FAQs

What to know before camp starts...

Registration Schedule

Registration for Creative Summer:

Registration for Creative Summer 2024 occurs on a Priority Registration Schedule.

Pre-Season Registration - December 15, 2023 to 4 p.m. January 4, 2024 - is open exclusively for current Holton-Arms and Brown House families and employees and Creative Summer 2024 staff and Holton Board Member families. Registration link will be provided in Holton's Sunday Skim newsletter.

During Priority Period 1 – 7 p.m. Wednesday, January 4, through 5 p.m. Monday, January 8 – families eligible to register include:

Returning families from 2023, 2022, 2021, and Creative Summer at Home 2020
Wait-listed families from 2023
Families of current Holton-Arms students, faculty, and staff
Families of Creative Summer 2024 staff
Children of Holton-Arms Alumnae
Families of 2023 Holton Fine & Performing Arts Adjunct Program participants
Families of current Holton-Arms Board Members

We will email the Priority Period 1 registration link to Returning and Wait-listed Families in late December. Other Priority Period 1 eligible families not in our system should email us to request the Priority Period 1 link.

During Priority Period 2 – 7 p.m. Monday, January 8, to 5 p.m. Tuesday, January 9 – families eligible to register include:

Current residents of Zip Code 20817
Families eligible to register during Priority Registration Period 1

We will email the Priority Period 2 registration link the first week of January to residents of Zip Code 20817 who have accounts in our registration system or who have submitted an inquiry form. You may also email us to request the Priority Period 2 registration link.

General Registration opens at 7 p.m. Tuesday, January 9, and is open to:

Families new to Creative Summer
Families wait-listed in 2022 and earlier
Families whose registrations were cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19 closure.
Returning families from 2019 and earlier
Priority eligible families who missed the Priority Registration periods

Once General Registration opens, all registrations are given equal consideration and processed in the order they are received.

For questions about our registration process and priority eligibility, please email creative.summer@holton-arms.edu.

Health Forms

The Camper Health History Form is incorporated into the online registration form and is submitted when you register and submit your non-refundable camp deposit. You will be required to provide insurance and emergency contact information and answer questions regarding your camper's basic health, including providing the date of their most recent tetanus shot.

All Supplemental Health Forms, if necessary, are due Tuesday, April 30, 2024.

Balance of Tuition Due

Thursday, April 4, 2024

Last Day for Tuition Refund (All tuition becomes non-refundable)

Monday, May 6, 2024

Who is eligible to register during the Priority Periods?

Current Holton-Arms and Brown House families, Holton-Arms employees, and Creative Summer 2024 staff may register during Pre-Season - December 10, 2023 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, January 4, 2024.

During Priority Period 1 – Tuesday, January 4, through 5 p.m. Monday, January 8 – families eligible to register include:

Returning¹ families from 2023, 2022, 2021, and Creative Summer at Home 2020
Wait-listed² families from 2023
Families of current Holton-Arms students, faculty, and staff
Families of Creative Summer 2024 staff
Children of Holton-Arms Alumnae
Families of 2023 Holton Fine & Performing Arts Adjunct Program participants
Families of current Holton-Arms Board Members

¹Returning families have had at least one child attend Creative Summer within the last four summers - 2020 through 2023. This includes those who attended Creative Summer Day Camps (2023, 2022, 2021), Sports Camps (2023, 2022, 2021), and Virtual Camps (2021 & 2020). Returning Family status extends to siblings of a returning camper even if the sibling(s) did not attend Creative Summer.

²A Wait-listed family is defined as a family who applied to Creative Summer in 2023, was wait-listed, and did not attend camp that year even if space was offered. Wait-list family status extends to siblings of a wait-listed camper even if the sibling(s) never applied.

During Priority Period 2 – 7 p.m. Monday, January 8, to 5 p.m. Tuesday, January 9 – families eligible to register include:

Current residents of Zip Code 20817
Families eligible to register during Priority Registration Period 1

General Registration opens at 7 p.m. Tuesday, January 9, and is open to:

Families new to Creative Summer
Families wait-listed in 2022 and earlier
Families whose registrations were cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19 closure.
Returning families from 2019 and earlier
Priority eligible families who missed the Priority Registration periods

My camper is seven: what are their program options?

Campers entering second grade have a choice of camps. They may attend EITHER Junior Campers, a contained program of housed in the Lower Camp, where their activity schedule is pre-set, OR the Upper Camp program, Creative Campers, where each camper selects his/her own activities, and travels as an individual from class to class five times each day. Please read the descriptions of both offerings to assist you in selecting the better program for your camper entering second grade in fall 2024.

What is the payment schedule?

A camp deposit, paid by the session, is due at registration for both Day Camps and Sports Camps. Deposits vary by program and are outlined on the Dates and Rates page. This camp deposit becomes non-refundable three (3) calendar days after registration is submitted.

The remaining camp balance is due Thursday, April 4, 2024. For registrations or purchases of Creative Summer add-ons (such as bus service or class fees) made after Saturday, March 30, 2024, full payment is due within five (5) calendar days of purchase.

During registration, families have the option to set up an automatic payment for their account balance to be charged to their credit card on Thursday, April 4, 2024.

Although full tuition is due April 4, 2024, partial payments in advance of this date are also welcome. If you would like to set up a formal installment payment plan, please contact the Creative Summer office at creative.summer@holton-arms.edu

Do you pro-rate?

I can't remember my username and/or password

Your Account Username is the e-mail address you used when you last applied/registered for Creative Summer or the last time you updated your account information.

Holton-Arms families who have enrolled in Before & After Care, Bus Transportation, or Global Education should use the same account for Creative Summer registration.

If your email address has changed and you did not update it in CampBrain or with the Creative Summer office, log in using your old email address as your username. You can verify/update your account information from within your online account.

If you do not remember your Account Password, click HERE to generate a password reset email message.

We recommend that you log in to your online account to verify your password before online registration begins; high volume on our server during registration could delay password reset emails. If you need further assistance, contact the Creative Summer Office by email or call 301-365-6003.

IMPORTANT: If you cannot log in to your existing account during registration, log in as a new user and create a new account. Your old and new accounts can be merged later.

What forms of payment do you accept?

Electronic credit card payment online is required for your camp deposit at registration; we accept MasterCard, Visa, Discover online. Creative Summer DOES NOT accept American Express for payment processing in our online registration system.

Your final balance may be paid online or by check, mailed to Creative Summer at Holton-Arms School, 7303 River Road, Bethesda MD 20817.

What health forms are required?

ALL CAMPERS

The Camper Health History Form is incorporated into the online registration form and is submitted when you register. You will be required to provide one emergency contact other than a parent and your camper's insurance and physician information. We do not require an annual checkup record from your camper's physician.
COVID-19 vaccination record: All campers age six (6) and older must submit a record of COVID-19 vaccination or a medical exemption to the COVID-19 vaccine.
Immunization Records: All campers must submit a copy of their immunization records EXCEPT those who attended school, public or private, in Montgomery County, Maryland.
- US RESIDENTS may submit their Immunization Records in any format provided by their Physician's office.
- NON-US RESIDENTS must submit their Immunization records on MDH form 896.
- Upload a copy of your camper's immunization record to your online account or email it by Tuesday, April 30, 2024.

SOME CAMPERS may need

Immunization Certificate/MDH Form 896
- Campers who reside OUTSIDE the United States must submit their Immunization Records on this form. Creative Summer cannot accept immunization records from non-US residents in any format other than MDH Form 896.
- Campers who are exempt from any immunization must submit their Exemption Certificate on this form.
  - Medical exemptions must be signed by a physician.
  - Religious exemptions may be signed by a parent.
  - Only medical exemptions are accepted for exemption to COVID-19 vaccination.
Medication Administration Authorization (MAA)
- Campers who require daily or emergency medication, including Over-the-Counter medication provided by the family, must submit an MAA for each medication and/or EpiPen you provide for your camper. Two types are available:
  - Medication Administration Authorization. Up to three medications may be authorized on a single form
  - Medication Administration Authorization - Asthma Action Plan. For campers managing asthma at camp.
- MAAs require both physician and parent signatures
Over-the-Counter Medication Authorization
- This optional form authorizes our Camp Nurse to administer certain Over-the-Counter medications (listed on the form) as needed to treat minor injuries/illnesses using medications provided by the camp.
- This form is not valid unless signed by both a physician and a parent.
- Physician must specify the medications and dosage your camper may take.
- We cannot accept OTC forms from any other school or camp; the Creative Summer form must be used.
Sunscreen Authorization Form
- This form is incorporated in the online registration.
- Indicate whether your camper will apply sunscreen during the camp day.
  - List acceptable brand(s) of sunscreen.
  - Indicate whether our adult counselors may assist your camper in sunscreen application.
  - Keep a copy with the sunscreen.
  - You must provide sunscreen in its original container with your camper’s name clearly labeled on the container.

Any Health Forms that are not filled out during registration are due Tuesday, April 30, 2024.

Visit the Health Forms and Information page for more information and links to download forms.

When is Creative Campers Class Selection?

Creative Campers have a five-period class day. They will choose one activity per period per session online in late April, according to the priority schedule outlined below. You may explore the planned activities on our Creative Campers Options page. These options are subject to change until final class menus are emailed to Creative Camper families.

Registration links and class menus will be emailed to registered families no later than April 15.

Class selection begins at 7 p.m. and ends at 5 p.m. the following day for each priority grade group.

For Campers in Grade(s)	Selection begins at 7 p.m. on	And ends at 5 p.m. on
Grades 7 and 8	Monday, April 29	Tuesday, April 30
Grades 5 and 6	Tuesday, April 30	Wednesday, May 1
Grade 4	Wednesday, May 1	Thursday, May 2
Grades 2 and 3	Thursday, May 2	Friday, May 3

Campers who miss their grade’s selection window may choose their classes starting at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 3, after each grade group has had its day of selection priority.

What is included in the June Mailing?

In the first week of June you will receive an information packet from Creative Summer will be mailed to your home address. This mailing includes:

A camp newsletter
Car Line Number Placard (unless you are registered for Bus or Full Session After Care)
Bus Rules and Schedule, as appropriate
Lunch Ordering Menu
Day Camp Schedules
- Creative Campers (ages 7-13) will receive personalized schedules
- Creative Kids will receive a copy of their group's schedule
Sports Camp Welcome Letters

Most of these documents will also be available on our Creative Summer Documents page.

What to know while camp is in session...

Is Creative Summer Peanut-Free?

Creative Summer is NOT a peanut-free camp. Families are permitted to pack peanut products in their camper’s lunch and snacks. However, we do have precautions in place to protect our campers with nut allergies.

Additionally, we have a peanut-free bin that campers can put their lunches in to be refrigerated and a Peanut-Free Zone in the Dining Room. This is a designated space where campers can sit during lunch to ensure they are not exposed to peanut or other nut products.

How do I order my camper lunch?

Camp holidays?

What are my transportation options?

Creative Summer campers and staff have three options for transportation: family vehicles, Creative Summer bus service, and Metro Bus.

Cars, Car Line and Carpools
Most campers arrive to camp and depart from camp in cars. Morning car line runs from 8:30 to 9 a.m. and afternoon car line runs from 3 to 3:30 p.m. Families participating in afternoon Car line numbers will be provided color-coded number placards to display in their cars during pickup. Our full car line process is described in our Camper Handbook.

Creative Summer encourages families to form carpools for transportation to and from camp. To support this practice, we provide a list of families who have consented to share their contact information for the purpose of forming carpools, organized by geographic area.

Creative Summer Bus
Creative Summer runs morning and afternoon bus service on seven route to 15 different stops in Maryland and Washington, DC. Please visit our Transportation Page for routes and schedules.

Metro Bus
Metrobus T2 stops at the Holton-Arms School entrance (River Rd. & Royal Dominion Dr.).

Before and after care?

What if my camper must miss camp?

What happens if camp has to close?

Emergency Closure Notification
Camp closures will be posted on the Holton-Arms website and on a recorded message on the Creative Summer office phone line at 301-365-6003.

Emergency Closure Policy
In the event the Holton-Arms School administration deems it necessary or is required to close the School’s premises due to circumstances beyond its control, such as extreme weather, power outage, flooding, or other emergency condition, Creative Summer cannot guarantee the make-up of lost time. Though we may schedule make-up hours where possible, camp time lost may be void. No refunds or credits will be issued in the event of a weather or other uncontrollable event or closure.