Valley Mill Camp, Summer camp and kayaking school in Germantown, Maryland.
Valley Mill Camp is a summer camp spread across approximately 60 acres of woodland in Germantown, Maryland, with a 2-acre spring-fed lake at its center. The grounds feature specialized areas for kayaking, rock climbing, gymnastics, and horseback riding programs.
Robert and May McEwan founded the camp as a girls camp in Colesville in 1956 before moving it to Darnestown in 1973. The relocation allowed for expansion and better facilities to support the growing range of programs offered.
The camp offers specialized programs in kayaking, climbing, and horseback riding that appeal to different interests. Visitors can observe how children engage in these activities in smaller groups throughout the grounds.
The camp welcomes children between ages 4 and 14 with registration starting in early spring for summer sessions and holiday breaks. The best time to visit and observe activities is during designated visitor days when you can coordinate with staff about what is happening on the grounds that day.
Several world-class paddlers received their early training on these grounds, giving the camp a reputation as a launching point for aquatic talent. This success is reflected in the consistently high quality of the kayaking program, which teaches advanced techniques to young students.
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