How long is summer camp? At other establishments, options run from a one week sleepaway camp to a full summer of seven or eight weeks. Where your camper fits in that range depends on age, experience away from home, and how long you as a parent want them to stay. But that’s at other establishments. We do things a little differently.
So how long does summer camp last at Camp Tall Timbers? A stay here runs from four days to seven weeks, and the sweet spot for most campers is two to three weeks. Our 5- and 7-week sessions are for campers who love camp and want more of their summer here. Our new Rookie Weekend is for campers who are brand new to overnight camp.
But a long camp session needs to be great to be justified. Let’s take a look past the camp duration.
What Happens During a Stay at Camp
Knowing how long summer camp is only gives you part of the story. Most parents really want to know what fills the days. Here’s how a stay unfolds at Camp Tall Timbers!
- Before arrival: Campers build their own schedule before they get to camp, so they have a say in everyday of camp. Each day has five activity periods, and campers choose from six activity areas: Sports, Aquatics, Equestrian, Great Outdoors, Challenge, and Arts. Every activity follows a lesson plan built around learning or improving a skill, practice, and time to play. Rest hour and free swim are automatically built into every camper’s day.
- Arrival and the first night: Cabins are grouped by age, and counselors sleep in the cabins with their campers to ensure safety. We keep a 4:1 camper-to-counselor ratio and a registered nurse on site 24/7. Will your camper feel some nerves? Maybe a little, and that’s normal.
- The second night: First-time campers tend to settle in around the second night. Homesickness usually fades within the first day or two as campers settle into cabin life, and our counselors are trained to help them through it.
- Later in the session: Campers return to their favorite activities, build on new skills, and deepen cabin friendships. Longer sessions even leave room for a trip offsite, usually to the state park or a baseball game. Rumor has it campers have even gone bowling before…
The Two Week Summer Camp Session
Our two week summer camp runs twice in 2027: Session 1, from June 20 to July 3, and Session 2, from July 25 to August 7. Both are open to campers in grades 1 to 10.
Two weeks is a great fit for many campers, including first-timers who are ready for a full session. It gives them time to get past the settle-in, then spend most of the session participating in activities, building skills, deepening friendships, and getting to know their cabin.
Good fit for:
- First-time campers
- Previous Rookie Weekend campers ready for more
The Three-Week Session
Our 3-week session runs July 4 to July 24, 2027, for campers in grades 1 to 10.
The 3-week session is the foundation of the Camp Tall Timbers experience, giving campers time to explore every activity and build real skills.
It’s a great fit for campers ready for more time at camp, including returning campers and first-timers who want to try every activity area. That extra week of camp is extra special; these campers get to participate in unique activities built just for the 3-week session. It also means more days with the friends they make here!
Rookie Weekend: A First Taste of Sleepaway Camp
Rookie Weekend is four days and three nights at camp, Thursday to Sunday, July 15 to 18, 2027. It’s made for first-time campers 11 and under, grades 1 to 5.
Maybe your camper has never spent a night at camp. Maybe you’re not sure they’re ready for two full weeks away. If that’s true, Rookie Weekend was built for your camper.
Rookies join our 3-week session while it’s underway, so they ease into camp surrounded by campers who can welcome them and show them the ropes. They sleep in cabins with campers their own age, participate in all six activity areas, and get a feel for camp life, from horseback riding to campfires by the lake.
First-time campers tend to settle in around the second night, so three nights gets your camper past the hardest part without asking you to commit to much more.
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Rookie Weekend at a Glance
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If your camper loves it, you’ll know they’re ready for a full session. You can find even more Rookie Weekend details on our sessions page.
Why We Don’t Offer a One Week Sleepaway Camp Session
Many camps in our region offer 1-week sessions, and parents searching for one week summer camps in Virginia and the surrounding DMV will find others to choose from. If that’s where your search began, we’re close to home: Camp Tall Timbers is about an hour and a half from Loudoun and Frederick Counties.
For us, the question of how long summer camp is comes down to two different needs. Rookie Weekend is a first taste: long enough to find out if overnight camp is right for your camper and short enough to feel like a first step. Two or three weeks is the full camp experience, with time to settle in, choose activities, build skills and make friends. A one week sleepaway camp would fall between those two jobs without doing either one as well. We want your camper to have enough time at camp that they truly immerse themselves in the experience. That’s why we don’t offer 1-week sessions.
How Long Does Summer Camp Last at Camp Tall Timbers? Every 2027 Session
The table below shows how long summer camp is at Camp Tall Timbers. Campers who love the overnight experience can stay longer: Our 5-week sessions pair the 3-week session with either 2-week session. For the happy campers who just can’t get enough, our 7-week session covers the whole summer, June 20 to August 7.
The only difference between the sessions is duration. Every session is all-inclusive. Tuition covers room and board, instruction in every activity area, horseback riding, linens, laundry, and counselor gratuities. We’re also accredited by the American Camp Association, meeting standards that let you know your camper is in safe hands.
Choose the Right Session for Your Camper
Now you know how long summer camp is, but which session is right for your child? Whatever you decide, we can’t wait for your excited child to become a happy camper!
Still deciding? Schedule a call with Camp Director Glenn Smith for guidance from the man who’s been doing this for decades.