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Belmont Day Camp

Exciting summer adventures that help your children learn and grow!

Belmont Day Camp provides well-rounded, fun-filled, and exciting summer adventures with many opportunities for exploration and play. We strive to be a thoughtful and reflective community of role models that creates a caring and supportive environment in which children:

  • grow safely as individuals
  • take risks and participate
  • engage in meaningful connections with others
  • experience both individual and group learning discoveries
  • have fun and create lasting memories

Summer day camp for children ages 3 to 15

We welcome children ages three to fifteen years, who are eager to participate in a wide variety of activities. Campers are placed in groups by entering grade in the coming fall. Groups fall into one of four categories:

  • Ramblers (potty trained and entering pre-school to entering kindergarten groups)
  • Voyagers (entering grades 1 to 3 groups)
  • Pioneers (entering grades 4 to 7 groups)
  • Future Leaders (entering grades 8 and 9 – counselor-in-training program by application and interview only)

These categories dictate which activity specialists groups see and how their daily schedule is structured. Within each unit, campers are organized into grade-level groups. As the age of the group increases, so does the amount of choice offered to campers in the activities they pursue. All groups take part in a daily swim lesson in the morning and enjoy a free swim period in the afternoon. Visit the pages for each group to see a sample schedule and list of activities. Campers must be fully potty trained to attend camp.

Fun special events keep our camp exciting and fresh

Special events take place each session that build community and add to the fun! Examples of special events have included All American BBQ, Superhero Week, Color Games, Olympics, Carnival, Lambies Talent Show, and Hot Halloween.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to see camp in action.

Registration will open for returning families on December 12, 2023, and to the public on January 16, 2024.

Visit our Camp in Touch registration site to enroll.

We proudly welcome campers from Arlington, Belmont, Cambridge, Medford, Lexington, Lincoln, Newton, Waltham, Watertown, Winchester, Woburn, and all around the Belmont, MA area. Contact us today to find out more about our summer day camps.

Need to Know

Drop-off: 8:45 to 9 a.m.
Pick-up: 3:45 p.m. 

Extended Day
Drop-off: 7:45 a.m.
Pick-up: 5:30 p.m.

We strive to make Belmont Day Camp as accessible as possible and offer a range of activities for everyone. We are also a large camp with over 350 campers on site every day!

Successful participants in our program are able and cleared by a doctor to actively participate in the scheduled camp activities, including, but not limited to, swimming, arts and crafts, nature, yoga, sports, tennis, woodworking, archery, ropes, movement, music, science experiments, innovations, and games. 

All children must be fully toilet-trained to participate in our program (able to independently identify their need to go and use the facilities themselves). We are happy to help with accidents (they happen!). We are not equipped to serve campers who rely on diapers or pull-ups, and both are explicitly not allowed in the pool.

We are happy to discuss a specific fit with individual families. If you are interested in our program for your child, but you anticipate that they will need assistance (either physically or socially) in participating fully, please contact the Director of Summer Programs to determine if Belmont Day is the right fit and, if so, how to make your child’s experience successful.

 

We proudly welcome campers from Arlington, Belmont, Cambridge, Concord, Medford, Lexington, Lincoln, Newton, Somerville, Waltham, Watertown, Winchester, Woburn, and all around the Belmont, MA area. Contact us today to find out more about our summer day camps.

 

Ramblers are our youngest campers, entering preschool through entering kindergarten, typically 3- to 5-year-olds. Our youngest Ramblers are two years out from attending kindergarten. All campers must be potty trained to attend our camp.

The Ramblers program provides a rich, well-rounded summer experience while attending to the unique needs of young children. Ramblers are given a more open schedule to limit transition and encourage exploration and socialization. In addition to a wide variety of activities, campers enjoy a swim lesson and free swim each day, weather permitting. Snack is provided each day.

Staff includes a head counselor, either a school-year teaching professional or a college-age student with two or more years in the program, three junior counselors who are 16- to 18-years-old, and an intern, typically 15-years-old, with 15 to 20 campers. Lifeguard and water safety instructor-certified swim staff, and activity specialists support the program during swim and activity blocks. Typical camp groups are 15 to 20 campers with 4 to 5 staff (4:1 ratio).

If you have questions about how the program may fit your child based on their unique development through their younger years, please reach out to the BDS Camp team.

Ramblers activities include:

  • arts and crafts
  • sports
  • games
  • nature
  • music
  • drama and movement
  • garden
  • yoga

Sample Daily Schedule

TimeActivity
8:45 – 9 a.m.Arrival and choice time
9 – 9:20 a.m.Morning Meeting with all Rambler groups
9:20- 10:05 a.m.Swim Lessons
10:05 – 10:50 a.m.Swimsuit changing, snack, Big Blue time
10:50 – 11:35 a.m.Activity block: arts and crafts
11:35 a.m. – 12:20 p.m.Lunch
12:20 – 1:05 p.m.Rest time (some children nap, others look at books or quietly listen to audiobooks)
1:05 – 1:50 p.m.Free Swim
1:50 – 2:35 p.m.Swimsuit changing, choice time
2:35 – 3:20 p.m.Activity block: nature exploration
3:20 – 3:40 p.m.Closing meeting, popsicles on Claflin Field
3:40 – 4:00 p.m.Dismissal

Our Voyagers program builds on a child’s Ramblers experience by adding more opportunities for social interaction and new activities for each grade. Our Voyager groups focus on creating a positive social environment for all our campers and encouraging the social-emotional learning that is a main focus of our summer camp. Typical Voyager groups are 15 to 20 campers and 4 to 5 staff (first grade, 4:1) or 20 to 26 campers and 4 to 5 staff (second and third grades, 6:1).

New Voyagers activities include:
Woodshop – grade 2
Archery – grade 2

Other activities include:

  • swimming lessons
  • free swim
  • art
  • crafts
  • sports
  • games
  • music
  • drama and movement
  • nature
  • yoga

Sample Daily Schedule

TimeActivity
8:45 – 9 a.m.Arrival and choice time
9 – 9:20 a.m.Morning meeting
9:20 – 10:05 a.m.Swim Lessons
10:05 – 10:50 a.m.Change time and snack
10:50 – 11:35 a.m.Activity block: art
11:35 a.m. – 12:20 p.m.Lunch
12:20 – 1:05 p.m.Activity block: nature
1:05- 1:50 p.m.Free swim
1:50 – 2:35 p.m.Change time and group choice time
2:35 – 3:20 p.m.Activity block: yoga
3:20 – 3:40 p.m.Popsicles and closing meeting on Claflin Field
3:40 – 4:00 p.m.Dismissal

Our Pioneers program continues growth at camp by creating a larger, cross-graded community and introduces elements of choice into the schedule through electives. Pioneer campers move through most of the same activity areas as Voyagers during the morning but have the ability to choose two afternoon activity blocks based on the daily offerings of our electives staff. These electives can include normal camp activities, like a sport or craft, or unique activity opportunities, such as butter making or ice block sledding. Some days will include special guest elective programming.

Pioneers activities include:

  • swimming lessons
  • free swim
  • arts and crafts
  • sports 
  • nature
  • music 
  • drama and movement
  • create and design
  • woodshop
  • archery 
  • electives
  • games
  • yoga

Sample Daily Schedule

TimeActivity
8:45 – 9 a.m.Arrival and choice time
9 – 9:20 a.m.Morning meeting
9:20 – 10:05 a.m.Activity block: archery/woodshop
10:05 – 10:50 a.m.Swimming lessons
10:50 – 11:35 a.m.Change time and snack
11:35 a.m. – 12:20 p.m.Activity block: sports
12:20 – 1:05 p.m.Lunch
1:05 – 1:50 p.m.Electives
1:50 – 2:35 p.m.Electives
2:35 – 3:20 p.m.Free Swim
3:20 – 3:40 p.m.Popsicles and closing meeting on Claflin Field
3:40 – 4:00 p.m.Dismissal
Fostering leadership skills in young adults | Sessions B & C, Optional Session D

Our four-week-long Future Leaders program offers the opportunity for leadership, training to work with children, and basic job skills. While this functions as our “Counselor-in-Training” program, it also prepares participants for professional life beyond working at camp.

Future Leaders will get two primary aspects to their experience. First and foremost, they will be able to work with campers and learn directly from counselors. Future Leaders will work with different camp groups throughout the program to develop hands-on childcare skills, learn about child development, and find where they feel the best fit.

Along the way, Future Leaders will work to develop important professional skills outside of childcare and education. They will practice writing resumes and cover letters, do mock interviews, and participate in leadership and team-building activities to learn more about themselves, their strengths, and where they can continue to grow as people.

The program is offered in one four-week session during Camp Sessions B and C—July 8 to August 2. An additional, optional 2-week session during Camp Session D—August 5 to 16—provides a chance for Future Leaders to get even more time directly involved with a camp group after completing the main portion of the program. This optional third session is focused entirely on working with camp groups.

Each day will include time in a camp group setting and daily meetings and activities run by our Future Leaders Coordinator for Future Leaders only.

Interested?

Because being a Future Leader is a first step towards becoming a staff member, we ask that all participants attend an information session, apply for the program, and do a short interview with a staff member before formally being enrolled in the program.

Applications will open in early February, and we will begin accepting campers once they have attended the information session and had an interview. We expect to confirm Future Leader registration by early March. We highly recommend that Future Leaders attend as much of the four-week program as possible – if your child is going to miss a full week or more but is still interested in the program, please contact us to determine if the program is the right fit.

2024 Future Leader Information Sessions
  • Tuesday, February 6, 5 to 6 p.m.
  • Thursday, February 15, 5 to 6 p.m.

These information sessions will take place via Zoom. If you are interested in joining us, please email su****@be********.org to get the Zoom link.

The information session will include:

  • more specifics about the program
  • review of the application process
  • an opportunity to ask questions about the program and application process
Activities

Below is a list of activities we offer at camp:

  • Swimming lessons: detailed information about our Red Cross swimming lessons is available in the section about swimming
  • Free swim: free time in the pool
  • Art: drawing and painting with different media, learning about different art styles, forms, and genres
  • Crafts: build, glue, construct, mold—hands-on projects to create something awesome to take home
  • Sports: soccer, wiffle ball, volleyball, kickball—sports you’ve heard of with rules you know (and some you don’t)
  • Games: teambuilding and camp games—games you may never have heard of that you probably haven’t played anywhere but at camp—Lord of the Rings, Go for 20, Star Wars, Messy Backyard, Treasure Island, Gaga
  • Nature: learn more about the habitats on and around the campus through walks, explorations, and activities focused on hands-on learning
  • Garden: spend time caring for our garden and learning about process of growing food
  • Drama and movement: improv games, commercial-making, comedic skits, drama games, tap, stomp, choreographed numbers, rhythm exercises
  • Music: learning camp songs, drumming, name-that-tune, musical hangman, and other simple music-focused activities
  • Archery: technique and safety lessons, target shooting games to improve aim and form
  • Woodworking: simple woodworking projects like toolboxes, clocks, knock hockey, sailboats that children can take home
  • Electives: cooking, jewelry making, World Cup soccer, digital photography, self-defense, scavenger hunt, ice block sledding—anything can be an elective
  • And more!

We engage with our staff each year to determine the best options for our campers’ specialty blocks. A specialty activity always works best with an expert to teach it. We will add and remove specials every year based on the expertise of our staff and what we think will provide the campers with the best dynamic and engaging experience.

Group Placements and Friend Requests

Children are placed into groups by entering grade in the coming fall. Groups are all gender. There are multiple groups at most grade levels during most sessions. You can request a group mate for your child during the online registration process. You can do this for each session your child is enrolled in. You may request the same child for each session or request different children for different sessions based on the enrollments the two children have in common. We assign groups in early June and make every effort to honor one friend request per camper.

Camp Overnight

Open to Pioneers, grades 4 through 7, participation is optional and requires an additional fee. Overnights take place on the final Thursday of Sessions B and C. There are no overnights in Session A or D. Campers will stay on campus participating in a variety of fun activities, including an extra free swim, crafts, an all-group activity such as a scavenger hunt or hide and seek, dinner and dessert, and chill time before bed (lights out by 10 p.m.). Campers who stay the night will be provided breakfast and lunch the following day as part of the program fee. If your camper is interested in participating in Overnight activities but not the sleepover, there is an 8 p.m. pick-up option.

Swimming

Our head of pool is assisted in teaching and guarding by experienced American Red Cross Water Safety Instructors™ and certified lifeguards.

Lessons
Red Cross swim lessons happen in the morning. Swimmers are divided by ability. To determine appropriate placement for swim lessons, each child is evaluated on their first day at camp. These evaluations consist of a progression of skill assessments. Children are then further observed in their level to be sure the appropriate placement has been made. Children are monitored daily for progress and promoted when they have completed the requirements necessary to complete the exit assessment for the level. 

Assessments are done on Tuesdays/Thursdays at the recommendation of the swim staff and Head of Pool, based on Red Cross’s specific tasks to complete for exit assessments. Belmont Day swim certificates are issued after a child has been promoted to the next level.

Swim lessons are an important part of “growing safely as an individual” and “taking risks and participating,” two of our core camp goals. No alternative activities are offered during swim times. Children are encouraged to participate every day.

Free Swim
Free swim happens each afternoon. Groups come to the pool, and children are given the opportunity to have free time in the pool. We limit the area children may swim in based on their morning swim level. This helps us ensure that all children are safe in the pool and are not getting into situations they cannot handle while swimming. Campers must participate in daily swim lessons in order to participate in free swim.

Facilities
We have two pools at Belmont Day. Our practice pool is 20 feet x 40 feet and is 2 feet deep for the entire pool area. Our big pool is 40 feet x 80 feet and ranges from 3 feet to 9 feet.

Both pools are licensed by the Board of Health.

Weather
Swimming is an important part of our program at camp. We aim for each group to swim twice each day unless it is unsafe to do so.

Circumstances in which we close the pool include:

  • When there is thunder and lightning in the area. The pool remains closed until 30 minutes after the last instance of thunder or lightning.
  • When it is raining so hard, we can’t see the bottom of the pool.
  • When there is a weather advisory or warning issued by the state for our area.

Our summer staff is composed of an administrative team, activity specialists, swim staff, head counselors, junior counselors, and interns. Each person plays an important role. Together, we work to ensure your child’s safety, well-being, and success at camp.

Head counselors, counselors, and interns make up the direct childcare team. Each group has at least one head counselor – an experienced, older staff member to help lead the group – along with several counselors and an intern. Interns are 15-year-old volunteer staff not yet old enough to be a full counselor, and they act as an additional support person that does not count towards our camper-to-staff ratio.

Activity specialists and swim staff are the staff that offer programming during activity blocks. Activity specialists run specific activities like arts, crafts, sports, or games, and the swim staff deliver swim lessons and are lifeguards during free swim periods. On days when the pool is closed, they will join groups to do activities with them during their planned swim block.

Zach d’Arbeloff, director of summer programs, Denali Kikuchi, auxiliary programs coordinator, and Laura Rodriguez, general day camp director, together lead the summer administrative team. The administrative team is composed of a variety of experienced staff, including the head of pool. Each unit—Ramblers, Voyagers, Pioneers, Journeys—has at least one unit leader. That unit leader supervises their program area, assists counselors with camper behavior, corresponds with parents as appropriate, and acts as an extra hand when needed. The team provides extra resources for camper and staff support.

Camp staff members are a group of diverse individuals with an assortment of skills, abilities, and experiences. We hire staff members who are team players, patient, self-motivated, enthusiastic, and good communicators with the ability to keep up with school-aged children. Our staff must be interested in being part of a community, able to understand the diverse needs of children, and know how to have fun! Most of our staff members were longtime campers who share a deep love of Belmont Day Camp and are excited to pass that on to the next generation of future counselors.

Zach d’Arbeloff, director of summer programs, and Denali Kikuchi, auxiliary programs coordinator, are available year-round to answer questions and help you organize the summer for your children. You can reach both of them at any time by emailing su****@be********.org

There is a one-time, $50 per camper enrollment fee. This fee is waived if you enroll by February 25, 2023.

Payment is due based on the following schedule:

  • 25% due upon enrollment until April 15
  • 50% of balance due April 15, or upon enrollment between April 15 and May 15
  • 75% of balance due May 15, or upon enrollment between May 16 and June 15
  • 100% of balance due before June 15, or upon enrollment after June 15

CampMinder allows you to keep a card on file that we will charge for you at these payment deadlines.

We are willing to work with any family on payment plans if this schedule does not work for you. Please contact Director of Summer Programs Zach d’Arbeloff to establish a payment plan or discuss financial assistance that will ensure your tuition is paid by your child’s first day of camp.

Refunds

Full refunds are only give in the case of a medical or family emergency that was unforeseen regardless of date of event.

Partial refunds may be available as follows:

  • $100 per 2-week session administrative fee is non-refundable until April 15
  • 25% per session is non-refundable after April 15
  • Tuition is not refundable within 2 weeks of the session start date

School extension for snow days:
In the event that school runs later than expected because of snow days or other missed days, Belmont Day will prorate a session for the days that school is still in session provided the family decides to attend school and not camp.

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