generally, you can sign up for the bus at anytime, even after Camp has started (provided there is space available — which there usually is).

Does my camper have to go on the senior camp overnight trip?

The overnight trip is optional. If your child does not want to participate, he or she can come to Camp during those days and participate in his or her regular activities with the rest of senior camp.

Are you a peanut-free camp?

No, we are not a peanut free camp. We do have campers with peanut allergies and we are able to take precautions such as washing hands after eating and establishing a peanut free table for lunch. In addition, we have a nurse at Camp and we do epi pen training with our staff.

Do you teach swimming?

We have a pool on campus with a beach entrance which is useful for young swimmers. We use a Red Cross-certified instruction program which we teach “Green Acres style.” Because we want children to develop a love of swimming, we do not force children to do anything other than to dress in their bathing suits and come to the pool. We will evaluate where campers are as it relates to their comfort level and skill and then divide into small teaching groups. Swimming instruction is required for campers in Kreative Kangaroos through Unit E.

Can you pro-rate tuition if my camper has to miss a few days or a week? What if I have to start camp late?

We do not pro-rate tuition for any reason. You are certainly free to miss any days at Camp and we will work with you as much as possible on choosing activities and communicating with the unit staff if your child will be starting Camp late.

What is a satellite bus stop?

In an effort to reduce the number of cars coming through the neighborhood and in our carpool line, we have 3 locations close to Camp that serve as satellite bus stops. They are located at Tilden Middle School on Old Georgetown Rd. and The Cabin John Tennis Courts on Democracy Blvd. The charge for the satellite stop is $70 for the six week session and $35 for the three week sessions (senior camp). The satellite stops are only available in the afternoon. We have an additional stop at Cabin John Middle School on Tilden Lane which is for Luxmanor residents ONLY. We will also continue to offer our regular extended bus service. If you do not want to deal with our 3 camper minimum for the afternoon carpool or want to be in and out quickly, a satellite stop might be the answer for you!

Do you offer financial aid?

Yes, we do. The financial aid program is designed to assist families with financial need, to enable them to cover a percentage of the cost of tuition and other expenses at the Camp. We urge every family to consider applying for aid; often even a small grant will make a difference. More information and forms are available on the website under Camp Forms. If you believe your family needs assistance, please complete the financial aid form and IRS form 4506 and submit a copy of your final 2008 IRS Federal Tax Return, W‐2’s and 1099’s from all parents/guardians. Forms need to be signed by all parents/guardians. All information will be kept confidential. All financial aid information and forms need to be in the Camp Office by March 5, 2010.

Do you serve lunch or do campers bring their lunch?

Campers bring a lunch daily and we provide milk and water to drink. The lunches are not refrigerated. We also offer the Health-e-Lunch Kids program for those of you who want to avoid the hassle of packing a lunch everyday for your camper. They offer hot and cold nutritious menu choices and the convenience of ordering from your own computer. Their prices and quality are a pretty good deal. For more information, go to the Health-e-Lunch Kids website and check it out!